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Among other jobs I have been writing for Tactical Knives magazine for the last 10 years. One question that has come up lately is what are the top 10 knives being carried in Iraq and Afghanistan? I was in Khandar in April/May 2002 training the 101st and then it was what was in the local PX, Cold Steel SRK's, Gerber Applegate Folders, SAK's and multitools. I expect it is still the same but anyone with current experience in either country I would like to hear from you. Thanks.

Is this for market research or your edification?

Additionally, Top Ten for what purpose. Stabbing, slashing, prying, multi-use, survival, etc.

Not being hostile, just curious as to the intent, and for a more refined response.

I carry a handful of knives, mostly Benchmade. PX knives from my experience are marketed towards cool, not function. FWIW

Best to you SGM and welcome to the board

V/R
SSG B

jbour13, as I said it is a question that we received from our readers, would like to be able to give them a good answer, not someone's flight of fantasy about de-animating bad guys, although it seems most people would rather believe fantasy then fact. Case in point, I had a John Nelson Cooper 8 inch bowie in VN, that I never carried as it was carbon steel and rusted very quickly. I used it one time to cut up a block of hamburger meat and the blood stained the blade. No one would believe me when I would say how the blood stain got on the blade, but when I would say "Ok, I de-animated 3 VC " then everyone was happy. To your question, what are the general purposes knives being carried, not only by SF personnel but by the big Green Army. Thanks.

I know one 19 year old in Baghdad who swears by his Harsey T2.

jbhour,
PX knives are selected by someone in the Army and price point is a big issue.

All my cards on the table face up: John A. Larsen is a friend of mine and he can ask any question he wants here, in whatever manner he sees fit.
Please note the title "Quiet Professional" under his name. He is both and this forum is lucky to have him around.

Casey, Thank you.

Sir,

I've told Mr. Harsey that I've had his Harsey-Applegate on my hip since I bought it in Iraq in 2003 through the second half of OIF I and all of OIF III.

No disrespect meant Mr. Harsey. I'm somewhat familiar with the SGM and his history, and I am actually excited to learn from him while he is a board member here.

I just wanted to give him a better persepective if I could from a regular troops standpoint. That is why I asked is this market related or his own edification. I see how I came off as curt, not my intent. I do apologize if any disrespect was thought to have occured.

Agree that price point is a big issue. I'm familiar with the SGM's work as a specialist in the area of blades.

I use my knives for mostly (honestly) office related work. I'm and Intel geek and have to cut anything from 550 Cord to 100 MPH tape. I've learned that Benchmade knives hold an edge well for multi-use. Gerber on the other hand does not (PX special). Cutting paper is the biggest thing that has taken an edge off of my knives. Gerbers are quick to dull when cutting paper and cardboard.

I'm below novice level on the reasoning as to why one steel composition holds and edge vs. another.

I've carried Leatherman and Gerber multi-tools and the Gerber has served me well. Multiple trips to SE Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan and around the house. Has everything a support knucklehead needs.

Appealing to me is that Benchmade will re-sharpen your knives for a small fee. I have a few that are pricey to me and I take this option over attempting to sharpen them myself. The Benchmade rep asked me why it needed sharpening and I told them I was a soldier, they actually expedited it and covered the cost to send it to them and back. I just paid $5 for the re-sharpening. I need to re-read Mr. Harsey's sharpening advice over and attempt it on a Wal-Mart special.

As far as de-animation of enemy personnel. If it comes to the point that I have to kill someone, things have gone extraordinarily wrong, even more so if I have to do so with a knife. :D I'm the Fobbit that everyone talks about, and I'm not ashamed at my role.

CSM, I suspect that most of the knives carried in theater fall into one of these categories, in this order.

1. Free
2. Cheap
3. Look cool
4. Big

If we limited the survey to edged items that worked, or to respondents who actually know much about blades, you would find that the types are more like this.

1. Practical
2. Good value
3. Handy
4. Quality

IMHO, the knives that I always had in the woods were a good heavy duty folder, a multi-tool, and some sort of chopping/fighting/survival knife.

The folders I liked were Al Mar, Chris Reeve, or Harsey.

For a multi-tool, I have used a bunch of them starting with the Victorinox Swiss Army knives, and it is hard to beat the Leatherman, especially the value of the Wave.

For longer, heavy working blades (which many units ban troops from carrying), I have used kukris, hatchets, machetes, Kabars, etc. which were a great value, but I have also used Harsey, Reeve, Brend, Al Mar, and the like when I could afford them.

It is hard to take a very valuable knife like some of these I named and abuse them busting open ammo crates, digging, chopping, cutting wire, pounding on things, using them as a sharpened pry bar, etc. Right now, if I had to take a large knife that my life depended on, it would be an S30V blade, something like the Yarborough or the Reaper, because I know that if I damage it accidentally, the manufacturers will make it right, regardless.

Probably the most common blades in theater are the bayonet, the issue survival knife, the Leatherman multi-tool, and whatever inexpensive folders the AAFES stocks, like the Spydercos.

HTH.

TR

When I was active duty, I used a Kabar. Great for when you have to trench field wire in the Oklahoma dirt!

We were issued Benchmade switchblades when I went over for OIF, but a lot of guys complained about them getting fouled with grit, so we went to a SOG folder (X-Ray) which is pretty nice.

But the one I've carried for years, and still do in my flight suit, is a Gerber LST. Has a nice edge that's easy to care for and really light.

.

I would have to agree. Knives that are free/issued would be the number one choice for the E-5 and below Soldiers. Is the regular Army even issuing a common Knife for cutting, or is the Bayonet it? I know in SF it depends on what unit your in. I have a draw full of Spydercos type Knives. Seems every time I walked thru a door someone was handing one to me.

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Sir,
I got out in '03 so I hope my '02 is not to out of date. The Gerber Multi-Plier 600 DET multi-tool is a great piece of gear for demo capability/everyday multi-tool combo. Also, I have carried many brands of fixed-blade & folders such as Benchmade, Emerson, K-Bar, SOG as well as many others. I saw many soldiers carry the biggest, baddest, coolest looking, most expensive blades they can find. As other's mentioned, it seems the "cool factor' outweighs the 'functionality factor'. Pound for pound, its hard to beat an old-fashioned K-Bar (Marines in my unit were issued K-Bars in addition to the M9 from the armory) for heavy use and abuse because they are relatively cheap and can take a fair amount of punishment in the everyday field environment. My last fixed blade was a SOG Seal. It held up alright. As for folders, I still carry the Emerson CQC-7 I bought 6 years ago while on AD for everyday use. Its a great blade that holds a decent edge. I have never had the pleasure of owning one of Mr.Harsey's knives but by what the QP's say on this board I don't think you could do any better. I wish I could get one over here thru customs.

To all that have replied to my question, thanks. I too use a Victorinox multiitool, as well as a Victorinox one hander, that I have carried since 2002. Just wish it had a red handle, as most folks associated SAK's with red handles, not as threatening as some knives. Currently I am carrying a Benchmade DeJavoo, designed by another Oregon knifemaker, Bob Lum. Very nice, S30V blade and smooth opening and closing. I also got a laugh out of the categories ie free and cool. The "Cool" factor has always outweighted the practical. I am quilty too, carried a British Sykes/Fairburn commando knife on my first tour. I did take a file and knock about an 1 1/2 inches off of the point as I thought it would snap if I hit anything with it. Then I carried a Ben Hibben Jungle Fighter, forged 440C for the next two tours, and ended up with a stainless (440B) Randall 14 on my last tour, and carried it till I retired in 91. I had Wayne Goddard (another Oregon knife maker) re-handle it in 1988. Always had a SAK (since 1972) for real use, and when I went back to Okinawa I got a parang in Brunei. Hands down, the SAK saw more use than all my other knives combined.

I am by no means an expert on knives, which is why I purchase only quality blades that are not carried in the PX, and I usually have to wait several months to get them in hand after ordering them.But, my favorite has to be a kukuri that I got during a JCET to Nepal in '96. Made of leaf spring, decent balace, tougher than nails, and sharpens quite easily...especially since it is not intended to be a razor blade. I have always carrieid it on my kit, and will be living hell, for all around, the day it is gone.