Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!udel!haven.umd.edu!mimsy!STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL
From: wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re:  Best Knife for a LRRP?
Message-ID: <34960@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 28 May 91 16:27:31 GMT
Sender: magnum@mimsy.umd.edu
Lines: 99
Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu

Ah, what a delightful topic! Considering you have dozens, if not
hundreds, of models to choose from, this subject could go on for months!
But lets try to narrow it down a bit. First off, though the best
possible knife would come from a custom maker, the lead time and
price may put this out of the question. Besides, the area I've been
interested in is factory knives, so I'll just consider that. I always
felt a multi-hundered-dollar custom knife wouldn't be what I'd want to
crawl thru the mud with, and maybe lose, either in training or in real work. 

Considering what is meant by "survival knife", I'm going to lean toward
a multi-use type of blade, as opposed to a double-edged dagger type.
I'm not going to discuss hollow-handle models; as a LRRP, the man will
have LBE and places to carry everything else he needs, and the vast
majority of hollow-handle models are weaker than full-tang or
reduced-tang types (except for Chris Reeve models turned out of solid
bar stock, and those are semi-custom). The last thing a LRRP needs miles
from home is a broken knife...

If price is an important consideration, the previously-posted pointer to
the USMC Ka-Bar style can't be beat. It's a great knife for the money.
Camillus and Ontario are the main makers of those these days, and the
wholesale price is around $16, with a list around $30. Take a look at
the knife you're buying first, though -- I had one Camillus Marine model
arrive in a mail-order shipment where the blade grind was defective and
there was a distinct "step" in the thickness halfway-down the blade and
the tip was ground dull. I've been playing with re-shaping that one over
the years... Case is making a commemorative model of these now, but it's
no better knife and with a higher price tag. Ka-Bar also has been making
them for the collector market; same consideration. There are cheap
Taiwanese and suchlike copies out there; avoid those. 

One advantage of this model is that it comes with a blackened/parkerized
blade as standard, which is unavailable or an extra-cost option on many
other knives. Non-reflectivity would be important in an LRRP knife. Another
consideration is weight; every extra ounce you hump thru the boonies is
a drag. So that will limit your consideration of some other knives.

Randalls are great knives, but it's a sort of semi-custom type of
operation, with standard models being hand-made, so the price is high and
lead time is long -- the latest Randall catalog I saw gave a 2-year lead
time. They do try to push knives being sent to active-duty Armed Forces
members, and sometimes have some models in stock. There are dealers who
carry Randall, but then you are paying them for their having invested
the time in ordering and waiting for years, so the price is much greater.

Ek Knives are worthy of consideration. They have a fine tradition since
WWII, and are full-tang models as near to unbreakable as can be. There
are a range of models with blade shapes like traditional Bowies and with
spear-point-shaped blades; the latter either fully-sharpened on both
edges or with a sharpened "false edge" partway down the blade top.
Handles are walnut or micarta held on with removable screws (so the
knife can be disassembled for thorough cleaning), or a simple wrapping
of "550 cord" parachute cord. The sheaths are either leather or webbing
(I prefer the latter) and also have some extra cord wrapped on them.
Some models are available with blackened baldes (& I guess all if you
order direct from the factory). They also make a reduced-cost model with
a wood non-removable handle called the "Warrior" which wholesales for
about $40 and lists for $70; the other Eks wholesale $70-$100 and list
in the $100-$175 range. The cord-wrapped ones are least expensive.

Two other brands I'd point you toward are Black Jack and Cold Steel. The
knives are made overseas to their specs, which helps keep prices down.
The Black Jack Mamba is a large fighting knife with a recurved blade (a
slight concavity in the cutting edge) and is available blackened
(wholesale $80; retail $125-$150). Their Marauder Mark I and IA are 
kukri-style knives with strong recurves; the IA has a bit of the top edge
sharpened (wholesale ~$40; list ~$80/90). [The Bali-Song Bushmaster 150 is
equivalent and a bit higher price; that's a different brand and US-made.]
Two smaller BJ knives are the Anaconda I 8" Bowie-style ($80 list) and
Archangel 5" blade "chute-knife" model ($65 wholesale; $100 retail). All
these have Kraton handles.

Cold Steel makes a range of tanto-style knives (that's a Japanese blade
shape with a slightly curved single-edge blade and a very strong point
originally designed to pierce armor). [There are a lot of cheap import
tantos available, but again be wary -- Cold Steel advertises their
models by driving them thru a car door and they emerge undamaged. Maybe
unrealistic but impressive! The cheaper ones won't take the punishment.]
They used to make a lower-cost "Recon Tanto" with a dull-finish blade
that's been discontinued but might be available in some shops (I keep
one of those in my desk as my "earthquake" knife, living here by the New
Madrid fault... :-). Some models have longer blades, others are made of
laminated steel, so there's a wide price range up to ~$200 retail, but
the basic model is ~$75 wholesale. They make a large Bowie called the
Trailmaster which might be a bit heavy for your purpose, and also a 6"
blade Bowie that sells for under $50 called the SRK you might find a
good choice. All have kraton handles.

By the way, there's a magazine on the stands and available by
subscription called "Fighting Knives", which not only has articles on
the very subject, and reviews of knives, but also now has a
business-reply "bingo" card for sending in to get free info from
advertisers; this is a first in the knife press. You might want to pick
up an issue and look it over before making your decision. You'll also
see ads from a number of mail-order dealers where you can get better
prices than the average Cutlery World or Remington store in the local mall.

Regards, Will
wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil OR wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil