Looking for a solid combat knife

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SonOfRoost

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I have a fair collection of knives, including several high value collector knives. There are a couple of knife styles I have, as of yet, failed to purchase. I only have one valid excuse for failing to buy a well put together combat knife, and that is... I can't tell if they're well made over the internet, and everyone says their knife is well made.
There are a couple of brands I would trust anyway, such as Gerber or Ka-bar, but they both have a big price tag. So, if anyone can point me to a reliable combat knife with a decent price tag, I would be very thankful.:cool:
 
What price-point are you looking at?
The Gerbers and Kabars are gonna be about $60-$80 and up. If you shop right a $25-ish knife can be amazing bang for buck.
 
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Here is the USMC Kabar for $46 dollars. Great knife, and great price.

Short of that, look at Ontario Knife's Spec Plus series. They usually sell in the $35-50 range and are excellent.
 
SonOfRoost,

What do you want to do with it? Is it intended to be an example in the collection or will you be deploying to Afghanistan and need it for patrols?
 
Depends also on whether you mean a "fighting knife" or combat knife.

Fighting knife- 5-12" blade, self-explanatory use. Good, less expensive options include several Ontario knives, such as the Marine Combat Knife, Marine Raider, and (getting a little more upscale) RTAK-II.

Combat knife- 3.5-5" blade, used for the many things a deployed troop may need to do. (Fighting is near the BOTTOM of that list.) A longer blade will get in the way of your combat load, may not be allowed, and will get you laughed at, at the least, by those around you. :) Some options include the RAT-3 and Spyderco Aqua Salt (completely rustproof).

John (my favorite combat knives were a Spyderco Native, custom 5" blade [both used in several firefights to quickly extract mortar ammo], and Spyderco Waved Endura and Speed Dialer sheath. My favorite fighting knives are my 16.5" HI WWII kukuri and 19" HI Crow, a super-sized bowie)
 
In addition to Ka-Bar, don't overlook the Ontario Knife Co. and also Camillus

Unlike a lot of other companies selling Chinese copies of low quality at low prices, Ontario & Camillus have actually held government contracts to supply the real deal issue knives, bayonets, and machetes to our armed forces.
http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/ontario/

http://www.knivesplus.com/CAMILLUS-KNIVES-MILITARY-BOOT.HTML

You can waste your money by buying a cheap copy for $25 bucks, but you would be taking a big risk if you ever really had to use it for anything more serious then taking up a hole in your collection.

Unlike a lot of things, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to the differance in price between a chinese copy and a real Ka-Bar, Ontario, or Camillus.

rc
 
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I'm trying to fill my collection as well as having a good reliable combat knife. A big piece of the collection also involves having knives that serve their intended purpose as well as looking good.
And the marine style is what I was looking at, thanks for the links everyone :)
 
If you're looking for a "combat" instead of a "fighting" knife then the "classic" options narrow down to the Mk II of previous eras and the current Beckers (at least to my way of thinking).

If you're looking for a "fighting" knife then the classics are the 1918 knuckle knives, Case V42 dagger or a John Ek sticker, Mac V Sog style knife, Al Mar Shadow, Gerber Mk II. Unfortunately none of these will fit your price range.
 
i would take a look at the KA Bar Becker BK7 or BK9. The RAT/ESEE knives are worth taking a look at also.
 
maybe a fallkniven of some sort too. those are pretty popular as bushcraft/survival knives as well as being issued to Swedish Air Force Pilots and soldiers. (i think)

NOTE: I have never handled one myself, only have heard and read good reports on them here and in a few other places.
 
The question of quality comes into the equation. Our friend specified he wanted to stay under $50 and that makes getting anything worth having challenging.
 
I have used,... and still have,.... both the KaBar fighting knife, and a Gerber MarkII,...each have ridden on my rig at different times,..and served me well.

The KaBar's can be found pretty easily at a decent price. Don't settle for the substitute copies,..get the real deal. The Gerber Mark II's are harder to find nowdays,...but in my opinion was and still is well worth what I paid for mine many years ago. My Gerber went with me on my last several go-rounds before I retired,..and has since made a couple more trips to the sand box on the rigs of a couple very fine young men I hold in high regard.

In my opinion,...the KaBar makes a better working knife for general field functions, ....albeit a bit long. The Mark II is a better balanced knife for up close and personal work. Both will get that job done well though.

In todays military environments,..unless you are a grunt,..(and sometimes not even then),....having either of these on your rig is an invitation to a conversation with your higher,..and probably won't be permitted.

Just my take on it,....ymmv. Different war,...different times,.....

SGM, USA, Retired
67-91
 
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I know that a fairbairn sykes is an expensive knife, just wondering if there are any amazing deals on them, if there are I might be willing to push my price limit a little
 
I think the Fairbairn-Sykes Commando knife is without a doubt, one of the worst combat knives ever designed.

They were fine for sneaking up behind a sentry and sticking it between his ribs, or cutting his throat, but little else.

The point and tang are way too delicate on them for any other combat field use.

Either the point will break off, or the whole blade will break off at the guard during light duty use that wouldn't phase a Ka-Bar or Navy MKII.

BTW: A combat knife will be used about 99.99999% of the time for other things besides knife fighting or killing a sentry.

Most all of the time, that will be things like digging holes to poop in, cutting rope or flex-cuffs, opening ammo crates, chopping brush for camo or to clear fire-lanes, etc.

For any of that, no double-edge dagger will serve you at all well in combat.

rc
 
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At the risk of being contentious, I have to point out my personal experience with Camillus knives. Without exception, they have been pure junk. When I was on active duty I was issued a number of them and still have, as mementos, a "Camp Knife" and an "Electrician's Knife." Both of these have blades that dull cutting butter. The camp knife's can opener doesn't work. The electrician's knife really let me down one day when I had to cut some nylon risers out of the bomb bay of a B-52. Dulled halfway through the first one and there were many. Had to borrow a kife from one of the guys that actually cut. Got my first AF survival knife in Vietnam. Cool sharpening stone built in to the sheath. Unfortunately it was like trying to sharpen a piece of bread. Worthless knife. Junked it for a Kabar.

Still have two Gerber MK-1s and a Guardian. These are double edge daggers that are high quality and hold great edges. Perfect if you want insurance if you are brought to ground, out of ammo, etc. As boot or hidden-away daggers they are hard to beat. But they aren't camp tools. My squadron used to give engraved MK-1s as gifts to departing officers. The Fallkniven GARM looks like an interesting piece for this role but I haven't personally handled one.
 
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