About Navy Seal Knives
The knife is one of the oldest human weapons, and it is still used both as a tool and for combat. The U.S. Navy SEALs are a special operations unit that has special needs in the knives they employ. In addition to the need for a flexible, durable tool, and the oft-depicted silent killing weapon of many a commando movie, the SEALs are also divers and require a good diving knife.
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Considerations
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The U.S. Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land Forces) are highly trained commandos who engage in direct action and special reconnaissance missions. There is no such thing as an "official" SEAL knife. The SEALs are a small, elite outift, and as is common with such units, many small equipment items are personally chosen, rather than standard issue.
Function
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Like all knives in the military, SEAL knives are used to cut wood and roots, dig trenches, open cans and engage in hand-to-hand combat. However, constant exposure to sea water places one additional demand on SEAL knives: corrosion resistance. Unlike even knives used by the Marine Corps, SEAL knives must be chosen with an eye on constant immersion and use underwater. They also combine features of dive knife design with that of traditional combat knives.
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History
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Although there is no such thing as an "official" SEAL knife, the closest thing to a classic standard is the Aqualung Master Dive Knife. This knife combines high corrosion resistance with a dual standard and serrated 7-inch blade (benefiting from the two specialized cutting edges that divers have found useful in cutting lines and cables). The heavy stainless steel butt has also proven useful as a hammer or bludgeon. This knife has been recommended by the US Divers Maritime Equipment Guide for decades.
Types
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There are a handful of other, more modern knives that are seen as popular among SEAL commandos. The Mission Knives' MPK Ti is a rugged design with a titanium 7-inch blade, and was adopted by the Marine Corps as well. The manufacturer says that they put their knives into seawater for four years, and the blade suffered no rust or salt corrosion. There is also SOG's SEAL Knife and SEAL Pup knife, with the Pup being a smaller version of the SEAL knife (7-inch and 4.5-inch). Both come with a hard sheath that includes a groove, allowing the user to use the knife to cut lines without unsheathing the blade. This is once again, a consideration that divers would find useful.
Potential
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One theme that is a constant among choices for SEAL knives are that they are not very big. Of the four most popular designs, 7" is the standard and none are longer. Underwater, increased surface area means increased water resistance, and past a certain point that makes any tool practically useless. Machetes and bowie knives are not especially useful. The SEALs also do not seem to be very fond of bayonets, which is more of a conventional infantry tool. Finally, the knives in question, while not long, consistently have heavy duty blades that are useful for cutting into thick, durable objects. Wasp-waisted knives, such as the Gerber 2 sometimes favored by the Marines or Rangers, do not seem popular as a primary knife choice among SEALs.
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