A knife for my stepson

Well...seeing as he is a fire fighter why not a Helle Fire. I own one of these and they are a tremendous knife. The blade is of laminated stainless steel blade is about 2 5/8" long, 1 1/4" wide, and .117" thick. The one piece handle wraps around the lower part of the tang, while the full tang is visable on the upper surface of the handle. There is a lanyard hole, and the knife is supplied with a carabiner clip to attach it to your pack, etc.

You can also carry this in the sheath on your belt. One big plus on the sheath is the location of the snap for the retaining strap. It is on the side next to your body instead of on the outside where branches and such could accidentally release it it. This is not a big knife but rather a great size for EDC, it is easy to sharpen and takes a razor edge, will definitely handle most cutting chore you would ask of a knife.

I got mine from http://www.ragweedforge.com

helle-fire.jpg
 
swamp rat howling rat or scrap yard yard keeper, small, light sharpen up crazy sharp and super tough.
 
Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful replies.

The reason I was thinking fixed blade was to give him something he could get to quickly under stress without fumbling with a folder, but I will give that further consideration. And make sure a fixed blade is OK with the department first if I decide to go in that diRection.

There are just too many nice knives available.

gary
 
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Id look at bark river knives. They have a lot of character and I think they are a knife that is something to be passed on.
 
im gonna have to go with things that have already been said but ill recommend the ZT0500, or a BM with an axis lock maybe a 520 presidio or a 615 mini rukus
 
I think I will add a Military and a Police 3 to my recommendation. Ok, so final recommendation is:

Fixed: RC-4 from RAT cutlery.

Folder: Endura, Military, or Police 3, all three are from Spyderco.

Zero Tolerance and Benchmade knives are also very good, and I don’t think you would be disappointed with any of the suggestions here.
 
Well, if he is a firefighter you might wanna get him something with a opening hole. Easier to operate with gloves on IMO (Although the ZT 0500 sounds really cool).
 
I would go with a RAT RC 4. If you were to go into folders, I would get a Spyderco Military.

I don't lnow any firefighters, but I do know many policeman who love Spyderco Militaries.
 
When I was working with wildland firefighters my most usefull knives had plain edges, one a folder with a easy one hand opening blade "thumb-hole or ambi thumb-stud" the other a seven inch fixed blade. All the knives listed are very good choices " IMHO " I went through a buck goliath, buck 110, gerber gator, crkt m-16, crkt c/k companion, kersaw blackout, crkt m-21. The only fixed blade I needed was a kabar army.
 
IRON HEAD said:
When I was working with wildland firefighters my most usefull knives had plain edges,.
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Forgive my ignorance on who "wildland firefighters' are but it sounds like a rural brigade. I am assuming that the OP was inquiring for an urban FB - in which case activities such as vehicle rescues would be more common = cutting seat belts and child safety harnesses - hence suggestion to consider partial serrations - but my personal preference is also for PE provided enduser knows how to keep it sharp
 
Read what garyvv is asking, then you will see my point, by the way it is . Some body has to have smokey's back.
 
Congrats to your step son! If you really want to set him up with something for on the job or even daily life drop James McGowan a line. He is both a firefighter and a great knife maker. I have had the priviledge of both owning some of his work and meeting him in person. His prices are more than fair and his designs are based on first hand experience!
http://www.jmcgowanknives.com/
 
I've looked online at each recommendation and every one looks like good. It's a good thing I can't justify a new knife for myself (I'd want one of each!). That Helle Fire is just too pretty. I think it would look great on my belt.

Also, congrats to Capt. Carl on getting his certification. He's going to have a busy summer.

I'm leaning toward the idea that my stepson should have both a fixed and a folder.

I've had a serrated Spyderco Police for about 20 years. I got it after an elderly guy's wife burned to death before his eyes because her seatbelt was stuck and he couldn't get her out. Mine doesn't see much use but I actually cut a guy out one time. His car wasn't burning so there wasn't much heroism to it.

I like the Rat RC3/4 (in orange!) but the high carbon content worries me if he doesn't take care of it. Whether he cares for it properly will be up to him, all I can do is instruct and encourage. For that reason I agree with the idea of partial serration, then if he's not circumspect about care it'll still be able to cut rope or webbing.

The Scrap Yard stuff looks good but their blades are a little large. Maybe the suggested Yard Keeper? I looked at the pics in the Swamp Rat forum but few of the knives are identified.

And then there's the folders...

gary
 
If I were a fire figter, I'd get a tops trail mate, wrap it with orange paracord.

My folder would be orange spyderco assist.
 
folders

ag russell one handed knife
benchmade military
spyderco endura
persian

tops thunderhawk

zero tolerance mudd

blade tech ph magnum


fixed blade

al mar operator
bark river orange north star
busse game warden
fallkniven f1
spyderco day hiker
perrin beat street
zero tolerance 121

just a few suggestions ...cant go wrong with any of these light weight,and proud to own and pass down
 
Folders make more sense but I doubt that he will tell people 20 years down the line that he got this mili from his dad. No criticism on the mili, I have one and I love it but it is designed like a functional tool, no more no less.

I would suggest a custom or semi custom between 3-4 inches fixed blade, thin metal stock, check out the knife maker exchange. Some seriously good deals of good looking knives that will last you a lifetime like Koster, Koyote, NWA, Laconico among many others. Prices are quite civil too, in some cases a lot more affordable than Busse kin knives that you mentioned, and they usually come with a sheath.
 
Don't worry about him not being able to take care of a carbon steel blade, every handtool out there will be carbon steel and nothing will be rusty.
 
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