Hi there,
Due to my previous knife going missing, I'm back in the market for a knife to keep in my bunker gear.
My last one was an old Gerber Hinderer that fit pretty much all the criteria I was looking for. It was, I assume, the earlier model and I had it for most of my career. It worked well with gloves for the most part, though the hook was difficult to access and tended to loosen up over time.
I've got a set of wire/cable cutters in my gear for dealing with wire entanglements and the odd car battery. I also keep a cheap set of trauma shears in my pocket. They're one of the quickest and safest things to use for removing patient clothing.
The knife is mainly there if I need to cut myself out of an entanglement that the wire cutters aren't suitable for (curtains, rope, blinds, etc.) A sharp blade is handy for removing side-curtain airbags at vehicle wrecks. If it also has a good glass punch, that's a nice bonus.
Primary criteria:
1. Usable while wearing Firefighting gloves. (To clarify - can be opened with one hand)
2. Serrated (or partially serrated).
3. Glass punch.
4. Not crazy expensive*
5. Pocket clip
6. Folding**
Secondary criteria:
1. 02 wrench
2. Blunt tip
3. Brightly colored
Those are the main points off the top of my head. I've been looking around at a bunch of different options but I'm interested in hearing some educated opinions and recommendations if possible.
Thanks!
*The Benchmade Triage is obviously the top of the line option. However, considering the cost and high-ish likelihood of getting lost, it's not a viable option. I'd prefer not to be out hundreds of dollars if it falls out of a pocket while I'm dragging hose.
**I could be convinced otherwise. I've gone with folding as my bunker pants have a small ankle pocket for a knife. A fixed blade wouldn't fit.
Due to my previous knife going missing, I'm back in the market for a knife to keep in my bunker gear.
My last one was an old Gerber Hinderer that fit pretty much all the criteria I was looking for. It was, I assume, the earlier model and I had it for most of my career. It worked well with gloves for the most part, though the hook was difficult to access and tended to loosen up over time.
I've got a set of wire/cable cutters in my gear for dealing with wire entanglements and the odd car battery. I also keep a cheap set of trauma shears in my pocket. They're one of the quickest and safest things to use for removing patient clothing.
The knife is mainly there if I need to cut myself out of an entanglement that the wire cutters aren't suitable for (curtains, rope, blinds, etc.) A sharp blade is handy for removing side-curtain airbags at vehicle wrecks. If it also has a good glass punch, that's a nice bonus.
Primary criteria:
1. Usable while wearing Firefighting gloves. (To clarify - can be opened with one hand)
2. Serrated (or partially serrated).
3. Glass punch.
4. Not crazy expensive*
5. Pocket clip
6. Folding**
Secondary criteria:
1. 02 wrench
2. Blunt tip
3. Brightly colored
Those are the main points off the top of my head. I've been looking around at a bunch of different options but I'm interested in hearing some educated opinions and recommendations if possible.
Thanks!
*The Benchmade Triage is obviously the top of the line option. However, considering the cost and high-ish likelihood of getting lost, it's not a viable option. I'd prefer not to be out hundreds of dollars if it falls out of a pocket while I'm dragging hose.
**I could be convinced otherwise. I've gone with folding as my bunker pants have a small ankle pocket for a knife. A fixed blade wouldn't fit.
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