The U.S. Government is soliciting bids for nearly 1,500 combat knives to be filled by small businesses.
According to solicitations on FedBizOpps.gov website, the federal government is looking to buy two types of knives: First, 982 full-tang, partially-serrated knives and second, 574 Aircrew Survival Egress Knives.
The response date for both solicitations are Feb. 13, 2014.
The Aircrew Survival Egress Knife, developed by the Ontario Knife Company, is the survival knife for Army aviation units. In a period between June 2004 to May 2005, the Army bought almost 12,000 of these knives, which suggests this solicitation of nearly 600 survival knives is something of a routine purchase.
The other solicitation for the full-tang, partially-serrated knives was interesting to me because the design of of the knives are elegant. Digging deeper into this solicitation on the Defense Logistics Agency’s Internet Bid Board System, it seems like the bid is between Gerber and Benchmade.
Both knives are made with 154-CM steel. Both sport a black finish. Both are partially-serrated.
However, Benchmade’s 140SBK Nimravus is slightly thinner and longer. It’s a drop-point blade with an aluminum handle.
Gerber’s CFB sports a tanto blade with a rubberized handle.
The differences between the two knives seems small. If you were in a combat situation, would you prefer one knife over the other? Why?
Feel free to comment below.
Daniel Jackson 