Air Marshall offensive Knife

Red Devil

Red Devil

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
63
Hopefully this works as you can see it is my first time.

I am about a 6 month lurker/viewer and was happy to just read before, but have now exhausted the fun there.

I have read with interest the comparison between the Al Mar SERE and the Emerson PSARK as a duty carry knife. I had made up my mind to go with the PSARK until I saw how bady everyone slammed Emerson's liners. I had never heard of Al Mar until the Forum. I currently carry a MOD Stealth and have a Microtech Kestrel in the mail. ( Found it cheap for $100.00.

My question is are Emerson's as bad as the liner locks suggest, and are they doing anything to address it other than fixing them as they break?

My other question is, I have a friend who has now started international flights as an Air Marshall. They apparently are to be issued a knife (Spydie I think). I am wondering what people think would be a good knife to carry in the air. Bearing in mind this knife is not an defensive weapon but and Offensive one. Automatic knifes are obvious, I would like to hear thought on manual knives.

Hopefully no flames first day out.:)
 
I haven't heard anything about the knife that will be issued, but a spydie would seem fitting. As to the Emerson/Al Mar thread, I would go w/ the Al Mar also, just based on the reading here at the forum. It look's like an awesome knife, built rock solid. Emerson should definitely address their quality issues, as they seem to be falling behind.
 
Originally posted by Red Devil
Automatic knifes are obvious, I would like to hear thought on manual knives.
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Far from flames, welcome to Bladeforums! Glad you've started posting -- we need all the knife knuts we can get :D

If automatic knives are obvious, why would Air Marshals be issued Spydies? In fact, a good manual knife can be opened as fast or faster than an auto, and has no spring to break some day. A really strong auto can jump out of your hand on opening. Not a good feeling when your life is on the line.

Several Microtech models come in manual and automatic, even though MT is known for the excellence of their automatic knives. I just got a manual Kestral myself. When yours arrives, you will see it opens in a flash.

I've got a few Emersons. If anecdotal evidence proves they have QC issues, will my anecdotes prove they don't? I have seen no evidence of weak liners or problems centering the blade or anything else wrong -- except the Commander locked up so tight, I had to close it two-handed at first. I think Emersons are fine. Every factory production line can put out a lemon. I you want to avoid the problem, stick to the really high-end -- Chris Reeve Knives, or get a reliable custom.
 
Interesting that the anonymous Red Devil's first post was a dig at Emerson's QC. Haven't we seen that a few times before?

I've used Emersons for about three years and especially my rather battered CQC7. No failure, no trouble. Ever.

Roger
 
Not really a dig at Emerson so much as it being the only production knife maker that I don't have yet, and from my search of the Forums it seems to have the most contraversy. Maybe I was looking for somebody to say buy it if you want it and find out for yourself. Which is what i have decided to do.

The MOD is an awesome knife, but I find the thumb stud in my hand does not make for a fluid opening, and the handle is very thick, and doesn't carry well in my pocket.

The reason for the manuals is my friend is Canadian, so therefore no automatics allowed.

I received my Kestrel this morning. Very nice, better quality than the MOD line IMO.
 
better quality than MOD?
that's gotta be one hell of a knife :eek:

imo it's a personal thing wrt the thumbstud and whatnot
my first knife was a MOD trident
after i got used to the thumbstud i couldn't stand the EKI thumbdisk

MOD does have some nice folders with thin handles
you might want to take a look
 
I would choose the Spyderco Civilian with a fully serrated blade over all other knives if I had to rely on this knife for combat purposes. This is designed for this purpose. It is not made for stabbing or thrusting, but in the slashing mode will desicrate all others. It will slice through even the thickest of jackets, and has the ability of rendering even the largest assailant ineffective. I don't know why the Air Marshall service would be relying on knives, but if they have no choice this is a great knife.
 
Originally posted by DEA
better quality than MOD?
that's gotta be one hell of a knife :eek:

imo it's a personal thing wrt the thumbstud and whatnot
my first knife was a MOD trident
after i got used to the thumbstud i couldn't stand the EKI thumbdisk

MOD does have some nice folders with thin handles
you might want to take a look
Click to expand...

My first GOOD knife was a trident as well, I sort of got into the whole tactical black blade thing, and the Trident wasn't black so it's been put away for awhile.

I beleive that the Marshalls were being issued a knife to carry on board as a back up idea. There pistol is still the primary.

I have never handled the civilian, but it does present a certain holy sh.. when you see it for the first time.:eek:
 
In the close confines of an aircraft, I cannot see the advantage of a slasher. A stab to the face with a light, strong, long blade would be immensely superior. Try a Cold Steel Gunsight tanto with the 5" blade. Try any larger CRKT M-16 model, tanto or spearpoint. Since they are being authorized edged weapons, why not carry a fixed blade ???
 
Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
why not carry a fixed blade ???
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That's what I was thinking. I'm not a fixed blade kinda guy, but I would think that a fixed blade would be a much better option than a folder (auto or not) for this situation.
 
when i started to read this post i first thought.
fixed, but concealable
then i read more and thought
slim, stabby
and ofcourse
a secure grip

then i read this:

Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
We aren't looking to make camp here, we're not opening crates or smashing bones. We're not dressed in BDUs. Light, fast, designed to penetrate, easily concealed: Masters of Defense Massad Ayoob Razorback.
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Now i only can say thats IT!
 
I'll second the vote for the MOD Razorback! I still think the Spydie Civilian would be the best. It was designed as a backup weapon from the start. The one I had came with a letter from the Spyderguys stating its purpose. I think that in the small confines of an AC a slasher would be perfect. Instead of smaller stab wounds you could create large open gashes. The point being large loss of blood in a quick amount of time. The attacker would lose blood fast enough to cause shock and loss of motor skills. Also the possiblities of severing tendons and muscles would help stop any atacker. A very disgusting and nasty deal, but at the risk of sounding insane, it's more important to make the example of one A-Hole attacker rather than a AC of innocent people.
 
Originally posted by USAFSP
A very disgusting and nasty deal, but at the risk of sounding insane, it's more important to make the example
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Absolutely. If you don't kill them, and they kill everyone, what kind of moral purpose have you served?

I don't look at my knives as primarily weapons, but a few of them really are, and there's nothing wrong with that. Self-defense is an obligation we owe to ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Now if we are talking about large fixed blades, I have this Al Mar/CRK One-Piece with a 5.5" blade ... :D
 
My advice would be a fixed double edged knife, like a gerber or a strider PH type. With a good carry system you will forget you are carrying a sizeable knife.
 
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