I Notice many LEO Carrying Cheap Knives?

My wife is an LEO. (and former Military Police)

She carries a Cold Steel Recon 1. I can't get her to really carry anything else. When she breaks a recon 1 she usually carries a Griptilian until a new Recon 1 comes in.

Most cops, aren't knife people.
Most cops don't make much money.
Most cops are naturally cheap...see above, but ask your local waitress who tips the worst
Most cops absolutely abuse their knives. Prying, Twisting, scraping, etc....all in a days work.
Most cops use what they can acquire locally, which means a trip to academy, Walmart, etc. Thus the popularity of the brands available at those stores. (Buck, Gerber, S&W, Winchester, Kershaw, etc). Brands that aren't as available (Zero Tolerance, etc) aren't as popular.
Most cops will buy a knife and never or rarely sharpen it.
Most cops will buy a brand they have heard of.
Most cops will buy a brand they have experience with from whatever background they came from.

In a way...cops are like most of the population.
 
unkei said:
No such thing..IA. Don’t believe the movies!
Unkei
Click to expand...
Weapon of necessity? The only time I could ever think of reverting to my knife as a weapon would be during a gun grab situation. Its in our policy that anything is a weapon as long as it's use is objectively reasonable. That's why I keep the assisted opening knife on my support side, since my strong hand will be be busy trying to retain my weapon. But I agree, people watch too much television/movies. No cops are getting in Van Damme style knife fights lol.
 
Filthyj24 said:
Weapon of necessity? But I agree, people watch too much television/movies... No cops are getting in Van Damme style knife fights lol.
Click to expand...
Too true... I would probably draw my baton before I drew a knife. At least I get use of force training with that. But if SHTF in a bad way, I'd use anything to win a fight (knife, rocks, steel bar, rubber chicken...).
 
I was on the Cop job for thirty two years, a few observations...

Cops are no more automatically knife guys, as gun guys. Most are neither.

Many are poorly paid, especially when starting with an Agency. So they can't afford the best gear.

I was issued a Buck 110 clone (made in China) by my Agency when I started. Wore it in a leather sheath on my duty belt. It lasted my entire 25 yr career.
Also carried a leatherman multi tool, that got FAR more use than the other blade. Had that one replaced once by Leatherman, the replacement is well used but still very functional.

I only knew a very few LE's who carried quality folders. And none that carried any sort of fixed blade.
 
My stepsister is border patrol and uses a Spyderco Tenacious I gave her to replace her $18.99 Gerber P.O.S. (as in crappy).

She also doesn’t know what model her Glock is either.

Not everyone that carries a knife and/or gun is interested in either as a hobby.
 
[QUOTE="NapalmCheese
They don't need to shave with it; for the most part they might just cut a sandwich in half with it.[/QUOTE]
...Or maybe to split a donut, Lol
 
unkei said:
No such thing..IA. Don’t believe the movies!
Unkei
Click to expand...
Thanks for checking, but no...the New Guy doesnt believe the movies. That was not supposed to be taken seriously. Maybe I should have put up 2 smileys :D :D .

But I would also bet its happened more than a few times in past, hopefully, only when necessary. :thumbsup:
 
A lot of cops don't know anything about guns either. Cops are no different from most folks. They don't know what nice knives are. It's just another tool on the belt. Do you think they care what brand of hand cuffs or radio they use? Nah.
 
Most officers in my area carry at least a Kershaw or above. Many carry Emersons and swear by em. Some do have turds in their pockets, but they're more rare around here than the ones who carry a quality knife.
 
Jocephus1 said:
My wife is an LEO. (and former Military Police)

She carries a Cold Steel Recon 1. I can't get her to really carry anything else. When she breaks a recon 1 she usually carries a Griptilian until a new Recon 1 comes in.

Most cops, aren't knife people.
Most cops don't make much money.
Most cops are naturally cheap...see above, but ask your local waitress who tips the worst
Most cops absolutely abuse their knives. Prying, Twisting, scraping, etc....all in a days work.
Most cops use what they can acquire locally, which means a trip to academy, Walmart, etc. Thus the popularity of the brands available at those stores. (Buck, Gerber, S&W, Winchester, Kershaw, etc). Brands that aren't as available (Zero Tolerance, etc) aren't as popular.
Most cops will buy a knife and never or rarely sharpen it.
Most cops will buy a brand they have heard of.
Most cops will buy a brand they have experience with from whatever background they came from.

In a way...cops are like most of the population.
Click to expand...
How has your wife broken multiple Recons?
 
My 20 years on a major eastern city police force showed me that cops don't care about knives or guns unless they are being pointed at them or being assaulted. My personal feelings were that I was a serious gun person but only was concerned with function ability in a knife. The knife had to break glass or cut a seatbelt. I carried a buck 110 on my duty belt as well as a leatherman, both in black leather cases. I never pried anything with the 110 and only a couple of times with the leatherman. I retired a long time ago but I don't think I'd carry an expensive knife today if I was still on the job. Today I like knives and I don't carry really expensive one's for my edc.
 
Personally I can careless what a LEO carries. Cops are just like any other people in other professions. They have the ability like anyone else to do right or wrong.

So I guess I hope the good ones carry good gear and the bad ones hope their gear malfunctions when they need it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top