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Post by craigtx on Oct 19, 2013 21:42:38 GMT -5
What would be the best combat knife to use for the FICW?
The US M3 Combat Knife, or USMC Combat Knife? Or is there a Brit or French knife that would be more correct?
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Post by lew on Oct 21, 2013 6:31:56 GMT -5
The US M3 with the M8A1 scabbard was by far the most common. Boker makes an excellent copy. Ontarios' offering has a slightly longer handle than the original. Surplus scabbards can be found for ~$20. The leather M6 scabbard was around, but leather doesn't last long in the jungle.
SAS-inspired units (colonial and shock para units, mostly the latter) used a lot of the Fairbairn-Sykes. M4 (M1 Carbine) bayonets were around in some numbers. Private purchase hunting-type knives and Kar 98k bayonets are a common sight, especially with Legion and Commandos de Marine units. The Mauser bayonet was standard issue for CdM units.
French-made knives- cut-down M1917 bayonets, Foreign Legion, and Beret Rouge daggers- didn't show up until Algeria. The latter two were private purchase items.
I'd stay away from a Ka-Bar. I haven't seen any documentation of them being used.
So, in summation, an M3.
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Post by hoover on Oct 22, 2013 10:11:47 GMT -5
Yes, M3 would be the most common knive.
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Post by craigtx on Oct 23, 2013 8:49:33 GMT -5
Thanks! I have a Boker repro M3 so I'm good to go there!
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Post by lew on Oct 25, 2013 6:57:18 GMT -5
Did your Boker come with that ridiculous metal M8-clone scabbard that rattles like a tin can?
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Post by hoover on Oct 27, 2013 12:14:13 GMT -5
There are repro M8 scabbard on the market???  Why? Orignal M8 and M8 modernized and M8A1 are cheap to buy... |
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Post by craigtx on Oct 29, 2013 10:25:20 GMT -5
It does rattle... I haven't looked that closely at what it's made out of. But it is very loose. If the strap isn't fastened it'll fall right out. I was lookin' at gettin' a leather scabbard to replace it.
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Post by lew on Oct 29, 2013 14:06:56 GMT -5
There are repro M8 scabbard on the market??? Why? Orignal M8 and M8 modernized and M8A1 are cheap to buy... The Boker M3 comes with a quite solid metal scabbard, but it rattles, and, paired with it's nylon strap, it's nowhere near correct. I bought an M8A1 scabbard to fix both problems. I should probably throw the other one out, but it's not really on my list of concerns. |
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Post by lew on Oct 29, 2013 14:08:19 GMT -5
It does rattle... I haven't looked that closely at what it's made out of. But it is very loose. If the strap isn't fastened it'll fall right out. I was lookin' at gettin' a leather scabbard to replace it. If you're talking about the leather M6 scabbard, I'd just go with the M8 as it requires no maintenance and it's correct for every situation where an M3 knife would work. |
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Post by craigtx on Oct 29, 2013 21:35:24 GMT -5
Good advice, I'll check for the real deal.
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