BON – combat knife

The BON knife originated at the end of 2005, when after an AZ exercise in Boletice, a need arose to improve the equipment. Every AZ soldier carried a vz. 58 bayonet + assault knife (UTON, Glock) — this was impractical. Mr. Šindelář produced a prototype knife as a combination of the vz. 58 bayonet and UTON: he extended the UTON blade, shortened the false edge and refined the blade. After consultation he changed the shape of the guard to resemble a carp belly and added a pommel striker. Testing continued throughout winter 2006.

The tang of the knife and the guard with crossguard and pommel is from one piece — produced by precision casting and die forging from steel 17029 (same as military UTONs). Ground to a matte finish, surface treatment by bluing with hardening to 56–57 HRC at Mikov. The BON has the handle cast from softened black polyurethane. In the guard is a T-slot with a button and safety catch for mounting on the SA vz. 58.

A numbered series of 100 pieces was produced for members of the 121st AZ company. On the right side of the blade is the number 001–100, on the left side a laser-burned emblem of the 121st company and the inscription "nedej zahynouti nám ni budoucím". The knife comes with a sheath and a certificate bearing the knife number, owner's name and company commander's signature — for regular soldiers in field green, for honorary recipients in festive red. 77 pieces have been issued so far. A gift series of 5 pieces H001–H005 (honoris) was also produced.

For other units it is produced without markings from carbon steel 12020, blued. It is used by soldiers in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and several knives also by Slovak airborne troops. Approximately 250 pieces in 2 series were produced. The sheath is made of cordura nylon with several attachment options and a pocket for a pocket knife, whetstone or pliers.

Beware of copies:

Black BON knives appear in second-hand markets — probably copies from Poland. The original has rubber cast directly onto the knife. Copies have a hard plastic handle. Black blade with rubber handle without numbers = delivery for the Slovak army. Light or dark blade with artificial handle = Poland.