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From: boyd@mailer.cc.fsu.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re:  Best Knife for a LRRP?
Message-ID: <35310@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 6 Jun 91 14:59:09 GMT
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Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
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Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu

In article <35175@mimsy.umd.edu>, snorthc@relay.nswc.navy.mil (Stephen Northcutt) writes:
#Killing quietly.
#	Else you would probably shoot instead.  It seems to me
#most sharp, fairly stong blades work about equally.

You also want some length, and the blade should not be so big/thick as to 
prevent deep penetration.  Also, the blade should be kept very sharp (which 
implies not using it for camp chores). 

#Knife fighting.  
#	I can't visualize exactly how this situation could
#occur.  Seems like one party or the other would draw a sidearm.

Sidearm first, run out of ammo, grab knife.  Combat with friendlies  
and bad guys in close proximity generally rules out guns for obvious 
reasons.  This does not happen often, but if it does you don't want  
to be underequiped!!

#
#Skinning.  
#	Well, if we mean the "L", we might have to forage off
#the land a bit.

Smaller utility knife should be used.  Carving up an animal with a 12" bowie
is not fun (unless it is an elephant or something). 

#
#Digging.
#
#Chopping saplings.
#
#Prying.  

It is common practice to file-sharpen one edge of your entrenching tool for 
such purposes.  This is a devastating weapon by the way. 

#
#Cutting wires fence to phone.

Have one guy carry wirecutters (our forces use a nifty swedish-made one).

#
#Sawing.

A good wire saw is usually much more convenient.  

#
#Eating.

Smaller utility knife.

#
#Overall, it seems I would prefer some kind of a machete/bush sword
#possibly with  a saw back.  A second small blade for skinning/eating
#might be nice, I hate to skin/gut with a pointy knife.

How about a fighting knife, utility knife, wire saw, and entrenching tool?

#
#I certainly agree with the previous posters that a dagger shape
#is of limited usefulness.  So hard to keep the peas from falling
#off the knife, even with honey :-)

The dagger blade shape excells in one thing:  killing people.  It slips into  
bad guys with the greatest of ease.  However, the design is inherently 
weaker from a structural standpoint.  Many prefer a bowie type design with 
the upper false edge sharpened.

For "sneaking up" style use, a dagger is the best.  For "wild swinging and 
hacking" style use, a sharpened entrenching tool is the best, or a larger 
bowie style blade.  Obviously a compromise is needed (unless you are big 
and husky, and can carry 5 knifes :-). 

Many so called "fighting knifes" are inspired by the movie style knife   
fighting (the "fencing with plenty of time to make dramatic statements"
caca).  In practice, knife fights are few and far between, usually 
last about 2 seconds, and end with both parties being cut. 
-- 
             Mickey R. Boyd          |  "God is a comedian playing to an 
          FSU Computer Science       |      audience too afraid to laugh."
        Technical Support Group      |
      email:  boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu  |                  - Voltaire