BLADE Magazine

These knives formed the tip of the U.S. Military’s spear.

The 20th and 21st centuries saw some of the most iconic of military knives. From the World War I trench knives with the imposing knuckle-duster D-guards to today’s modern folders and fixed blades, a few, in no particular order, stand out above the rest:

• USN Mark II/USMC fighting-utility knife*: According to Army Special Forces veteran and Spartan Blades co-owner Curtis Iovito, “The KA-BAR fighting/utility knife is arguably the most recognizable American military knife ever produced. Introduced in 1942 for the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, it solved a critical problem: troops needed a knife that could serve both as a weapon and a field utility tool.
  “Marines used it for everything from opening ammunition crates and cutting brush to close-quarters combat. Its design struck a near-perfect balance between fighting knife and utility blade, and it has influenced military knife design ever since.”
  “As an issue knife, the classic USN Mark II filled the same role as the Randall Model 1, but in a much more ‘democratized’ sense. Very few soldiers could get a Randall,” explained Army veteran and Spyderco Special Projects Coordinator Michael Janich, “but the Mark II/Ka-Bar was ubiquitous. Although it ultimately became best known as the Ka-Bar and most closely associated with the Marine Corps, it was manufactured by many other companies and widely issued. As a mass-produced item, it was—and still is—a very capable knife and continued to serve with distinction in many other wars after World War II.”
  “The USMC fighting knife has not always been made by KA-BAR, and KA-BAR didn’t even make them first, but they made it their own,” noted Marine Corps veteran/knifemaker Les George. “It’s the stereotypical military knife in the western hemisphere.” Added Army 5th Special Forces veteran/BLADE field editor/knifemaker Kim Breed, “It is a multi-use combat knife used in one form or fashion in all branches of the service.”
• V-42: As Janich noted, “The V-42 is not only one of the sexiest fighting knife designs ever created, it also has perhaps the strongest pedigree since it was designed for and by the First Special Service Force, aka The Devil’s Brigade, of World War II fame. Its unique design and signature sheath reflect the original mission of that unit, which is regarded as the predecessor of current U.S. Army Special Forces units and Canada’s Joint Task Force 2. This iconic design is also immortalized in many U.S. military unit insignia, though it is often mistaken for the Fairbairn-Sykes dagger.”
• Randall Model 1: “Randall has done more to influence modern knife design language than most,” George wrote. “The Model 1 is what I think of as peak Randall. Its influence ranges from World War II to the unit-made SOG knives in Vietnam to the modern SOG knife company.”
  “This iconic design epitomizes everything a military-style fighting knife should be,” Janich opined. “Its blade captures the spirit of the classic bowie knife, but in a leaner, more maneuverable form. The sharpened false edge allows it to back cut and penetrate with extreme authority, and its handle design allows for a grip that is both deft and secure. The fact that it continues to serve downrange in the same basic form to this day is a testament to the fact that it started out damned near perfect.”
• Gerber Mark II: “The shortcomings of the original Fairbairn-Sykes and the many variations it inspired became very well-known both during and after World War II,” Janich wrote. “The Gerber Mark II addressed and corrected all of these to offer a superior fighting dagger design. Although it was a private-purchase item, like Randalls, it was much more accessible to servicemen and more widely carried. Its unique variations and its evolution over time also created its own rich history.” Janich added the fact it was the favored combat knife of Michael D. Echanis, decorated Vietnam veteran, accomplished martial artist and hand-to-hand combat knife writer and editor, enhanced its mystique and widespread appeal as well.

More Standouts

Any number of other U.S. military knives have stood out since the turn of the 20th century. Among them are the M3 trench knife, M1 bayonet, the Applegate-Fairbairn dagger and the Applegate-Fairbairn folder.

“The M3 was what the Army chose to issue in World War II,” George noted. “In purest terms, it also had a fairly short service life, but in real terms it is what became the M4 bayonet on down the line to the M7 bayonet that I used to run the assault course in boot camp in the ’90s. Its influence has been widespread.”

“The World War II-era M1 bayonet, designed for use with the M1 Garand rifle, played an important role in American infantry combat during World War II and beyond. I remember so many old World War II vets telling me stories about the bayonet,” Iovito recalled. “Shorter and more practical than earlier bayonets, the M1 reflected the changing nature of warfare where mobility and close-quarters fighting often occurred in tight environments. Many soldiers also carried the bayonet as a fighting and utility knife when not mounted on their rifles. Its durable construction and effective blade profile made it a reliable tool throughout several conflicts.”

The Applegate-Fairbairn dagger and Gerber A-F folder were named after Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Col. Rex Applegate and W.E. Fairbairn
of Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Knife fame.

“Another design that corrected the flaws of the Fairbairn-Sykes dagger was the Applegate-Fairbairn dagger,” Janich observed. “Designed during World War II by Col. Applegate and W.E. Fairbairn, it never got beyond the prototype stage before the war ended. Decades later, it finally saw production by several major knife companies. Although very noteworthy on its own, it also inspired a scaled-down folding version that set a new and different standard in folding and fighting knife design. The original A-F Folder design was a collaboration between Col. Applegate and consummate custom knifemakers Bill Harsey and Butch Vallotton.” Added Harsey, a Cutlery Hall-of-Famer in his own right, “The Gerber version of the folding knife was a long-running project, and I was told by Gerber that the Army ordered 50,000 pieces at one time for the troops, which were delivered.”

Few knives enjoy legendary U.S. military status as much as the SOG Bowie, which served as the inspiration for the name of today’s SOG knife company. “The Special Forces SOG Bowie is one of the most iconic knives associated with American special operations forces,” Iovito wrote. “Inspired by the knife carried by members of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group during the Vietnam War, the SOG Bowie reflects a fusion of classic bowie knife design with modern military needs. Its lineage connects directly to clandestine operations carried out in Southeast Asia, where unconventional warfare units often relied on rugged equipment that could handle jungle conditions and extreme use.”

Folding knives have never been so popular in the U.S. military as they have in the past 40 years, and at or near the top of that list are the Al Mar SERE, CRKT M-16 and Spyderco Endura.

“While many earlier military knives were fixed blades, modern soldiers frequently rely on folding knives for everyday field use. One of the most influential examples is the Spyderco Endura,” Janich began. “For me, the knife carries a very personal meaning. During Operation Just Cause in Panama, I found myself tangled in my parachute harness after landing while under fire. I used my Spyderco Endura to cut myself free from the harness so I could move and get back into the fight. That moment left an indelible mark on me and reinforced the reality that sometimes the most important piece of equipment you carry is the knife in your pocket. The Endura is lightweight, corrosion resistant and extremely functional, and its opening hole allows rapid one-handed deployment, even with gloves. Its reliability and practicality have made it a favorite among soldiers who need a dependable cutting tool for daily field tasks.”

In the fall of 1984, Harsey helped Al Mar do a run of just over 50 large folders for Col. Nick Rowe, who had been tasked by the Army to run the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) School near Fort Bragg, North Carolina. “All modern Special Forces soldiers, aka Green Berets, and other high-risk military members including pilots undergo this training,” Harsey stated. “I finished my part of unmarked knives in time for Al Mar to get them on an airplane bound for Fort Bragg and into Col. Rowe’s hands for an important mission date. I never heard another thing about this project. Later this knife would become known as the AL Mar SERE folding knife.”

As for the CRKT M-16, its universality during the Iraq War guarantees its spot on the list. “I am not aware of this knife ever being issued but there was a time when you saw them everywhere,” George wrote. “Guys would buy them at the PX and clip them on the outside of their vests. They were everywhere, and they did everything!”

Standard Setters

The foregoing includes but a few of the knives that have served the USA and served it well over 250 years of saving the world from tyranny and oppression and setting the standard billions aspire to today. Other notable knives, in no particular order, include:

The M9, M11 and OKC-3S bayonets; Camillus Jet Pilot Survival Knife; Chris Reeve Yarborough; OSS Smatchet; Collins M1942 Machete; Swiss Army knife; Spartan Blades Ares, Difensa and Harsey Dagger; Randall Models 2 and 18; Gerber Silver Trident Knife and Mark I; G.I. four-bladed pocketknife; Schrade Mark II Paratrooper switchblade; G.I. Machete; Leatherman and Gerber multi-tools; and Western 49 Bowie.

Which ones are we omitting? Let us know. And while you celebrate the semiquincentennial of your favorite nation throughout the year, never forget: knives have played a monumental role in the success of the U.S. military and the building of the USA up to now and for the foreseeable future.

It doesn’t get much sharper than that.

*Though they are two different knives, the USN Mark II and USMC fighting/utility knife are grouped together for the purposes of this story because of their similarity in design and their across-the-board use by U.S. service personnel, especially during World War II. Also, the spelling of KA-BAR refers to the knife manufacturer that continues in operation, while Ka-Bar refers to the generic name service personnel gave the knife, a name that persists to this day.

Military Knives:

• What U.S. Military Members Look for in a Knife
• Combat Legacy: Modern Military Knives
• Military Knives: Soldiers’ EDC From The Past 50 Years
• U.S. Made Military Knives And Makers