Demonstration for Public Officials......???

[batosai117]

Hello there,

Since I linger here more than any other place on the interwebs, and since a lot of you are Public Service officials, I'd like to ask a question or two.

I would like to do a knife demonstration using some in house knives and also show a few firesteels at some local places where people would actually appreciate it. I was thinking gear and tools that lean towards what firefighters and paramedics would need in a tight spot. A few fire houses already said they wouldn't mind at all, and even sounded somewhat excited. Of course, I would throw in a few (a gazillion ) J's Knives-N-More ads with some sort of cupon

Now the questions:

1. What would you guys want/expect to see out of a knife demonstration? (ie. cutting stuff, using the seat belt cutter, window punch, light batoning, etc...)

2. What would you want to see for the fire steel demonstration? (ie. materials to use, how quickly it takes to get one going, different strikers, etc...)

3. Is there anything else you would hope/want/expect to see if someone gave a demonstration of said tools? (ie. other types of gear)

Thanks to all of you in advance, I look forward to your responses.

Take care, J.

 

[BenchmadeBoy]

Sound like a cool idea. If I were in the "audience" I would really appreciate the opportunity to handle some different knives and gear. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to let the products speak for themselves. Give a short presentation on what you've brought, a few key features/benefits, then set up stations where the folks can test them for themselves. Maybe have some seat belt material ready, a few pencils (to sharpen), a station to try a firesteel or flashlight etc etc. Basically let them see and feel how intuitive the tools are for them. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Oh and a little card somewhere that says "caution! Sharp!"

 

[batosai117]

Sound like a cool idea. If I were in the "audience" I would really appreciate the opportunity to handle some different knives and gear. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to let the products speak for themselves. Give a short presentation on what you've brought, a few key features/benefits, then set up stations where the folks can test them for themselves. Maybe have some seat belt material ready, a few pencils (to sharpen), a station to try a firesteel or flashlight etc etc. Basically let them see and feel how intuitive the tools are for them. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Oh and a little card somewhere that says "caution! Sharp!"

Thank you for your input :thumbup:

Sounds like a great idea to allow a "hands on" experience. I'll have to find some seat belt material or bug a fellow at a junk yard You mentioned sharpening pencils, perhaps I could also show a few sharpeners and use my personal ones to show how they work.

Keep the ideas coming guys, I don't want to go give my speech and run out of stuff in 5-10 minutes

 

[Joezilla]

Show them howto cut where they are not in danger of hurting appendages. IE, to the side, not between the legs near the femoral artery.

Wounds! Show them common wounds, and when/when not to seek treatment.

 

[rwiggins]

You might also want to explain what makes a good knife for a particular application. Also include blade materials, etc. And I agree, hands on is always good.

 

[Fonly]

From A SAR's point of view, I would like to see safety, thats key for me anyways.

Plus Jay, you know, if you want some reviews done online, I would be more than happy.

 

[batosai117]

Explain blade steels and different grinds.....Check

Fonly, email sent under "reviews for site," hopefully it won't end up in junk mail

Thanks fellas, keep 'em coming, J.

 

[panch0]

J my sister is a fire fighter as well as her hubby. I showed them a spyderco rescue and they liked it alot. She specifically asked what kind of knife she should buy that would not hurt someone if cutting them out of a seat belt. Good luck with that.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I would love to see you demonstrate the advantages of having a good EDC on you. What it can do for you in hairy situations.

Concerning the firesteel - make sure you show them with the hard stuff, not just cotton and PJ. Show them that they can make fire with thin curls of wood they can find in any woods (dry).


TF

 

[Chinpo]

Before you visit each station, find out what kind of knives, lights etc they usually use. Try to get a detailed list. From this list, choose gear that you think will out-perform them.
The last thing you want to do is turn up for a demonstration only to find that the personnel are packing equal if not better equipment.

Try not to give a demonstration like you see in infomercials. Devise simple tasks that the personnel can perform themselves, so that they can get a feel for how much better your gear is. Possibly approach it more like a seminar or lesson. Try to teach them some new skills and techniques with your gear.
If you make a list of any equipment that you'll be taking on WSS, I'm sure a lot of people will have great ideas for demonstrations and new techniques that you can present.

 

[Fonly]

Something else too, I don't know if you can get your hands on old seat belt, or things they would normally train on, but see if they have an old car kicking around that you can let them try your equipment on.

When we did some vehicle extractions, it was nice to have real life things to try them on, not just a few old belts and what not.

 

[batosai117]

panch0, I had no idea you had two firefighters in your immediate family May they stay safe and I hope that I never have to see them while they are on duty

Talfuchre.....now I'll have to practice again, I had the cotton balls all lined up to go

Chinpo, I'll put a small list right now :thumbup:

I wanted to use a few select folders to cover the bases with and a fixed blade to show some "proper" batoning with a few pieces of mesquite wood. During the initial showing, I would of course explain the blade steel, different blade grinds - flat, hollow, scandi, chisel, etc..

With one of the folders, I would show the advantages (for public safety of course) of having a seat belt cutter built into the knife as well as a glass breaker tip.

I would then like to show how to make fuzz sticks in order to use the ferro rods. Teach about PJ cotton balls and their helpfulness in the great outdoors

At the end of it all, I would show two of my sharpening sets to teach how they work and what edge angles are best for different purposes.

So I suppose the list would be:

1. tacti-folder: CQD Mark I type E - Aus 8 blade, glass breaker, and seat belt cutter
2. Normal EDC: Spyderco plain edge endura 4 - VG-10 steel, FRN handle with skeletonized liners, light weight
3. Common Outdoor Folder (around here at least): Case Sodbuster - time tested and great outdoor folder
4. Fixed Blade: Gerber Big Rock - easy to sharpen, great camp knife, will use for batoning part of demonstration
5. Sharpening: Lansky and Smith's sharpening kits, one stones and the other diamonds to show advantages of the two
6. Fire Starting: Light My Fire, Magnessium block starter, and a brunton LMF
7. Supplies: Wood, baton, stuff to burn
8. Perhaps my dayhike gear for an example of a more recreational use of combining everything learned for the day.

Any other suggestions would be helpful. I don't want to stand there with blank faces looking at me

Edit: hey Fonly, I took so long posting I completely missed your post. I would like to get a hold of some seat belts, perhaps from old cars or a scrap yard.

 

[dipbait]

Im a retired firefighter. Carried a Case hunter in my bunker pocket for years. Never used the thing one time. Some guys had S&W first responder knives with a built in window punch, they only got used while training. The multitools were used constantly by the guys who had them. They converted me. Also most firefighters dont know how to sharpen knives and prefer serrated edges.

 

[batosai117]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys. I went over to the Kingsville Fire Department today and everything went great :thumbup: They have requested an encore presentation for tomorrows shift (since they work one day for every three)

I had several requests for flashlights, which unfortunately I didn't have with me, but now I know....firefighter + flashlight = happy camper

Surprisingly, several guys liked the spyderco endura more than I thought they would.

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Most fire companies have occasional dill nights where they do extrications or other training, that would be an ideal time to go. let them rip into a car with one of your knives or take one of your lights into a live burn. try getting some old firehose, or bunker gear for a cutting demo.

Most departments have one or two specialties such as confined space, SAR, Swiftwater, High angle, etc, Find out what if any special teams the department has and try to cater to it.

Think about what fire fighters wear, things that can be clipped on and opened with gloved hands are a good idea.

Try to show and example of a crappy knife and how the edges dull easily and don't re-sharpen well.

As an EMT I have carried a leatherman wave and one spyderco or another on duty for about the last ten years. My brother has had a spyderco rescue on his bunker gear for more than 15 years.

Spydercos are very popular in urban EMS/Fire in fact some posts from us EMS folks on this forum convinced spyderco to make the Assist in orange