hi shopping around for a good deployment knife, it has to be fixed blade, no longe than 6’, and not heavy, it has to have a versatile sheat for many different carry options, attached to 6004 holster, molle or strapped to a chest rig etc, did some searching narrowed it down to benchmade nimravus, SOG seal pup elite, cold steel SRK all seem to be good quality and light survival/combat blades, was wondering if anyone has any input or suggestions thanks
Of those three, I would go with the Benchmade.
Here’s another possibility - a ESEE/RAT Cutlery RC-3MIL. The sheath has various mounting options you requested.
http://www.ratcutlery.com/rc-3mil.htm
I have a RAT-3 in D2 steel, and like it quite a bit. Various folks have found it pretty easy to fasten it to a 6004 holster, MOLLE or body armor.
ETA: Best wishes for a safe deployment, and thank you for your service to our country.
I’d personally stay away from the nimravus, benchmades fixed blades are good but they tend to be delicate.
The seal pup elite would do you well plus they are extremely light weight which is important.
Other blades to consider are the ESEE RC-4 or RC-5, Foster Fears Survival Knife, Gerber Prodigy, Ka-bar Becker BK-2 or BK-7, Microtech Churahee. Oh and I would also look out for a new knife coming out from Zero Tolerance knives called the 0170, it fits the bill for soldiers knife perfect.
What’s your max $$$?
Jay
I wouldn’t go for anything above 4". I carry a 3" Busse on my kit and it’s never been too short. If you get a big, bad Rambo knife you’ll probably wish for something lighter and end up not carrying it. Check out Fallkniven and RAT cutlery.
I carried a SEAL Pup on my vest, mounted on my right side, underneath my 3-mag shingle, at a 45-deg angle…worked like that for 15 months.
I have a Nimravus from one of the early production runs and while I’m not a Soldier or a Marine I would have concerns about the long-term durability of the knife, especially if you wind up using it as a prybar etc.
A lot of good reviews on the internet from ground pounders who carried these on deployments…
http://www.militarygerber.com/index.php/product/id/87
They retail for $140 but you can get them here for $64…
http://www.lapolicegear.com/lmfiiasek.html
They come in Black, Coyote, or Foliage.
I suggest a RAT/ESEE RC-4 or RC-5.
Anything from Emerson. No need to look any further.
I am not quite sure what your budget is. If money is tight I would say go with the Benchmade or a RAT. I have several of thier fixed blade knives, and they have yet to let me down. At the higher end of the price scale I have to throw my reccomendation to Mad Dog. Thier knives are top notch. I have had one for years, and I have beat the living shit out of it. It still looks new…well “newish”. The only thing is the $700 starting price.
For the money you really cannot beat the Chris Reeve Knives. Great knives and not unreasonable prices for what you get. Take a look at the Professional Soldier model. I feel that it will meet your needs the best, but if you feel that you really need a bigger knife look at the Niel Roberts. Links below
http://chrisreeve.com/professionalsoldier.htm
http://chrisreeve.com/neilroberts.htm
http://www.mdtactical.com/maddog/pygmyatak2.html
I saw quite a few of the following:
Gerber LMFs, Benchmade Nimravus Cubs, SOG Seal Pups, Becker Knife and Tool (different versions). I actually had and used the Nimravus Cub and BKT throughout my deployment and never had issues with either. Cutting, prying, hammering, all the things one would expect to use their knife for and some of the things you don’t but you do use it anyway. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of those. If I can get my hands on a Chris Reeve Shadow III that will be the knife I take with me on all future deployments.
Depending on how much you want to spend there are plenty of good suggestions in this thread.
Good luck.
+1 for the Chris Reeve Shadow
Great Knife
Here’s another possibility - a ESEE/RAT Cutlery RC-3MIL. The sheath has various mounting options you requested.
http://www.ratcutlery.com/rc-3mil.htm
I have a RAT-3 in D2 steel, and like it quite a bit. Various folks have found it pretty easy to fasten it to a 6004 holster, MOLLE or body armor.
Not to confuse you, but RAT Cutlery is now ESEE and I run the ESEE-3 on a 6004 with no problems. The sheath just screws right onto the two holes that are on the 6004. ESEE has great warranty. You break it and they will fix it or replace it. Even if you break it on purpose.
I know you said fixed blade but may a recommend the Al MAR SERE 2000 folder. Because of the pocket clip design it carries very well in covered pockets. Something you can carry all the time, not just in full kit. I have had mine for about 7 years and it is my favorite knife.- George
to be honest with you guys i a not trying break the $200 mark, i was thinking somewhere in the 120-160 mark maybe a bit more
That’s plenty of money. In that range the RAT/ESEE-4 and the Bark River Bravo 1 both have a great reputation.
Jay
finally, i hear someone comment on this knife. i do believe it will be my next folder. thank you.
for my 3 deployments to the sad box, i had the sog seal pup that u mentioned. it was a great all around utility knife. i used that thing for everything and still was confident if i had to go into a knife fight with it. although, i havent had any formal knife fighting experience, it seems like it would do well. it is very light, will hold an edge for a very long time and the sheath could be mounted anywhere. i also carried a barry dawson ranger with me as well in case there was something i ran into that needed a very heavy duty knife. anyway, good luck with your pick.
thanks for all help guys, really appreciated for all the input but i am basically going between the nimravus or the seal pup elite just trying to get my hands around them first to see which one can fit my hands better, in reality i wont be doing much of wood chopping or camping in the sand box so no need to carry a thick big blade, but only a good LBE knife for minor cutting, prying and most importantly as a light capable combat knife if the situation present itself