High-End Production or Custom Rescue Knives?

[Gerry.Agnosia]

Helllo all!

Knife newbie here seeking knowledge!

This might be a bit of an incoherent post because I'm so new to the side of knife-choices that includes more than a purchase because "something looks cool".

So without further ado, here's my question:

Would anyone happen to know of any high-end production or custom-made rescue knives/tools?

By this, I mainly mean knives with bright Red or International Orange features, lanyard holes for customization, pry-bar design/configurations and multi-tool and/or seatbelt cutter accessories.

Some of the knives that fit this description that I've been eying from lurking here are:

The Orange-Handled Rat Cutlery RC-3

The Peter Atwood Knife & Tool Bug Out Blade

And the Orange-handled Rick Hinderer XM-18

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I've also been told that the Spyderco and Benchmade Rescue-Tools/Knives are of good quality.

And that the Gerber and CRKT lines are a mixed-bag. :thumbup: :thumbdn:

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I also greatly love the design of the TOPS Knives TOPS PRY KNIFE & PPP TOOL , but have heard that 1095 High Carbon steel is at the bottom-barrel in terms of tool-steel qualities...

So if anyone who has the time or patience to aid a poor newb could, could you maybe make a comment, give a suggestion or recommendation or anecdote about your experiences with any of these---or any other---high-end or custome rescue knives you know of?

Thank you.

 

[shooter81]

Hey Gerry.Agnosia, welcome to the forums. It is a great place to learn all the things you never knew you needed to know about knives. Here is your one and only warning: TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW, NEVER LOG ON TO THIS SITE AGAIN, GO AND LIVE IN $15 HARDWARE STORE KNIFE BLISS, OR BE PREPARED TO WATCH A CONSIDERABLE AMOUT OF YOUR INCOME VANISH AWAY WHILE SOME GUY IN A BROWN TRUCK WEARING SHORTS BRINGS YOU LITTLE BOXES WITH SHARPENED PIECES OF STEEL IN THEM. THESE GUYS WILL HAVE YOU BELIEVING YOU NEED EVERYTHING FROM SPYDIES TO SEBENZAS TO SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CUSTOMS YOU HAVE EVER SEEN.(AND OF COURSE YOU DO:thumbup
Now that thats out of the way here is my opinion, for your pry-bar type requirement I think you would be best served by the Atwood BOB or the RC-3. I would personally go with the Rat but that just me. Spyderco makes some great knives but I wouldn't put them in the category of extreme hard use pry-bar blades. Plus a fixed blade will always be stronger then a folder. You will probably get some guys telling you that no knife is a pry-bar and you should get a screw driver or a pry-bar for prying, and there right you should, but I think most people who say that are not really intending to use the knife as such they just want to know that if the SHTF they could and the blade would perform. I have no personal experience with Tops so I cant comment. You might also try looking at some of the Busse knives. They are extremely tough and some of there handles come in bright colors. The Hinderer would be a great choice, its a folder but its more of a super folder, probably as sturdy as some fixed blades you can find, but its hard to attain one. They sometimes pop up here and there but they usually last between 10 minutes and an hour, so you have to get lucky. Keep an eye on the customs for sale in the exchange section and you might catch one one day, but buying one on the secondary market be prepared to shell out some cash. They usually go for almost twice what Rick charges. Also if Rick ever does start taking orders again get ready for a long wait. I ordered a satin and orange XM-18 in Dec. 07 from Rick, I talked to him the other day and he said it should be ready around the end of July. But I think its worth the wait So I hope this helped, welcome to the forums, good luck with your search, and dont worry most responses wont be so long.:thumbup: