Fixed blade for duty carry.

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PowerHammer

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Oct 15, 2014
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I'm looking to buy a duty knife purposed mainly around last ditch weapon retention but more than likely used for utilitarian tasks through out the day. Around 10 inch maximum oal, price limit around $600 (by no means does it have to cost that much...), and durable. I don't have much limiting what type of knife I can carry, but discreet and fast would be ideal.
Yes I have training and yes I would like to avoid the whole discussion on knives as weapons please.
 
For hardcore duty use... Strider DB or DB-L and a good folder of your choice for "regular" tasks.
 
How are you planning on carrying it? Boot, vest, neck?

I have tried a few fixed blades and couldn't find a setup that worked for me. I settled for a big honking folder that is carried on my off side, but very accessible.
 
I' d grab a Becker BK17 and get a custom kydex rig for however you most want to carry it. Its plenty durable, cheap enough not to get too worried about if it gets lost/stolen (~$60-70), pointy, and extremely useful for normal stuff.

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Good luck finding something that you like :).
 
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^^^Carrying a fixed blade in uniform is no easy task to say the least.

You are in a police uniform, not a soldier's uniform. Carrying it openly is not an option in my opinion. Weapon retention is a big concern, and I can't protect a knife and my sidearm at the same time.

The BK17 is great in the woods when it and a Leatherman pouch are the only thing on my belt. In a police uniform its another story.

I think his best bet is a Kabar TDI tucked away somewhere snug. They make a large version now which I have considered trying. I carried the original TDI years ago, but I now ride a bicycle on duty and it was not comfortable when bent over in a riding position. I had to ditch a lot of goodies due to very limited space on my person and only a small saddle bag on the bike. Just a small clipboard and a few report forms, and a few extra batteries for my lights are not easy.

Honestly just the fact that I am able to squeeze in a concealed backup handgun is pretty good as far as I am concerned. I don't have room for a large knife. I carry a Benchamde Contego clipped in my offhand pocket. It is nothing but a fighter, but its a good one. I carry a small Victorinox inside my pocket for utility tasks.


There are several different carrying options, and with a little research you can find them all.
http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/48
 
PowerHammer said:
Vest, I used to boot carry until we got externals. Now my boot holds a 43.
Click to expand...

External Class A's or external Molle type vest?

I worked with a female officer that carried a small necker under her shirt, she could get to it pretty quick.
 
Esee 3 or 4 depending on your size preference. Or how about one of the Perrin fixed blades from spyderco (street beat would be perfect).
 
collim1 said:
^^^Carrying a fixed blade in uniform is no easy task to say the least.

You are in a police uniform, not a soldier's uniform. Carrying it openly is not an option in my opinion. Weapon retention is a big concern, and I can't protect a knife and my sidearm at the same time.

The BK17 is great in the woods when it and a Leatherman pouch are the only thing on my belt. In a police uniform its another story.

I think his best bet is a Kabar TDI tucked away somewhere snug. They make a large version now which I have considered trying. I carried the original TDI years ago, but I now ride a bicycle on duty and it was not comfortable when bent over in a riding position. I had to ditch a lot of goodies due to very limited space on my person and only a small saddle bag on the bike. Just a small clipboard and a few report forms, and a few extra batteries for my lights are not easy.

Honestly just the fact that I am able to squeeze in a concealed backup handgun is pretty good as far as I am concerned. I don't have room for a large knife. I carry a Benchamde Contego clipped in my offhand pocket. It is nothing but a fighter, but its a good one. I carry a small Victorinox inside my pocket for utility tasks.


There are several different carrying options, and with a little research you can find them all.
http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/48
Click to expand...

Ah, for some reason I thought he was a soldier. That, and he was asking (at least in the thread title) specifically for a fixed blade, and the BK17 is a great general purpose blade that also has a nice sharp tip profile, which is why I recommended it.

I've not had a TDI, but I have heard good things about them. I'm not sure how they'd work for utility tasks to be honest (might we ok, I just have no idea).

You also may try something like a necker (even if you carry it IWB or something like that). They don't come with scales, and as such have a much narrower profile. They can still be useful for other utility tasks as well, but I agree, it seems best to have a folder for normal utility, and a backup (since you actually have training) somewhere else.

Maybe see what you think of the Kabar 1117?
 
PowerHammer said:
Molle version, it fits an esee 4 just fine but I'd like something a little more mission focused.
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Then we need to know the mission. Law Enforcement? If so patrol? Tactical unit? School resource oficer? ??? Military? Assignment? Location? Come on man, help us help you :) you said use for weapon retention then said mostly for utility and now saying more mission specific.
 
Ok how bout this then. Instead of one expensive large do it all knife, how about two mission specific knives. For example a quickly deployed weapon retention knife on your support side, like a kabar TDI or a fixed karambit and then a utility fixed blade on your strong side, like an Esee 3, bk14, bk17/16, bravo 1, ratmandu, etc. best of both worlds and combined you are still under your weight and price limits.
 
I have carried a Spyderco Street Bowie on my vest under my uniform shirt. It was big and light, but not very easily retrievable so I got rid of it. My policy doesn't allow for carry of fixed blades that can be seen so now I just use an Emerson La Griffe tucked behind other equipment on my duty belt and a folder. The Emerson is my get off me blade and the folder cuts stuff, but also could be pressed in that role if things really went bad.

You might consider looking at the newly released Hogue EX-F02 if concealment is not an issue. It also has a nifty looking retention device that doesn't look too bad as far as actually getting to the knife quickly. I have always liked the look of the Gryphon M10 also. That one would be more concealable than the Hogue. Check it out too.
 
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PowerHammer said:
I'm looking to buy a duty knife purposed mainly around last ditch weapon retention but more than likely used for utilitarian tasks through out the day. Around 10 inch maximum oal, price limit around $600 (by no means does it have to cost that much...), and durable. I don't have much limiting what type of knife I can carry, but discreet and fast would be ideal.
Yes I have training and yes I would like to avoid the whole discussion on knives as weapons please.
Click to expand...

My option would go towards SOG NW Ranger, (small,but very durable,all around day blade designed for soldiers in field,rugged undestructible design) costing about 60 Usd,,,,,or my second choice would be BOKER ARBOLITO stag handle,cost a bit more but first class quality, huge bang for money,rugged strong full tang, costing about 90-100 bucks. Between these two I'd made decision,both are performers lasting a lifetime.
 
There are also the mid-tech Perrin Bowies (disregard the Spydie up front), as well as the Suarez Gang Unit and the Suarez Grab N' Stab, the latter of which were designed for LEOs and CCWs.
 
Always carried a folder while in uniform...that was some time ago. I like the current trend within LEO/MIL for the GTFOM blades...Bud Neely's Pesh Kabz is my #1 CCW, think it would translate well to duty carry...tip down, edge fwd, just in front of your duty weapon. Be safe, be well.
 
Utilitarian, those specs, and that kind of money... Busse just released a Combat Grade Son of Badger. I can see that used as a weapon too. The other knife(s) that came to mind is one of Cold Steel's daggers/ boot knives... if it's a weapon first and meant to cut stuff second, they'll do just fine.
 
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