Dual use: daily carry/rescue

[chet]

I finally decided to go ahead and pony up to get a good folder. I need a little help locating the right one.
Requirements:
1.Daily carry-self defense.
2. I am a volly firefighter and we respond direct to the scene in our district. We often cut seatbelts, punch glass, but hardly ever pry with a tool as small as a knife so I don't need a blunt 'rescue' point.
3. I like a blade in the 3.5" range and it needs to be able to be opened and closed one handed and in gloves.
4.I wouldn't mind a lanyard loop but a clip is more important.
5. It has to be 'melt proof'. The knife will end up in a fire eventually.
I've looked at the Eikhorn/Solingen rescue series and the Gerber Hinderer. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are they glorified stocking stuffers for the Ricky Rescue types of the world or decent equipment? CRKT is offering a M16-FD, but again, it looks functionally identical to the rest of the line with red scales to improve sales.

Any help is appreciated.
Chet

[MAINER]

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=doityourself&product=53900&

Don't know if it has a clip or not. Have little experience with "rescue knives", but I do like Victorinox knives. Benchmade is still good. Gerber went to the dogs after Fiskar took over. The last Gerber I'll ever buy said "China" on it.

Spyderco should have something for ya, and the reviews on em are very good.
http://spyderco.com/

G'luck in your search!! :)

[Rich@CGW]

Kershaw - Blur

Aluminum Handle, Quick Opening with one hand. even comes with a red handle if you want.

Made in the U.S. to boot.

Or You drop a dime on a MicroTech SOCOM Elite.

[xdshooter]

spyderco rescue

sheepfoot blade isn't for prying, but for not poking when cutting seatbelts, clothes, etc. Just try pointing a spyderco police model at a drunk with a jammed seatbelt! Not good if they take you to court.

melting; if this is carried on your person, an aluminum handled knife will transmit heat to you skin very quickly. The FRN handle of the spyderco would be the last of your worries if you ever got it hot enough to melt. Besides, if any standard blade gets that hot, it will never look new again. And for around $50, you can afford to replace it if it gets lost or stolen. Also comes in orange and yellow (discontinued but available) handles.

later
xdshooter

[Cyclic]

Get a SOG Trident. It has a built in seatbelt cutter. You do NOT want a exposed knife blade while trying to cut a seatbelt. I've been full time in fire and EMS for 17 years, knives are great but use the right tool for the job. :)

[chet]

Good thoughts folks.
As far as seatbelt cutting, that's exactly what I was talking about Cyclic.I have only seen a knife blade used once on a seatbelt and I cringed a bit. The groove on the Trident makes perfect sense. Most seat belt cutters have a fixed razor blade that can't be sharpened so the Trident is even better in that respect.
It's hard to locate a multi- role "rescue" knife that doesn't have a blunt point, which I think are useless. I have liked tantos from the first time I used one.I may have to figure out how to put a carbon tip on the butt of that Trident and I'll have exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks everyone.
Chet

[Cyclic]

If you are wanting to make a window breaker you can do that with that knife also. Just need a little skill.

The belt clip on that knife is removable. Take it to a machinist and have him drill a hole at the base. And then add a carbide spike in the hole.

An easier/better solution is carry either a window punch (which works best) or a piece of spark plug. The porcelain will shatter the glass post haste.

To keep you out of trouble, get a EMT pouch and load it with the stuff. EMT scissors, window punch, gloves, ect. will keep any LEO from giving you the bad person stare when you have a window breaking device.


Edit for spelling

[chet]

Good thoughts Cyclic.
Thankfully, we have outstanding relationships with both local and state LEO's in our area and since we respond direct, our tools usually don't garner any attention at all. In fact, there is a lot of overlap on the rosters.
I have tried the spark plug thing a couple times and haven't had much luck. Maybe I am doing it wrong. We learned it as more of a novelty than a technique.
I normally have both a med jump bag and a bag for turnout gear in my vehicle. I keep all my gear in those bags for simplicity sake. I takes too long to get stuff together if it is in multiple places. And normally, we don't do any serious work until apparatus begins arriving ( we respond direct but anyone that passes the station on the way to the call picks up apparatus).
But, there is the odd occasion that we get paged out for a "pin-in" or "entrapment" only to arrive on scene and find that the door is locked and the patient is too out of it to open it. Simply opening the door cancels half the response (an additional rescue company and an auto launch on a helo). Well worth it to go ahead and break the glass instead of waiting.
What is the technique for using the knife to break glass?
Chet

[Rich@CGW]

If your just looking for a straight forward tool for mainly cutting seat belts and straps..

How about something like this:

http://cgwgun.com/images/BM10105-YEL.jpg

Benchmade Yellow ERT-1 provides you options when you need them most. Benchmade engineers combined the proven cutting technology of our professional use Rescue Hooks into a tool that cuts seatbelts, breaks glass, and can provide light with the click of a button. Completely functional while submerged the ERT-1 can be used in a multitude of emergency response situations. Even more amazing is the price. Peace of mind has never been so affordable.

* Specifications: Folding Hook Blade
* Spring Loaded Glass Breaker
* Submersible LED Light
* Multiple Carry Options with Carry-Clip

* Blade Length: 0.50"
* Blade Thickness: 0.100"
* Blade Material: 9Cr13CoMoV
* Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
* Blade Style: Rescue Hook
* Ambidextrous Thumb-Studs
* Lock Mechanism: Lock Back
* Overall Length: 5.90"
* Closed Length: 4.67"
* Carry Clip: Tip Down, Removable, Black
* Sheath Material: Nylon Pouch/ Velcro®
* Weight: 3.60oz


$26.97

[chet]

Rich,
That looks like a useful rescue tool but with no main blade, it won't fit into a daily carry role. Thanks for the response, though. Keep em coming!
Chet

[Cyclic]

To use it for the window break, you have to add the carbide stud I mentioned. After that take the knife in the closed position in a fist grip with the point down (make sure you are wearing gloves). Stand back to the car and swing the tool from overhand to strike the window at the edge.

I really recommend the regular window punch though, much less chance of injuries to you and others. They even make a smaller one that resembles a regular pen. I have found the more parts you add to a tool the less useful at each function it becomes.

[firefuzz]

Originally posted by chet
I finally decided to go ahead and pony up to get a good folder. I need a little help locating the right one.
Requirements:
1.Daily carry-self defense.
2. I am a volly firefighter and we respond direct to the scene in our district. We often cut seatbelts, punch glass, but hardly ever pry with a tool as small as a knife so I don't need a blunt 'rescue' point.

5. It has to be 'melt proof'. The knife will end up in a fire eventually.


Any help is appreciated.
Chet

2. There are too many compact tools used for seatbelt cutting and punching windows to mention. I seldom leave the house anymore without a 5" set of EMT shears in my pocket, very handy, light, cheap and will cut a seatbelt in the blink of an eye.

1. I've yet to see one the combo tools I'd want to rely on for self defense unless nothing else was available. I picked up a CRKT folder at Wally world for $30, an M16-13z model and it's probably the best folder for the money I've ever owned. Spear point blade, partially serated, double locking device, belt/pocket clip, Zytel scales. Good little knife.

3. Little brother I hope you mean dropped in a fire. If your knife gets hot enough to melt the scales on your belt or in your pocket the knife will be the least of your worries.

Rob

[chet]

Originally posted by rob branson




3. Little brother I hope you mean dropped in a fire. If your knife gets hot enough to melt the scales on your belt or in your pocket the knife will be the least of your worries.

Rob
Lots of stuff melts on the outside of our gear. The gear today is probably too good for our own good because we can get too far into a situation and occasionally it's hard to tell when it's time to go. Anything made out of nylon or light plastic gets melted (cheap flashlights, nylon straps, etc). Only the heat resistant synthentics remain functional.
With our gear, my lower coat pockets are hard to access with an SCBA belted on. I normally carry extrication gloves and a Gerber Gator knife in them. I also keep a tool pouch in my pants cargo pocket. Right now, I keep a box cutter in that pouch for cutting drapes, carpet, whatever. Wire cutters handle the thicker stuff like coiled wire in duct work and what not..
The idea for the knife stems from the fact that eventually, I'll need a knife with me for interior work and/or auto extrication. I want something better than the box cutter. I may only need it once. But I don't want to be holding a Gerber Gator that is going squishy in my hands, while trying to get disentangled from something. I bet the scales on the SOG will hold up better than the Gerber would. Maybe "meltPROOF" was too extreme. "Heat resistant" is probably better.
Chet

[chet]

BTW, yes I am the company gear queer and I carry more tools than most guys. But, every time the 'good idea' fairy drops something on my pillow, I try to make sure that I review frequency of need and multi use aspects before I shove a new tool in my pocket. But secretly, I get off on working with a guy who says "Hang on, I have to go back to the wagon and get a ________." And I say, "Don't sweat it, we'll use mine." :shades:
Chet

[Rich@CGW]

Pic of the Trident.

http://cgwgun.com/images/SOGTF-2.jpg


How about the Gerber Hinderer?
Maybe have a knife maker sharpen the blunt tip.
Glass breaker and O2 bottle tool included.

http://cgwgun.com/images/1534.jpg

Or The Emerson Police SARK. No Glass breaker though.

http://cgwgun.com/images/P-SARK-BTS.jpg

[chet]

I got a SOG Trident tanto TiNi at a decent price. Initial impressions are pretty good. Action is lightning quick.
I'll post a review after I carry it for a while.
Chet