Best type of folder for police work

Deadhead Archer said:
The Grip is tip-up carry, the Native is tip down.
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I'm sure you meant the Native is tip up. I can't confirm if the Grip is opposite because I don't have one, but the Native is tip up carry.
 
:foot: My bad...I was going by memory! Yes, Native is also Tip-Up Carry.

Thanks for the correction PerformanceFirst!
 
I carry a small carbon fiber CRKT M16 clipped in my uniform shirt pocket. I have also been carrying a Kershaw Blur in my weak hand back pocket. Santa brought me a titanium CRKT M16-13 that will probably replace the Kershaw. I have been considering carrying a CRKT Bladelock because if someone managed to get it away from me they probably couldn't figure out how to open it. That should buy me enough time to get to an H&K or a Glock or a rock, crow bar, 2x4, brick, chainsaw, etc.
 
I know several LEO's here in Vegas that carry various Auto's. I think the main reason is because they can. Last guy I talked to let me play with his LW val-matic. Sweet blade I might have to get one. PGH~
 
I'm a police officer and just bought the Spyderco Mannix for work. A bit wide in the pocket but not very thick. Big serious blade, can carry point up or down, made of the best steel, and built like a tank. Good utility and a real deal weapon.
 
I would suggest taking a look at what many consider the ugliest Spyderco ever made. It is the 93mm "Rescue" model. It has a sheepsfoot blade with tons and tons and tons of serrated cutting edge and is use by our local firefighters who gave me the heads-up about it. I would never have considered it if they hadn't shown me their orange handled Spyderco "Rescue" knives.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=12
 
VegasNick said:
a lockback is usually the last choice in a combat knife for those reasons. A linerlock is preferable to a lockback, but the best choice for H2H, is a framelock.
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Uhh, you may want to think about that one again. I'm always surprised how people can post so matter of fact about something that they really don't know about. Lockbacks are many times used for MBC situations, they are strong and reliable, they just aren’t the newest lock design out there. They are time tested.

There are many people on these forums that do not trust liner locks for normal use, and especially not in a combat situation. There are people here with permanent nerve damage due to poor liner locks. If there was one lock type I would personally not want to use in a hard use situation, it’s a liner lock. Not all are bad, but there’ve been too many bad apples out there. They are weak to being torqued, which is something I’d want to be confident in, if it were my only knife.

Spyderco makes some of if not the best lockbacks out there. Depending on the model, some are rated for MBC, which means they are meant to handle knife fighting. The Native of course is not, it is FRN. The advantage to this is less weight. When wearing a duty belt and all your gear, it all adds up.

About the subject, either the Grip or Native would be a good choice. I think the ergos on the Native are better, plus you get s30v that is better than the standard Grip steel. With gloves the round opening hole tends to be easier for the majority. Neither one should have problems with accidental closure, but they are folders, all folders can fail.

I'm with the people who suggested you just get one folder instead of two. This way you have only one knife to remember how to use in an emergency situation. Since the Grip and the Native are on the lower end of both knife companies, you may want to put the funds into a higher priced model. I would highly recommend the Spyderco Lil' Temperance. This was made as a tank and is MBC rated. The handle ergos are made to give a strong secure grip. The enlarged hole is great for situations where you are wearing a glove. This model was recently discontinued, but you may still be able to snatch one up. The Lil’ Temp sounds to me to be the perfect knife for you. If not you can go with the Manix or Mini Manix, IIRC both are MBC rated. The Paramilitary is another strong choice.
 
I too would prefer a lockback to a liner lock.

This topic seems a bit mall-ninja-ish to me. How often to police participate in hand-to-hand combat with knives? Ever? I don't know much about cop stuff, but it seems that rescue / utility use would be the primary function of a policeman's knife.

In twelve years, I don't recall Sipowitz using a knife even once. :D

Just wondering...
-Bob
 
The Native's a good one the Manix or the smaller one would be good,however do want to really mess-up somebody? and don't mind giving up the stab? if so try a Harpy! I've always been of a mind to carry a hawkbill knife if I needed to fight with it,you'll get the enemy's attenion when you drag that thoothy edge over them! plus you'll really rip them open! :eek:
 
Wow... I'm neither an LEO nor any kind of expert, but this discussion seems way too overcomplicated.

Somebody mentioned the Spyderco D'Allara. A very good choice, I think.

Ball bearing lock=reliable.
Very grippy handle= knife won't slip whether cutting a seat belt or a jugular. Pocket clip, decent length, relatively cheap, and famous Spyderco quality. Try one.
 
I carry either an Al-Mar Sere switchblade or the Spyderco Police Model while in uniform. Never a probem with either.
 
In a ice pick grip, i can an have accidentally unlocked a couple different lock backs i own, in both cases i noticed it prior to following through.

Some one mentioned a suspect possibly unlocking a AXIS while it is held by the LEO, in my mind, i pictured it buried to the handle an wondered why it matter at that point. I suppose it is possible like anything else, just unlikely imho.

And i do agree with others saying, get one damn good knife, an know it well.

Good luck with whatever you do choose, theres some nice knives out there to choose from.

WR
 
It is simple. I speak from 11 years on the job. Look for a knife that can pull a cut through a car battery cable in a pinch while offering a fairy nimble backup, backup weapon. If it can do this, everything else is cake.
 
As a duty knife, one that could be used to cut through seat belts, rope or zip ties, a knife that is light weight to carry all day long, yet sufficiently strong with a secure grip with a quick ease of opening, and as a last resort, a back up weapon that won't hurt your pocket when held in the evidence bag - Spyderco fully serrated Endura would be my first choice. The waved Endura's might be worth a good look.

What you carry as an EDC after hours is a personal choice depending on what you visage your usages will be and how you spend your free time. So many nice choices, lots of purpose built cutlery.

The Native and Grip are both well made tools, but my suggestion is to find the right tool for the right job. Happy shopping, hope you find the the tool that fits your requirements. Be safe.
 
>>>>"This topic seems a bit mall-ninja-ish to me. How often to police participate in hand-to-hand combat with knives? Ever? I don't know much about cop stuff, but it seems that rescue / utility use would be the primary function of a policeman's knife."

========================

My thoughts exactly. :jerkit:

Luckily, some actual LEOs have come in and posted some good, solid advice.
 
Dark Ops? Dork Ops!! Ack!! LOL! You have a nice sense of humor there puukoman!
 
Slvgx said:
Uhh, you may want to think about that one again. I'm always surprised how people can post so matter of fact about something that they really don't know about. Lockbacks are many times used for MBC situations, they are strong and reliable, they just aren’t the newest lock design out there. They are time tested.
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Really? I don't know which lockbacks you are thinking of? When I think of combat knives, I think of Airkat, Combat Elite, MercWorx, Microtech, MOD, Strider or R.J. Martin, Brian Tighe, or Darrel Ralph? AFAIK, they are all linerlocks and framelocks. I think that says something about the best lockup for the job. If lockbacks were superior, these manufacturers would use them. They are not avoiding lockbacks because they are an old, proven design... that would be nonsense.

So, did I miss some big lines of tactical knives in that list? The only lockback that I can think of is Extrema Ratio and they are not that popular. Now, I am not saying this in a mean way but I just don't consider Spyderco a combat knife.

I understand the drawbacks of each type of lockup and I understand that not all lockbacks or linerlocks are created equal either. Some linerlocks are well made and resist torquing better than poorly made ones. Some lockbacks resist accidental release better than others. But when we compare the best of each type, it is my opinion that the liner lock is better. How is it that I don't know what I am talking about? You didn't show any proof that the lockback is superior. Do you not understand that a lockback is more easily released by one's own hand (when improperly gripped during a struggle), without any torque or outside help at all.

Slvgx, it's ok to have your own opinion or to engage in intellectual arguement but why be so insulting?
 
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