Caveat: it's been nearly two decades since I was in. But I was an infantryman in the 82d, where guys buy lots and lots and lots of knives.

Other than myself and our BN medical NCO, nobody else in my unit had really ever considered buying a Randall. The preference was for far cheaper knives. Back then, USAF survival knives were ubiquitous (jumpmasters routinely carry them) and lots of guys had ka-bars. When I started bringing a model 1 to the field, it got many raised eyebrows.

I look at it like this: cops all carry guns, but a lot of them aren't "gun guys" and couldn't care less about what they've got on their hips. Soldiers are like that with knives too. Most aren't enthusiasts and just want something that works. Inexpensively, if possible.

I do wonder whether things have changed during the more recent wars.