![]() ![]() Knifemaker Jack Stottlemire served with the United States Marine Corps and the Army for a total of 27 years, with 14 combat deployments. ![]() The Buck 110 folder was also available at the local PX and had good blade steel and was easy to carry. They were expensive knives but the troops’ fathers and grandfathers had carried them, so they were passed along to the sons and grandsons. “You could get one for $12 and it worked pretty good, but if you broke one now and then you could have two or three around.” Kim Breed said the Cold Steel SRK was a favorite among the troops, citing its molded Kraton handle in particular for praise.īreed says the SRK was a favorite with its molded Kraton handle, while the Swiss Army was especially handy in Somalia for removing stickers and thorns with the tweezers. The Ka-Bar has stood the test of time, and its generational tie to earlier combat deployments of family members from World War II forward may have been an influence, but for the most part, there was value, performance and availability to spare with the iconic fixed blade. The Buck 110 folder was widely available at the local PX and had good blade steel and easy carry for assorted cutting jobs. Each earned a bit of praise from the veteran. Speaking of the Ka-Bar*, it is among the top five knives of Breed’s Gulf War assessment, along with the Cold Steel SRK, Swiss Army knife, Randall Models 1 and 14 and the Buck 110. ![]() The Ka-Bar might break but the aluminum-handle dagger wouldn’t.” When we got bored, we would throw knives, betting for a cigarette, chocolate bar or pound cake. A lot of guys would buy the Ka-Bar because it was a good knife-but it was also cheap. “It was a smaller dagger with an aluminum handle. “It wasn’t the real big Arkansas toothpick,” he remembered. An unexpected military knife: Kim Breed indicated Swiss Army knives were especially handy in Somalia for removing stickers and thorns with the tweezers. It was good psychological warfare.”Īlong with the Fer de Lance strapped to his back, Breed also had a Swiss Army knife at his side and an Arkansas toothpick. Plus, the locals would freak out when I brought out a double-edged knife. Two edges meant I had one sharp for heavy duty and the other for finer stuff. It’s light in the hand and has a big enough blade to do the job. “It’s a double-edged fighter and I carried it almost my whole career. “I carried the Fer de Lance designed by David Steel and produced by Pacific Cutlery,” he said. (image of Fer de Lance courtesy of Arizona Custom Knives) Pacific Cutlery was owned and operated by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Les de Asis, who went on to found Benchmade Knife Co. BLADE® field editor/knifemaker Kim Breed said his experience with military knives in the Gulf War included a mixed bag, including the Fer de Lance designed by David Steele for the now-defunct Pacific Cutlery. His experience in the Gulf War included a mixed bag of available knives for anything that was needed. Ka-Bar-type fighting/utility fixed bladeīLADE field editor/knifemaker Kim Breed spent nearly two decades in the Army, serving with the 10th and then 5th Special Forces Groups.From Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, service personnel have taken their chosen tools abroad and put them to use for a variety of chores. When service men and women have deployed into harm’s way through the years, their knives of choice have been by their side, sheathed or strapped, buckled or pocketed, or carried in a duffle bag. military has stood ready in defense of freedom around the world. Since BLADE® Magazine went to press for the first time 50 years ago, there have been wars and rumors of wars. Stepping away from standard issues, combat veterans recount the off-beat military knives they used day-to-day during their service. ![]()
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