My friend is going to Iraq

[Jim Malone]

One of my best friends is going to Iraq for one year to work as a private security contractor.
Although he is not a "knife" guy i am thinking about getting him a Spyderco knife.
I have been thinking about the Military but think the Endura 4 might be better for him.
I hope he will only need it to use it as a EDC cutting tool and not as a weapon.
The knife needs to have a large blade, not too shiny (no SS), sturdy, and has to function under adverse conditions ( cold weather, wet, desert sand) and operated with gloves ( no ball lock)

Anyone else have some good advice?

I feel saddened by his soon to be departure, and hope he will never have to use his specific skills on another human beeing.
I also hope he will come back in one piece.


greetz

[Andre V]

Maybe look at a manix, as strong as its going to get. Perhaps a military, easy to clean and operate with gloves.

[TheKnifeCollector]

What about something from the Salt series, like the Pacicfic Salt. I was thinking about the humidity etc. I dunno. The military would be an excellent knife. God bless your friend!! May God keep him well and safe!

[Peter1960]

Under these circumstances I hold an Endura 4 for a good choice - especially in combi edge or serrated

Please wish your friend kind greetings from a forumite from Austria - God bless him!

[JD Spydo]

Jim I would highly recommend at least 2 and maybe 3 to go into that situation with. First and foremost I would get him a combo edged Manix and a Harpy. Along with those 2 I would somehow see that he got a ZDP-189 Calypso Jr.

In that situation he will have one Hawkbill, one blade with muscle and a ZDP Blade. There are necessities in life. Nothing more needs to be said in this post. :cool: :spyder:

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Your friends going to Iraq for the money? I hope he's not leaving behind dependant relatives. Get him a cold steel Gurkha Kukri, it'll easily take a head or an arm. :spyder:

[Outlaw]

IMHO... a combo edged Manix would be a good choice. You would rather have too much knife over there, than not enough!

[Native Justice]

Another huge vote for a Manix. If you can afford it, get him a double sheath (like those from BM) with it that he can put a sharpening stone and a smaller folder in (or a multitool even better) and he'll be in good shape. God speed to your friend! :D

[hrdwrguy]

Make sure that he can sharpen the knife before he leaves, an Endura and a sharpmaker may be better than a Manix on it's own. If space is an issue one of those small triangular diamond sharpeners can he had cheap and is quite servicable. If he is completely inept with a sharpener go for a PE knife and a pull through style sharpener to keep it going.

Good luck to him.

Mike

[Monocrom]

You're a good friend. A :spyder: Endura 4 is a good choice. A Manix would probably be better, but costs more $$$.

[JD Spydo]

:spyder: Your friends going to Iraq for the money? I hope he's not leaving behind dependant relatives. Get him a cold steel Gurkha Kukri, it'll easily take a head or an arm. :spyder:

Michael I swear that you and I must be related to each other somehow. I was even thinking about the possibility of a Gurkha Kukri when I posted this afternoon. You would want to get the thick one that is 5/16ths thick. That big dog has some wallop to it. Cold Steel has an older Gurkha Kukri that I recommend even a bit more than that one but they are getting hard to find. It is their old HTC Gurkha with the 15 inch blade. That goliath is like a small sword except much more devastating.

Listen to what this man says Jim. He knows what he's talking about :cool: :spyder:

[Halfneck]

I would suggest the Endura 4 also.

Another great choice, depending on how he is dressed, would be the Remote Release. The 1 knife that was a constant during my time in the Army was an original Remote Release. It was always secured to my Right Load Bearing Vest (LBV) strap. It was far more accessible than my knife (Delica, or Emerson CQC-7) that was in my pocket somewhat obstructed by the holster of my issue Beretta 92FS.

[spd9075]

I'm faced with a similar situation...one of my best friends is going over, but he's in the service...he'll be gone for a year and a half. I was thinking of getting him something as well, perhaps a black bladed CE Military.

[rcbalt2]

Jim, I suggest something simple. An Endura 4 CE or a CE Native. And teach him how to keep it sharp.
Spd9075 one of my friends is going to AIT and then over. I gave him a Swick and a tecklock. He preffers fixed blades so it was a swick or a perrin.

[jon shannow]

Jim
i do the same job and have been for over 2 years
i carryied a native 3D then a mini manix when they were released and they have both served me well
the comments about sharpening are valid IMHO as i take some :spyder: pocket stones
no so much the manix but the native needed touching up every now and then
if he doesnt mind the weight and you dont mind the $$$ go for the mini manix

[castingseth]

Had a friend return recently.... He said the best knife to have is one you are not afraid of hurting. Maybe a couple of Byrds for the price of one spydie. Best wishes for them and their friends and family. Bless.

[Jim Malone]

OK, thx Jon

stay safe

[p-t baguahan]

i have never been in the dessert, but i would go for a fixed blade or a balisong, because of the sand.

regards, roland

p.s endura is always a good choice!

[scout]

Trust me. E4 with a v sharpener both coarse and fine. non-knife military guys beat the $^#& out of thier cutlery! :)

[spydutch]

I would go for the Military/SE

My best wishes to your friend.