The Most Unique Military Dog Tags

Dog tags have significantly changed since their first use. They are no longer just for identification. Our military-style dog tags offer much more.

In the early 20th century, military dog tags identified soldiers on the battlefield. Now, they are practical tools for survivalists and explorers. Military dog tags on a chain were usually worn in pairs, showing the wearer’s name, serial number, blood type, and religion. Military personnel continue to wear them for ID, but civilians now wear them too. Made from solid materials like titanium, stainless steel, and carbon fibre, they can handle everyday wear.

Here, we look at five military dog tags that should be in your kit.

The multi-functional Audacious Concept Dog Tag Angle Finder, made from sleek titanium, is the ultimate companion for precision knife sharpening. It is as stylish as it is practical, designed to hang effortlessly around your neck.

Gone are the days of guesswork and inconsistency in sharpening angles. With the built-in angle finder, achieving the perfect grind is now effortless and precise.

But that’s not all. This ingenious device doesn’t stop there. Need to crack open a cold one? No problem. The integrated bottle opener ensures you're always prepared. Plus, with a convenient hex bit holder and metric/imperial ruler, you'll have all the tools you need at your fingertips.

Renowned designer John Kubasek has built upon the success of his credit card knife. He has pushed the boundaries of compact and everyday carry knives with the remarkable Boker Plus Dog Tag Folding Knife.

The Boker Plus Dog Tag knife weighs just 24g - a feather-light addition to your everyday carry collection. When retracted, it is less than 4mm thick (measured without blade pivot point), ensuring comfort around your neck on its sleek ball chain.

The chisel grind (single-sided blade grind) ensures safety when carrying and operating by contacting the titanium liner as closely as possible with the flat backside of the edge.

Its ingenious magnetic mechanism truly sets the Boker Plus Dog Tag Knife apart. With a simple yet robust locking mechanism powered by magnetic force, the blade is securely held in both the retracted and deployed positions, virtually eliminating the risk of accidental deployment - even during active/dynamic activities.

For added personalisation and practicality, the back side of the titanium liner offers ample space for laser engraving.

The ReadyMan Dog Tag Survival Card is a true innovation for compact, lightweight survival gear. Say goodbye to bulky packs and heavy loads! This sleek card hanging around your neck gives you instant access to essential tools and won’t weigh you down on your adventures.

This card is made with durable 301 stainless steel and weighs less than 28g (1oz). Each tool bends and pops out effortlessly, so you can access what you need when you need it. Inside this compact powerhouse, you'll find a comprehensive array of survival essentials, including 2x double fishing hooks, 2x long fishing hooks, 2x arrowheads, 1x fishing lure, and 1x band saw along the outer edge.

Indulge your admiration for the extraordinary properties of carbon fibre with the stylish Bastion Dog Tag pendant. Carbon fibre is known for its high stiffness, high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high-temperature tolerance and low thermal expansion. The Bastion Dog Tag pendant is certainly stylish and innovative!

The surgical-grade stainless steel Grim Workshop First Aid Dog Tag is a compact emergency solution. It is less than 1mm thick and fits into a dog tag silencer, small tin or pocket.

With Grim’s First Aid Dog Tag, you can access several first aid items in seconds, including a small suture, medium suture, tweezers, file, saw, tick remover, small chain and silencer. One side features semi-permanent adhesion, meaning you can remove the tools, use them and put them back. These tags are stackable, so you can combine multiple ones to form a wearable ultralight EDC kit.

For more information on military dog tags, call a Heinnie Haynes expert on 033 0300 0400.

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