Green Berets top 5 Combat Knives?

[Bill Harsey]

June 2004 issue of Blade magazine lists the top 5 knives used by Green Beret in an article by MSG Kim Breed, 5th Special Forces (retired). 1st is the V42 Stiletto. 2nd is the KA-BAR. 3rd is Randall model No.1. 4th is the machete. 5th is Buck 110 folder. Any thoughts?

[Razor]

I'm sure that's an accurate list...according to the MSG's experiences. I think you'll find overall that the knives are as varied as the men that carry them.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Like Razor said, but I will reply.

What does "top five" used mean? Most? Best? Defines?

1. V42 - Only 3,423 made? 70 received by the U.S. Navy?. How does this qualify as a top 5 used? Must be talking about the one on the crest.

2. Kabar - is probably first. EVERYBODY has at least one.

3. Randall - ok

4. Machete - I doon't consider it a knife.

5. Buck 110 - Must have been before my time. I never saw an SF guy with one. Although they were very common in the farming community back home.

My picks for defines

1. Randall Model 14 maybe more than #1
2. Harsey-Reeve Yarborough. I think this will overtake the Randall in the future if they keep giving them to the graduates
3. Gerber Mark II
4. Emerson CQC7 - Don't believe me? Check pockets.
5. Brends - only SF guys on good deals can afford them

My picks for most
1. Kabar
2. Gerber Mark II
3. Emerson CQC 7
4. AF survival
5. The demo knife everybody stea...I mean borrows from the Charlies.

My picks for best
1. AF Fighter
2. Smatchet
3. SF knife
4. Smatchet
5. Emerson CQC7

My wish list
1. AF Fighter
2. Smatchet
3. Strider V42
4. Emerson CQC 6
5. A custom made FS stilletto
6. SF Knife from the museum

I think with the wish list complete, the history of combatives will be represented. Add a 1911, an ASP baton and the Leatherman I already have. Good to go.

[brownapple]

I think NDD's lists (defines and most) are more accurate based on my experience, except that I think the Leatherman should be somewhere in the most list.

[NousDefionsDoc]

LOL - I had the Leatherman in there and took it out. DAMN!

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Greenhat
I think NDD's lists (defines and most) are more accurate based on my experience, except that I think the Leatherman should be somewhere in the most list.

Concur overall.

I would add the Gerber Mark II as I have seen a lot of them over the years, and it was one of my first.

I think that the Emerson knives are far outnumbered by Spyderco Endura and Delicas. Sal really gives a good knife for the money.

The Swiss Army knife and Leatherman also belong there.

NDD, wait till you get your hands on a New Leatherman Wave.

TR

[Bill Harsey]

Good work mentioning the Leatherman. I was wondering about the Gerber Mark II because I grew up just 40 minutes east of the Gerber factory and knew those were delivered in big no.s to military guys during Vietnam. Also do we have any way of knowing how many original SOG knives may have been made?

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
My picks for best

2. Smatchet

BLASPHEMY!

I don't know how long The People will tolerate this from their leader . . . LOL

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
BLASPHEMY!

I don't know how long The People will tolerate this from their leader . . . LOL

You been asleep, or did becoming a Mod awaken dead threads you had comments on?

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by The Reaper
You been asleep, or did becoming a Mod awaken dead threads you had comments on?

TR

LOL

Saw someone looking at it on the who's online screen and thought it was a new thread!

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Have had two Randalls over the years. A model 5 since I was a pup and model 18. Both have served me well but the model 5 got pitted after some marops work in 66. Should have known better than to splash around in the surf but then what the hell do 2LTs know about anything.:D

[Bill Harsey]

Bo Randall was the man who started the whole custom production knife shop business in the United States. To the best of my knowledge his son runs the business now and the Randall Knife shop should be considered a National Treasure. Col. Applegate wrote the book, literally, on the use of the combat knife for Bo Randall.

[SERPENT5XX]

The most widely carried knife I have seen lately is the Spyderco Endura and the Bechmade Auto knife.
The Spyderco is a great knife for the money, but if you loose it you are not that upset and the Benchmade is often “issued” so it is not like losing your Emerson or Mission Titanium Folder.
Now days an indicator to ID a SF guy is by his folder knife with a pocket clip and a Suunto or G-Shock watch

[Bill Harsey]

Serpent5XX, Spyderco keeps coming up in this circle of guys. I'll pass that on to the owner and founder of Spyderco, Sal Glesser. I see him several times a year. Sal puts a lot of work in his knives from what steel and heat treat to use all the way to personally overseeing product quality. He does good.

[NousDefionsDoc]

I recently had the chance to examine the MOD (Masters of Defense) demo-type knives. A lawnmower blade with a handle IMO. They have a spike type abortion thing on them, ostensibly for making cap well in playdoughbooms.
Mr. Harsey, just a thought, but perhaps a demo knife with 18C input would be a consideration for a future project. Lord knows they could use one and they use a blade more than anybody but medics. Just a thought.

[Bill Harsey]

Originally posted by NousDefionsDoc
I recently had the chance to examine the MOD (Masters of Defense) demo-type knives. A lawnmower blade with a handle IMO. They have a spike type abortion thing on them, ostensibly for making cap well in playdoughbooms.
Mr. Harsey, just a thought, but perhaps a demo knife with 18C input would be a consideration for a future project. Lord knows they could use one and they use a blade more than anybody but medics. Just a thought. Yes I would like to hear what you guys need for this application. When road building for the logging side I remember the pain in the rear it was to stop and carve a stick in the woods so we could put the electric cap in the end of a stick of stumping powder (40% nitro dynamite, rock powder was 60%). At least we never ran out of sticks. On "Double Load Friday" we sometimes ran out of powder. I'll have to explain sometime.

[FILO]

Originally posted by The Reaper


NDD, wait till you get your hands on a New Leatherman Wave.

TR

I have my hand on it and it serves as my vote for best utility knife! Bought it 2 months ago at Gaylands for around $65.00 and I love it. Even CINCHouse runs off with it because it's so useful.

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by FILO
I have my hand on it and it serves as my vote for best utility knife! Bought it 2 months ago at Gaylands for around $65.00 and I love it. Even CINCHouse runs off with it because it's so useful.

First, you need to size your pictures to screen width.

Second, that is not the New Wave, it is the old one. IMHO, best of the multi-tools, but nowhere near the utility and features of the New Wave.

Mr. Harsey:

Double Load Friday's was a great story, please put it up for everyone here in a new thread of its own.

TR

[FILO]

Originally posted by The Reaper
First, you need to size your pictures to screen width.

Second, that is not the New Wave, it is the old one. IMHO, best of the multi-tools, but nowhere near the utility and features of the New Wave.

Mr. Harsey:

Double Load Friday's was a great story, please put it up for everyone here in a new thread of its own.

TR

Roger---deleted photo. Checked the Leatherman website and didn't see the new Wave. However I see they are coming out with the Charge TI and Charge XTI. Anyway, I highly recommend the old Wave.

http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/wave/default.asp

[The Reaper]

This is on at least two other threads, but here it is again.

TR

[FILO]

Originally posted by The Reaper
This is on at least two other threads, but here it is again.

TR

Thanks appreciate it! Take care and hope things are well in Pineland!

[Kasik]

Great thread -

My preferred "top 5" carry knives sifted out like this -

1. Randall Model 18 - purchased right after graduation from "Q" course at little gun and knife store just outside Bragg.

2. Randall Model 14 - Gary Randall referred me to a little shop in Solvang, California, for this one. He didn't have any on hand. Carried/used it while with 3/7 in Panama.

3. Gerber MK II - Introduced to this particular knife while going through the "Q" and have always had one...or two.

4. Al Mar Eagle Folder - Started carrying one in Panama - one of Al's all time best designs.

5. Chris Reeve Aviator - one of the best small fixed blades ever made / offered IMHO.

Many, many years ago Bill (Harsey) crafted a fixed blade for me while I was doing contract work with Vance International - we titled it the "Oni", or Demon. A close friend of mine has it today - it's still a work'in blade:cool:

[Basenshukai]

Every time I've deployed, I've taken my Yarborough. It was designed to be used, and I used it as a field knife. I have always kept it sharp, and I have trained with it as well. By now, it is not as pretty as it was out of the box. It has desert camp paint on the handle, and the finish is scratched in some areas. But, when I retire, the knife will too, and both of us will have stories. :)

[Barbarian]

Every time I've deployed, I've taken my Yarborough. It was designed to be used, and I used it as a field knife. I have always kept it sharp, and I have trained with it as well. By now, it is not as pretty as it was out of the box. It has desert camp paint on the handle, and the finish is scratched in some areas. But, when I retire, the knife will too, and both of us will have stories. :)

That is exactly the thing that makes an excellent knife into one that is priceless. Superb post. :cool:

[MR2]

Every time I've deployed, I've taken my Yarborough. It was designed to be used, and I used it as a field knife. I have always kept it sharp, and I have trained with it as well. By now, it is not as pretty as it was out of the box. It has desert camp paint on the handle, and the finish is scratched in some areas. But, when I retire, the knife will too, and both of us will have stories. :)

:lifter

[Kasik]

This is a great story / update about one of SOG/SF's greatest operators and legends - Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver.

http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/01/re-re-post-of-mad-dog-shriver-with-new.html

The photo of him wearing his Gerber MK II is priceless.

Shriver as also the only guy I ever heard of who carried, among other weapons, a .444 lever action rifle.

As was told me he'd gotten tired of the 5.56 "bouncing" off the heavy duty bunkers he'd come into contact with.

So he had his dad order him a .444 Marlin and had it shipped over to Vietnam.

Shriver carried it as he felt necessary and used it to "bust bunkers" or otherwise get heavy lead in on who was occupying those bunkers.

The DROP recently did a story on him, as well.

Apparently he considered the Gerber a knife he had no problem carrying or using:lifter

[Bill Harsey]

Every time I've deployed, I've taken my Yarborough. It was designed to be used, and I used it as a field knife. I have always kept it sharp, and I have trained with it as well. By now, it is not as pretty as it was out of the box. It has desert camp paint on the handle, and the finish is scratched in some areas. But, when I retire, the knife will too, and both of us will have stories. :)
Thank you very much for the report.

[Team Sergeant]

Thank you very much for the report.

Come on Bill, you know we know that you and Chris make the best Special Forces knife on the planet...........;) You guys set the bar very high with the Yarborough!