Recommendations for a knife for the field

[TeeDee]

I wouldn't be too keen to invest much in case it gets coveted by another.
Get yourself something basic and not something you are going to emotionally attach too.

 

[TLM]

The original post likely defines two or three knives. Whacking with a 100mm knife is the definition of frustration.

Lapps carry two or three knives, that is after several centuries of testing. Modern military environment mostly differs from Lapland so copying them might not work perfectly.

My own experience is a large and a smaller knife; knife, hatchet and folding saw covers just about anything, assuming your job requires them in the first place.

 

[JonathanD]

I wouldn't be too keen to invest much in case it gets coveted by another.
Get yourself something basic and not something you are going to emotionally attach too.

There nothing wrong with getting emotionally attached to your knives. Just don’t sleep with them. I’ve stopped now after the seventh accident.

 

[dean4442]

Ex Wo2 in the reserves and I can tell you that the most you're going to need is a max 3" folding pocket knife, or even a multi tool with a blade. Something decent but not too expensive as it can get lost or "obtained" by someone else.

 

[TeeDee]

There nothing wrong with getting emotionally attached to your knives. Just don’t sleep with them. I’ve stopped now after the seventh accident.

" This is my knife. There are many knives like it but this one is mine. My knife is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life... "

 

[SoldierPalmer]

As a ex forward observer with operational experience. I used a gerber suspension multi tool. I had no need for a fixed blade and it would have just been extra weight.

 

[Laurentius]

There really is no knife to rule them all, I cannot imagine preparing salad with the same knife I use to split firewood

 

[gra_farmer]

Yeah, I thought that T5 would appeal.

I haven’t owned or used a Niolox blade. From what I gather it has excellent edge retention and is fairly easy to sharpen. Lion Steel use good steels, the Vanadis 23 that as used for the Rasul was crazy tough, I saw one of those torture vids where it was beaten into a breeze block and batoned through an M10 nut without more than a tiny ding in the blade. I’d fully trust anything Lion Steel make to be of the highest quality.

I have that Rasul and can vouch that if I had to choose at quick notice, it would be that blade....

As for the T5, I have that and enjoy it, the steel is good and holds an edge for a long time, but the M5 is better in the hand for my tastes...

 

[gra_farmer]

There nothing wrong with getting emotionally attached to your knives. Just don’t sleep with them. I’ve stopped now after the seventh accident.

My wife is sharper, and can cut deeper than any knife.....

 

[John Elstob]

Check out the 5 inch version of the Joker nomad 12.7cm it's got everything you need is you specs and has a micarta handle too.

Joker Nomad - Micarta 12.7cm Bushcraft & Survival Knife

The Joker Nomad - Micarta 12.7cm Bushcraft and Survival knife is a large, very practical outdoors knife.

heinnie.com

 

[IainB]

Decent pocket knife or multi tool will be perfect for the reserves … whilst in the TA in the late 80s early 90s it was all Swiss Army knives or similar until leathermans started to gain some traction in the market .. never once did we need anything else. Occasionally new joiners would turn up with a sheath knife on their webbing - but only once as it was explained to them that they were more likely to hurt themselves than have any need for it ..

 

[Chris]

I was in an Infantry regiment for 4 years and never needed a fixed blade knife. Would stick with a folder to be honest. Benchmade make some good folding (locking) knives.

Then again, I’d agree with the folks above that you probably don’t want something too expensive. Lest someone see some shiny buckshee kit sitting around and fancy it for themselves, or if you end up getting bumped in a harbour area and you lose it in a pile of leaves somewhere on SPTA.

If you’re not on Ops, you do not need a knife that can be used as a weapon. And to be honest if you are on Ops and have somehow lost your rifle and your sword, you have bigger problems.

 

[FerlasDave]

As a ex forward observer with operational experience. I used a gerber suspension multi tool. I had no need for a fixed blade and it would have just been extra weight.

I had a fixed blade but it was kept stashed in my Bergen and tbh rarely used. I get what you mean about weight, foot soldiers have enough to carry! Although I was lucky, my equipment carried me.

 

[John Elstob]

To add my 2p worth of knowledge. I unfortunately don’t have the same experience as Soldier Palmer! But over the last two years, I have had a fair bit of (dirt time) I believe is one of the names for being out in the field. A multitool of some of some description is probably one of the most useful tools to be able to cover a variety of tasks. I always carry my Victorinox Fieldmaster on my person and my Leatherman surge either in my Haversack or Bergen.