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[Contractor]

Not to open this one unnecessarily, but I have read, listened to, ect. about the age old "double edge vs. Bowie" debate.  For CQB or Military applications, what works better.  I should mention that I am a believer in Field Knives for field use, and Fighting knives for fighting concept.

[Professor]

Not to open this one unnecessarily, but I have read, listened to, ect. about the age old "double edge vs. Bowie" debate.  For CQB or Military applications, what works better.  I should mention that I am a believer in Field Knives for field use, and Fighting knives for fighting concept.

Here is the style that I prefer:



Gryphon Combat Knife The M30A1 was design by Robert Terzuola as a combat knife.

The long back edge is dull but can be sharpened in about 5 minutes.   I prefer the spear point on any knife.     I own the above and prefer it for my belt/ camp/defense use, however for a truly sexy dagger:


Cold Steel Model 13D, Tai Pan

This one is SWEET.

[gumbey]

Each has its advantages and drawbacks. But for myself, I carry my tactical folder when out in the street. My hunting knife? I carry it only when I'm in my own property (in my yard, usually working on my car or cutting grass) because of its blade length (5").

[Kentbob]

  I like my double edge, Cold Steel, OSS model knife.  It is rather large, so I don't carry anywhere other than on the battlefield of Iraq, or Afghanistan.  But, I like it because it is long, and I can cut in both directions without having to be to edge aware.  Also, I have a better chance of scoring incidental wounds that will diminish the enemy.  I train with it, a little, but it is so sharp that incidental contact with myself would result in a mess. 
    I also train with a Fairbairn-Applegate mock up.  It helps me to simulate the double edge, and to see where I could make incidental wounds. 
    That is all I have for the moment.



Kent

[Trembula]

For utility/field use, I like a single edge big enough to chop with. Something like the Livesay RTAK or RCM comes to mind. Of course, if you go that big, you might also need a smaller utility fixed blade (Livesay AA maybe...?)

For a hideout knife, I think double-edged is logical to get the most cutting ability in the smallest package.

For a dedicated fighting knife, being somewhat traditional, I think I would rather have a Bowie with about half of the top edge sharpened for "back cutting." And if the purpose is combat, it might as well have guards that will actually give more than an iota of protection to the hand. I wasn't a believer in this until I met Dwight McLemore and saw his bowie trainers for myself.

Dan

[Rawhide]

Sorry ya'll, I like a good old fashioned K-Bar.  Versitile and mean.  (the new tanto version is quite hip, thoug.  hmmmm....)

[Contractor]

I picked up a Cold Steel Peacekeeper a while back.  As most of the Cold Steel line goes this one is wickedly sharp, and has the feel and look of a capable knife.  However the minimal hand guard is of some concern, simply being part of the molded handle.  This does not seem to give adequate protection.  The other side of this is that the handle is extremely “sticky” and slippage is not too likely.

What are your thoughts on this knife? 

[Trembula]

Not to disagree or anything, but I really don't like the USMC Combat Utility Knife. That being said, I have four or five of them ranging from a WW2 Navy model, to a Camillus Vietnam era model, and a couple or three newer ones.

The "Ka-Bar" is a conglomeration of a lot of other knives. It is not a jack of all trades and definately a master of none. The blade is too short to chop with, the tang bends or snaps off too easy, the blade is too long for fine utility work, not pointy enough to thrust well with and lacks the heft for serious hacking/snap cutting. The seven inch blade is an awkward length. Four or five suffices for a uitlity fixed blade. Ten or more for a chopper. That being said, my brothers on the farm strap on their USMC Combat Utility Knives every morning and only take them off when they go into town.

The older ones were better, the new ones made by "Ka-Bar" aren't worth the money. If you must have one, buy a Camillus - uglier, but stouter.

[SplCell101]

Double edged all the way. they are lighter and if youre in a fight you'll be able to cut with both sides being more dangerous to your opponent and wont be limted to one side. another plus is that if you had to neutralize someone from behind by slicing their throat or whatever it would be kinda hard to turn your bowie knife around to do that. I have seen only a few one sided blades you could do that with. the best knife in my opinion is the Strider general purpose. its not too long and it fits good both regular and reverse grip. its one of the best out I think. if anyone wants to check them out the website is www.striderknives.com

Jason

[Hock]

...and remember you will not know if you like WHATEVER knife you select until you use it on the war post, running the solo command and mastery of

-left hand grip
-right hand grip
-saber
-reverse
-slashing
-stabbing
-hacking
-how does the pommel strike work for you? A folder? Closed folder striking.

Only after this experiment can you tell if you like a knife or not.

[Nick Hughes]

SplCell,

that if you had to neutralize someone from behind by slicing their throat or whatever it would be kinda hard to turn your bowie knife around to do that. I have seen only a few one sided blades you could do that with.

Jason, I don't want to rain on your parade but killing someone from behind is just as easy with a single edged as a double.  Makes no difference at all.  Unlike what you see on Hollywood where they put the blade on the throat and slice backwards (towards you...not real smart) you actually stick the knife through the side of the neck under the ear and then push/saw/slice/cut forward away from you.  The blade does not want to be too long otherwise there is a risk of sticking it in your left forearm if you're not careful (because the left hand will be cupping the nose/mouth).

This is why the fighting knife, bayonet and utility knives should be three separate entities (and in WWII they were).

[SplCell101]

Ninor you do have an interesting point. Sitcking it to the side and pushing up to the ear would probably do it by itself. I do think it would be a little harder to push the blade away than to pull across the neck tho. And pulling it would be quicker I think but I've never done it or trained to do it so I could be wrong. But I do agree on your statement that fighting knives and field knives should be different entities and I think you should carry one of each with the easiest quickest access to you fighting knife.


Jason

[Nick Hughes]

Spl,

If the blade is sharp it's not that hard.  Go buy yourself a goat or a sheep and try it for yourself.  Very quick.

Incidentally, the only movie I've ever seen it done correctly in was with Russell Crowe where he played the kidnap negotiator opposite Meg Ryan in "Proof of Life."  Not surprised though as some of the ex-Hereford chaps provided security for the film crew and no doubt some technical advice.

N

[Kaliman33]

Most cold steel knives i love, the peace keepers I & II are awesome, the tai pan un-real, i carry the voyager or the recon, if you have ever seen the triple action it is awesome, you have to know how to open it though, but once you do it is faster than a thumb stud.
But the knife i love the most is the kukri, it chops off anything it come in contact with, i know you cant carry it but it the knife that is uinder my matress!! :-)

If anyone wants any cold steel knives i am a distributer and will anyone in hocks group quite a deal

Marc Halleck

[Trembula]

Being "edge aware" is something that I think arrives naturally with familiarity with your knife (knives). Whether working on the farm or "flowing" with combat scenarios at speed that didn't go as planned, I find myself rolling/flipping/reversing the knife as needed to accomplish the task.

With the exception of back-cutting type motions, I think it best to plan on having a single edged knife and train that way, because that is what you will probably have access to or be attacked with.

On another semi-related tangent to the tangent we are on, I teach and practice the use of a knife in reverse grip, but point out to everyone that with the exception of "ice picking" type motions, all of our motor memory with knives is in a forward (usually sabre) grip. Whether you are slicing open boxes, cutting a steak, or chopping brush with a machete, we humans work almost exclusively with a forward grip. Our entire motor memory structure from the time Mom first stuck a knife in our hand to cut that first pork chop to when Dad taught us to whittle and clean a deer, it has been forward grip all the way...

And while I am at it, one of the better pieces of kit developed and issued lately has been the OKC-3S Bayonet for the Marines. Decent utility blade, helluva bayonet, and not bad for a small bowie. I like it and am proud to have had the opportunity to participate in the testing process. Beats the hell out of carrying a "Ka-Bar" AND an M7.

Dan