The carriage of knives at Airsoft sites

Is there a real necessity to carry a blade while airsofting?

A lot of commercial sites think not and have banned their carriage at their sites, I think that dependant on the site and type of airsoft being carried out there could be a call for a person to carry a knife.
Now if for arguments sake going to a CQB/Urban game, then unless it was HRT/SRT Milsim utilising fast roping, then I would say no need for a knife other than for cosmetic load out looks.
If you where attending a rural site then I would say it depends on the make up of the terrain on that site, at Alpha-Omega’s site, you can easily find yourself in a bramble patch or fern patch, being snagged and caught by thorns and branches and vines, a small sturdy clasp knife or a good survival knife can and does come in very useful.
I am not condoning Rambo type knives that look as if Conan the barbarian should be swinging it around his head, far from it, as these knives are nothing more than an extension to their owners small parts, they do not function at all well in the environment that airsofters normally find themselves in, being too large and normally of poor construction, no they are best kept at home where they belong, I am, however, a great believer in being prepared for any eventuality, whether it be bad weather setting in, to natural emergencies like trapped limbs or someone caught up in Barb wire, a good strong knife could help prevent serious injury, and help to free someone that is trapped.
The types of knives I am reviewing are the ones that have been designed for everyday practical use, I will be covering 3 knives in particular, these are the ones I carry while operating in Iraq, though like all the reviews I do, I am describing there use for within the airsoft scope.
The first knife I want to talk about is the paraframe II by Gerber.

This is what Gerber say about their Paraframe II

Innovative frame-lock mechanism
Thumb stud
Pocket clip
Open handle design

Overall Length: 8.25''
Length Closed: 4.75''
Length of Blade: 3.635''
Weight: 4.1 oz.
Lock Mechanism: Frame lock
Blade Style: Fine edge
Blade Material: 400 Series stainless steel
Handle Material: Stainless steel

What I say,” you get one hell of a lot for your money with this knife”, it is strong and robust and very tough, I have utilised mine in Iraq, the clip on the right side of the handle is very strong and easily clips to my pistol belt, though it is designed to clip into pockets which I sometimes do when wearing my 5.11 tactical vest once in position you don’t need to worry about it falling off, it grips fantastically well, it has two thumb studs either side of the blade which are designed for ambridexus single handed use, the blade slides open very easily and I have perfected the single handed flick to open the blade, this said the joint where the blade attaches to the handle is very firm and no wobble is present (maintenance tip slightly oil this joint as it does collect sand, dust, grit or dirt quite easily here) the blade is very sharp and keeps its keenness quite well, the only draw back that I have found with this knife is the Handle. With it being skeletal it is quite easy to place a finger tip in way of the blade while closing, this said I have found that you adapt to a more finger prolonging hold very quickly and as stated this is the only downside that I can really find with this knife.
Whether you are Airsoft orientated or more into outdoor pursuits, I would recommend that anyone seeking a knife for their equipment load give serious consideration to this knife or one of the other models in the Paraframe line. The Model shown and owned was purchased from Walmart at a cost of $39.99, less than 20 pounds now, I can say I have really had a bargain there, for this and other Gerber Knives and tools go to www.gerberknives.us for latest models and prices, with the Pound as strong as it is buying from the states is definitely the way to go.

The Second is the 12 inch or full size Kabar, this knife was developed in ww1 and has served with the American Military ever since, it has always been copied and there are thousands of Kabar wannabees out there, if you are serious about the equipment you use, then don’t waste your money on cheap copies go and by the real deal, it will give you years of service.
This is the description from the makers own web site:-

Specification:

Weight:	0.42 lbs.	Lock Style:	N/A
Length:	Blade length 5 1/4", Overall length 9 1/4"	Grind:	Flat
Shape:	Clip	Handle Material:	Leather
Stamp:	USMC	HRC:	56-58
Edge Angle:	20 Degrees	Butt Cap/Guard:	Pwdrd Metal/1095 Carbon
Steel:	1095 Carbon	Country Mft'd:	Knife Made in USA, Leather Sheath Made in Mexico
Pocket Clip:	N/A	Price:	$77.15

What I say, you get a very strong and reliable cutting blade for your money, it will take a lot of punishment, the blade keeps its keenness for a very long time, though with all knives requires honing and sharpening as well as oiling, this knife would not look out of place whether warn by a WW2, Vietnam or Modern Iraq American Military Load out, it is an all rounder, can skin animals, cut through heavy duty rope and cord, cut down small saplings and I have personally had to use it to open a can of 7.62 x 54 ammo in a contact, without any loss of blade keenness, a very formidable knife and it looks very good also, not a lot I can actual describe regards down side, other than this knife is long from pommel to tip it is 12inches, this could get you into trouble with the Police Authorities if seen wearing it in Public areas, it could also scare the wits out of your fellow Airsofters if seen, as with all Knives, there is a place and a time to wear it, this would be a good knife for use at Alpha-Omega’s site on a 24 or 48 hour game weekend.
For this model and others visit www.kabar.com for all their knife product range.

Ok for my final knife, this is the Ontario knife company pilot survival knife, it is a 5 inch bladed Kabar type knife it is small and compact, yet deceptively heavy, this is what the company say:-

499 Survival Knife with Sheath
NSN: 7340-00-098-4327

5" Blade
9 1/2" Overall
1095 Carbon Steel Blade
Natural Leather Handle
Steel Butt cap

Sheath

Natural Leather Sheath with Sharpening Stone and Tie Down

What I say, this knife is strong and reliable, it can be attached to your Webbing, assault Vest or Modular Load bearing system very easily, the company supply a lace tie that slips through the 2 holes in the tang, and then this in turn threaded through the eye holes on the sheath, thus enabling upside down carry for gravity release, it is supplied with its own sharpening stone that fits tightly into its own pocket on the front side of the sheath, the whole appearance of this knife and sheath is shabby and warn, and I think this adds to its appeal, down side is, it is short so in an actual survival situation cutting or chopping wood would be a chore, also with it being only 9.5 inches overall if you have large hands then your grip will cover the pommel, again this knife could fit in with certain load outs as not to cause any physical anomalies, and certainly for anyone choosing PSD, or Modern Spec Ops could easily get away with it. The Ontario knife company supply a list of their retailers, I chose to look up www.alsarmynavy.com as I have actually visited this store while holidaying in Orlando, they have this knife priced at $44.99, I feel that this is very reasonable in deed.
Basically in my view, there is a place for sharp edged weapons in Airsoft gaming, It is simply a question of its use, is it a prop to enhance a load outs look? Or is it a tool for those of the community whom like to lie in wait to snipe people? they have a requirement for cutting and chopping, again it boils down to the individual carrying and using the knife as to whether it is utilized correctly, likewise it is the individual site owners and operators whom, make their own decisions on Knife carriage on their sites.
I personally would consider all applications to carry and use a knife at Alpha-omega, making my decision on the facts as of that time and not just blanket banning.

Regards
Fmed