Contemporary armed forces styles are chips off the old block.

While U.S. troops have long had a choice of carrying alternative knives as opposed to military issued ones, nothing prepared them for the explosion of choices that came with the modern tactical boom of the early-to-mid 1990s.

While the newly minted cutters were mostly of the folding knife variety, fixed blades also benefitted from the vast improvements in tactical designs and materials that shook the cutlery industry. That boom continues almost 35 years later as the tactical segment and its many spinoffs are still the largest chunk of the sporting knife market.

Many military knives have been issued over the years as the various branches, both main and special, selected their own. Large fixed blades and bayonets were common and outsourced to manufacturers along the way. Even though they may differ in size and modifications, the four review knives all have roots in military history.

SOG BAR15T Tanto Bayonet

BAR15T Tanto Bayonet Specs
Blade Length: 7.1”
Blade Steel: AUS-8 stainless
Handle Length: 5.1”
Handle Material: Black G-10
Overall Length: 12.2”
Sheath: Black Kydex
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $79.95

The SOG BAR15T is a big boy. True to modern tanto form, the blade is clipped from the frontal blade grind to the upper tip. The black-traction-coated blade’s main edge is flat ground and 5.2 inches long, with a quarter-inch grind to enhance penetration along the spine. The 4.8-inch handle includes a straight guard and pommel with hardware for mounting as a bayonet, with a hidden-tang main grip of black G-10 done up in a series of curved grooves on its top surface and angled pyramids along the sides. The BAR15T checks in at 19.2 ounces and is delivered with a MOLLE adaptable drop sheath, which includes black nylon and leather belt fittings.

CAS Iberia/APOC Smatchet

Smatchet Specs
Blade Length: 9.7”
Blade Material: D2 tool steel
Blade Finish: Titanium coated
Handle Length: 6”
Handle Material: Black G-10
Overall Length: 15.5”
Sheath: Black Kydex belt mount
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $175

Designed by Mike Wallace, the CAS Iberia/APOC Smatchet is by far the largest, and most ususual, of the review bunch. The smatchet is not new and is best known for seeing action in World War II as a close combat fixed blade for British and American special forces. The Wallace Smatchet’s abbreviated, double-ground blade has a matte titanium coating. An ample finger-grooved handle can easily accommodate large and/or gloved mitts and is flared at the base for excellent purchase. Weight is a hefty 1 pound, 10 ounces. The knife is delivered with a MOLLE compatible drop sheath with steel and black nylon fittings.

The KA-BAR Dust II

Dust II Specs
Blade Length: 5.2”
Blade Material: D2 tool steel
Handle Length: 4.79”
Handle Material: Green glass-filled nylon
Overall Length: 9.58”
Sheath: Black, molded hard plastic
Country of origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $138.49

The KA-BAR Dust II, a down-sized version of its larger brother the Dust I, is better configured for light utility. It has a very staid, flat-ground, gently clipped, black-coated blade. The hidden-tang handle hasn’t a sumptous curve to its name and is arrow straight with wraparound grooving on three quarters of its surface. The handle has a hint of a guard top and bottom, the epitomy of understated good taste. It comes with a black, MOLLE-adaptable, hard-plastic belt sheath.

Montana Knife Co. Model V24

V24 Specs
Blade Length: 4.25”
Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade Finish: Black Cerakote®
Handle Length: 5”
Handle Material: OD green G-10
Overall Length: 9.25”
Sheath: Black Kydex w/UltiClip
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $475

Complete with thumbprint ricasso, the Montana Knife Co. Model V24 is a tribute to the V-42 stiletto used during World War II by the First Special Service Force, father of today’s U.S. Special Forces. This exqusite send-up was designed by MKC President/CEO Josh Smith, who, when he was all of 11 years old, began studying bladesmithing under ABS master smith Rick Dunkerley. The dagger-style blade is double ground and the hourglass handle boasts horizontal machined striations and guard art. The steel is gimped along the sides of the guard and curved base. The knife weighs 4.47 ounces and carries in a black belt sheath with an UltiClip 3.3 mounted on the front.

Testing Modern Military Knives

The review knives are very diverse and the two largest, the Smatchet and BAR15T, are definitely in the same playing field. I took their blades to task with a large, mature cantaloupe. The heavy Smatchet—all 26 ounces—had no probem hacking and slicing, and the fat handle made it easy to guide the big blade with no twisting or wobbling. On the battlefield this would be a formidable knife—as if its appearance alone weren’t enough to send the enemy heading for the hills.

The BAR15T is a load at just over a foot long with well over a pound of heft, and while not an easy tote it overshadows the EDC factor with sheer power. The beauty of the knife lies in its almost half-foot-long cutting edge and all that weight behind it. Tantos as a rule give up cutting edge to accommodate the wicked, pointy tip, and the shorter the blade the less edge there is for work.

I tested the knife by cleaving the cantaloupe in large chunks and taking off 1-inch strips in push cuts, pull cuts and vertical slices. The blade length proved a real benefit when making cuts evenly and the weight added to making strokes effortless, not to mention plenty of handle for gripping and guiding the knife. If you want a tad smoother cutting edge, I suggest checking out the SOG BAR15C Clip Point without the tanto’s notched tip.

The KA-BAR Dust II is sized for light duty around the camp or trail where a large fixed blade would tend to drag you down. Not to demean it, but this would be an ideal first fixed blade for a youngster to learn the ropes with—it’s a serious knife without being too bulky and is comfortable in the hand.

I used it to cut two types of rope that can be tougher on a blade than standard fare—3/8-inch synthetic rappelling rope and 1/4-inch stiff, twisted and waxed lariat cable—both of which can dull an edge pronto. I started with the rappelling rope, quickly taking off approximate inch lengths and then switching to the tough lariat cable. After slicing a couple of feet of each rope, the cuts were clean and the blade steel was ready for more.

The MKC V24 is about as tactical as a knife gets and about as close to being a custom as a factory model can be. In fact, I’ve owned customs that weren’t as well made. I started by stabbing the blade into a fat, 2-inch chub of summer sausage to check for penetration. The exercise was way too easy. Since stilettos primarily do two things—stab and slice—I did a slicing exercise on the sausage. Taking off roughly quarter-inch slices, the blade performed effortlessly, needing only a modicum of pressure to cleave off several clean lengths. The handle offered plenty of length and a level of comfort even a surgeon would love.

Read More:

• Military EDC From The Past 50 Years
• U.S. Made Military Knives And Makers
• Four Battle Tough Military Fixed Blade Knives
• What U.S. Military Members Look for in a Knife