Yarborough knife again available for purchase by qualified Special Forces Soldiers
 

RELEASE NUMBER: 090313-01
DATE POSTED: MARCH 13 2009

Yarborough knife again available for purchase by qualified Special Forces Soldiers
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, March 13, 2009) - Seasoned Green Berets are once again able to purchase a tangible, and serial numbered, connection to the Special Forces regiment.

Yarborough knife
Soldiers graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course have been presented a Green Beret, and as part of a tradition since August 2002, a knife. Not just any knife, but the Yarborough knife, a combat field knife specifically designed by renowned knife maker William Harsey – which serves as a link to the brotherhood of unconventional warriors.

Beginning March 15, current and former Soldiers who can prove their membership in the Special Forces Regiment will be able to once again buy their Yarborough knife through the JFK Special Warfare museum here.

“We are thrilled that we can again provide our brothers in the Special Forces Regiment the ability to purchase the Yarborough knife,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School commander. “This isn’t just a well-made knife; it’s an outward expression of the uniqueness of being a Green Beret and the warrior-spirit that we embody.”

The new batch of knives will start with serial number SF-0001.

Lt. Gen. Bryan D. Brown, then commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command originated the idea in 2002, naming the knife for Lt. Gen. William P. Yarborough , the “father of modern Special Forces.” Yarborough championed the need for a knife that would continue the tradition of Special Operations units using, and being identified with, effective edged weapons. In World War II, the First Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian unit, was equipped with the V-42 knife and the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to Special Forces and the Central Intelligence Agency, made use of the Fairbairn-Sykes knife.

Made by Chris Reeve Knives of Boise, Idaho, the serial-numbered Yarborough knife is available for purchase only by qualified members of the Special Forces Regiment including active duty, reserve, National Guard, honorably separated or retirees.

Requests for authorization to purchase the knife should be addressed to Commander, USAJFKSWCS, ATTN: AOJK-CS-Y (Yarborough Knife), Fort Bragg, NC 28310 or can be dropped off at drop boxes located at JFK Museum or Bryant Hall lobby. Applications can also be faxed to 910-432-4062 or emailed to yarboroughknife@soc.mil.

Each request must be accompanied by a copy of photo identification and at least one of the following qualifying documents:

Copy of orders awarding an 18 series military occupational specialty
Copy of orders awarding the Special Forces Tab
Copy of diploma indicating successful graduation from the Special Forces Qualification Course
Copy of orders or an affidavit establishing successful completion of standard or nonstandard training or former wartime service for which a retroactive award of the Special Forces Tab would be authorized
Copy of Special Forces Association membership card showing they are a Decade or a General member in good standing
Copy of an Enlisted Records Brief or Officer Records Brief annotating the awarding of the Special Forces Tab
Copy of DD214 showing service, and, after 1952, the qualifying suffix of (3) or (S).
When a request has been verified, a letter of approval will be sent to the requestor noting the total purchase price, including the cost for shipping. The letter of approval must then be mailed, with payment, to the JFK Special Warfare Museum gift shop at PO Box 70060, Fort Bragg, N.C., 28307. The Yarborough knife will then be mailed within 4-6 weeks via certified mail.

Requests from Family members or estates of deceased, qualified Special Forces Regiment members who can prove their Soldier’s qualification will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Special Forces Soldiers who have been previously issued the knife as a result of graduating the SFQC, have already purchased a knife under the previous resale program, or those who have had their Special Forces Tab revoked, are not eligible to purchase the knife.

A version of the Yarborough knife, marketed as the ‘Green Beret’, is available for purchase by the general public.

I mailed all my paperwork in to the SWC this past week.
Will give an update when I receive my authorization.

Would there be an issue buying one for a friend who qualifies? His wife can get me a copy of his DD214 from our deployment for verification. Also, I know it is a working knife but does the blade coating take to laser engraving nicely?

TIA!

Anyone notice a price?

My understanding is that upon authorization the total price will be included in the packet. The SF museum is handling the transaction. For to six weeks del. time.
The SFA web site has a little more info.
Bobby

I spoke to the gift shop, and it is about $274 plus shipping if applicable. Shipping was about $30. The clerk couldn't find the sheet to give me the exact total, but that was it give or take a dollar.

ETA this is the correct number for the shop: 910-436-2366. The one in the article is the fax number.

For any of you that want to leave the "Y" in the Safe/Closet, I'm a Chris Reeve Dealer and can get you the Civillian Version "The Green Beret Knife", it comes in 5.5" or 7" blade. Also there is "The Pacific" that was designed for First Group, it's a 6" Blade.

Contact me for further details.

Take care.
Martin

"if you have to ask you can't afford it or don't deserve it"
Well. . . Father's day is coming up and they are all still breathing. . . :D


for now. . .

Yes there is an issue. Only the SF soldier that's actually going to receive the knife may put in the request. That was a couple of years ago. (I know because I tried to do it for a Medal of Honor recipient, we accomplished the task but not with out him signing the actual paperwork.)

I guess....
 

I guess going up to the General's office and going "Hi, remember me?" ain't the right way to do it?

I thought so.

About the time I was fixin' to do it last time they shut it down. I'll be quicker this time.

This is excellent, ill be sending my creds out this week. I will pass this info to all the SF Guys at work Monday.

Agreed...this is a most excellent opportunity. My paperwork goes in the mail tomorrow!!

From Chris Reeve Knives and myself,
Thanks to all of those who helped stand this back up and the staff who does the work to administrate the project. We really appreciate this.

Note this thread is a "sticky" so it can be found if needed.

Maybe I can get TARP or Stimulus money - or start a new small business to get in on the latest largesse. ;)

He is going to have to sign for it.

You cannot have it.

Incidentally, there is no telling how long they will be for sale this time. Last time, IIRC, it was around four years. I recommend that everyone who wants one, pony up and order it immediately, or we will have to start another thread for the whines and snivels from the next group, who will say that they were on the verge of getting theirs, just when they were denied the opportunity.

TR

Sent my paper work yesterday

This wasn't posted last year, but here's the story from a local Fayetteville, NC article and a photo from another source.

Paperwork sent to SWC for the autho, in waiting mode to drop cash and go back into wait mode for the Y-Knife.:munchin

I'm in a quandary though - my GB was handed to me and signed by this Oregon logger, so which one for the field...:confused:

Hell, my "Y" is signed by the same Oregon logger, who HAD to have access to a particular DeLorean, and I use it (the Y) whenever I get to the "woods"!!:D

If you're not willing to expose it to the real world, I can set you up with a GB!!



Later.
Martin

Recieved my vetting and authorization letter today. Mine has been gone for 3 weeks. I called the SW Museum today and delivered price by Fedex 2 day is $304.22. Looking foward to getting it in my hands.
Bobby

These are great knifes. I certainly treasure mine and take it with me whenever and where ever I go.

The Oregon Logger!
 

Martin, I have 3 Chris Reeve Knives and a 4th "Yarborough Serial Numbered Knife on the way" Two of the knives are 50th Anniversary 1st SFG (Abn) numbered knives. Also have 2 numbered Professional Soldier Chris Reeve Knives, My question is this If you lost one of the numbered knives would a very honest person be able to return it to the owner based on the serial number?

Yes.

TR

Why didn't they start where they left off? The first ones did not have the "SF-" in front of the serial number.

Have sent off my request, missed the first go around due to living overseas and not having any internet for quite awhile. Thanks to all those who made this possible.

Ok, I've been waiting for a month for the letter to come back to me... Anybody know how long it's taken in the past?

Mine took a full month. I mailed my paperwork to the Museum last week. I will post when I receive the Y.
Bobby

I recieved my Yarborugh today. Wonderful knife that I will treasure. Thanks to Mr. Harsey and Mr. Reeves for having the wonderful tallent to produce such a knife. From the time I sent in my paper work until I recieved the Y was six weeks.
Bobby

I sent my request on March 15, still no letter to purchase... no joy.

Ditto on the "no joy". Sent mine in on 15 March also.

I sent my paperwork via e-mail on March 14th and I got the paperwork Apr 7th. I sent it back off with my check and got my knife Apr 17th.

It might not be a bad idea to call if you still haven't heard back.

I hate you.:mad:
I guess a call to Bragg is in order....

You may not be on their list of those who have completed SF training, are you sure you are SF?:D

Did you go through the non-resident course?:munchin

TR

Yes Sir - non-resident, right after you and TS... the same non-resident class that a few others on the board went through, the one with WWII barracks on Smoke Bomb, and quonsets at MacKall...

Do you have any idea how hard it was to mail a fish basket, a fire, and a shelter back to (then) 1st SPOP / JFKSWCS... the shipping costs were insane...

Oh, Sir - I hate you too.:p

Tough love, hermano.

Now call the doggone POC and ask them why you cannot get cleared to buy a knife.

Maybe HH6 has intervened and is already packing your blade?

TR

SF med,

I'm in the same situation,Copy of diploma indicating successful graduation from the Special Forces Qualification Course and still haven't received my approval. This is BS.
I sent in my paperwork on March 17th and still no response. I realize it's 45 years old but they can check with SFA to valid date it....................:mad:

GB TFS :munchin

When I was at Bragg several years ago, I submitted copies of Orders showing my MOS. The Col's secretary had to call the FRICKIN MUSEUM to verify that 11B/C4S was an SF MOS!! All that she'd ever heard of was the 18 Series!!! Of course TR, Harsey and Reeve got a big chuckle out of that one!!

We were there to watch that one...Good thing the folks in the JFK Special Warfare Museum knew their SF history.

If you travel with Ambush Master, something interesting could always happen. :D

Oh, hell they found out I made Mr. H. cry that one time, and that I associate with the likes of AM... That'll teach me to ever go to another SHOT or Knife show ever again...

Maybe the fact I submitted orders taking me from 11B2S to 18B2S and a second set of orders showing my reclass from 18B to 18D confused them... or they looked at my DL picture and thought I was too ugly to carry the knife? Can't be the last part, they gave one to AM...;)

Letters of Authorization
 

For those of us still waiting for the Letter of Authorization...today I received a reply to my inquiry to see if they had received my documents. I mailed them March 15.


"I have it and I’m finally getting to dedicate some time to processing them all. They should all be out by Monday."