Combat Knives

Racks, Helmets, Cold Weather Gear
ChipOnShoulder

Combat Knives

Post by ChipOnShoulder »

I know that there are different ideals when it comes to carrying combat fixed bladed knives. Some see it as a "Rambo" image and stay away from them. Some carry cheap shit. And some have high priced customs who take pride in them. I carried a Randall # 1 with some personal features. Sometimes I carried a WW1 knuckle duster depending on the mission. I always carried an auto by Benchmade and a Leatherman. Any personal thoughts, bitches, gripes, complaints or even ideas for a standard knife package each Ranger should carry or should not carry. Maybe even a maker like Emerson, or Randall could be contacted by one of the "Heads" in Regiment to mass produce a standard blade for each Ranger.

Doc Cook
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Post by BadMuther »

Good topic.....

When I was in and we thought we were going to DS 1, EVERYONE had a hooah knife on their LCE's...mostly kbars and a few srk's (my fav) with a few BIG ASS mofo's.....

After I was in the army a few years, I started carrying my SRK on or in my ruck, and just kept a folder on me.....

What do you all think? Is a Fixed blade knife essential on your vest/harness for our hooahs/former hooahs working as PMC's?
ChipOnShoulder

Post by ChipOnShoulder »

I always positioned my weapons and equipment in layers. The layer systems was so that if I had to dump my equipment I could dump it in stages so as to not to dump it all at once and be stuck with just my dick in my hand. Example being:

layer 1:

LEATHER belt or CQB nylon belt with pistol, Randall knife, E & E kit, Blow out kit, Leatherman, light.

layer 2:

RACK- More medical shit, M4 ammo 7mags tapped and tied, food, radio, ect.

Layer 3:

Ruck and aidbag- Standard packing list.

This is a condensed version, but the point is that the last layer which would never getted dumped would be my blades, pistol, E & E kit, Blow out kit and light.
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Post by BadMuther »

I agree with that approach. When I was in we just carried everything on our LCE's-nothing on your person other then a knife/leatherman. Was never issued a pistol either.

Currently my war belt has a safariland 6004 drop leg holster, a BH 3-mag hip pouch for ar mags on the other side, a SEAL pup knife (light as hell), a leatherman, a surefire 6z and two pistol mag pouches containing 5 mags.

I also have pouches containing 2 traumedics, a strobe, and a silva compass and etrex GPS.

It works for me...Light enough to waer all day, but with enough shit to sustain you.
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Post by Mitch »

Sitting behind a desk most days doesn’t require a BFK (big fucking knife) but here are my thoughts about folders and fixed blades.
After graduating RS I treated myself to a Benchmade CQC-7 folder (since I had some recycle money saved thought I would treat myself). Best everyday carry knife I ever had, unfortunately it came up MIA one day (one very bad day for several reasons but that is another story). Well I searched for it but never found it, well my wife knew how much that knife meant to me so she bought me another one just like it for our anniversary that year :D It wasn’t a Benchmade but an Emerson CQC-7 (currently resides in my pocket no matter what I am wearing or where I am going). From what I understand, not sure if this is right or not, Emerson was the lead designer for Benchmade but that had a falling out and Emerson started his on company. Bottom line is that the CQC-7 knife by Benchmade/Emerson is a terrific folder and great for day-to-day carry IMHO.
As far as a fixed blade knife, when huntin’ or in the woods I carry a Vanguard fixed blade huntin’ knife by Buck. It has a drop point 4â€
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ChipOnShoulder

Post by ChipOnShoulder »

Towards the end of my initial post I said that Regiment should purchase and issue standard blades. I remember spending a small fortune on equipment. Not just knives, but lights, belts, holsters and other shit that should be standard. I remember that I was no millionare and such items were taxing on the budget. I also know that the Rangers now are not millionaires either. It would be nice if a guy like Emerson and Gary Randall were commisioned with making blades that would be permanent issue for new Rangers out of RIP. Kind of a bonus for going through hell similar to SF guys being given Yarborough knives at the end of the Q course. Same should be so for leathermans, Surfire lights, Benchmade knives Ect...

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Post by BadMuther »

Doc Cook wrote:Towards the end of my initial post I said that Regiment should purchase and issue standard blades. I remember spending a small fortune on equipment. Not just knives, but lights, belts, holsters and other shit that should be standard. I remember that I was no millionare and such items were taxing on the budget. I also know that the Rangers now are not millionaires either. It would be nice if a guy like Emerson and Gary Randall were commisioned with making blades that would be permanent issue for new Rangers out of RIP. Kind of a bonus for going through hell similar to SF guys being given Yarborough knives at the end of the Q course. Same should be so for leathermans, Surfire lights, Benchmade knives Ect...

Doc Cook

Fuck that, make them do a year at Batt first...otherwise you'll have thousands of dudes who got dx'd from batt running around with their "Ranger" knives.....

Yep, sometimes you gotta fork out some cash for the good shit...wish it wasn't that way...
ChipOnShoulder

Post by ChipOnShoulder »

Forgot about that :shock: I guess I never paid much attention to the shitbirds that would wash out, but you are right I think a year would be best! As for paying money for good gear I know of several other branches like the Airforce and Navy that are given massive amounts of money to purchase good gear with. Not to whine about spending money, but I think it is a little screwed up that Rangers have to fork out thier own green for good gear. Especially if they are guaranteed to go to combat in the post 9/11 era.
Saltbitch

Post by Saltbitch »

Current Rangers get pretty good shit these days; you'd be surprised at what is issued.
Spartan

Post by Spartan »

BadMuther wrote:Fuck that, make them do a year at Batt first...otherwise you'll have thousands of dudes who got dx'd from batt running around with their "Ranger" knives.....
Naw, just wait until they get back with their tabs, that way they don't have to wait a year and it's a bennie for graduating the course.
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Post by Steadfast »

In RVN, I had an army issue knife attached to my belt of my pants. I practiced many many hours with it at different distances from target. I became quite proficient with it. If my weapon ever jammed and I had to rely on my knife for a throw. I know I would have hit my target barring we were in the middle of a bamboo thicket.
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Post by Parabellum »

I carry a spring loaded benchmade. I love it. If you carry a big knife your are a fucking fag. Except a Gurhka.
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Post by McD »

H8 Train wrote:I carry a spring loaded benchmade. I love it. If you carry a big knife your are a fucking fag. Except a Gurhka.
:oops: Carried a Kbar on my pistol belt until I bought my first Randal :) Use to have a Gerber MkI till my Plt Sgt took it. I think he liked it.
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Post by ChipOnShoulder »

[quote="H8 Train"]I carry a spring loaded benchmade. I love it. If you carry a big knife your are a fucking fag. Except a Gurhka.[/quote]

Not that I don't respect another Ranger's opinion, but I guess all of the Rangers and Paratroopers I met throughout history, including my grandfather, who jumped into normandy were fags because they carried and used big blades - sometimes even on the enemy. I don't think I would want to call my Grandfather a fag- he was in his sixties when he threw a guy through a bar window in a Reno casino for short changing him at the bar. Anyways to each thier own.
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Post by Steadfast »

I carried a machete in my ruck. I took it with me every mission. One never knew when you needed to use it. I didn't enjoy using it as a team lost it's stealth capability using them. But sometimes it was a necessity.
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