breaking auto glass

Watchful shooting a side window does make it explode. Yes once in a while a bullet size hole will be left but that window will be shattered and easy to punch out with your hand.
 
kr1 said:
Have you actually done this? You are not talking about the standard metal FM antenna on most cars correct?
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Yes I have. You take the antenna, hold it roughly a fist width from the ball end, place your fist flat up against the side window like you just punched it, pull back the ball and let it snap. It will shatter the entire window. Just be careful not to lean into the window, or else your hand will go through when it shatters and you can get cut up pretty bad. Or just wear gloves.

This method probably wouldn't be my first instinct at an accident, but it could come in handy if nothing else was available.
 
Don't know if anyone already posted but both me and my wife have Hinderer Ti kubatons on our key chains. Might cut my hand but I will get out plus it can be used for SD if necessary. Not likely I will ever be in my car without my keys.
 
I carry a center punch but I would open either the leatherman wave or surge on my belt and with the pliers end sticking out the side of my hand swing and break out the side windows. This is what I do on car wreck scenes when I have to break a window.
 
cgjones said:
Yes I have. You take the antenna, hold it roughly a fist width from the ball end, place your fist flat up against the side window like you just punched it, pull back the ball and let it snap. .
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That is just darned clever. When I read the post I imagined kinda whipping it at the window, but your method sounds good. Yeah, I'd go for a jacket or shirt or bandana wrapped around my hand.
 
I've heard that a small piece of sparkplug will break a car (side) window easily, to the point that if you have some on you, the poilce can arrest you for it. Something to do with the ceramics and the properties of the glass. I'd be curious if anyone's ever tried it.

I caught an episode of COPS one night, where the police pulled over some joyriding teens after a chase. The first officer to the side of the door stuck his pistol THROUGH the window! The announcer mentioned that it was becoming standard practice to put a weapon in the drivers face ASAP, just for the shock value. The office had his pistol in the standard grip; and they replayed it a dozen times. I couldn't tell if there was anything extra on the end of the pistol to facilitate the breaking.
 
severtecher said:
I hear an automatic center punch, used in sheetmetal work, does a good job.
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I really would not be surprised. I use one occasionally at work that puts out quite a bit of force, and to a small area--pretty much the perfect tool for breaking car windows.
 
Return of the J.D. said:
I'm not sure of the physics behind this (Cliff, maybe you can elaborate), but I suspect it's got to do with all of the kinetic energy of the smaller spoon being transferred to the ice in a shorter timeframe, instead of a slower transfer that you get as the larger tablespoon decelerates over a slightly longer period of time. Maybe a similar phenomenon to how a .223 bullet may make a larger hole in a game animal than a .308.
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Actually it is more of the smaller surface area on the tea spoon which cause the shattering of the ice. Because of the smaller surface area, the force will be greater. An example is like busting a balloon wearing a high heel vs. busting it wearing a shoe. Because the high heel have a smaller surface area, its force is much greater than the shoe.
 
Buck268 said:
Since I've never broke a car window, I'll ask the dummy question.

Is it really that hard to break with, say, your elbow or with some clothe around your fist? I mean, yeah its thick, kinda, but its glass!
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While I will state theat I've had years of Muay Thai training and know how to throw my elbows, I will also say I find it hard to believe that any average man would not be able to shatter a side window with the point of his elbow rather easily. I did this the first time when I was 16 yrs old (my own car, keys stuck in ignition, yada yada). In the rare case you are ever in an emergency, trapped in your own vehicle, or in the rare case you've a chance to be a hero, dont hesitate to use your elbow. Takes very little effort.
That being said, my MOD mark II has broken auto glass on two separate occasions just fine. :) Just can't imagine that in a hurry, I would even bother reaching for it.
 
Grim/Don said:
I've heard that a small piece of sparkplug will break a car (side) window easily, to the point that if you have some on you, the poilce can arrest you for it. Something to do with the ceramics and the properties of the glass. I'd be curious if anyone's ever tried it.

I caught an episode of COPS one night, where the police pulled over some joyriding teens after a chase. The first officer to the side of the door stuck his pistol THROUGH the window! The announcer mentioned that it was becoming standard practice to put a weapon in the drivers face ASAP, just for the shock value. The office had his pistol in the standard grip; and they replayed it a dozen times. I couldn't tell if there was anything extra on the end of the pistol to facilitate the breaking.
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i done the ceramic thing before and you more or less throw it kinda hard at the window and some times it spiderwebs to the point hitting it shatters other times it shaters it all at once go to the junk yard and try it one day... i thinkit is simply something really hard hitting something not as hard
 
Very interesting topic, after reading thru two pages of post, one thing just cross my mind, can we use the seat belt anchor to break the glass if we are trap inside, just wrap the seat belt on the fist with the metal anchor sticking out.
 
I once had to break into a car on the job....I covered the window with ducktape and gae it a good front kick both are edc for me
 
You can break a window pretty easy, as long as you hit it close to the center. The easyest thing would be buying one of thouse window punch's.
 
Fonly said:
You can break a window pretty easy, as long as you hit it close to the center. The easyest thing would be buying one of thouse window punch's.
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Fonley, a buddy of mine carries on of those hammer punches, with the razor for cutting seatbelts. He took some SERE training and figured it would be good for himself as an escape, or to help someone else.
 
2dogs said:
Here is a cool vid for a new Vic SAK. My son has a new BSA pocket knife with these glow in the dark scales.

http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=491&lang=E
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I just got one and am totally impressed. The glass breaker is ground as a 4 point chisel. Looks like a strong point with a lot of force concentrated. It's also replaceable. There is a one hand opening blade for everyday use and a seperate seatbelt cutter to save for emergency use. There is also a glass saw for windshields. The knife even come with very good instructions on use.
 
Just a note that I copied from the Equipped to Survive web site, which recommends having a tire iron or crow bar within reach of the driver:

"NOTE: Apparently there are places that consider a tool such as this hidden in a car to be prima fascia evidence that you are a burgler or if within reach, that it is a concealed weapon. If that is the case, an alternative would be a Window Punch (a spring-loaded center punch) or a tool such as the RES-Q-ME or Life Hammer or similar tool that incorporate the means to break a car side or rear window and cut a seat belt. Note that another reason for having the Wrecking Bar is to allow you to break into your own trunk or a structure to get to equipment, supplies or trapped persons."

So depending on where you live the tire iron might not be the best idea....
 
Surefire L4...I've tested it with this and it works...breaking car windows with your hand is very hard when in a good position...if trapped inside the car, the position would make it almost impossible.
 
If its anothers car you come upon you can use a windsheild wiper arm .

Takes about 5 seconds to make it ready. 1. snap off arm by giving it a hard fast backwards snap. 2. remove wiper blade, you are now left with the arm with a small round pin at a 90 degree. 3. whip the pin into corner of window.

I learn this trick at NYS extrication class ,done it mnay times works great.

Really you can do the whole thing in a few seconds.

I have watched guys bounce Haligan tools off side windows. There is no way I'd keep a hammer, maglite,etc. unsecured in my car they'll kill you in an accident.

I also would not remove anyone from a wreck,unless the car was on fire, sinking in a lake etc.
 
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