Active military...what do YOU carry?

Sproles

Sproles

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
700
I am sure that this has been discussed before here on the forums...but humor me please. :-)
I am tired of reading on many manufacturer's sites and promo/ad stuff that their knife is "carried by X number of military personel/units..." etc!
I am confident that we have MANY active Military and active Police officers. What I am REALLY interested in is what my fellow forumites carry or carried (if no longer active) while they served our great United States. I am particularly interested in what our SpecOps men carry in the "field."
There are many wonderful custom and production blades out there that fit different tasks that these people may have to encounter, but I am interested in what the PROS carry when their (and their teammates') lives depend on it. I would like to know about fixed blades and folders (if applicable) and any multi-tools that may find their way into a tactical vest.

Thanks you for your input and especially for your service to our country.

God Bless!

David

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David P. Sproles
Eagle Scout Class of 1988
dps2970@hotmail.com
 
Retired Army here.

Knives are kind of a sensitive issue in the Army. Most post regulations allowed carry of most knives with up to a 3" blade. That pretty much limited us to pocketknives.

For most of my career I carried an all stainless steel 4 bladed utility pocketknife. They were issed but I bought mine in a surplus store. They have checkered stainless steel handles marked US and mine was made by Camillus. Good knife except the cutting blade would not hold an edge. But it took one well.

I also carried a Case Barlow in my pocket. A traditionalist I guess.

In the later years I often also carried a original Leatherman Tool.

In the field I would carry the above plus a Buck Ranger or BuckLite and on some deployments an issue "Air Force Pilot Survival Knife".

That's about it for me. But I saw just about every kind of knife you can imagine especially on combat arms guys and special operations guys. I even saw one guy with a machete. I saw Marine K-Bars, all other kind of sheath knives, Gerber Combat knives, etc. Most guys just carried a pocketknife or a folder like a Buck Hunter or Ranger model or their Schrade, Camillus, etc cousins.

 
Hi there, I'm an active duty Air Force Security Policeman. My job varies from regular Base Law Enforcement to Air Base ground Combat. As an issue blade for combat we get either the Buck M-9 (or the newer version made by Phobis) But for everyday LE most of us use regular pocket knives. My main pocket knife as of recently is a Benchmade Aries ( I love it ). I carry a Kershaw Blackout on my duty belt, as a backup. It's great because the price is low, and it's very fast to open in an emergency. I also have a Spyderco Mil in 440V, which I use when we go out for field maneuvers. I also have a couple of Microtech's ( Mini SOCOM, and a Vector ). I don't use them though. Last but not least I have a REKAT Pocket Hobbit. ( Haven't used it though, due to the fact that it's just too menacing looking for an everyday folder ). I plan on getting a Nimravus Cub next. I hope this helps.
 
Hello David,

When I was flying on C-5 Galaxies in the AF, they issued to me a poorly-made automatic knife. It had international-orange handles, and a curved parachute cord cutter. The normal blade was the auto, but the common story is that the original specs was to have the cord blade as the auto-opening one. It may have been made by Camillus, but I'm not sure of that.
Most of my fellow crewmates and I really didn't carry that knife often. It wasn't very practical for our purposes, and the auto blade didn't lock open reliably. Instead, most of us carried Leatherman tools, and we kept a larger blade in the gear bags. Since we were often in countries that were slightly less safe, I also carried a Benchmade Emerson CQC-7, when clothing permitted.

regards,
Phil Reedy
 
Air Force Engineer Craftsman Here.

I always carry some version of a multi-tool. (Usually a Swiss tool) and also carry a Buck 110 master series over run. Depending on the task at hand I will switch out the Buck for a Bench made 710. I have seen Civil Engineers carry just about everything, The most common was a multi- tool. But soon I will replace my daily carry with a Sabenza. Te problem with fixed blades are they are too big to deply with. Most countries customs kind of frowns on large knives.
 
When I was a Security Policeman in 1989-93 at Griffiss AFB in Rome,N.Y.Our flight commander told us we were no longer allowed to carry a fixed blades on our web gear while doing the day to day duties.I can't remember him saying if we could carry them out on manuevers and I don't remember if we could.I imagine during Desert Storm they lifted the restriction for the the deployed SP's,but its been so long I don't recall.I'm not sure if this was the policy for the USAF all accross the board or maybe is was just for our individual Base.Well So Long,Ralph
 
One thing I forgot to mention,what a military member is allowed to carry while on-duty will depend alot on what his MOS is(job)Certainly a Green Beret probably will be able to carry a variety of interesting items.As far as what a armed services member can carry when he/she is off duty mostly will reflect on the Base Commanders regulations.In the Air Force base in NY our laws directly reflected what NYS laws where,as not to conflict with them.So if your in a state that auto's are illegal than on that base they will be illegal unless otherwise directed by the commander or because of your MOS.I remember one day while on an entry point to the base my partner confiscated a Picklock off a service member while at the gate trying to enter the base with his vehicle.I guess my partner wasn't a sympathetic knifenut
wink.gif
 
Originally posted by Sproles:
I am sure that this has been discussed before here on the forums...but humor me please. :-)
I am tired of reading on many manufacturer's sites and promo/ad stuff that their knife is "carried by X number of military personel/units..." etc!
I am confident that we have MANY active Military and active Police officers. What I am REALLY interested in is what my fellow forumites carry or carried (if no longer active) while they served our great United States. I am particularly interested in what our SpecOps men carry in the "field."
There are many wonderful custom and production blades out there that fit different tasks that these people may have to encounter, but I am interested in what the PROS carry when their (and their teammates') lives depend on it. I would like to know about fixed blades and folders (if applicable) and any multi-tools that may find their way into a tactical vest.

Thanks you for your input and especially for your service to our country.

God Bless!

David
Click to expand...

Sproles:

I noticed a lot of response from the AF to your Query and I would like to give you another viewpoint - that of an infantryman, the Grunt.
First, I can tell you that we are issued the M9 bayonet, which is really not all that great. I have seen them break at the guard and also on the plastic handle. I've also seen the blade break off relatively easy. It's really only good for light duty utility and maybe one puncture of an attacking enemy soldier.
Second, most of the infantryman I've worked with, including Airborne Jumpmasters, Rangers, SF, Canadian, British, Korean aren't caught up in all of the hype for the "tactical" knife that you see advertised so much. "Green Beret" and "SEAL tested" doesn't mean squat to us. It's a matter of utility mostly. What are the most effects, the most uses, I can get out of a knife that I will be carrying on my person and/or on my back with all of my other equipment. Construction is also critical. Obviously, we need something that can hold up under various extreme conditions in the field. We also need to be comfortable with the knife. The majority of serious knife users that I know from the SF and Ranger communities take their knives very seriously and always shop around and get their hands on as many blades as possible. It's vital to check knives out for yourself, especially in my line of duty where that piece of equipment may be the one that saves a life.
With all that said, and about 10 years experience in infantry-type field work, I normally carry three different blades when I go to the field. Currently, I carry a Sebenza on my body, I have a leatherman (with demo crimper) on my load bearing vest, and I carry a Randall Model 15 on my rucksack. Over the years I have seen a million different combos used however: from Buck Rangers, Swiss Army Knives, high-end customs from Crawford to Emerson to you name it, to the $20 Kukhri from Atlanta Cutlery. For most of us, it's a "work-in-progress."
Most importantly, shop around, find a knife/knives with lots of utility that you are comfortable handling, and finally learn how to use it properly and use it- knives get better with experience. Hope some of this helps out.

Out Here, Dens
 
Originally posted by Phillip Reedy:
Hello David,

When I was flying on C-5 Galaxies in the AF, they issued to me a poorly-made automatic knife. It had international-orange handles, and a curved parachute cord cutter. The normal blade was the auto, but the common story is that the original specs was to have the cord blade as the auto-opening one. It may have been made by Camillus, but I'm not sure of that.
Most of my fellow crewmates and I really didn't carry that knife often. It wasn't very practical for our purposes, and the auto blade didn't lock open reliably. Instead, most of us carried Leatherman tools, and we kept a larger blade in the gear bags. Since we were often in countries that were slightly less safe, I also carried a Benchmade Emerson CQC-7, when clothing permitted.

regards,
Phil Reedy
Click to expand...

Hi Phil,

Just curious, was your CQC7 a combo or straight edge?

T Clark

 
Dens hit the nail on the head. I have been in the AF for 18 years. 11 of those as Security/LE, where anything more than a small folder was discouraged. In today's military general function is needed much more than a "combat" type knife. Over the last few years I have been part of a Red Horse unit(similar to navy CBEEs or army Black Horse) and have found that a small utility blade is my most used tool. I started making them, and carried one to evaluate it. As it turns out, nearly everyone in the unit has one now, carried in a horizontal kydex scabbard. Most of us look at as......if we ever get to the point where we have to defend ourselves with a blade, things are not looking good for the home team! I have several friends who are in the SpecOps community, and they will tell you that "big knives, usually mean big problems."

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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.caffreyknives.com
 
Hello T,

My CQC-7 has a black combo edge. Don't ask me what that black coating is -- I don't really know much about the Benchmade brand.

Phil Reedy
 
Hello, Naval Nuclear Engineer here
I carry a Leatherman Wave (most often used) and a Kershaw Blackout for the big stuff I may have to cut. Before the Blackout came out I carried a Gerber Gator on my belt since it was cheap and I wasn't afraid of destroying it. Hope this helps there wasn't a lot of Naval responses so i thought I'd chime in.(:

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
What I have seen is this--other than SF and Rangers who certainly tend to carry more expensive and more exotic knives (in some cases) your average soldier carries something small, cheap and readily available.

Almost every soldier has some type of multi-tool--Leatherman, Gerber etc. Many carry Swiss Army knives, and probably the most common knives are the common Spyderco Endura, Buck 110 and the like.

Soldiers are usually discouraged from carrying large fixed blade knives for several reasons. One being that he cannot keep such a knife in the barracks. Technically it must be checked into the arms room as it is considered a weapon. And the fact of the matter is that most soldiers live in the barracks.

Most soldiers do not follow the "tactical knife seen." Most don't make a lot of money, and strictly want something cheap that works. You don't see a lot of soldiers or NCOs carrying expensive, custom tactical knives. They are much more common with people who are NOT in the military, or with officers who can better afford them, or with someone in a rear echelon support unit who wants to feel like he is a snake eating front line killer.

just my observations
 
What is with all the AF here? Bowler, are you arty, either way you have my sympathy for being in Lawton.

Most of the junior Marines use either what's issued or what's cheap at the PX (Kabars & linemans tools or Enduras, EZ outs, etc.). Multi tools are certainly the most popular in the field or garrison I see gerbers and the coast cutlery/Chineese stuff the most. In the field I notice alot of the Ontario stuff.

Personally, my daily carry an AFO (which I bought myself). In the field I put a Gerber Multi plier in a pistol mag pouch on my duece gear (My CO has a letherman wave which I'll buy when I loose/break mine). To look cool I have a CS Recon Scout 2nd in a kydex sheath I had made by Tactical tools. It serves just fine for opening MRE's, whitling walking sticks, and serving as a map pointer for convoy briefs. Although, when I went on boat ops I only carried an Endura because of rusting.

Oh yeah almost forgot. the two knives I use the most now that I'm an XO are the ones I keep on my desk: a 3" Ek dagger with USMC on the blade as a letter opener, and my original CS ATC Kukri for threatening people across my desk (I call it a troop/lt alignment tool). S/F

[This message has been edited by dov (edited 05-15-2000).]
 
I would certainly agree w/Bowler's observations. The most expensive knife that I saw being carried by my fellow crewmates was my own Benchmade. Just about everything that you will find being carried by military folk was purchased at a BX/PX. These places carry a lot of Sypderco, Benchmade, Buck, Gerber, Schrade, SOG.....you get the picture. No Microtech's or William Henry's there.
There are exceptions of course, many military persons are into the finer things, and many do like the high-end stuff. Overall though, an expensive blade as a daily carry is somewhat rare.

regards,
Phil Reedy
 
When I was in the Marines, I carried a super leatherman everywhere I went. In the field and on deployments, I carried various knives such as a Mad Dog DSU-2, Mirage EOD, Mirage Micro, to Benchmades and Gerbers.
My fellow marines would be able to afford these types of knives if it wasn't for their drinking habits, but that is a different matter all together.
There is a saying; out of sight, out of mind.

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Check out my pics
 
I'm a recently retired Army Colonel. My usual loadout included a Victorinox SAK (Fieldmaster), a SOG PowerPlier, a Sebenza, and a Randall #14. I guess my position prevented most from telling me what I could or could not carry. I carried all but the Randall on duty every day. Occasionally I would carry a BM AFO in place of the Sebenza.

Bruce Woodbury
 
Dov and E_WOK, Semper Fi. I was in the Marines in the late 80s and we could carry most models of folding knives (within reason). The fixed blades were a different story. Whenever we were out in the field, we would get extra attention if we carried something unusual like a large kukri or similar. I belonged to an Intel unit and it seemed like we had a little more leeway than some of the other units. We would train in the field and do other tasks associated with infantry because some of the guys would go off to radio battalions and the CO didn't want to look bad by sending troops that weren't in top shape. At least that is my theory as to why we were in the field so much.

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Glenn
 
I, like Phil Reedy, (Hi Phil)have been a loadmaster in the Air Force. I flew C-141s for 20 years. I'm still active duty currently stationed in Hawaii. While flying I carried either a BM Stryker or BM AFO. Now, when wearing my BDUs I still carry the Stryker, in "civies" I carry a BM Eclipse or the Stryker. I'm not flying during this tour so the AFO stays in the drawer. chieftd

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chieftd Proudly serving my country since 1977.
Aim High-Air Force, 61 countries visited and still counting....
 
P.S. When I flew airdrop I only used my Cold Steel Tanto straped to my leg for ease of cutting 1000lb (test) nylon cord used in aridropping heavy equipment or for static lines when dropping paratroopers. The heavy and sharp blade cut like 'butta" chieftd

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chieftd Proudly serving my country since 1977.
Aim High-Air Force, 61 countries visited and still counting....
 
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