Military / Survival Knives

This thread is to show and discuss military style knives, attachments, their history, etc.

I'll start off with the Randall Model 18 'Attack / Survival' knife, which I have. Randall has been making knives or all sorts since the 1930's. Their production picked up during WWII when word got around about their Model 1 ('All Purpose Fighter'), and their Model 2 ('Fighting Stiletto') knives, which you can see here on the Randall online catalog: Randall Made Knives » Randall Made Knives Catalog

Randall history: Randall Made Knives » Randall History

The Randall's are handmade and of excellent quality, though they are often pricey. The waiting time to receive a knife from the factory is about 5 years, though new ones are available on ebay, etc., from factory distributors and collectors.

The top of the line Randall 18 would include a stainless blade (holds the edge better than their carbon blade), a 'knurled' handle, sawteeth, and screw-off compass. The knife handle is hollow for survival or military support items (water disinfectant pills, scalpel blade, etc.). The knife comes in 2 sizes: 5 and 1/2 inch blade and 7 and 1/2 inch blade. You can also order the Randall 18 'Walking Staff / Spear' (see photo below), which screws into the Model 18 knife. Overall, a good quality military / survival knife.

Knives are cool and all, but I only have 2

it's my USMC Kabar issued to my uncle in WW2 , and my M7 bayonet, issued to me in 1969

in general, i don't have much use for knives.. even pocket knives.

Logicman said:

This thread is to show and discuss military style knives, attachments, their history, etc.

I'll start off with the Randall Model 18 'Attack / Survival' knife, which I have. Randall has been making knives or all sorts since the 1930's. Their production picked up during WWII when word got around about their Model 1 ('All Purpose Fighter'), and their Model 2 ('Fighting Stiletto') knives, which you can see here on the Randall online catalog: Randall Made Knives » Randall Made Knives Catalog

The Randall's are handmade and of excellent quality, though they are often pricey. The waiting time to receive a knife from the factory is about 5 years, though new ones are available on ebay, etc., from factory distributors and collectors.

The top of the line Randall 18 would include a stainless blade (holds the edge better than their carbon blade), a 'knurled' handle, sawteeth, and screw-off compass. The knife handle is hollow for survival or military support items (water disinfectant pills, scalpel blade, etc.). The knife comes in 2 sizes: 5 and 1/2 inch blade and 7 and 1/2 inch blade. You can also order the Randall 18 'Walking Staff / Spear' (see photo below), which screws into the Model 18 knife. Overall, a good quality military / survival knife.

View attachment 67196375

View attachment 67196376

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I looked at the catalog. The knives are really good looking.

Thrilla said:

Knives are cool and all, but I only have 2

it's my USMC Kabar issued to my uncle in WW2 , and my M7 bayonet, issued to me in 1969

in general, i don't have much use for knives.. even pocket knives.

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I've had Kabar's for decades. Good choice for the money. I remember seeing some in Vietnam.

Thrilla said:

Knives are cool and all, but I only have 2

it's my USMC Kabar issued to my uncle in WW2 , and my M7 bayonet, issued to me in 1969

in general, i don't have much use for knives.. even pocket knives.

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I have no idea where my M7 is. I know I kept it and there are a few stories that go along with it so...

I also recently replaced my Ka-Bar. It's a pretty much indispensable tool.

Lutherf said:

I have no idea where my M7 is. I know I kept it and there are a few stories that go along with it so...

I also recently replaced my Ka-Bar. It's a pretty much indispensable tool.

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My M7 is attached to a replica M-16A1 that hangs in my office...with the rest of my jarhead stuff.
my Kabar is on the side of my easy chair...I use it daily to clean my fingernails and open my mail :lol:

lots of stories behind each of them, for sure... the really good ones are from my uncle who was jumping around Islands in hte pacific... amazing stuff that makes my exploits look like boy scout camp stories.

Logicman said:

I've had Kabar's for decades. Good choice for the money. I remember seeing some in Vietnam.

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my uncle gave me his a couple days before I shipped for 'Nam... he was surprised they didn't issue them anymore and i remember the look he gave me when he said " you're gonna NEED this". ( he kinda scared me, truth be told)

I didn't end up needing it, but it sure was handy to have

sucker stayed on my belt from 1969 to 1993, for every field exercise, and every deployment.
I should have passed it to my son, but screw him, I still use it :lol:

I feel I need to pass on a bit of advice I got from an SAS officer during the Falklands campaign.

He burst into a building with two Argy soldiers in it, and stabbed one with his high quality Rambo First Blood custom knife.

That big assed saw on the back caught into the guy's ribs and he could not withdraw it at all.

His next memory was waking up on a hospital ship heading for South Africa.

It seems the other Argy bashed him over the head with his FAL rifle butt and knocked him cold plus giving him a hairline crack in his skull.

It is better to have a folding saw blade than to have that ugly thing on your knife.

If you ever intend to fight with it, then your blade needs to be streamlined and smooth.

A little serrations near the base are fine, but those big assed saw teeth will catch inside whatever you stick with it.

HOWEVER.....the young lady using it as a spear seems a nice way to ensure it stays in the animal you stick with it. Plus the running and jostling will make a huge wound cavity.

So I would say FINE if you want it as a wilderness knife, but NO WAY as a combat knife.

PS...I have a patent on a device that makes it possible to attach a bayonet to your hiking stick. Patent D742,472S

So far, I have them to attach any M16 type bayonet, any M1 Garand bayonet, a cheap but popular Chinese replica bayonet, and an M14 bayonet.

My attachment makes it possible for you to keep the bayonet on your hip until needed, then you just pop it on like you would a rifle. Pops off just as easy.

A lot of survival knives have the feature where you can thread a stick into it like in the pic, but that makes it a bit hard to take off too.

I made these hiking stick adapters after seeing and hearing about how time after time, people get attacked in the woods and all they have to defend themselves with are harsh words, sticks and stones.

It is my hope no one ever uses them to harm an animal, but instead just has one to give them more peace of mind when in the big bad scarry woods.

Here's another Randall I have - The Randall Model 2 'Fighting Stiletto.' Awesome.

RetiredNSmilin said:

I feel I need to pass on a bit of advice I got from an SAS officer during the Falklands campaign.

He burst into a building with two Argy soldiers in it, and stabbed one with his high quality Rambo First Blood custom knife.

That big assed saw on the back caught into the guy's ribs and he could not withdraw it at all.

His next memory was waking up on a hospital ship heading for South Africa.

It seems the other Argy bashed him over the head with his FAL rifle butt and knocked him cold plus giving him a hairline crack in his skull.

It is better to have a folding saw blade than to have that ugly thing on your knife.

If you ever intend to fight with it, then your blade needs to be streamlined and smooth.

A little serrations near the base are fine, but those big assed saw teeth will catch inside whatever you stick with it.

HOWEVER.....the young lady using it as a spear seems a nice way to ensure it stays in the animal you stick with it. Plus the running and jostling will make a huge wound cavity.

So I would say FINE if you want it as a wilderness knife, but NO WAY as a combat knife.

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You're correct. You can have a "serrated" knife blade, but not one that has a "saw" blade as part of it. The "saw" will hang on ribs, ligaments, tendons, or even their uniform.

This was the first knife I was issued at basic flight crew training and qualification. It was a dull blade on one end, and a 5/50 cord cutting blade on the other end (to cut you out of a parachute or cut a few cords to increase your downward speed or controllability), and I still have the original one and it's "replacement":



Of course, you eventually get issued an M9, and that works well because it's made like a tank.

Then you get your tactical knife. A lot of guys bought knives from Jay Fisher, although I didn't:


I preferred a basic skinning knife with a 5" blade if I ever "needed" it, and a fishing filet knife for my combat medic duties which would cut through anything, including small bone, tendons and ligaments to remove frags, or web gear to gain access to a wound. I don't have a picture of the ones I used (and still have) but here's as close a picture as I could find (the major difference being my knifes had black carbon fiber blades and a single custom made scabbard that held both:

I like good steel, but I'm not into large knives. I have a buck knife that I've had since I was 14, standard knife for skinning animals, not serrations. Black grippy rubber handle. You know. An OJ knife, lol.

I second the above poster, a knife with serrations is NOT what you want if you plan on sticking it into something and then pulling it out again...in fact, for combat, you don't even want a knife that is overly sharp on the edges, else the blade will cut into bone, and get stuck. All you want is a nice sharp point. Leave the barbs and stuff for projectiles, weapons you don't intend to retrieve and re-use immediately.

I do have several nice pocket knives. I prefer Frost, their steel is the best, IMO. I use them all the time. Sharpening pencils, cutting out nails, scoring plexi, you name it.

Logicman said:

This thread is to show and discuss military style knives, attachments, their history, etc.

I'll start off with the Randall Model 18 'Attack / Survival' knife, which I have. Randall has been making knives or all sorts since the 1930's. Their production picked up during WWII when word got around about their Model 1 ('All Purpose Fighter'), and their Model 2 ('Fighting Stiletto') knives, which you can see here on the Randall online catalog: Randall Made Knives » Randall Made Knives Catalog

Randall history: Randall Made Knives » Randall History

The Randall's are handmade and of excellent quality, though they are often pricey. The waiting time to receive a knife from the factory is about 5 years, though new ones are available on ebay, etc., from factory distributors and collectors.

The top of the line Randall 18 would include a stainless blade (holds the edge better than their carbon blade), a 'knurled' handle, sawteeth, and screw-off compass. The knife handle is hollow for survival or military support items (water disinfectant pills, scalpel blade, etc.). The knife comes in 2 sizes: 5 and 1/2 inch blade and 7 and 1/2 inch blade. You can also order the Randall 18 'Walking Staff / Spear' (see photo below), which screws into the Model 18 knife. Overall, a good quality military / survival knife.

Click to expand...

I have about two dozen Randalls

I don't own one of the hollow handle knives. The best version of that type of knife was made by former South African maker Chris Reeve. Its stronger than the Randal since it is machined out of a single bar of steel. Chris also makes the knife SF graduates get. I gave one to my nephew to take to Iraq as a Captain in the Rangers. It must have worked-he now has two-the second he received when he joined the Green Beret.

The Cold Steel copy of the Randall #1 is actually about as good a knife. SO are some of the many copies such as "Bark River" and some of the SOG versions. True, the Randall is hand made but for the average Grunt, the 250 dollar Machine made versions work as well.

I have lots of knives. Been collecting them since I was a teenager. Columbia River Knife and Tool is probably my favorite commercial line-great knives for the money. Their big fighter I own came with a hard rubber training version-a nice touch.


BTW if you have a Randall 18 you don't want to use it as a spear. Too easy to lose. use the knife to make a spear out of a sapling-harden the wooden point in a fire. Now you have a good spear and a knife as well

Two of my Randalls

These are the two in my office desk. Both are Stainless Steel-the leather Handle is the classic. The second is Linen Micarta: the handle pattern is often called a "sword grip"

There are several types of military knives but the two most well known are Fighting/Utility knives and killing knives

The former are illustrated by everything from the Well-known Kabar (also made by the late great Camillus-the name was bought in 09, Case Knives and Ontario knives), the Randall Model 1, 15, and 8 and the less sinister appearing Swedish military knife

These knives are designed for multipurpose-mainly for normal knife chores but to be used as a back up weapon in dire circumstances or in very limited cases-as an offensive weapon for silent elimination of guards etc

The second type of knife-a killing knife is a double edged dagger typified by the British Sykes-Fairbain stilletto and the more Modern Gerber Mark II (which was very popular in Nam). These knifes are much les useful for general knife duties and are not particularly good for a slashing style attack. Where they excel are sneak attacks on unsuspecting Sentries or some of the reverse grip tactics that late Mercenary Mike Echanis detailed in his book that was originally written for the SEAL operatives.

an earlier model Mark II is shown below- it was later called a SURVIVAL knife" to make it more palatable to purchasers even though the only place where this design is superior is as I noted, silent killing of enemy guards. Gerber changed the name so military Pxs and other retailers would continue to carry it.

So far the finest blade I've seen on a knife is of the Fallkniven A2. Fallkniven has been around about 30 years and has developed such a strong reputation that it's the knife maker to the King of Sweden. It's the sharpest and strongest blade I've seen and it has excellent weight and a heavy duty leather sheath with tie-down eyelets. A2L

If I were going to war again, this is the knife I would go with.

Logicman said:

So far the finest blade I've seen on a knife is of the Fallkniven A2. Fallkniven has been around about 30 years and has developed such a strong reputation that it's the knife maker to the King of Sweden. It's the sharpest and strongest blade I've seen and it has excellent weight and a heavy duty leather sheath with tie-down eyelets. A2L

If I were going to war again, this is the knife I would go with.

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The cutlerlyshoppe in Idaho carries those. Don't own any

I'd go with one of My Randalls though there are some other interesting choices

like this one I recently obtained from AG Russell (turtle endorsed too)


FKMD Mars Sputnik 10 | AGRussell.com


or this one: The Russian Kizlyar-bought one for my son-great knife

Korshun - $188.00 : Kizlyar Knives USA, Hand Made Russian Knives available in the Unitaded States of America

one of the better choices in terms of balance and heft for a big military knife (Gerber's BMF-allegedly stood for that :mrgreen for around 2 C notes


The Hammond Designed CRKT FE7

RetiredNSmilin said:

I feel I need to pass on a bit of advice I got from an SAS officer during the Falklands campaign.

He burst into a building with two Argy soldiers in it, and stabbed one with his high quality Rambo First Blood custom knife.

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Sorry, I have to call scuttlebutt and bilgewater on this one.

First Blood was fllmed in the Winter-Spring of 1981-1982. The move came out in October 1982, and the first knife tied to it came out at the same time the movie was released.

The Falklands War was April to June 1982. And in all of the reading I have done about this conflict, that is a story I have not heard before.

BTW, the SAS uses the Fairbairn–Sykes, a dagger very different from the "Rambo" style survival knife.



Myself, I have found little real use to having a knife in the field. Yea, they are great for cutting 550 cord, or com wire, or doing a lot of other things. But most "combat knives" are horrible if they actually needed to be used in combat. Saw edges would get caught in wounds on bone, large lengths would make them slow to pull and hard to wield. And it takes hundreds of hours of training to use them proficiently.

I have had many knives pulled on my at work, and generally it is all I can do not to laugh when they do so. I once even had 2 guys pull knives on me at once, I just had to keep my distance from them and they did little other then get the guys who pulled them serious felony charges.

Oozlefinch said:

Sorry, I have to call scuttlebutt and bilgewater on this one.

First Blood was fllmed in the Winter-Spring of 1981-1982. The move came out in October 1982, and the first knife tied to it came out at the same time the movie was released.

The Falklands War was April to June 1982. And in all of the reading I have done about this conflict, that is a story I have not heard before.

BTW, the SAS uses the Fairbairn–Sykes, a dagger very different from the "Rambo" style survival knife.

Myself, I have found little real use to having a knife in the field. Yea, they are great for cutting 550 cord, or com wire, or doing a lot of other things. But most "combat knives" are horrible if they actually needed to be used in combat. Saw edges would get caught in wounds on bone, large lengths would make them slow to pull and hard to wield. And it takes hundreds of hours of training to use them proficiently.

I have had many knives pulled on my at work, and generally it is all I can do not to laugh when they do so. I once even had 2 guys pull knives on me at once, I just had to keep my distance from them and they did little other then get the guys who pulled them serious felony charges.

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I am only relaying what he told me.

When I was a teen, you could buy M1 Garand Bayonets at the army surplus store for about $2.
I made some neat knives out of them, that I gave away, I still have one out in my garage.

Here's another knife I have that is a quality blade: The Gerber Watson Harsey Silver Trident

It's another one I'd take to war.



Excerpt from link below: "The Silver Trident is more than a symbol of Americas top Special Ops personnel. Its living proof that guys who handle our nations nastier chores will go through whatever kind of hell is necessary, so long as they have the best gear. The Silver Trident has the most technically advanced handle ever engineered on a combat knife. Its resistant to heat, UV light and chemicals. The brainchild of William Harsey, Jr. and Chief Watson—a founding member of Navy Seal Team 2—the handle is a co-mold of two versions of the material called Hytrel. Inside, there's a rock-hard version for strength. Outside, there's the soft, textured version for extreme grip control. Use the stainless steel butt cap as a hammer. The double-edged clip point blade is 154C stainless steel, heat-treated to achieve a hardness rating of HRC 59-61. That means you get excellent edge retention, strength and flexibility. The non-reflective black blade limits glare and corrosion."

Silver Trident - Double Serration

Comes with a nice tactical-style nylon sheath with tie down and a pocket for a sharpening stone.