good knife for a cop?

a LEO friend told me he has utility, not self-defense in mind in choosing a working edc...he uses a zt121...
 
I rotate TWO automatic blades a Benchmade and a lager Gerber for last ditch defense on my weak side, and have an Emerson CQC7 large in my strong side rear pocket for cutting stuff.
 
A ka-bar TDI is nice behind a duty belt. Some people say it is faster deployment in a high stress situation than a folder.
 
I'd recommend the ZT 0550 or, if weight isn't really an issue, any of the ZT 03xx series. The 0300/0301/0302 may weigh a little more than a half pound but those knives will take anything that you throw at them with ease.
 
I carry a 3 1/2" drop point that I made, on my weak side, inside my Sam Brown. I have used it for everything but self-defense. I prefer a fixed blade to a folder, as I have loosened up pivots on Striders and Emersons using them for work. In a law enforcement EDC role, I find that my knife becomes a lock pick, pry tool, pruner, screwdriver, in addition to being a cutting tool (After work, it is a bottle opener (: ) It's no Tactical Hatchet, but it serves me well for what I really end up using it for.
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The ZT 0350 would be a good choice. I actually just ordered one off <deal spot>. I don't like to carry anything too large or heavy. I spend most of the time sitting in my car, and having a half-pound brick in my pocket can get annoying. I like to carry autos or assisted openers, preferably someting without a safety so I know that it will fire when I need it to. I've been carrying a Protech TR-2 lately and really like it. I actually find that I don't use my knives all that much at work. When I do it's mostly for your normal type of EDC tasks, however I like to have something that can double as a decent defensive blade should the need arise. I agree that a good multi-tool is nice to have. If not on you then at least in the car. I'm a bit of an enthusiast these days, so I rotate my knives often. If I had to recommend just one for a new LEO it would probably be a Spyderco Endura. Cheap enough that you won't cry yourself to sleep if you lose or break it. Strong enough for most tasks you would need it for. Long enough blade for defensive use. Thin profile and lightweight, so you almost forget it's there. Only drawback is that it isn't the fastest opening due to the back lock design. Just my .02, there isn't really any right or wrong answer, mostly a personal preference kind of thing.
 
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R. Scheppmann Knives said:
I carry a 3 1/2" drop point that I made, on my weak side, inside my Sam Brown. I have used it for everything but self-defense. I prefer a fixed blade to a folder, as I have loosened up pivots on Striders and Emersons using them for work. In a law enforcement EDC role, I find that my knife becomes a lock pick, pry tool, pruner, screwdriver, in addition to being a cutting tool (After work, it is a bottle opener (: ) It's no Tactical Hatchet, but it serves me well for what I really end up using it for.
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Haha how the heck are you using that thing as a lockpick :p
 
At the local knife store I frequent the guy I usually go through told me he sells to quite a few local officers, and that for the ones who buy knives with narrow/thin tips even when he advises against it he OFTEN ends up having to reprofile their knives for them after they snap their tips off. That said, look for something with a STRONG tip, even (hate to recommend as I personally dislike this style) tanto blades. He told me that they tell him all the time that they end up in a situation where it's 'pry open this door/window/etc.', or (let this mugger/rapist get away) (fail to get this helpless person out of their car/house)(etc.) even when the officer themselves know they will probably break their knives in the process. Hope that made sense/helped.

In fact, when I bought my Spyderco Manix2 he told me he had just recently had to regrind one for an officer who had snapped their tip.
 
a hinderer XM-18 would be a great knifre but if he's like me, he wants one that fits the following:
1.) Good (large enough) last ditch self defense knife
2.) Good for Utility
3.) Won't cry if it gets lost in a fight or a foot chase
4.) Doesn't add allot of weight to the equipment we already have to carry
5.) Easy to open under stressful situations via muscle memory (instinct)
6.) Proven reliability and resistant to rust

Many knives fit the above criteria but the one's who make the cut more often than not are:
1.) Spyderco Endura, Police, stretch, Native
2.) Kershaw Boa or the many like it
3.) ZT 0350
4.) Cold Steel lawman

While I own knives from many companies (including hinderer and Sebbies), on duty, I carry a Spyderco Endura 4 FRN on the non-gunside pocket, a Spyderco Dragonfly 2 in my shirt pocket. Off duty, My Hinderer gets the pocket.
 
Any knife that can cut open a plastic bag so you can dip your pinkie finger into the white powder and taste it to see if it's dope
 
sweet guys. thanks for all the responses. ya id use a fixed blade but i dont want people to see that i have it. even tho ill have a gun on open carry. knives just seem to creep people out for some reason.
 
The XM-18 is a SOLID recommendation! Expensive, even from Rick, but I can't think of a better LEO knife. He designed it for first responders. Strong lock, strong spanto blade, good blade steel, everything you could want.
 
I've carried a Benchmade Mini Reflex for about fifteen years. It's a nice size and deploys quickly. I destroyed the blade a few months ago (my fault) and Benchmade replaced the blade and sent it back for thirty bucks, IIRC.
 
Take a look at the Benchmade Triage.

Good steel, strong axis lock, robust blade, G-10 scales, rescue hook and carbide glass breaker - all in one package.

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A good cop doesn't have just one knife, or one gun. I keep an auto on my weak side to aid in weapon retention situations. Ie, must be one hand operational, and a double edge blade. My microtech scarab serves well for this. I carry a necker under my shirt attached to my vest. I've been using a spartan blade for this. My zts are all beast enough for my third knife, a basic jack of all trades knife. I laugh at pryin, if I can pry, I can kick, smash etc. Or even better I can pick a lock.
 
id go with that triage but i just dont know if i trust the axis lock. i love the seat belt cutter on it but i just need reliability. do those axis springs break?
 
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