Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Capt. Dale Dye: Fieldcraft Knives 101” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/fieldcraft-knives-101/.
Capt. Dale Dye: Fieldcraft Knives 101
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
The Night Rider
Hellcat
Interesting video explaining the impact the Rambo Kife had on knives in general.
I made it through my entire Army "career" with these two knives.
jeffhuey1n
Alpha
Outstanding article Cap’n!
In the Marine Corps, we weren’t issued knives unless for a very specific reason. The tool control program was very strict. Once I began flying, I received one of the electrician’s knives. On the flight suit there is a small pocket with a long lanyard, which is perfect for tying to the electrician’s knife. It worked fine for my flight duties on the CH-53. I got sent to Naval Aircrew Candidate School. While there we were issued a pilot survival knife. It had a fixed blade knife, poorly sharpened on one side and a serrated edge on the other. It came with a knife sharpener stone, leather sheath and lanyard to affix it to our gear. Up until I was discharged, they did what needed to be done. I’m just glad the survival knife was never needed.
Forward to the Air Force. They had a slightly less strict tool program. You could purchase a multi tool and minimag flashlight that had nice holsters to wear on your belt. Before you could carry them, they had to be etched with your name. Very handy when you found a multi tool sitting on a HH-60 engine.
With variations, I used several different brands of these tools. SOG, Leatherman, Gerber to name a few. They all had one very painful twist. If you didn’t have good gription and the pliers slipped, a very painful blood blister would be created on the webbing between thumb and index finger. All of these tools had at least one blade. The best of all of the ones I received was on the Super Leatherman. At then end of my career, I was gifted a very nice Gerber lock blade and a USMC KaBar knife. The lock blade I keep with my small knife collection. The KaBar is mounted in a handy location, just in case. Now I go to the occasional yard/estate sale and find some very interesting knives. KaBars, Camillus, and variously branded combat knives that will never be used in combat. I keep two folders in my pocket for everyday use. My favorite is a SOG Trident the other is basically a sharp tool to cut open beverage containers.
On the other hand, bayonets. I’m working on collecting a very nice collection of bayonets. But that’s a different story.
In the Marine Corps, we weren’t issued knives unless for a very specific reason. The tool control program was very strict. Once I began flying, I received one of the electrician’s knives. On the flight suit there is a small pocket with a long lanyard, which is perfect for tying to the electrician’s knife. It worked fine for my flight duties on the CH-53. I got sent to Naval Aircrew Candidate School. While there we were issued a pilot survival knife. It had a fixed blade knife, poorly sharpened on one side and a serrated edge on the other. It came with a knife sharpener stone, leather sheath and lanyard to affix it to our gear. Up until I was discharged, they did what needed to be done. I’m just glad the survival knife was never needed.
Forward to the Air Force. They had a slightly less strict tool program. You could purchase a multi tool and minimag flashlight that had nice holsters to wear on your belt. Before you could carry them, they had to be etched with your name. Very handy when you found a multi tool sitting on a HH-60 engine.
With variations, I used several different brands of these tools. SOG, Leatherman, Gerber to name a few. They all had one very painful twist. If you didn’t have good gription and the pliers slipped, a very painful blood blister would be created on the webbing between thumb and index finger. All of these tools had at least one blade. The best of all of the ones I received was on the Super Leatherman. At then end of my career, I was gifted a very nice Gerber lock blade and a USMC KaBar knife. The lock blade I keep with my small knife collection. The KaBar is mounted in a handy location, just in case. Now I go to the occasional yard/estate sale and find some very interesting knives. KaBars, Camillus, and variously branded combat knives that will never be used in combat. I keep two folders in my pocket for everyday use. My favorite is a SOG Trident the other is basically a sharp tool to cut open beverage containers.
On the other hand, bayonets. I’m working on collecting a very nice collection of bayonets. But that’s a different story.