Hard use folder

[o4tg]

If he's a firefighter, get him a knife he can open and close one handed. IE: A liner or frame lock. Imagine responding to a flipped vehicle at night. You have to cut a seatbelt loose with a lockback while holding a flashlight to see. Something is going to get left on the ground when he can't use both hands. Do you think he's going to leave the person, the light, or the knife he used for a few seconds but couldn't close and pocket since it requires dropping everything esle to do it?

Also consider use with gloves. I wear gloves for about 80% of the night on patrol, and my Utilitac is easy to close compared to my 0350. Closing my Bucks, other Kershaws, or operating an axis lock with gloves on totally sucks, so make sure the lock is pretty easy to access as well.

Heat can be a factor as well. G10 scales will make you say ouch from heat, but set a metallic scaled knife in the same heat and it will suck the air out of your lungs while the knife slips out of your hand while your skin melts.

 

[Magicatus]

I recommend the Cold Steel Voyager as well... the code 4 is a little smaller but the aluminum handle is more slippery... much better grip for what a fireman has to do with the Voyager...

 

[Todd21969]

What you want is a fixed blade.

The automatic suggestion of a fixed blade in every "hard use folder" thread is getting tiresome.

I am happy for you that you live in an area where carrying a fixed blade at all times is legal. As well as that you have a life style were it is socially acceptable.

Not to mention , in keeping with the thread, that your Chief and department by-laws allow the carry of a fixed blade 'on duty'.
However not all of us on this board are as lucky.

For the OP... I agree with the suggestion of a blem ZT200. As a firefighter shears are often a much better choice as a cutting tool for use on scene, but I do like having a sturdy knife available. Mine is a ZT0301, way above your price range but I can attest to the build quality of ZT.

And a thank you to your friend for being part of the brotherhood of our Volunteer Firefighters/EMS.

 

[dogstar]

The automatic suggestion of a fixed blade in every "hard use folder" thread is getting tiresome.

I am happy for you that you live in an area where carrying a fixed blade at all times is legal. As well as that you have a life style were it is socially acceptable.

Not to mention , in keeping with the thread, that your Chief and department by-laws allow the carry of a fixed blade 'on duty'.
However not all of us on this board are as lucky.

I'm sorry you find common sense tiresome. Perhaps someone out there is a first responder who can answer this. Why can't someone carry a sheath knife in the capacity of a volunteer firefighter? We're talking a blade under 4". Who in their right mind would question that when someone is showing up to an emergency call?

 

[Sonnydaze]

I agree with Todd (above), with the suggestion of a blem ZT200. It is bull-tough. I've owned a lot of ZT's and he's right. There are many YouTube videos you can watch where a guy nails and screws one 2x4 to another and then gets them apart with the ZT.

 

[stabman]

Who in their right mind would question that when someone is showing up to an emergency call?

Who ever said that those in charge were in their right mind?
Reality doesn't care about what's "right", or "logical"...it just is what it is.
And you can either rail futilely against it and tear your hair out (while no one else even notices or cares), or you can find out what the deal is in any given situation, and work with it.

 

[dogstar]

Do they still get to carry axes?

 

[Todd21969]

Well no one in the department I belong to carries their own axe on their person.

We do have them available on the trucks.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I'm sorry you find common sense tiresome. Perhaps someone out there is a first responder who can answer this. Why can't someone carry a sheath knife in the capacity of a volunteer firefighter? We're talking a blade under 4". Who in their right mind would question that when someone is showing up to an emergency call?

It's been a few years since I ran squad, but I have been a first responder and we were never allowed to carry fixed blades. I honestly think they're a more sensible tool for emergency/rescue situations, but the perception within the department was that folders could be rescue knives but a fixed blade was a weapon and we were not allowed to be armed. As I said, it may vary from department to department, but those are the rules I had to obey.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Well no one in the department I belong to carries their own axe on their person.

We do have them available on the trucks.

Ha! I was just thinking what the reaction would be if someone showed up day one with their own axe.

 

[dogstar]

Well no one in the department I belong to carries their own axe on their person.

We do have them available on the trucks.

It's been a few years since I ran squad, but I have been a first responder and we were never allowed to carry fixed blades. I honestly think they're a more sensible tool for emergency/rescue situations, but the perception within the department was that folders could be rescue knives but a fixed blade was a weapon and we were not allowed to be armed. As I said, it may vary from department to department, but those are the rules I had to obey.

Okay, thanks, gentlemen. This has been enough of a tangent. I'll shut up now.

 

[PropThePolecat]

Who in their right mind would question that when someone is showing up to an emergency call?

The brass, management, upper echelon and administration spring to mind. You'd be amazed to hear how much the publics perception weigh in, which translates into some seriously ridiculous rules. Fixed blade carry rules are nothing compared to other regulations I've encountered or heard about.

 

[Klok]

like it has been posted many times I would go with cold steel. hopefully I can get you started.

my blind recommendation would be the Cold steel American lawman (which is one of my all time favorite knives in general) 3.5 inch length
I have Not handled the Code 4s so I will not comment
the recon 1s are of similar quality to the lawmen just larger 4.5 inchs
the ak-47 has a nice pommel but the handle is less comfortable the the lawmen 3.5 inchs
the spartan is a incredibly tough little bugger but Impracticable to carry 4.5 inchs
I wouldn't recommend the rajah 3 (slick handle functionless recurve)
Having a voyager of any size on you is better then not having a knife on you.

 

[Spyder328]

I agree with Todd (above), with the suggestion of a blem ZT200. It is bull-tough. I've owned a lot of ZT's and he's right. There are many YouTube videos you can watch where a guy nails and screws one 2x4 to another and then gets them apart with the ZT.

I agree as well. The ZT200 blem is a tough knife and not to much more expensive. For a cheaper option I would vote for Cold Steel. They make some pretty hard use knives

 

[Nal0n]

I agree as well. The ZT200 blem is a tough knife and not to much more expensive. For a cheaper option I would vote for Cold Steel. They make some pretty hard use knives

Cannot get any "blems" here in the EU ... but if you can get the ZT200 within you budget: GO FOR IT!

 

[LawnDuckOB1]

Zero tolerance and cold steel knives are the first production knives that come to mind. ZT may be more than what your friend wants to spend. I agree with the above’s recommendations of the recon, AK-47, American law man, and voyager. From Buck he could look at the Buck CSAR-T Avid. There’s also a brand named “Bad Blood” that makes imported production knives that are supposed to be tough and down right cheap. CRKT M16-12ZER or M16-13ZE are supposed to be for emergency personel, but the Autolawks system would either have to be well practiced or removed to let you close the blade quickly.

If I had to pick one (which is always a tough choice which is why I have more than one knife) I’d go with the Cold Steel AK-47.

Good luck!

 

[Maddogg774]

I would get a gerber Rick Hinderer rescue. Seatbelt cutter, O2 tank valve tool and window breaker. I know many firefighters who swear by them. BTW I open and close my cold steel recon and voyager one hand. As far as fixed blade a scrapyard 311 in an AZWelke kydex would be acceptable for most firefighters on duty here.

 

[Aleous]

Another vote for the Ontario Utilitac here, best folder for around $25-30 and has held up to some abuse among it's many users, here's my version(it comes in countless variations).

 

[JJR512]

I would get a gerber Rick Hinderer rescue. Seatbelt cutter, O2 tank valve tool and window breaker. I know many firefighters who swear by them. BTW I open and close my cold steel recon and voyager one hand. As far as fixed blade a scrapyard 311 in an AZWelke kydex would be acceptable for most firefighters on duty here.

I'm a volunteer EMT and the Gerber Hinderer is indeed very highly regarded. However, make sure it's understood this is a rescue knife, not a general-purpose knife. The blade is serrated about two-thirds of its length, and the remainder is blunt. By "blunt" I don't mean that it's not sharpened well from the factory, I mean it is deliberately not sharpened at all. The tip is rounded. The reason for this is so you don't accidentally cut someone you're rescuing.

I point this out because not everyone, not even all firefighters or EMTs, like or want this.

However, Gerber does also make a Gerber Hinderer CLS (Combat Life Saver), which has a smaller serrated portion and a sharpened edge, black instead of red scales (and a black-coated blade), and all the other features of the regular version.

 

[link2derek]

+1 on the Cold Steel Tri-Ad locks. Voyager, Recon-1, Lawman can all be found new in the $60 range.