Pentagon contract awards new combat knives for troops

by Colton Jones
Nov 11, 2025

The United States military has awarded Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. a new indefinite-delivery contract to supply combat knives under a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) procurement issued on November 10.

The award, listed under contract, authorizes up to $350,000 in total deliveries for knives classified under the weapons category, with an estimated quantity listed as 489 units...

Complete article:

https://defence-blog.com/penta...t-knives-for-troops/

$715 per knife?

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
$715 per knife?

Start up costs after contract award tends to increase the per unit cost. Also, development of the initial bid and submission costs may be rolled into the overall contract award.

If the goobermint like the quality and supplier’s ability to meet the requirements (found on their quarterly SAMS), USG may engage with a follow on contract prior to the in-place one ending.

Glock Field Knife retail prices are sky high these days, up to around $30.00!

Nope, that would be too easy.

Were the existing knives found to be deficient in some way?
That sure looks to be somewhat extravagant spending otherwise.

Dod looked at Lone Wolf Harshey D2 for their operators @ 15 years back. These were amazing knifes, which the dod wanted to do more. Like..say, go to 11. Slam it into a 2 x 4 and crank sideways hard without breaking. These are things we civis don't need, but if an operator in a forigon country hits bone, you don't want the blade to break. There were many other criteria....so, although that was years ago before Benchmade bought Lone Wolf, in todays prices, even not knowing what is what, $715 might be a great price depending on what you are looking at.

There are plenty existing knife makers that can crank out thousands on demand. They are made in Finland, but the Peltonen M07 is the perfect military knife in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
There are plenty existing knife makers that can crank out thousands on demand. They are made in Finland, but the Peltonen M07 is the perfect military knife in my opinion.

FWIW Another EXCELLENT military/survival knife is the Varrestuleeka Jakaari Puuko:

https://varusteleka.com/en-us/...kko-140-carbon-steel

It’s VERY similar to the Peltonen M07. Uses the same Carbon Steel (some reports say produced in the same factory! Both have Excellent sheaths available. The Varestulleks comes in different lengths and has more option available. DBK did a story on how they are nearly indestructible.

The main point here is that the Puuko 140 is $59. Depending on the sheath you choose they end up in the $100 to $135 range about where the Pelotonen can be found for. How in the would can you justify over $700 per knife when you can buy SUPERB knives for 1/7th the cost??? (Try both knives btw!)

I don’t have one yet but I noticed you can get the super popular Gerber Strongarm with MAGNACUT steel for under $200!

For $710 every soldier could have a near indestructible knife, a super tough folder AND a solid multitool by just buying well proven off the shelf items…..

…………

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
$715 per knife?

My Randall combat knife didn’t even come close to that ridiculous price!

quote:

Originally posted by KMitch200:

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
$715 per knife?

My Randall combat knife didn’t even come close to that ridiculous price!

Imagine the recruiting benefits if every soldier could earn a Randall Combat knife!

quote:

Originally posted by jimb888:
...but if an operator in a forigon country hits bone, you don't want the blade to break.

Give them high end knives then. The other 99.5% are going to use them for digging holes, opening boxes, prying things open.

they have an interesting history

Atlantic Diving Supply is an American contractor based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Founded in 1997 they benefited from the Post-9/11 government spending boom. They are a reseller which packages different goods into kit for sale. They are among the 100 largest federal contractors.

ADS has a controversial history which includes multiple allegations of fraud resulting in settlements or convictions.

In 2011, ADS sued non-profit Bancroft Global Development for breach of contract over an order for 18,000 military boots and other equipment. Bancroft countersued them for providing sub-standard equipment, especially cheap costume quality military boots from China, allegations substantiated by reporting.

In 2017, ADS agreed to pay $16 million to settle a case which centered on allegations that it had used smaller entities it controlled to fraudulently bid on federal contracts as small businesses.[8][9] In 2019 Ron Villanueva was convicted for helping SEK Solutions, one of the small ADS controlled entities, improperly get contracts set aside for women and minority-owned small businesses.[10]

In July 2020, former chief executive officer (CEO) Luke Hillier paid $20 million to settle a personal fraud case against him stemming from his tenure at ADS.[1]

Link

Anyone seen a picture of this new knife?
I'd like to see what makes this so much better and necessary than those already in inventory.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
They are a reseller which packages different goods into kit for sale. They are among the 100 largest federal contractors.


....contracts set aside for women and minority-owned small businesses.

Professional middle men. THIS is a big part of why there's deficit and waste.

Side rant, but related... we recently submitted three price quotes for some equipment. One quote was say $15k, one $18K, the other $25k. It's all formality, because we will eventually get it from the $25k people, because they're "under contract" as a minority owned business. (and they're probably just going to get it from one of the other two companies) I tell the people here, "Think about it. We're doing this (our department), you know every other department here is doing it. Every other state entity, state wide, no matter what field is doing this. Probably every federal government entity is doing it too. No wonder we're in so much debt."

We order things from Grainger, the most expensive option out there, be we've managed to find a way to make it even more expensive. We order it from the minority contractor, who's website is basically just the Grainger website with their logo at the top, so we can tack on another 10-20% to the price that's already 15% higher than anyone else. Government in action.