Fixed blade for tactical life vest

U

USMCGRUNT_0341

Joined
Feb 4, 2011
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Hello all, newb here at the forums. Wanted to get some expert advice on a fixed blade knife that could be strapped upside down, in a pretty secure kydex? It is for a helicopter pilot's tactical life vest with molle gear. I saw a couple guys with the Kydex zip tied to the vest. Looked like it held up pretty well.

A few I were looking at were the SOG Pentagon Mini or Seal Pup. The Spyderco Caspian Salt. And also a Strider.

Thanks
 
Caspian salt or aqua salt are solid ideas. I wouldn't go with a double edged knife that has a fine point simply because the point will probably snap off in use. Most daggers don't have particularly strong tips and a rescue knife ought to be fairly robust, but if thats less of an issue there is always the Kershaw amphibian to look at as well.
 
whatever suits your means. personally i hate the sog sealpup

i have the cs pendelton, a bitch to sharpen, i like the fallkniven f1

its light, and desigined as a pilot survival knife, if this is actually what your intended purpose. sheath is something to be desired, you will require a new one if you really want a kydex attached, but i am sure someone on the forums can help you out. Do some research on the interweb on fallkniven
 
Check out the Spyderco Warrior (pricey, H1 Steel, great ergos) or find a Becker Bk11 from Camillus (cheaper, High Carbon Steel, built for the purpose)
 
Spyderco Aqua Salt is good, although it doesn't come with a handle strap. If you want to strap it upside down you'll need to improvise or order a custom sheath.

Cold Steel Master Hunter comes with a good sheath out of the box. The "Concealex" sheath has riveted eyelets for attachment points, and it also comes with a handle strap. Blade length is 4.5", which is in the neighborhood of Spyderco Aqua Salt and SOG Seal Pup.
 
Spyderco Jumpmaster. Made for parachuting, I'd imagine it would be wonderful on a pilots vest too.

Kabar has it's own version of the USN MKI knife hitting the market soon. That's what I'd go with.
 
ESEE4 comes with molle locks.
or you can get it with the MOLLE back plate which includes an elastic "hood" for the butt of the knife as extra retention.
 
Did I say I wanted opinions on what knife to get......lol I had no clue about all these other knives. I like the ESEE, Spyderco Jumpmaster, and every other one you guys listed better than the SOG's.....Now I'm really stuck. haha
 
Swamp Rat Howling Rat or CRK Professional Soldier.

I believe the Pro Soldier is designed for just that kind of task so the sheath is designed for MOLLE.

As far as Swamp Rat goes, you can have the sheath made any way you want. Mashed Cat and David Brown are two top kydex benders.
 
As a Former Active duty Recon Marine , I just grabbed some zipties and a K-Bar. They are free and why spend it for ditch equip. If you are going to spend your cash. I did For my last vest. I ended up going with the CS Srk. Get em cheap at eh PX and they are a great blade for the use. Plus not a huge investment when ya loose it. (which ya know ya will!).

Grab a Spare M9 mag pouch and throw a good Multi into it. You will use that a hell of a lot more.

OT> Where ya slinging mortars at?
 
yans said:
As a Former Active duty Recon Marine , I just grabbed some zipties and a K-Bar. They are free and why spend it for ditch equip. If you are going to spend your cash. I did For my last vest. I ended up going with the CS Srk. Get em cheap at eh PX and they are a great blade for the use. Plus not a huge investment when ya loose it. (which ya know ya will!).

Grab a Spare M9 mag pouch and throw a good Multi into it. You will use that a hell of a lot more.

OT> Where ya slinging mortars at?
Click to expand...


Semper Fi.....I hear ya on the zip ties and that is what we are currently using. I thought I would come on here and see what was out there. Really opened my eyes to some nice pieces. I am really stuck on that Esee....

As for slinging mortars.....Last mortar I ever sent was in Afghanistan January 2002. Got out immediately after that tour over there.......
 
OHHHH So this isnt for the suck. Its for your own Bug out gear.

Ok then the sky is the limit. Look into the Esee and also into the ZT series of fixed blades. They are bullet proof and really overbuilt. But you will love them. I carry the ZT 200 Folder and It has done everything that I have thrown at it. So really check out ZT.
 
USMCGRUNT_0341 said:
Did I say I wanted opinions on what knife to get......lol I had no clue about all these other knives. I like the ESEE, Spyderco Jumpmaster, and every other one you guys listed better than the SOG's.....Now I'm really stuck. haha
Click to expand...
:D
all is good - and welcome to the forums!
SRK & master Hunter are both good knives.
for something small, the ESEE Izula 2 or Becker BK14 are good GP knives as well.
 
yans said:
OHHHH So this isnt for the suck. Its for your own Bug out gear.

Ok then the sky is the limit. Look into the Esee and also into the ZT series of fixed blades. They are bullet proof and really overbuilt. But you will love them. I carry the ZT 200 Folder and It has done everything that I have thrown at it. So really check out ZT.
Click to expand...

Exactly....My personal gear...It's going to be used for my current job as well. On a survival life vest in a helicopter. Anything over kill is exactly what I need! :D
 
Esee is great, but the ZT well lets put it this way. You break it and they will send ya new one. Thomas and crew has thier sh$t wired tight over there. They will serve you well. I did 3 tours and lost a ton of gear, but for some reason my personal stuff I dont. I guess it is the difference in free and issue.

I wish ya the best, but really try out everything, and then decide, but this is what I would recomend.
http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=7&brand=zt
You will find it much less online, but it is really overbuilt!
 
Yans thanks for the link. I like that, but it's so big it will probably throw off the weight and balance of the helo..... haha....But as far as for my personal gear, it's fantastic! I like the Esee because of the smaller size, cord wrapped or canvas handle, and the Molle setup. Looking towards the Izula II or Esee 3.
 
Nice Blade and nice choice. The Izula is a real sleeper, and My 9yo girl says its cute

It will seve ya!
 
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