Do the US armed forces issue knives ?

R

RH

Joined
Jan 31, 1999
Messages
2,094
I was just browsing the docs over at JKM's site, and was reading the Puuko descriptions, one of which is the geuine issue "Swedish Army" made by Frost's of Sweden. So, I was wondering, do the US armed forces issue knives, and if so.. what ?

-Army ? Navy ? AF ? Marines ? Coast Guard ?

... and I'm not talking here about some super covert, black-bag spec-ops group. I mean what every person would get when they pass out the OD skivvies.

------------------


 
In Army Basic and at permanent party you are issued a bayonet. I was also issued a folding electricians knife with my tool kit.
And right before deployment to the Gulf War our 1stSgt came through the billets and handed out a fixed-blade knife. It's made by the Ontario Knife company, has leather handle and sheath, and comes with a sharpening stone in a pocket on the front.
I still have the fixed-blade but I lost the electricians knife long ago.
 
The Army now issues the M4 Bayonet (still can't find maker)compatible with all M-16 Variants the U.S.M.C. as well as the Navy selectively issue the Ka-Bar plus the general purpose military knife(Camilus)

------------------
Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn my god do you learn.
C.S. Lewis
 
I was in the Navy back in the late 60's and I never saw or heard tell of a Navy issue knife. Of course I wasn't a SEAL or anything, just stationed on a destroyer as a Radarman. I will say that I didn't know anyone on board ship that didn't carry a knife, evrything from small folders to Bowies. Bowie knives were outlawed on my ship after one of the cooks took another guys hand off with one swipe in a very short knife fight.

I carried a lot of different knives while in the Navy from switchblades to throwing knives, (don't ask) to a great stag handle lockback that I bought in the Ships Store. I have no idea whatever happened to that knife and I can't remember the brand, and I haven't seen anything that comes close to it, kind of like a Buck 110, but I know that isn't it. I sure would like to get my hands on another one.



------------------
"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
We had M9 bayonets (biggest POS ever, if you ask me), and since we were special, these little orange-handled Camillus switchblades with a-can't remember what to call it-little fold out thing like a gut hook. I think it was supposed to be used to cut paracord in case your chute tangled up (yeah right, good luck from 600 ft.). Our primary use for these particular knives was to practice throwing them into tree trunks until they broke.
Wish I had kept one, just to have
frown.gif

We all bought our own "real" knives.

------------------
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
 
I can't comment on the US military, but I was under the impression that the Grohman #3 Boat Knife has been "used by the Canadian Armed Forces since 1964" (according to their web site). Does this mean they're issued to all members of the Canadian military, or is this just marketing BS? Also, what about all the knives I see advertised as the "official SEAL knife," "official military-issue," etc. Obviously these aren't general issue knives -- who's doing the issuing?
 
Hi,
I work for Security Forces/Protective Services unit at Andrews. In my 6 years in the AF I've seen a few different issue knives. For deployments AF troops get the Buck/Phobis M-9. Some pilots are getting, I belive it's called the BM Reflex, or it could be the AFO. I havn't examined one real closly, but I know it's a BM Auto. There are also issue Gerber multi pliers. That's about it for issue stuff. We do however carry a host of other stuff. Spyderco, MT, BM, MOD, Emerson. All the big time TAC Knives.
 
bajakirch,

In TK magazine Leory Thompson indicated that the Grohman #3 is standard issure for jump masters for cutting line. I have seen the #3 in PPLI kit shop catalogs.

Will
 
Marines. Anybody who is issued an M16 also has a M7 bayonet. Anybody with the M9 pistol gets a Kabar.
 
I don't know about anyone that get's issue alot of stuff. The Army issue me that damn bayonet for feild use and that is about the only knife they ever issued. M9's are usually reserved for officers and MP's (but most i know tend to carry a Glock or 1911). Most people buy some kind of folder for normal everyday carry, usually a Spyderco, me personally, Cuda. One knife that has been used quite a bit though is the Sog Seal Pup, not the full sized, the small one. Damn handy and for $50 at the PX, a good deal. There has never really been an interforces issued knife simply because there are not enough LOW BIDDERS. Gerbers seem to be in with the old timers, with Spyderco a close second. One tool that everyone seems to have though is a multitool, everyone got one, and i mean EVERYONE.

The only issue knife is the one you bring.

That seems to be the motto for the Army, here's another one, saw it on the back of a 5-ton:

If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

------------------
Peter Bui
Some guy in California just ate a worm and boy is it yummy.
 
When I was in the Army I of course was issued the bayonet, and when I got to be a demolition specialist I was issued a demolition knife made of a metal that wouldn't spark so as to not set anything off prematurely.I don't recall seeing any makers name on it but by the looks of it I think it might have been a camillus don't know if that is spelled right or not. But that is what I think.I did carry an old timer and a Airforce survival knife they were private not issue.

[This message has been edited by eaglehi1 (edited 09-21-2000).]
 
Will, bajakirch,
The Grohman boat knife with overflap sheath is issued to some elements of the C.F. primarily parachutists and engineers. The standard issue (across the board) utility knife is the "Soldiers Multi-Tool" (AKA Gerber needlenose multiplier).
 
As an Infantry Staff Sergeant I think I can answer this one.
In the Army, at least in the Infantry, we don't get issued knives, to include the M9 Bayonet, in Basic Training or "Permenant Party". You draw out your bayonet when you draw your rifle.
Any knives that soldiers carry are their own purchase. Most soldiers buy their knives at the PX so the brand of knife is usually determined by what the PX carries. I have seen a lot of Spydercos, Benchmade, SOGs, Bucks, Camilus/KABAR, and SAKs. Sometimes they even get in things like M.O.D.
Almost everyone carries a Multi-tool of some sort and/or a folding knife.
Of course I can only speak for the Army.


------------------
Arguing with a GRUNT is like wrestling with a pig. Everyone gets dirty and the little pig loves it.
 
Coast Guard issues Spyderco Rescue knives to aviation personnel and aerovac flight corpsman.

Individual units may buy their personnel knives such as the deck force of a Coast Guard cutter but that is left to the Commanding Officer's descretion.

There is no official issue knives though...it is basically unit to unit.

Greg Mete
LTJG USCG (Ret)

------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
JKM-Chai
 
In the Marines I was issued a bayonet with the M16. The Gerber survival knives seemed popular as a private purchase, back in the 70s at least, and I bought a smaller Buck that I sold before I got out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top