The U.S. military issues a folding knife to every soldier because it has a vital role. If you observe this knife, you will know it is a strong and solid tool.
Also, the blade is very reliable, so many people feel attracted to it. The manufacturing company of these blades usually makes a lot of them. People like to associate with their forces, so they like to buy it from them.
Military Issue Folding Knife
It is great to know that some small companies are producing military folding knives. They have a long track record of selling them directly for military use.
Many categories fall under these types of knives, so we should have general knowledge about them before buying them. This will help us buy the best one according to our needs.
Knives Issued to Military Service Members
We review the websites of every popular military knife-manufacturing company. This will reveal that they sell multiple types of knives to different military departments.
These companies send samples of their knives to military bases and hope they will accept their product.
Soldiers face uncertain situations occasionally, so they like to use the best-quality folding knives. Their knives should fit all purposes and remain unfailing in every scenario.
Here are some of the most interesting and reliable military uses of folding knives. While you can find many military folding knives, the list below includes the top ones.
- Ontario 490 M9
- Ontario MK 3
- Strider SMF
- Ka-Bar
- ASEK Knife
Steps to Buying the Best Military Folding Knife
You can follow the steps given below to buy the best military folding knife for yourself:
Figure Out Your Needs
First, we need to determine our needs. By keeping these in mind, we can better proceed with the buying process. The two main purposes of using them are to defend oneself and to cut something.
Search Carefully
As you choose either of the above-given uses, start with the search process. Remember that you must start searching for the particular folding knife you intend to buy from the official website.
Some retailers are authorized by the main company to sell military knives, but not all of them are reliable.
So, try to contact the chosen company’s services center and get information about buying the product from them.
Consider Handle and Blade
At this stage, you successfully select the reputed and reliable company that manufactures military folding knives. Now, your primary concern should be the selection of the proper handle for the knife. They come in different sizes, materials, shapes, and structures.
The military-issue folding knives are made of either composite material, aluminum, G10, leather, nylon, rubber, or steel. No matter what material it is in your chosen one, the main thing to focus on is your hand’s grip.
If the material does not produce sweat in your hand and does not slip during use, you can buy it. Otherwise, skip the knife, even if you love it.
It will be useless to you, as you won’t be able to use it to attack someone or cut something.
Consider the Blade
People who only like to collect these knives as a hobby should not worry about the blade type. However, soldiers who want to defend themselves with military knives should consider this factor.
For defense uses, it comes in straightforward designs. The materials with which they are commonly made include:
- Stainless steel.
- High vanadium steel.
- High carbon steel.
- Thermoplastic steel.
- Tool steel.
The material of the blade affects many attributes of a military folding knife, so you must consider it carefully. Here are some factors that affect it, and you must keep them in mind while buying.
Rust Resistance
People use and store these knives under different environmental conditions. So, the material should be good enough to resist moisture, chemicals, and salt damage. It is primarily due to rust/corrosion.
Retention of Edge
The edges of the blade play a role in cutting and attacking. Therefore, it should be made with a material that keeps it sharp for longer. In other words, it should not need frequent sharpening. This depends on the material that you choose, so buy carefully.
Blade Strength
Excellent material: A good blade material provides excellent strength against damage, fracture, and breakage. If you think your users need this kind of strength, choose the material accordingly.
Comfortable Sharpening
The material should be easy to sharpen. It should not pose difficulty in the process and should consume less time.
Ask for a Guarantee/Warranty
As a buyer, you may ask the manufacturing company about the product’s guarantee/warranty. You should be able to test it before buying.
Also, after buying it, there should be an option to return and exchange it if something goes wrong. So, do not skip this step, and always try to get this favor for at least a month. This time will be enough for you to check and use the product.
Conclusion
Besides just fighting, the military issues folding knives to its soldiers so they can deal with uncertain situations. We are sure you have learned this tool’s importance from the above.
Also, we can imagine it is an attraction for so many people that they even plan to join the U.S. military. Remember that it is for legal use only, and there are laws for abusive use.