I started back in the late Falklands...a war embodying the poor kit being issued and remembered by many as the trench foot epidemic....plastic bags over issued boots....taking boots off the Argentinian soldiers and using their FAL's which had a full auto ability which the SLR did not. A handy feature in a trench clearance. If we could not get the "boots" right...imagine what the position was like on knives.
Traditionally you got a Sheffield made slip joint sheep's foot pen knife with a Marlin Spike....the SLR Bayonet and if you had your wits about you you took up the chance to get a Martindale Golok....ignored by many as we were not going to the jungle....but the best bit of knife kit we had....with one exception.
If you were in the know you could wangle an Army issue Kukri...I was initially with the Light Infantry whose depot in Winchester was adjacent to the Gurka's depot...I got one and by far these were the best knives you could get your hands on. Foget Fairbairn Sykes knives. Stored but never issued. The Kukri however was much better at hand to hand. When H Jones got killed leading the Para's up one side of Tumbledown mountain in a full fire fight.....the attack on the adjacent side lead by Gurka's was rumoured to be a walk in the park ( got to say I was not there on that one ). The Argie's had spoted the Gurka's coming up the hill with NV and Kukri's held in their teeth. That was enough for them....or so legend has it. I have read the sticky about not posting stuff which might be "horrific" so all I will say is the Agrie's had the right idea bugging out of there. There is nothing more effective than a Gurka in CQB mode with a Kukri.....it is like Kipling tells it in his poem - "IF" - "if you can keep your head about you when all around you poeple are losing theirs"....
After the Falklands every NCO with either the Falklands on their CV or a Jungle School course or secondment to our SF's and the SF guys themselves...they all went for a Kukri. They still do.
Our pay is such that our private soldiers are getting less than traffic warden's pay and putting their lives on the line. Spare cash goes on a Swiss Army knife or more recently a Leatherman. Some might splash out on a good lock knife. Very popular because once you get issued your webbing the space available is limited if you want to be able to crawl with no frontal obstruction and a lock knife easily goes in your smock. A kukri usually gets carried round the back and wedged between your belt and a hippo pad if you buy one.
Just to show that some things never change in jolly old England, and because some here may be unfamiliar with that old fashioned writer, Rudyard Kipling...
Tommy
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!