From the First Barbary War to Baghram and Baghdad, knives have been an essential part of the individual Marine’s arsenal. While all Marines are issued bayonnetes, there are a number of occasions where they just wont “cut it”. Here are 5 of the best blades on the market from brands that have been rigorously field tested and battlefield trusted!
Click on any image to find out how you can get one of these legendary knives!
Ka-Bar 2-1245-1 Black Tanto Knife
Price: $82.03 $55.79
The dependability and consistent quality of wartime KA-BARs was the result of constant strict quality control procedures by KA-BAR workers and supervisors as well as the US Marine Corps and Navy Supply inspectors who were assigned to the KA-BAR factory to work along with company personnel to accomplish this goal. – KA-BAR Knives Inc.
No Marine arsenal is complete without a KA-BAR! Since World War II, Marines have used KA-BARs to pound tent stakes, drive nails, open ration cans, dig foxholes, and permanently retire bad guys!
Traditionally, tantos were Japanese single- or double-edged daggers that were mostly carried by the Samurai warrior class.Tantos make great combat blades since they are specifically designed for stabbing and slashing, and can also be used as field knives (I’ve actually seen a guy field strip a deer with a tanto blade).
The superior construction and quality of the KA-BAR combined with the traditional Japanese tanto blade gives the warfighter a superior instrument that will never fail to perform!
SE37-N SEAL Team Elite
Price: $180.00 $100.23
Another good combat knife is SOG’s Seal Team Elite. The first thing that should be mentioned is that this is a HUGE knife! At 12.3 inches in length and weighing 10.3 ounces, the sight of this knife out of the sheath should be enough to make an aggressor think twice!
This isnt a field tool, and while this knife has its cons – it doesnt hold a sharp edge for long after heavy use, and it can be a little heavy – the SEAL Team Elite is a truly versatile weapon that should hold up in combat with some light maintenance.
Smith & Wesson Black SWAT Serrated Opening Knife
Price: $53.07 $32.95
Most Marines carry some sort of pocket tool like a Gerber or a Swiss Army Knife, and there are inevitably occasions where the knife needs to be used. The small, flimsy blades can make it difficult to cut 550 cord, parachute rope, and even Chicken Tetrazzini MREs! You need a small, strong pocket knife that can make easy work of these tasks and, if necessary, an opponent.
The best knife that I have reviewed so far is the Smith & Wesson Swat Opening Knife. These knives act as a great companion tool and weapon, are easy to open, and have a strong lock – meaning they stay open when in use.
Cold Steel – Magnum Kukri Machete, Cordura Sheath
Price: $48.59 $24.11
If you ever find yourself fighting with a Machete then the crap has officially hit the fan. Regardless of what your opinion is on the likelyhood that you will find yourself in such a position remember Medal of Honor winner Pfc. Jack G. Hanson, whose body was found lying in front of his emplacement, his machinegun ammunition expended, his empty pistol in his right hand, and a machete with blood on the blade in his left hand, and approximately 22 enemy dead lay in the wake of his action.
Its at times like these that you want a quality instrument on your side, not some K-Mart piece of aluminum. Enter the Cold Steel Magnum Kukri Machete. With its 1055 carbon steel and black backed anti-rust finish, you will have a tool and weapon capable of both clearing brush and clearing enemy combatants.
This item COMES WITH A SHEATH, and at HALF OFF ITS MANUFACTURER’S PRICE YOU REALLY HAVE NO EXCUSE! Get it today, period.
Cold Steel’s Counter Tac II Blade
Price: $57.44
We finish up with the a perfect and easily concealed boot knife, Cold Steel’s Counter Tac II. The design of the grip is comfortable, deeply textured, and adaptable to any fighting style. The double guard gives you a little extra insurance against the user’s hand slipping forward when the knife is thrust forward. Heres a short video from Cold Steel illustrating some of the knife’s uses.
Remember that there isnt “one knife to rule them all”, and that every knife has its specific uses, advantages, and drawbacks. It is vital in this age of close quarters combat that every Marine and war fighter have a knife at his disposal. These 5 blades are reliable places to start, and might just save your life in a pinch!
If you have any advice, comments, or stories related to knife use in garrison and on the battlefield, sound off in the comments section!