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AR15.COM
7/12/2006 4:41:51 PM EDT
Thank you guys for all you do over there.Please forgive my ignorance. My sonn-to-be son-in-law has enlisted in the Marines.He already knows he is going to end up in Iraq.I am a deputy sheriff,and use a Cold steel recon tanto.I would like to,as a Christmas present,get him a good knife.My dumb questions are- Do the Marines still issue K-bars? Should I get him a medium(4-5 in blade) or large(6-7)?Folder or fixed.Folder is smaller to store,but you have to open it.Fixed is larger,but good to go.Any help to an 'almost marine' is greatly appreciated.
7/12/2006 5:08:25 PM EDT
[#1]
as a general practice the Corps only issues kabars to Marines who get pistols only like comm guys, officers etc. riflemen get bayonets but mostly everyone else just buys their own. i got one given to me as the honor grad from SOI but i chose to buy my own and have a bought a few over the years. you cant go wrong with a kabar! other popular knives among jarheads include

cold steel SRK
SOG government model
Gerber LMF
Glock field knife
SOG 5th special forces bowie
and the Busse's and their ontario copies.
7/12/2006 6:25:51 PM EDT
[#2]
The Marines are doing away with the K-Bar and everyone will be issued the new multi purpose bayonet. (My unit has already done this).  But that thing is Huge and not real practical to carry around.

I suggest 2 knives for him. A nice folder to keep in his pocket and then a medium sized fixed blade for on his web gear.

I carried a CRKT folder with a tanto blade clipped inside my trouser pocket and on my pistol belt (padded blackhawk) I carried the SEAL Pup which I think is a great knife. (just enough knife and solid)

Most of the time on the FOB's you don't carry all of your gear around, just weapon with a mag and with a folder he'd always have a knife handy.

When he heads out of the wire he'd have the fixed blade on his gear.
7/21/2006 8:09:16 PM EDT
[#3]
on deployment i had a folder w/pocket clip in each side pocket (2), my gerber DET tool (i was an engineer) in a pistol mag pouch and my SOG SEAL pup on my drop leg panel. you don't need anything bigger than the SEAL pup.
7/23/2006 9:35:10 PM EDT
[#4]


+1

SEAL PUP   is the perfect size - not too big or small.

BTW -- GET him the good GARBER MULTI tool just like he said..

good to have BOTH.
But get them as a GIFT --
Give to him after he returns from BOOTCAMP.
He has no need for them now or until he comes home.

If he trys to take one with him to BOOT - it will taken from him as CONTRIBAND..