Larue Battle knife

VorpelSword said:
As I have written in other threads, when I gave our Marine son a number of serious knives prior to going to Iraq, what he chose to take was not the stabbing daggers from Ek or the Darrel Ralph designed folding dagger from Camilus. After seeking the advice of several combat veterans at our church (WW-II, Korea and Viet Nam) what he packed were utility-oriented knives from Randall and CRK . . .along with a mid-range pocket folder and a multi tool.

I think most combat units are dropping the bayonet now as many troops have some sort of suppressor on their long guns.
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I apologize for the thread jack, but just had to know...


Your posts really took me back. As I recall, before leaving, I crazy-pondered what "field knife"/fixie would be accompanying me on my vacation. (*I'm talkin' like losing sleep/"ADHD" pondered)

TOPS was really booming with their "Steel Eagle" (*I believe the 107D), back in the early-2000's, but it just didn't do anything for me. (*I have to chuckle when I post that because the 107E is now my favorite fixie in the World) Strider offered some wicked Tantos, but the 550 wrap had me a little skeptical. There was, however, one Brand that kinda' stayed on my radar, even after I returned.

So, my question is this: Did you or your boy ever look at the "Mercworx" stuff back then?


I looked them up, just a few weeks back, and was shocked to find that they're still around. It seems that they now offer their wares in 154CM, which I don't remember them offering back then. I seem to recall them using S30V (*exclusively), which makes sense, as it was the fancy new steel in town. Of course, you can take that recollection with a grain of salt, as my 53yo brain has survived a LOT of "Jack & Zero" exposure since then.



*Anyhow, again, my apologies for the selfish thread jack. Curiosity got the best of me.
 
Alone:

If I can answer here . . .I don't think I have private messaging privileges . . . .No.

At that time, say 1998-2004, I was relatively naive about buying tactical knives. Additionally, I had the anxiety of a parent whose only son was determined to be a Marine. As he graduated from college (Texas A&M), in 2002 and was sworn in, Imy anxiety for him got more intense. AS time went on and his unit entered a training cycle at 29 Palms it grew. He would not let me buy him better body armor or a back-up pistol. So I looked around for a good knife.

What I bought was based on tradition (a Ka-Bar), historic reputation (Ek and Randall), apparent advanced materials and rugged construction (CRK) and sheer "coolness" (the Ralph designed Cuda Maxx). I had no idea what was "the best" and price was not my main concern. At one point I was looking at a genuine Loveless "Big Bear" sub-hilt fighter for insance.

A former Marine and friend with combat experience (Hue, Tet 1968) said he could not imagine my stste of mind while our son was deployed. There is a song from tghe musical, Les Mis, that capgured my mind set perfictly though . . . .

 
VorpelSword said:
Alone:

If I can answer here . . .I don't think I have private messaging privileges . . . .No.

At that time, say 1998-2004, I was relatively naive about buying tactical knives. Additionally, I had the anxiety of a parent whose only son was determined to be a Marine. As he graduated from college (Texas A&M), in 2002 and was sworn in, Imy anxiety for him got more intense. AS time went on and his unit entered a training cycle at 29 Palms it grew. He would not let me buy him better body armor or a back-up pistol. So I looked around for a good knife.

What I bought was based on tradition (a Ka-Bar), historic reputation (Ek and Randall), apparent advanced materials and rugged construction (CRK) and sheer "coolness" (the Ralph designed Cuda Maxx). I had no idea what was "the best" and price was not my main concern. At one point I was looking at a genuine Loveless "Big Bear" sub-hilt fighter for insance.

A former Marine and friend with combat experience (Hue, Tet 1968) said he could not imagine my stste of mind while our son was deployed. There is a song from tghe musical, Les Mis, that capgured my mind set perfictly though . . . .

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Sorry that you and your boy had to go through that. :(

...and "Thanks" for the courageous and selfless SERVICE of your Son.


Signed,

"A very grateful American" ❤️
 
It is all over and 20 years past. He is out, Married, has two great kids and a cat. He did a few years as a project manage at a major electrical contractor, then went to Seminary and now is Pastor of a Baptist church in San Antonio.

Randall knives are just as good now as they were in 1945.

I sleep at night.
 
ACfixer said:
The only mistake they made after selling out that fast is not asking $500.
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IMG_1514.jpegIMG_1512.jpegIMG_1513.jpegI was a tad surprised to see over 1000 units sell out that quickly. That’s the power of branding. Good for them.

Personally I like the sheath concept. Some photos attached for those not inclined to look up a now sold out knife:

- 6.25-inch blade
- 5.5" edge
- OAL 11.15”
- Weight: 9.7 oz.

“The Hardened Silo Sheath is a combination of Delrin, steel, and leather by Crow Saddlery, brought together with stainless steel screws. Leather inserts protect the finish of the sheathed knife, as well as keep the sheathed knife quiet and free from rattle. Drain holes in the tip of the Delrin sleeve allow moisture a place to go. The sheath can be disassembled and serviced for more thorough maintenance. Lanyard holes at the end allow users to thread leather or cord through for attachment to leg or gear. The sheath assembly quickly secures to your gear with a Blade Tech Tek-Lok belt adapter.

The LaRue Battle Knife® ships complete sheath, a silicone-infused cloth, and a 14” x 4” padded, zippered case in a presentation box.”
 
The Art of Knives said:
I was a tad surprised to see over 1000 units sell out that quickly. That’s the power of branding. Good for them.
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Truly, and I am sure they are kind of kicking themselves for not asking a bit more. I'm not going to lie, if I owned a LaRue rifle I probably would have jumped in. I've spent $400 on far stupider stuff, I think we probably all have.
 
VorpelSword said:
It is all over and 20 years past. He is out, Married, has two great kids and a cat. He did a few years as a project manage at a major electrical contractor, then went to Seminary and now is Pastor of a Baptist church in San Antonio.

Randall knives are just as good now as they were in 1945.

I sleep at night.
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I live in San Antone, and my Brother is an "Aggie". (*Environmental Engineer)

Small World.
 
On the sheath, there's been a decent split among gun guys that either love it or hate it. Larue, himself, chimed in that he designed and prototyped it, etc...., and he's quite proud of it. So it's sticking around, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see more versions of it if they get deeper into the knife game.
 
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Alone said:
So, my question is this: Did you or your boy ever look at the "Mercworx" stuff back then?


I looked them up, just a few weeks back, and was shocked to find that they're still around. It seems that they now offer their wares in 154CM, which I don't remember them offering back then. I seem to recall them using S30V (*exclusively), which makes sense, as it was the fancy new steel in town. Of course, you can take that recollection with a grain of salt, as my 53yo brain has survived a LOT of "Jack & Zero" exposure since then.
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MercWorx always made its fixed blades in 154CM, with CMP-S30V offered as a cost upgrade. In either steel, they are excellent knives.


-Steve
 
T tltt 's research is always superb, but I had to check out this story for myself. I looked up the article in the November 2004 issue of Tactical Knives. The new knife is indeed a very close rendering of the original, as you can see for yourself.

IMG-0453.jpg



The original, called the LaRue Tactical Knife, was CNC-made by LaRue out of CPM-S30V (thus the choice to use this steel as an homage in the new LaRue Battle Knife). Karwan called out the fact that LaRue used CNC machining to make the knife because it was only the second company he'd seen use that still-novel manufacturing technique back then and he was very impressed by the results.

The sheath was a green Spec-Ops model. As good as Spec-Ops sheaths are, the custom-made, multi-material Hardened Silo sheath accompanying the new Battle Knife is much better and adds to the overall package. (Karwan said that the knife rattled too much in the Spec-Ops sheath, a problem eliminated by the Silo's design.)

The article alluded to the fact that the knife was favored by an unnamed Special Operations unit.

IMG-0454.jpg



Given LaRue's early connection with the Horrigan brothers, that unit would be 1SFOD-D (Delta Force). Delta Force operator Bob Horrigan, a knife guy who constructed his own knives in his spare time, eventually made a very close copy of the LaRue Tactical Knife knife that he called his Military Fighter (now made and sold by his twin brother, custom knife maker John Horrigan).

IMG-0460.jpg



According to a 2015 post by Mark LaRue on ar15.com, John Horrigan's only involvement with the LaRue Tactical Knife was sharpening a few of the knives while demonstrating the use of a new piece of sharpening equipment for LaRue employees. LaRue said that otherwise the knife's manufacture was "entirely in-house, from design to completion."

Karwan's TK article didn't mention anything about the knife's choil or the Randall-in-a-skull story. That also came directly from another Mark LaRue post in that same ar15.com thread about the knife.

IMG-0469.jpg



Chuck Karwan was a combat-decorated Special Forces officer in Vietnam. If he told Mark LaRue about such an event, I'm inclined to believe it happened the way that Karwan described it. Truth is often stranger than fiction, particularly when it comes to warfare.


-Steve
 
The Whip said:
T tltt 's research is always superb, but I had to check out this story for myself. I looked up the article in the November 2004 issue of Tactical Knives. The new knife is indeed a very close rendering of the original, as you can see for yourself.

IMG-0453.jpg



The original, called the LaRue Tactical Knife, was CNC-made by LaRue out of CPM-S30V (thus the choice to use this steel as an homage in the new LaRue Battle Knife). Karwan called out the fact that LaRue used CNC machining to make the knife because it was only the second company he'd seen use that still-novel manufacturing technique back then and he was very impressed by the results.

The sheath was a green Spec-Ops model. As good as Spec-Ops sheaths are, the custom-made, multi-material Hardened Silo sheath accompanying the new Battle Knife is much better and adds to the overall package. (Karwan said that the knife rattled too much in the Spec-Ops sheath, a problem eliminated by the Silo's design.)

The article alluded to the fact that the knife was favored by an unnamed Special Operations unit.

IMG-0454.jpg



Given LaRue's early connection with the Horrigan brothers, that unit would be 1SFOD-D (Delta Force). Delta Force operator Bob Horrigan, a knife guy who constructed his own knives in his spare time, eventually made a very close copy of the LaRue Tactical Knife knife that he called his Military Fighter (now made and sold by his twin brother, custom knife maker John Horrigan).

IMG-0460.jpg



According to a 2015 post by Mark LaRue on ar15.com, John Horrigan's only involvement with the LaRue Tactical Knife was sharpening a few of the knives while demonstrating the use of a new piece of sharpening equipment for LaRue employees. LaRue said that otherwise the knife's manufacture was "entirely in-house, from design to completion."

Karwan's TK article didn't mention anything about the knife's choil or the Randall-in-a-skull story. That also came directly from another Mark LaRue post in that same ar15.com thread about the knife.

IMG-0469.jpg



Chuck Karwan was a combat-decorated Special Forces officer in Vietnam. If he told Mark LaRue about such an event, I'm inclined to believe it happened the way that Karwan described it. Truth is often stranger than fiction, particularly when it comes to warfare.


-Steve
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Great post, good info, thanks. Now I’m starting to have a small twinge of…should I have ponied up for this knife? 🤔. I’m actually glad it’s sold out, don’t have to equivocate
 
I really like the look of the LaRue Battle Knife. Thayt profile is aggressive without looking like it can only stab as in a Fairborn-Sikes, Gerber Mk-I I or an original Ek. Do they offer it with an anti-glint treatment?

Had I thought about it more deeply, or with less worry-and-hurry, I would have ordered the Randall 16-1 with a saw-tooth grind, but NO teeth. The profile look would have been similar to the LaRue Batlle Knife. . . .which looks great.

CNC machining can be a serial production method for a knife. I am surprised that this is not more common in cutlery.

I would say that is the need is there and the money too . . .than go for it.
 
VorpelSword said:
I really like the look of the LaRue Battle Knife. Thayt profile is aggressive without looking like it can only stab as in a Fairborn-Sikes, Gerber Mk-I I or an original Ek. Do they offer it with an anti-glint treatment?

Had I thought about it more deeply, or with less worry-and-hurry, I would have ordered the Randall 16-1 with a saw-tooth grind, but NO teeth. The profile look would have been similar to the LaRue Batlle Knife. . . .which looks great.

CNC machining can be a serial production method for a knife. I am surprised that this is not more common in cutlery.

I would say that is the need is there and the money too . . .than go for it.
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aren't 90% of made knives now cnc machined?

I'm curious what the actual numbers are.... I know hard to know exactly, but what would be a good guess.
*My guess is it's pretty high.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
aren't 90% of made knives now cnc machined?

I'm curious what the actual numbers are.... I know hard to know exactly, but what would be a good guess.
*My guess is it's pretty high.
Click to expand...

Depends on what we're talking about. Even companies who are grinding the final size/shape/bevels are having blanks waterjet or laser cut. I'd be curious to know how many are machining primary bevels and all.
 
Wow, their rifles have really increased in price since I was looking (pre-COVID). At least they offer FDE options again.
 
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