Vietnam Vets:What knife or knives did you carry in Vietnam?

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RickJ

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I am a vet from Iraq and Afghanistan, and just so the Vietnam vets know, I spent 4 years doing POW/MIA Search and Recovery in Vietnam from 1992-1996 with the Central Identification Lab out of Hawaii. I have always thought about what the guys would have carried to Vietnam back then.

Please list all knives, multi purpose knives like Vic SAKS what ever you took over with you, pics would be great if you have them. Last, I want to say a big thanks to the Vietnam Vets for all they did for us.
 
I was far too young for service in Vietnam, but my older brother was drafted and served in 1969 i believe.
When he shipped out, he was given my fathers WWII Geneva Forge Mk1 to keep him safe.
He and the knife returned to us safely and thankfully, although he bears the scars on the inside as most vets of that conflict do and has a face full of shrapnel. I think this was the only blade he carried. He went in a private and was a Sgt. when he returned.


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I was with the 25th Infantry from Dec. '67 to Dec. '68. I never carried a knife and don't remember anyone who did, although once in a while someone would put an edge on a bayonet. I had the old-style M-16 (the one that didn't work) with an open flash suppressor that could pop wires on C rats. Other than that, a P-38 was the only cutting edge I needed.

Thanks for looking for those of us left behind. Not many people care about that war.
 
I served in 1967 and carried a 5 in. fixed blade made out of truck spring steel by a great uncle. I had a sheath made at a shoe repair store I think for $4.00. I did not use the knife for anything dramatic but it is a nice keepsake. Some day I must take the time to learn how to post pics.
 
Twindog said:
I was with the 25th Infantry from Dec. '67 to Dec. '68. I never carried a knife and don't remember anyone who did, although once in a while someone would put an edge on a bayonet. I had the old-style M-16 (the one that didn't work) with an open flash suppressor that could pop wires on C rats. Other than that, a P-38 was the only cutting edge I needed.

Thanks for looking for those of us left behind. Not many people care about that war.
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Do you remember what the PX sold back then, and did the Military Personnel have access to Vic SAKs?
 
RickJ said:
Do you remember what the PX sold back then, and did the Military Personnel have access to Vic SAKs?
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I didn't get back to the PX that much, but I don't remember anyone having any kind of knives, other than bayonets. Just wasn't much need for them. I don't remember anyone having an SAK or any being for sale. Brightly colored, shiny stuff didn't cut it.
 
Twindog said:
I was with the 25th Infantry from Dec. '67 to Dec. '68. I never carried a knife and don't remember anyone who did, although once in a while someone would put an edge on a bayonet. I had the old-style M-16 (the one that didn't work) with an open flash suppressor that could pop wires on C rats. Other than that, a P-38 was the only cutting edge I needed.

Thanks for looking for those of us left behind. Not many people care about that war.
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In my mind it was one of the most important wars in US history, behind only the Civil War and WWII (and perhaps the Revolution)
 
I'm not a vet, but I recently met a guy who carried a big Randall in Vietnam. He convinced me to buff it out and make it pretty again, I told him it would ruin all value of the knife, but he insisted. He said he'd never sell it, but there were too many bad memories that came with the stains on it
 
I was really hoping for alot of knife discussion in this thread, I know most Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan had some kind of pocket knife or multi tool or both, On my last deployment which was Afghanistan, I carried a Spyderco Military, a Leatherman Core and ST200 for back up and a Vic Outrider. Leatherman Core saw the most use with the Military close behind, I did not carry a fixed blade.
 
I'm watching re-runs of Tour of Duty as I read this. I just missed Vietnam as the war ended as I became of age. It is the war I feel closest to, knowing those who fought in it as well as anticipating going myself.
 
Both of my Brothers carried a Randall #1 when they served in Viet Nam. I gave them as gifts, because I wanted them both to have a good knife.
 
i was too young to know much about this war, it was my father's era......but i see sog and boker throw out a ref, to a legendary vietnam era bowie knife, on a couple of their current models in their marketing? what was the actual vietnam bowie knife, these companies today are referrencing?

also did any vets, actual carry or issued this "bowie" knife? or was it only a small group of special forces guys? thanks in advance.
 
I know the Western W-49 bowie was carried in Vietnam. I also seen one on E-bay that had the Green Beret logo etched into the blade and made referance to the number that were issued to SF soldiers. My wife's cousin was in LRRP's and he carried a Gerber Mark II.
 
I was there from 12/67 to 12/68. Always carried a knife since I was old enough to wear long pants. Knew about Randalls because my Dad bought a 3-6 in 1945, but didn't want to lose it or mess it up and couldn't afford a new one at the time. I bought and carried a Schrade 150T.
 
Psyop said:
My dad carried a Buck 119 Vietnam he gave it to me several years ago.
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And I used it for everything. From cutting string, to opening cans, cutting food, buttering bread and even (carefully) as a fork when nothing else was available. And happy that it remains in the family.

Steve
 
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