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Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:01 pm
by hambone56rx
Forumites,

My boss' son just got accepted into the ROTC program at a local University and is awaiting hearing back on getting into the Naval Academy. I just saw Sal recommending the Salt 2 for a sailor (although I was thinking the Carribean or Native Salt), but if he goes into the Army, what knife would you recommend?

Would it be better to have something more "heavy duty" like a Shaman?

Or do you want to save as much weight as possible, so a Native either regular or LW?

I feel like the PM2 has too thin of a tip and doesn't in spite confidence for "hard tasks." I'm really leaning toward the Shaman, but I don't know how much weight matters to service members. Thoughts and recommendations?

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 8:19 pm
by SolidState
If it were me, I'd get him a military.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 8:21 pm
by 500Nitro
Weight matters. Every lb or kg has to be carried and soldiers today carry heaps.

In saying that, robustness of blade so that it can handle the tasks with breaking/bending.

Make sure it has a lanyard hole.

I’d go serrated as it will still cut when blunted as I doubt he will be able to carry a sharpener.

Good luck to him in whatever he gets into.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 3:42 pm
by Water Bug
Perhaps a look at the Spyderco Manix 2 or Manix 2 XL may be in order... this model has a nice full-flat ground blade, robust design and build, and it has a beautifully contoured handle that fits the hand.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:02 pm
by buccilli15
Another vote for the Manix. Not sure I'd recommend the S110v "blurple" model due to the potential difficulty in sharpening it in the field, but the S30V would make a great knife.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:31 pm
by hambone56rx
Thanks gentlemen! I definitely wouldn’t have thought about the Manix. I love mine, but thought it either wouldn’t be large enough or the tip would be too fragile. Good to know it’s getting multiple votes! And thanks for weighing in on the weight. I guess that’s why the Military is so light!

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:41 pm
by Sumdumguy
Caribbean...

It's better ;)

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:50 pm
by Halfneck
My time in I carried a few Spydercos, the Delica & the Remote Release being the 2 I mostly carried. The Remote Release stayed on the right strap of my LBV to grab fast in case I needed to cut something fast (ex: slingload gone wrong).

If I was a young soldier now I'd carry my Lil'Temp 3. I like my Manix LW in CTS-XHP, but I'd still take my Lil'Temp 3 over it. I prefer the Comp-lock over BBS-lock. The blade on the Lil'Temp 3 is stouter.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:51 pm
by BLUETYPEII
Another vote for the Caribbean.

It’s big enough and strong enough to handle “tactical” situations. 3.7 inch blade

compression lock

impervious to rust

same if not better edge retention than SV30 (so I hear... don’t want to make this a steel debate)

Choice of two blade shapes both PE or SE

4.2oz

Sal really hit it out of the park with this one. I own the leaf PE and it’s almost always in my pocket. The main reason I prefer to daily a Spyderco Salt is easy maintenance, just rinse them off. You won’t be disappointed.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:06 pm
by hambone56rx
BLUETYPEII wrote:
Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:51 pm
You won’t be disappointed.
Great point! The look can be polarizing, but it's made to WORK!

Hamilton

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:52 pm
by SolidState
Aqua Salt is another one that fits most bills.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:33 pm
by vivi
SolidState wrote:
Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:52 pm
Aqua Salt is another one that fits most bills.
a fully SE aqua salt would be bomb proof and cut for a long time before it needed sharpening. they don't weigh much more than an average folsing spyderco either.

if you go with a folder consider one in DLC for rust resistance.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 11:17 pm
by Ric
Maybe a Rescue?

VG10
Not expensive
Not so easy to cut yourself

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:14 am
by ladybug93
hambone56rx wrote:
Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:31 pm
Thanks gentlemen! I definitely wouldn’t have thought about the Manix. I love mine, but thought it either wouldn’t be large enough or the tip would be too fragile. Good to know it’s getting multiple votes! And thanks for weighing in on the weight. I guess that’s why the Military is so light!
i’ve heard from people in the service that there are some really strict rules about blade length on bases and in some workplaces. most of the suggestions in here could end up confiscated. i wouldn’t get anything longer than 3” just to be safe. i know places will only allow 2.5” though. maybe go with a native salt or a lil native if you want g10 and a comp lock.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:25 am
by BLUETYPEII
ladybug93 wrote:
Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:14 am
hambone56rx wrote:
Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:31 pm
Thanks gentlemen! I definitely wouldn’t have thought about the Manix. I love mine, but thought it either wouldn’t be large enough or the tip would be too fragile. Good to know it’s getting multiple votes! And thanks for weighing in on the weight. I guess that’s why the Military is so light!
i’ve heard from people in the service that there are some really strict rules about blade length on bases and in some workplaces. most of the suggestions in here could end up confiscated. i wouldn’t get anything longer than 3” just to be safe. i know places will only allow 2.5” though. maybe go with a native salt or a lil native if you want g10 and a comp lock.
Yes you are so correct, I work with an ex Navy guy and he told me they confiscated his K-bar that was handed down to him.

Make sure you check the regulations on size before you buy.

If the Caribbean is too big my second pick for a folder is the Salt 2 in black.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:12 am
by hambone56rx
ladybug93 wrote:
Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:14 am

i’ve heard from people in the service that there are some really strict rules about blade length on bases and in some workplaces. most of the suggestions in here could end up confiscated. i wouldn’t get anything longer than 3” just to be safe. i know places will only allow 2.5” though. maybe go with a native salt or a lil native if you want g10 and a comp lock.
Thanks for the heads up! I honestly had no idea. I'll try and call the ROTC office and see if there are any regulations. That certainly changes things!

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:15 am
by hambone56rx
BLUETYPEII wrote:
Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:25 am

Make sure you check the regulations on size before you buy.

If the Caribbean is too big my second pick for a folder is the Salt 2 in black.
BLUETYPEII,

Would you rather have a Salt 2 in H1 or a Native Salt in LC200N? I would think the LC200N would be better, so I've been leaning toward the Native Salt. And SE or PE? Is it good to have a completely rust proof knife even in the Army since you just never know?

Thanks for the input.

Hamilton

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:54 am
by 500Nitro
hambone56rx wrote:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:15 am
BLUETYPEII wrote:
Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:25 am

Make sure you check the regulations on size before you buy.

If the Caribbean is too big my second pick for a folder is the Salt 2 in black.
BLUETYPEII,

Would you rather have a Salt 2 in H1 or a Native Salt in LC200N? I would think the LC200N would be better, so I've been leaning toward the Native Salt. And SE or PE? Is it good to have a completely rust proof knife even in the Army since you just never know?

Thanks for the input.

Hamilton
Yes, absolutely.

You have enough gear/equipment/crap to clean and keep in good order without adding to it.
Just being able to wipe the blade and put it away would be great.

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:17 am
by hambone56rx
500Nitro wrote:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:54 am

Yes, absolutely.

You have enough gear/equipment/crap to clean and keep in good order without adding to it.
Just being able to wipe the blade and put it away would be great.
500Nitro,

Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like you have been in the service, so THANK YOU! Do you have a specific model in mind you would recommend? Feedback on certain bases requiring sub 3” knife? And PE or SE?

Thank you!

Hamilton

Re: Army ROTC Knife

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:04 am
by 500Nitro
Firstly I was (and am) in Australia, secondly my unit had specific requirements - we used a lot of rope rapelling, climbing and boats / water ops (Canoes, Rigid inflatables) so a knife that ALWAYS CUT rope was recommended. Therefore I went serrated (as recommended to me).

Problem with SE is sharpening, not that they need sharpening often as they still cut well when not razor sharp)
but he will need a specific sharpener for it.

A PE can be sharpened on other sharpeners - which others in the unit are likely to have.

Let me look back over this thread as I don't know the models that well.

But from what I have glanced at in the last few days, firstly by the sounds of it you need to adhere to your
base and state laws - so as you said, sub 3".

I don't know G10 as a material but know FRN well and FRN stands up to everything.

Rust proof would be almost a certainty.

I'd go black coated blade IF you can.


It's now 1am so have to go to bed but I'll look at the models recommended and come back to you.