We're "horizontal engineers," - we just dig holes and build roads. I wish they would have reclassed us to "Combat" engineers instead of "Horizontal."

The Army can change that instantly if the need arises. Even the Air Force can. I was made an instant "air commando". I never went to air commando school. I didn't even know they existed. I was made an S2 intel officer in the Army before I ever had the training. One day I'm a happy tank platoon leader, the next day I'm a lowly lieutenant at the mercy of higher ranking battalion staff weasels. They own you, Dice.

I know... I was a happy Artilleryman until they made me an Engineer. I guess they can make me whatever they want to - but since they've just invested a bunch of money to change over our entire unit to Engineers, I think they'll keep us that way - at least for a while.

A lot of my Artillery buddies got reclassed to 88M Truck Drivers and sent to Iraq, and the ones that went as FA more often than not were given a few classes and sent out to help clear buildings.

I'm still thinking about going to OCS, but the fact that I don't get much of any say regarding the branch I'll be sent to keeps me on the fence.

OK, so do vertical engineers make more money? Is their job more glamorous? Do you have any 45 degree engineers, who practice the best of both worlds? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Ask for infantry or armor. Trick them! I tried that. Got branched armor. My tank platoon was attached to an infantry combat team. Ended up liking it, so that had to change. So they made me S2. Hated it.

that bothers me. I think it could easily be mentioned what knife is most popular or yes military orders are our priority and have access to unreleased knives. but owell, it makes no difference in the end, so that is that.

When the army orders something specific from Busse they usually end up selling the same knife to the public as it is much cheaper to run off a few extras than to tool up for something else. I like that the Busse kin don't brag about their military orders. I guess the next Scrapyard won't be called "the Bravo One".

Diceman if you do get deployment orders make sure to tell us if you need anything.
Horizontal engineers sounds like your job is pleasuring all those repressed Iraqi
women. I just did a long post on British Blades about my 3 favourite Busse Kin military knives Swamprat CER ,Ruck and Taliwhacker. and the first one the CER knife was made by Swamprat for a small unit of Canadian combat engineers going to Afghanistan.


Isn't that a great knife with a shorter S6 style blade but the ratweiler handle.
If you click on the photo you can go to my Putfile page where Darrin the owner of the knife says some stuff about it.
I think that would be a nice set up for an engineering unit as the sheath has a big useful pouch and the knife is tough enough to pry or hammer with.

Thanks Unsub - will do. That is a great looking knife - and I didn't realize it was Canadian Army til you just said that - after reading Darrin's story, I was wondering why the heck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> a commander would have a problem w/ a midsized knife like that being "too big," must be a Canadian Army reg. Although - the US Army is ridiculous about what knives are allowed in the barracks in garrison. 4" folders or smaller. Pretty stupid IMO. Luckily, I lived off post when I was Active Army and had all kinds of big blades!

And that sheath in the pic is fantastic too - looks like the liner is molded for the knife huh?

Vic - I wouldn't mind branching Artillery since thats what I really know, but Armor would be very interesting as well. Anything but transportation, really! That would be a nightmare. Still up in the air though - its a hard decision for me to make.

Scrappy - I too was surprised that basic info like that would be "hush hush" - as far as the ordering mechanism (individual or unit) and blade offerings. I, personally, would like to know how my buddies that are still active can go about ordering blades from Dan, and how to do so myself if I get called up. I wasn't trying to find out how many knives were going to what units or anything!! Not a big deal, but I feel the same way.

We'll likely never get that info. Typically these types of orders are going to your non-typical forces, e.g. special operations forces. And small batches are made with specific requirements as to colors, handles etc.... Operational Security is the name of the game. While the type of knives being used ins't exactly the most classified piece of information out there it may be one small piece in the puzzle that the bad guys use.

Contrary to popular belief most special operations units have to go through standard procurement chains like the rest of the military. Granted they do have some latitude especially in terms of purchasing some gear off the shelf so to speak. However, they also follow some standardization especially withing their unit.

Thos units that can go outside the standard supply chain are typically your tier one units. These are guys who are never spoken of in public and only whispered about in private.

Lastly, it's important to keep in mind that Busse Combat, Swamp Rat, and Scrap Yard are all pretty much made in the same shop. So any one of those companies could have gotten the order and the other two were sacraficed in order to maintain production.

Peace
Jerry

good points

Since our regular forces already have the new Gerber LMF II and other quality knives and bayonets, one wonders exactly what kind of units need "sterile" combat knives of extraordinary toughness. When I served in Special Operations during the Viet Nam war, we had nothing to compare to Busse-made knives. Some of the 5th Special Forces SOG guys used all non-issue weapons, including AK-47s. Operations in Laos had to have "plausible deniability", so no standard uniforms or even ID were carried. There is just no telling where these knives are going.