Do you keep a "seat belt cutter" in your car?

Do you keep a "seat belt cutter" in your car where you can reach it?

  • Yes, a specialized "seat belt cutter".

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, a conventional knife.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
bquinlan

bquinlan

Joined
Jan 5, 2001
Messages
2,726
I am curious about how many people keep a "seat belt cutter" of some kind in their cars. I know that no one on these forums would ever be caught without a knife anyway, but you can never be too careful. :)

I recently purchased a pair of Benchmade Rescue Hooks and attached one to the driver's shoulder belt of our two cars. They are both set just above the buckle, although they can be slid to other positions for comfort. In one car I had to use cable ties because there was no easy way to undo the belt; for the other I just slid the "belt loop" of the sheath onto the shoulder belt.

I know there are a number of other specialty blades made for this purpose, not to mention that almost any decent knife will handle the task too. So...

1) Do you keep a knife in your car for the purpose?

2) What kind of knife is it?

3) Where do you keep it and how do you secure it?

--Bob Q
 
Don't keep a dedicated knife in the car for this purpose but at any given time I've got plenty of blades (in different locations) on my person so I'm not worried about it.
 
Originally posted by bquinlan
I recently purchased a pair of Benchmade Rescue Hooks and attached one to the driver's shoulder belt of our two cars. They are both set just above the buckle, although they can be slid to other positions for comfort. In one car I had to use cable ties because there was no easy way to undo the belt; for the other I just slid the "belt loop" of the sheath onto the shoulder belt.
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I'm glad someone's tried this, I've been meaning to do this as well but couldn't figure out a good way to attach to the belt.

1) Do you keep a knife in your car for the purpose?
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Yup.

2) What kind of knife is it?
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Gerber EZ Out w/combo edge.

3) Where do you keep it and how do you secure it?
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It's clipped to the seatcover where you would reach for the recline handle (driver's side of course). I'm also planning on picking up a chive to clip to my dash and now that I've read your post, a couple of rescue hooks as well to attach to seat belt.
 
I answered “Conventional Knife”, though the knives I keep in our cars is the Spyderco Rescue, a fully serrated sheepsfoot blade, fairly specialized.
 
For all I know it's really, really unusual that modern seat belt locks don't do what you want them to do when press the release.
 
Yes I supposedly have a dedicated blade in the car for that purpose, but since I don't own it and my parents tends to freak when they see my knives, it's one of those cheapies that they used to keep in the car when we delivered papers and they cut straps with. I've sharpen it and keep it somewhere out of sight but easily reached by the driver... It's one of those map spaces in the driver's door.
I must admit there are better knives and better place to put it, but again it's not my car and i'm not sure how the laws work out in here.
 
Originally posted by Griffon
For all I know it's really, really unusual that modern seat belt locks don't do what you want them to do when press the release.
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It probably is unlikely that the seat belt wouldn't release, but that's if you can reach the button. Say you broke your right arm and couldn't reach the button, then it would be helpful to have a cutter. For my purposes though, I'm not so much worried for me as I am for those around me. If I run into an accident scene and it is necessary to cut someone free, I want to have something handy to cut it with. I was just at my local knife store last week and and was talking to the lady behind the counter about the Benchmade Rescue Hook and she told me about some guys that came in that told her about a friend that died because they couldn't get him out of his seat belt. I never want something like that to happen to any of my friends because I wasn't prepared. After all, isn't that why we carry in the first place--just in case? You never know what's going to happen and I don't want to have to MacGyver something just because I don't have the right tool for the job. That's how I see it anyway.
 
By the way, anyone try a Meyerco Rescue before? They're pretty difficult to find, but it has a window punch in the handle which I think is pretty cool and would come in handy.
 
I keep a very sharp Wicked Knife Co. Woo draped over the steering column, and a CS twistmaster in the center console.
 
I was thinking of getting one of those rescue hammers though. Got a seatbelt cutter and glass breaker. Also a mounting plate to put in the vehicle. Very reasonable price too. Of course I always have at least one knife on me!
 
I've got an orange handle Rescue Jr. and an automatic center punch (for window breaking) in my car. The Rescue Jr. has never been used to cut anything, so it still has the Spyderco factory edge.

Plus a Ladybug II with my car keys (kind of a mini-rescue). Not to mention all other knives. :D

Nothing in my wife's car. One of those Benchmade rescue hooks would probably be a good idea there.
 
I have a cheapo crosslock that i found inthe glovebox and a SAK in the drivers side door with a good 12"oal flathead craftsman screw driver. The knives are sharp enough to cut your seatbelt, and the screwdriver is long enough to do damage to a someone that wants your car.

I figure if I need something serious I should be able to get to my Benchmade in my left pocket, my spyderco in my right pocket, or my Himalayan Imports 12" Sirupati in my trunk.:)
 
No, I don't. The reason? I don't have a car because I spend to much money on knives! Plus, I just got my license last year, so insurance is very high, but I am working on it. I do carry a knife with me most of the time though(when not going to school).


Erik
 
I keep EMT shears in a pocket thingy on the passenger side visor.

I was thinking of getting one of those emergency hammers as well for breaking the windows. I figure it would work better than a punch as if you have adrenaline pumping, the fine motors skills needed for the punch will be lacking but the strength to swing the hammer will be there in force.
 
Keep a Spyderco rescue clipped to the inside of the center armrest in my car and a Smith & Wesson rescue knife with window punch in the wife's
 
A cheap ball-peen hammer and a boxcutter will do anything you need to do to get into a car. The only time I've found seatbelts REALLY hard to undo is if the the side of the car is really smashed, the locking system can get jammed up between the persons body and the center console. Alot easier to cut the belt than try and move them to get to the release. Also, when hanging upside down, theres alot of tension on the buckle, it can be pretty hard to get it to release. Spring loaded center punches are cool. Never have the stupid thing with me when I need it. Most of the Officers I work with have cut more seatbelts with the cheap "El Toro" brand folders than anything. Cops are generally cheap.
 
I am pretty sure that it was Blackjack that used to make a seatbelt cutter designed just for this task. Barely even resembled a knife. Don't see them very often.
Greg
 
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