Traditionals carried by Vets

[315]

A couple of posts the last couple of days has me a little curious. What type of knife did anyone carry when they were in the military? We know about Kabar knives and other combat knives but I’d like to know what kind of pocket knife or even a folding belt knife you may have carried. So here’s the deal, any military from anywhere in the world. Could have been you, your neighbor, a relative or even a stranger you met where somehow a knife came up during the conversation or was used for something. Obviously this will preclude modern folders with clips, as I see most modern day troops using those, but you don’t have to go back very far before they existed.

The two knives I carried exclusively were an Old Timer 340T, until I lost it, then I replaced it with this Victorinox Small Tinker. A piece of 550 cord kept it secured to my belt loop. Of the two I’d say the SAK was definately more useful as its tools probably got used just as much as the blades.

 

[jackknife]

When I got out of boot camp and into A.I.T. at Ft. Leoard Wood, Missouri, I was issued a Camillus 'demo' knife. Later it was replaced with a SAK. A few years into my service I got a Buck stockman that was carried with the SAK. In ten years of service, it was all that I really needed, to include time in Vietnam with the 39th Combat Engineers.

The SAK model started off with a Huntsman, but was downsized to a small tinker after a year or so. Then the tinker was replaced with a pioneer. Stayed with alox from then on.

 

[Railsplitter]

I served from 1979-1982 and that was the heyday when everybody and their brother at Fort Bragg carried a Buck 110 on their belt. Except me. I opted for the 112 instead. When I realized that I didn't need a knife even that big I switched to a Buck 703 like the top knife in the pic below. Those are all 703's but the Script shield model was the only one out at that time.

I guess those were my "Buck days".

 

[willc]

I was in the Army from mid 80’s to early 90’s and I always had a Vic Tinker on me.
Also had a Bucklite, think it was a 422 and some tl29’s from various makers that I picked up in Killeen pawn shops.

 

[Mikael W]

1979-1980 Swedish Navy onboard the HMS Älvsborg, a mineship.
I served as Ships Carpenter, Hull Mechanic and Fireman.
No knives were issued, but I had access to a Mora 511 in my toolbox and I used it when doing Carpenters work.

I never saw any knives in use except for Mora 511's, but when we visited Lubeck,Germany some of us bought cheap Auto's.
Mine was nothing but junk and completely useless as a knife.
After a few years in a drawer, I tossed it in the garbage can.

Regards
Mikael

 

[Peregrin]

US Air Force 1971-1975.
I carried this Old Timer that my dad sent away for years earlier.

 

[Jody744]

My dad served in Vietnam from 67-68 and carried a single blade Boker trapper

 

[Halfneck]

I served from '93 to '99 as a Medic in the Army. I carried a Victorinox Huntsman with black scales. I recall seeing it in the PX and thinking "Huh, I only thought they came in red?" so I went with the black. Blade to cut stuff, saw to saw stuff, scissors to cut medical stuff, and tweezers for splinters & such. Sadly I laid it down during a movement to contact, and in the fading dusk light I could not find it. Stuck with the red scales after that.

 

[Jody744]

My dad served in Vietnam from 67-68 and carried a single blade Boker trapper

I found one pic, he still has it. Dad holding his war Boker, me holding my first knife, and my youngest holding his first, a S&M Barlow gifted by Ken Daniels

 

[mushka]

In the 101st Abn from 62 to 65 I was an aerial delivery specialist. A rigger. Carried and used the TL29 on a daily basis. Those days they had wood handles. I used that knife every single work day. Wish I'd kept it but I have three others scattered around here just because I like them.

 

[Signalprick]

USMC. 1999 - 2003. Sorry, no traditional at that time for me.

 

[nik870]

I was a mechanic in the army 89-92. I carried a case scout pattern. Still have it always remember the vast quantities of MRE bags it opened.

 

[mitch4ging]

Army grunt from 1982-1994. Carried a Buck medium stockman, lost in the swamps somewherein Ft Stewart, then a Gerber Magnum LST, like this one...

 

[peanutsxx]

USMC 1990-1995 carried this Puma Sargent


My dad was USMC 1965-1968. Vietnam; I Corps; Rockpile, Khe Sanh, Hill fights, etc. Two purple hearts. I have his Kabar and Randall knife in a shadow box on my wall. I don't know if he carried a pocket knife so will have to ask him. Semper Fi old man. He was and is a Marine's Marine. Stubborn just like a dang bulldog. Best not tug. lol

My granddad was Army, WWII Europe, Battle of the Bulge and others. I have his love-me on my wall too, including bronze star. He carried an OT stockman, always. Not sure of the model.

Anywho, thank you to all who have and are serving to certainly include wives and family. God bless you and keep you.

EDIT: fixed image, sorry for that!

 

[mitch4ging]

USMC 1990-1995 carried this Puma Sargent


My dad was USMC 1965-1968. Vietnam; I Corps; Rockpile, Khe Sanh, Hill fights, etc. Two purple hearts. I have his Kabar and Randall knife in a shadow box on my wall. I don't know if he carried a pocket knife so will have to ask him. Semper Fi old man. He was and is a Marine's Marine. Stubborn just like a dang bulldog. Best not tug. lol

My granddad was Army, WWII Europe, Battle of the Bulge and others. I have his love-me on my wall too, including bronze star. He carried an OT stockman, always. Not sure of the model.

Anywho, thank you to all who have and are serving to certainly include wives and family. God bless you and keep you.

EDIT: fixed image, sorry for that!

Great family lineage!
Thank you and all of yours for serving!
Yes...the spouse as well! Big sacrifice by them, and the waiting during deployments

 

[leghog]

I carried small pen knives. The last on a Boker 8288SS.

 

[willard0341]

92 to 96 I discovered a clip on a knife and stuck with those for the better part of 30 years. 1st LAR at los Flores Camp Pendleton. Hind sight I wish I would of had a case barlow in my pocket and not drank to crazy excess. (Did not carry this one)

 

[Napalmsloth]

USAF 91-2000

I just started carrying a Case Baby Butterbean in yellow Delrin.

 

[rwc53]

USAF Aerospace Defense Command !972-1985 (Radar Tech on F-106 aircraft)
USAF Special Operations, 1985-1993 (Sensor Operator on AC-130H Spectre Gunships)

During my stint as a flight line radar tech, I carried a Buck 301 Stockman and some kind of SAK, usually a Tinker or Hunter, and a Buck 112 Ranger.

While flying on AC-130H's, I carried some kind of SAK, usually a Huntsman or Ranger. Still have both. In 1987, in Panama, I bought a 34OT Middle Stockman. Main reason was to peel apples. I still have that one, and it sits on the table by the computer as I type this! Over the years, the clip has been given a wedge, the sheeps foot shortened slightly and the spey turned into a well-thinned-out spear. During a stint assigned to SOCSOUTH as a Special Operations Aviation Tactics Advisor (attached to various SOF ground units), I carried my Huntsman, a Bucklite 112 and a 1988 Remington R4466 Muskrat. I still have the '88 Muskrat as well!
I also still have my Buck 112 that I carved finger grooves into while sitting strip alert in Panama after the end of Operation Just Cause. There were others, but these are the ones I used most

To all my friends here on the Forum who served: thanks for your service...and that extends to your families as well!

Ron

 

[Chief]

Carried this knife while pulling alerts at Titan II missile silos from 76 to 86, free with a S&W pistol. Also carried a little Buck from the BX, a keychain SAK, then an AFCK in M2.