Review of Glock M78 and M81 Field Knives

[ringzero]

Have nearly ordered one of these many times, and after reading this review I probably will get one:

http://www.allbusiness.com/international-relations/weapons-arms-firearms/8915523-1.html

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[american lockpicker]

Talk to Woz about it first.

[John]

No pics 

Here's one

[ringzero]

Do you own one of these John?

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[american lockpicker]

I used to have a used one without the saw.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I do, and frankly there not all that good to be honest

They don't really cut well, as the bevels are too severe, the edge retention is pretty poor. The weight is so light that you can forget about light chopping. And the grip is very slippery, and not at all comfortable (to me anyway)

It's really a fighting knife, with the merest nod toward utility imo

[ringzero]

I do, and frankly there not all that good to be honest

They don't really cut well, as the bevels are too severe, the edge retention is pretty poor. The weight is so light that you can forget about light chopping. And the grip is very slippery, and not at all comfortable (to me anyway)

It's really a fighting knife, with the merest nod toward utility imo

Thanks MickyD.

Since the blade is only 50-55 Rockwell C and is two-tenths of an inch thick, it's obvious it was designed for toughness, not cutting performance.

Even though it weighs only 7 ounces, it stands up to abuse like prying and digging quite well.

Its lightweight, toughness, and general utility appeal to me for a backpacking fixed blade.

I don't need a bushcraft style knife when backpacking, because I rarely build fires, chop wood, etc.

And yeah, it does look to have some capability for self defense use.

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[Grant Lamontagne]

If you aren't going to strap it to the end of a rifle and use it to take down mounted cavalry, it's pretty darned useless.  I have had one for years and was not impressed with it in the slightest.

But, then, it's a $20-30 knife, so really, you can't expect much.  It's nice to know that you could run the thing over with a HUMVEE and it'll be fine afterwards, but that's mostly because it didn't do all that much in the first place.  I have seen knives that cost much more that had twice the uselessness as this one, so from that standpoint, it's ok I guess.

If a snake without teeth is called a belt, what do you call a knife that can't take or hold an edge?  For the money, I'd rather a Becker Necker- it's just as tough, takes an edge, and can also take out mounted cavalry in a pinch....

Def

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I've had one for years as well. I like the design and the sheath but it's pretty useless as a knife due to the grind and softness of the blade.

The top guard works as a caplifter though...

[Anthony]

Looks like it excels at two things...being light and being able to pierce things well.

[ringzero]

If you aren't going to strap it to the end of a rifle and use it to take down mounted cavalry, it's pretty darned useless.  I have had one for years and was not impressed with it in the slightest.

Thanks for your opinion, Def.

Besides bayonet duty, which I don't require very often, this Glock looks like it'd be useful for things I often need to do when backpacking:
-cutting and then peeling up turf
-digging holes
-prying

I don't need to cut and sharpen stakes, baton, make fuzzsticks, or other woodcrafty stuff.

For cutting I've got a OH-GAK, plus the blade on my PST as a backup if necessary.

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[american lockpicker]

I don't think your suppossed to sharpen it as it takes away the protective coating from the blade.

[John]

Do you own one of these John?

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No I do not and as it's geared as a fighting knife for thrust stabbing I'd much prefer this 

 

[Gareth]

If you aren't going to strap it to the end of a rifle and use it to take down mounted cavalry, it's pretty darned useless.  I have had one for years and was not impressed with it in the slightest.

Thanks for your opinion, Def.

Besides bayonet duty, which I don't require very often, this Glock looks like it'd be useful for things I often need to do when backpacking:
-cutting and then peeling up turf
-digging holes
-prying

I don't need to cut and sharpen stakes, baton, make fuzzsticks, or other woodcrafty stuff.

For cutting I've got a OH-GAK, plus the blade on my PST as a backup if necessary.

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How about one of these?

[John]

Nice even comes with lanyard 

[AHB]

How about one of these?
(Image removed from quote.)

Wow, I got one of these somewhere...

 

[ringzero]

If you aren't going to strap it to the end of a rifle and use it to take down mounted cavalry, it's pretty darned useless.  I have had one for years and was not impressed with it in the slightest.

Thanks for your opinion, Def.

Besides bayonet duty, which I don't require very often, this Glock looks like it'd be useful for things I often need to do when backpacking:
-cutting and then peeling up turf
-digging holes
-prying

I don't need to cut and sharpen stakes, baton, make fuzzsticks, or other woodcrafty stuff.

For cutting I've got a OH-GAK, plus the blade on my PST as a backup if necessary.

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How about one of these?
(Image removed from quote.)

Thanks for the suggestion - I've got a couple of those.

One is 100% stainless with folding handle.  Digs fairly well, but is kind of heavy and no good at all for prying.

One is 100% polymer with a fixed handle.  Lightweight and digs OK in soft soil.  Doesn't dig well in harder soil and is useless for prying.

Both are nearly useless for cutting and peeling up turf.

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[ringzero]

Do you own one of these John?

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No I do not and as it's geared as a fighting knife for thrust stabbing I'd much prefer this 
(Image removed from quote.)
 

That's one wicked looking dagger you have there John.

Optimized purely for stabbing - very impressive.  Maker?  Price?

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[Grant Lamontagne]

If you aren't going to strap it to the end of a rifle and use it to take down mounted cavalry, it's pretty darned useless.  I have had one for years and was not impressed with it in the slightest.

Thanks for your opinion, Def.

Besides bayonet duty, which I don't require very often, this Glock looks like it'd be useful for things I often need to do when backpacking:
-cutting and then peeling up turf
-digging holes
-prying

I don't need to cut and sharpen stakes, baton, make fuzzsticks, or other woodcrafty stuff.

For cutting I've got a OH-GAK, plus the blade on my PST as a backup if necessary.

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I think I'd be more tempted to take a small folding shovel, or one of the Cold Steel Shovels if I was anticipating any significant digging chores.  Nowadays the definitions of various tools may be blurring, but I still can't help but think you might be better off using a shovel of some sort for digging.  I can imagine it might hold up better to prying than a knife blade too, especially one that soft enough to bend with any significant pressure.

Def

[ringzero]

I think I'd be more tempted to take a small folding shovel, or one of the Cold Steel Shovels if I was anticipating any significant digging chores.  Nowadays the definitions of various tools may be blurring, but I still can't help but think you might be better off using a shovel of some sort for digging.  I can imagine it might hold up better to prying than a knife blade too, especially one that soft enough to bend with any significant pressure.

Def

Those folding shovels are great for car camping, canoeing, etc. - anywhere that you don't have to carry the weight on your back.

Lightest folding shovel I've seen is over 24 oz, with most being 32 oz or more.

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[Grant Lamontagne]

That's not a huge concern of mine- I am carrying too much of my own extra weight to complain about an extra few ounces of equipment! 

Def

[John]

Hi ringzero it's a extrema ratio suppressor priced at around $500,

I don't own one but is on my wish list why?  why not 

[ringzero]

Hi ringzero it's a extrema ratio suppressor priced at around $500,

I don't own one but is on my wish list why?  why not 

Cause it costs 500 bucks??!!

Awesome knife there John, but the Glock is more my speed.

The Glock could stab nearly as well as that ER if necessary - for a lot less money.

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[John]

Hi ringzero it's a extrema ratio suppressor priced at around $500,

I don't own one but is on my wish list why?  why not 

Cause it costs 500 bucks??!!

Awesome knife there John, but the Glock is more my speed.

The Glock could stab nearly as well as that ER if necessary - for a lot less money.

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Agreed I must get the expensive knives out of my head after all I could get a Fairbairn Sykes for £34