Knife Chat: Slicing to the meat of all things sharp

[woodsghost]

I suppose the fixed blades I've got on my plate carrier and chest rig could be used as "Get off me" knives.

I just set them up on each rig because I pretty much copied some photos I'd seen of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. I figured they'd be more like utility tools instead of fighting knives.

If I can find a couple, I may swap the fixed blades with maybe a push dagger or one of those Ka Bar TDI knives. Something smaller and that'd take up less space on either set up.

So why do you want a knife? That is a key question. For a long time I ran a Chicom chest rig and ran a Mora as a neck knife. I eventually tied a Mora to a mag pouch when running a molle chest rig that a friend gave me. But I mostly want to keep weight off the rig. Especially now that I have plates. A Mora does not weigh much, but while urban I switched to a knife more like a prybar. A Navy MK3. That goes to my belt. But now that I'm rural, I need to reconsider the knife.

Generally, I'm not bushcrafting and I'm not getting in knife fights. So what do I need a knife for? That is why most people go with a multi tool.

I suppose I've never really considered why I need a knife on any of my rigs. Aside from the obvious "because I need to cut stuff" thing, I mean. I've always just had one on my stuff.

I just copied the layout of my stuff based off photos I've seen over the years and a lot of them had knives on their plate carriers.

In general, it is helpful to let the requirements drive the equipment. But where I don't have a lot of experience, I've been known to just look around at the people who do have experience and copy them. The problem in doing that is one doesn't always have the context for why the more experienced people are doing something, so the context might not even apply to me.

[flybynight]

I suppose the fixed blades I've got on my plate carrier and chest rig could be used as "Get off me" knives.

I just set them up on each rig because I pretty much copied some photos I'd seen of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. I figured they'd be more like utility tools instead of fighting knives.

If I can find a couple, I may swap the fixed blades with maybe a push dagger or one of those Ka Bar TDI knives. Something smaller and that'd take up less space on either set up.

So why do you want a knife? That is a key question. For a long time I ran a Chicom chest rig and ran a Mora as a neck knife. I eventually tied a Mora to a mag pouch when running a molle chest rig that a friend gave me. But I mostly want to keep weight off the rig. Especially now that I have plates. A Mora does not weigh much, but while urban I switched to a knife more like a prybar. A Navy MK3. That goes to my belt. But now that I'm rural, I need to reconsider the knife.

Generally, I'm not bushcrafting and I'm not getting in knife fights. So what do I need a knife for? That is why most people go with a multi tool.

I suppose I've never really considered why I need a knife on any of my rigs. Aside from the obvious "because I need to cut stuff" thing, I mean. I've always just had one on my stuff.

I just copied the layout of my stuff based off photos I've seen over the years and a lot of them had knives on their plate carriers.

In general, it is helpful to let the requirements drive the equipment. But where I don't have a lot of experience, I've been known to just look around at the people who do have experience and copy them. The problem in doing that is one doesn't always have the context for why the more experienced people are doing something, so the context might not even apply to me.

https://youtu.be/GbmWD0O4JJg

[Nyte]

Ohio too is Concealed handgun license and handgun only.  It does have a generous open carry policy with knives and handguns, but that is from a lack of statute against such, not a statute allowing such specifically.

[MacWa77ace]

In general, it is helpful to let the requirements drive the equipment. But where I don't have a lot of experience, I've been known to just look around at the people who do have experience and copy them. The problem in doing that is one doesn't always have the context for why the more experienced people are doing something, so the context might not even apply to me.

That's pretty much how I do it because I'm always looking for better and more efficient ways, see monkey, do monkey, but then definitely test the techniques and if they don't work for me or look better than they actually work I move on to something else. But then I sort of get a running list of the people who's advise is mostly good for me vs the ones who's advise doesn't really work ever. It may be due to similar styles or physics or capabilities that advice that works from one guy for me, and then doesn't work from another guy. Or the other guy is just FOS. And sometimes I hear something that I've already tried and know it will or won't work already, but make a note of who is saying it as either a plus or minus for that guy.

Trusted advisors are key.

[aikorob]

every time I see a discussion about knives on your equipment, my mind jumps to bayonets...............................and then to this:

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IN EVERY SCARY BLACK RIFLE BAN PROPOSAL, BAYONET LUGS ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS PROHIBITED?
Do they have a fear of cold steel in their guts when the revolution starts?
Are they trying to eliminate add ons by eliminating an attachment point?

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

every time I see a discussion about knives on your equipment, my mind jumps to bayonets...............................and then to this:

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IN EVERY SCARY BLACK RIFLE BAN PROPOSAL, BAYONET LUGS ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS PROHIBITED?
Do they have a fear of cold steel in their guts when the revolution starts?
Are they trying to eliminate add ons by eliminating an attachment point?

I think you'd probably have a better chance of finding a gold bar in your Cheerios than getting an answer to that question.

[boskone]

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IN EVERY SCARY BLACK RIFLE BAN PROPOSAL, BAYONET LUGS ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS PROHIBITED?

The answer to that's leans rather heavily into That Which Does Not Belong Here.

Let's restrict the conversation to utility rather than policy.

[woodsghost]

every time I see a discussion about knives on your equipment, my mind jumps to bayonets...............................and then to this:

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IN EVERY SCARY BLACK RIFLE BAN PROPOSAL, BAYONET LUGS ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT AS PROHIBITED?
Do they have a fear of cold steel in their guts when the revolution starts?
Are they trying to eliminate add ons by eliminating an attachment point?

I have seen a few people (2x) I really respect mount bayonets to their defensive shotguns. For what I suspect is a well recognized psychological effect.

[RonnyRonin]

I have seen a few people (2x) I really respect mount bayonets to their defensive shotguns. For what I suspect is a well recognized psychological effect.

I'm sure it would help prevent bolder miscreants from attempting to charge and redirect the muzzle, I personally had a longer combat shotgun (mossy 590) with a lug and adding a bayonet made the already unwieldy thing almost unusable indoors. For backyard use it would be fine, for home use I can't imagine trying.

For a shorter shockwave style shotgun it's interesting to think about; I assume not having a stock to get in the way would make a bayonet far easier to use and obviously the OAL issues would be far less.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

The only gun I've got that has a bayonet is my Mosin and I'm definitely not using what's basically a five foot long spear that doubles as a rifle for HD purposes.

My AR is set up for a bayonet, but I don't have one for it yet and since most AR bayonets are designed for an M4 with a shorter barrel (my AR has the standard 16 inch barrel), I'll need an adapter.

Which seems to be sold out pretty much everywhere I can think to look.

[flybynight]

I dunno. I have one rifle with a bayonet. But I always believed the purpose of a rifle was to keep your attacker from getting  within  knife range

[woodsghost]

One of my trainers who was/is SWAT said sometimes people get real close, but in that situation you can muzzle thump them or start launching bullets at very close distance, depending on what is needed to address the threat.

If on neighborhood watch in a disaster area or during social unrest I think the bayonet has serious psychological impact. I also strongly agree that it makes weapons unwieldy, but I *suspect* it can reduce the possibility that weapon will need to be used in the first place.

If I was on a rooftop in Korea Town, or in Katrina, or some other situations, I would consider the application of the bayonet to the rifle. I suspect in such situations, "bluster" is as potent a tool to diffuse violence as being ready and able to dish out lead, and probably less legally problematic than using a firearm to address an active threat. But that will probably depend on jurisdiction and local laws. And so far I have not actually had to fend off social unrest. But when it was close and matching my way, that was a tool in the toolbox and legal where I lived.

[NT2C]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

[boskone]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

I've had the same thought about my M1903 and Garand.  Not out of any anticipation of use, though...just for completeness.  I have period-appropriate slings on 'em as well.

[NT2C]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

I've had the same thought about my M1903 and Garand.  Not out of any anticipation of use, though...just for completeness.  I have period-appropriate slings on 'em as well.

Gonna make you weep here... We had hundreds of them aboard my ship in the armory.  Cases and cases of them, at least 100 cases if not more.  Bayonets and scabbards.  We were ordered to just toss 'em over the side halfway across the Atlantic.

[boskone]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

I've had the same thought about my M1903 and Garand.  Not out of any anticipation of use, though...just for completeness.  I have period-appropriate slings on 'em as well.

Gonna make you weep here... We had hundreds of them aboard my ship in the armory.  Cases and cases of them, at least 100 cases if not more.  Bayonets and scabbards.  We were ordered to just toss 'em over the side halfway across the Atlantic.

I'm unfortunately aware of the stuff that was just chucked into various oceans.  :\

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

I've had the same thought about my M1903 and Garand.  Not out of any anticipation of use, though...just for completeness.  I have period-appropriate slings on 'em as well.

Gonna make you weep here... We had hundreds of them aboard my ship in the armory.  Cases and cases of them, at least 100 cases if not more.  Bayonets and scabbards.  We were ordered to just toss 'em over the side halfway across the Atlantic.

Didn't you have to chuck a bunch of Thompson SMG mags overboard as well ?

[NT2C]

I really should buy the bayonet for my BM59 while I can still find them, but they're pricey little bastards.

I've had the same thought about my M1903 and Garand.  Not out of any anticipation of use, though...just for completeness.  I have period-appropriate slings on 'em as well.

Gonna make you weep here... We had hundreds of them aboard my ship in the armory.  Cases and cases of them, at least 100 cases if not more.  Bayonets and scabbards.  We were ordered to just toss 'em over the side halfway across the Atlantic.

Didn't you have to chuck a bunch of Thompson SMG mags overboard as well ?

Yes, indeed we did.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Somewhere in the Atlantic, there's a bunch of fish living in an artificial reef made of Thompson SMG mags.

[boskone]

Somewhere in the Atlantic, there's a bunch of fish living in an artificial reef made of Thompson SMG mags.

Given today's prices, it might be the most expensive artificial reef in history.