Best knife for fire rescue?

J

JDC

Joined
Jul 26, 2000
Messages
5
I recently changed careers and I was wondering if the wise readers of the forums had any suggestions. I am looking for something that is easy to open with thick gloves, can withstand high temps, and stand up to the abuse. Plain or serrated? Combo would be nice, though. Price range, somewhere reasonable in case I need to replace it or ditch it.

I have seen many so called "Rescue" knives by smith & wesson and CS. Are they in the running?

Thanks for your help.


I did some looking and found the Spyderco Remote Release. It has the built in hook,(which may be prone to breaking)but it can be hooked to anything and has the big thumb hole the get the blade out.?????
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Improvise,adapt and overcome.

[This message has been edited by JDC (edited 07-27-2000).]
 
Check out the Camillus Becker TacTool. It's a rescue tool that SWAT and others use for entry, belt cutting, etc. Granted it's not a folder but it fits the bill.

If you must have a folder, Spyderco and Cold Steel make pararescue models that are quite effective.

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-=[Bob Allman]=-

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Hiya JDC!
I was a volunteer firefighter in NJ for 5 years, as well as an EMT for my town's First Aid Squad.

After trying numerous knives, I settled on the Buck Crosslock (with seat belt cutter, NOT the gutting hook) and a Leatherman WAVE as part of my fire turnout gear.

As for EMS, I carried the WAVE and a Kit Carson or Allen Elishewitz Parrot's Beak knife. These worked well for cutting away clothing with minimum risk to the patient.

That said, chances are that the tools you're already provided with will work as well as anything else.
EMT Shears are inexpensive, yet heavy duty (they can cut through a penny)
Rescue Trucks invariably have a seat belt cutter as well.

The only other thing I'd give consideration to is a blade that can cut through small branches. Many's the time that I found myself working on someone as a small tree decided to check my colon. A Spyderco serrated knife works wonders on the butt-burglering branches.

Hope that helps,
VG

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Hard to go wrong with a Spyderco, either a Rescue or a Military. I really like the Military because it has an oversized thumb-hole, that makes it very easy to open. But you might not consider the price "reasonable" at around a hundred from most internet knife-sellers.
 
The obvious recommendation is the Spyderco C14 Rescue. It's available with either plain or serrated edge and is better in blade steel as well as fit and finish than the models your considering. It's also available with either a black or orange Zytel handle. On the negative side, it's a bit more expensive. Take care.

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Fred
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Check out the spyderco forum, I started a topic,on this a week or so ago, Sal police, military, firefighter, is the topic name. I have worked for 10 years for the Rochester fire dept. and have used many knives and seen many more in use. The rescue, s+w first responce ect. are to single purpose and there are much safer tools for their intened use ( cutting off clothes and seatbelts). I have used Delicas Enduras, BM710, BM AFCK, CS voyagers,and a Buck crosslock. I don't think you can go wrong with a 50/50 Endura or Delica. Stay safe.
 
I'd go with one of the BM folders currently available for issue to the military & Law enforcement community. Their current catalog for military/Law enforcement lists around 4 that are approved. In the fire/EMS field myself, I carry an Emerson designed CQC-7 made by benchmade, and also carry the BM AFO auto folder. Both are very tough knives, and have been severely abused, with not a single problem, or failure. The cost is spendy on the AFo, but it's worth every penny for a dependable tool that may save your life, or someone elses.

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"ALWAYS respond CODE 3"..
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I used to be an EMT & vol. Fire/Rescue in Kentucky. Personnaly I wouldn't waste my time with a S&W rescue knife.

If I were still in the business I would go with an Emerson CQC7 or a Microtech Socom.
Serrations be it combo edge or full are a must. Personnally I like the combo edge.
 
Was a vol. firefighter for 10 yrs. and paid firefighter for 5 yrs. Rescue capt. for 7 years and an EMT. I carried a Sypderco Endura and sometimes a Merlin. They never failed me. A cold steel SRK would be good in a fixed blade and then of course randall makes a firefighter knife.
Just my 2 cents. One more thing carry your knife in a nylon belt sheath with a flap. If you use the pocket clip you will surely loose it.
 
I was a firefighter for 2 years in CT, and am now a LEO. I was asigned to a Pumper/Rescue truck so I have seen my fair share of action. I always had a Spyderco Endura (serrated), clipped on my bunker suspenders. That knife lasted me about 1 1/2 years till I lost it in a structure fire. It never quit. I beat it to death. Now as a LEO I carry a MOD Auto Trident. Cost 3 times as much, but worth it nonetheless. I also own and love my Spyderco Military CPM440V. It's a matter of preference. Just remember, Stainless and aluminum handles get very hot. And whatever you get should have some 550 cord strapped to the hole. That is if you want to keep it. The Military might be the ultimate for you. Large thumb hole and handle. Holds an edge forever.
 
This is a repeat of the story I wrote in the CRKT thread.

I gave one of my CRKT knives -- a half serrated, tanto KISS -- to a firefighter buddy.

Not too long ago, his fire fighting team was at the scene of a motor vehicle accident where a passenger was stuck because they couldn't unlatch his seatbelt.

The head firefighter apparently called for some snips to cut away the seatbelt. My buddy took out the little CRKT KISS I gave him and cut through the steel fiber reinforced seatbelt like it was nothing.

Pretty cool, huh? Congratulations to CRKT, and Ed Halligan!

BTW, that KISS is proof that there is a use for serrated blades!
 
I would second VG's suggestion of trauma shears. This is the item I use in most extrications (as an ER doc, I stop at accidents). It is what the EMT's carry as well.

Several advantages: cheap, strong, can cut through thin sheet metal. Further, if you are attempting to extricate an obtunded person, he is less likely to get alarmed and violent if you are using a scissors to cut his seat belt rather than a knife. One other thing, after you cut the seat belt, you can shove the blunt tipped scissors down into your waistband; what are you going to do with a knife? It takes time to resheath a fixed blade or close a folder; time you may not have if fire is present or imminent.

For a prybar to open jammed doors, I carry a J-bar in all my cars. I also have a sharpened pry bar, in the form of a Mad Dog Baby Mako or pATAK2 with me also. A quarter inch of 01 steel will pry very well.

Hope this helps, Walt

[This message has been edited by Walt Welch (edited 07-28-2000).]
 
If you're strong enough to lug one around, the new MOD Duane Dieter CQD might be worth a look. It has several nice features including a secondary sliding safety lock to supplement the primary plunge lock, and a seatbelt/zip strip cutting devise on the end of the handle. I would think this auxiliary cutting devise would work on most clothing material as well while putting the victim at zero risk of being cut accidentally.

Be advised, however, that this knife is a BMF (i.e. rather large
wink.gif
).

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Trauma Shears. Tough, cheap, and easy to restock. The right tool for most situations. Autoclavable and disposable, what more can you ask?. No reason to carry anything else.....that said, I do have my Military on order....
 
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