iKnife Collector
Were tactical tomahawks ever issued to the military as a weapon?
I just received my copy of the Nov. issue of Knives Illustrated which will be on the newstands the first of October. Check it out.
My article is "Tomahawks as Tactical Weapons". I explored the Vietnam Tomahawk issue with a former LRRP Ranger who was there from 1968 to 1969. I would like some feedback from this group about the subject of are tomahawks
For instance, I have a Navy Seal friend of 18 years service as a Seal and retired from the Navy with over 20 years service. He told me he never seen or heard of any Navy Seal carrying a tomahawk in those 18 years. This was what the LRRP Ranger of Vietnam era told me as well. Yes I believe tomahawks were carried in Vietnam and could have been carried in every conflict we were involved in. However, they were never standard issue and when issued were used as a tool and not a weapon. So buy the magazine, read my article and give me some input.
If you were ever in any military special operations unit who was issued a tomahawk, please let me know by way of this form.
Terry Waldele
Clint,
I just read some of your comments on this thread and was particular interested in your comments about the use of bayonets by our troops. If I understand you correctly, bayonets are not commonly used by our troops. I surmise this is true because bayonets not as versatile as combat knives are probably heavier than most combat knives, although I could be wrong on this. I have a question about knives that are carried by our troops, that maybe you know the answer to. When my nephew's son joined the Marines, I gave him a SOG Flash with a plain, unserrated blade. I had thought about giving him the Flash with a serrated blade, but the knife salesman told me the Geneva Convention prohibits serrated blades on knives carried in battle. Can you tell me if he gave me good advice or not? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide me.
Terry
Jan 7, 2012
Clint Thompson
Terry.....
The Geneva Convention would cover serrated bladed bayonet and not combat knives. A combat knife would fall in the tool and not weapon category. So a serrated combat knife would be ok. I saw many serrated combat knives in Iraq which the owners purchased themselves. They sold them in the military PX. The reason bayonets are not commonly used in the US military is they are not issued to all troops. The only troops in Kosovo and in Iraq I saw with a bayonet....I gave it to them.
The military does not issue combat knives either. If you wanted a combat knife you had to buy it yourself. The M-4 bayonet generally weights about the same as a good sturdy combat knife. If you run out and buy a good bayonet it will cost you $100 +. I don't know of any soldier who wants to pay for their own bayonet....but I bet there is some out there. Many of the troops have to buy their own extra M9 mags, mag holders and holsters.
Our government has a ways to go to properly equip our troops with the smaller things like pistol mags, knives and the like.
Clint
Jan 7, 2012
Terry Waldele
Clint,
Thanks so much for the information you provided me. Apparently, the knife salesman I spoke to steered me wrong. Oh well, I guess a SOG Flash would be useful, serrated or not. You and others have commented on various knife forums how unconscionable it is that our troops have to buy their own combat knives and bayonets, unless people like you find ways to provide them with those vitally necessary tools and weapons. Like other folks, it really gauls me to know how much our government spends on providing troops, ordnance and supplies to our "allies," but won't provide needed basic equipment to our own warriors.
Thanks again.
Terry
Jan 7, 2012