Ontario/Boker M3 trench Knife? Details pls

R

ronie1988

Joined
May 25, 2014
Messages
166
Are they really good utility knife as well apart from fighting? What is the blade width (Slim as Glock or broad blade?)? What are the specs like weight, blade thickness and blade steel? Is the blade alloy good for hard use like glock 78? I recently saw the knife so very less idea about it? has anyone used them? Which is better Boker M3 or ontario M3? Share experiences brothers!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Not a good work blade. Wrong blade shape. It was designed to be a stabbing weapon. The blade lacks the width & geometry to be a good slicer. The flat metal pommel is okay for pounding stuff, though. They kept this blade through several generations bayonets, starting with the M4.

Not sure of the specs but they should be available online somewhere. 1095 steel for Ontario, SK-5 for the Boker. Both are good, tough, inexpensive steels for a hard use knife.

Read the wiki for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3_fighting_knife

I don't have the Boker yet but I like my Ontario M3 for what it is & they can be had for cheaper. I'll never use it but it seems well made & I like the history behind it. That, & I think these old, crude leather & stamped steel war blades are just plain cool.
 
Just ask the millions of serviceman (past and present) having been acquainted with the m5 through m7 bayonet - if it's good for utility task... The m3 was a great wartime combat knife that was light weight and lethal enough to warrant a morph into the m4 bayonet.
I concur with the comments posted by flatface77.
Absolute last choice for anything but the obvious.
 
I already have a glock 81 for survival purpose....all I need is a classic fighting knife....Ka-Bar seems too weak at the tang
 
ronie1988 said:
I already have a glock 81 for survival purpose....all I need is a classic fighting knife....Ka-Bar seems too weak at the tang
Click to expand...

That "too weak" Kabar has decades and decades of highly regarded and respected service mate, and they've seen plenty of combat. They are also more versatile than the M3, which is a dedicated weapon and nothing else.
 
No offenses....But I have broke two USMCs myself.... then purchased Glock and beating it throughout the jungle and dressed a board too....
 
I did much stupid with glock 81....It never broke....Ka-Bars break only where handles meet the blade right at the start of tang.....Wish Ka-bar has wide tang and wish glock was little more broad :-( cant find all qualities in one knife....maybe I have to design my own monster
 
It might surprise many to know what the tang on a Glock is like
5855461.jpg

(It's 4th from the left or 3rd from the right)
 
Last edited:
Whatever broke the Ka-Bars will probably break the M3 too. They're full tang but roughly the same thickness with less width. The Glock, while surprisingly not full tang, is well known for being extremely tough & is getting to be a classic in it's own right.

Can't think of a "classic" fighting knife that would be tougher than the Ka-Bar outside of a Smatchet, the British M.O.D. knife, or maybe a WW1 bolo if you want to go that far back.

Becker makes a few knives that match your criteria (wider blade than the Glock, thicker tang than the Ka-Bar). Not military classics, but great knives. Cold Steel's Recon Scout fits the bill, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top