2 weeks ago I was in a fairly bad car wreck, now my girlfriend wants to get one of those window breaker seatbelt cutter gizmos ( lifehammer ). My thought is that my mini-commander or one of the waved rescue knives would work just as well. My question is will the butt end of a closed folder break a car window or do you need one of the speacialized tools. I know that breaking a window is a very rare circumstance but she is a little spooked right now.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Knife for car?
- Thread starter SStrauss
- Start date
Sorry to hear about your car accident. IMHO, the butt end of a knife won't work, or rather won't work as efficiently as an actual "glass breaker". I'm on a tactical team which trains extensively on tubular assault (linear assault) senerios. We have done a fair amount of T&E on different types of glass breakers and have found that the carbide tip tools are designed as window breakers for good reason. We've tried everything from sledge hammers to the butt of different types of subguns and handguns for this purpose. With limited or no success. For the most part, the fairly blunt nature of the tools just described, mearly mashes in the area of impact. It takes several hits to open up an area. Now, I'm talking about the lamanated windows (like your front windshield). Some minivans are also out fitting rear passanger windows this way also, as well as, "greyhound buses".
Now for us, we can't afford to take a couple wacks at a window and "hopes it works this time". We have to get in now!! It's called a "fail safe breech". I would assume you would want the same reliablity if you were trying to get out of a burning car or worse, a sinking one.
We have leaned toward the spring operated punches that fire a carbide tip from something that looks like a pen. It doesn't leave the devise, it just hits the glass with a strong enough force to crack it into the little cubes that you've probably seen before. Works well on non-laminated glass and OK on laminated glass. For laminated glass you'd still have to kick out the stuff (ussually comes out as a sheet of broken glass. But you can get out!!
Have you looked at Master of Defense's (MOD) CQB knife. It has the features you mentioned in your post in a knife. Pretty cool idea, although I haven't played with one for any length of time. They make two styles (full size and a smaller version) which include a carbide tip and a seat belt cutter (Seatbelt cutter may only be on the full size, but I'm not 100%). The large is a pretty hefty piece of equipment, but you might like it. I don't know what you do or where you live, but you may be able to even get the auto version.
Hope this helps (forgive all my run ons. I'm a cop for a reason
)Robert
Now for us, we can't afford to take a couple wacks at a window and "hopes it works this time". We have to get in now!! It's called a "fail safe breech". I would assume you would want the same reliablity if you were trying to get out of a burning car or worse, a sinking one.
We have leaned toward the spring operated punches that fire a carbide tip from something that looks like a pen. It doesn't leave the devise, it just hits the glass with a strong enough force to crack it into the little cubes that you've probably seen before. Works well on non-laminated glass and OK on laminated glass. For laminated glass you'd still have to kick out the stuff (ussually comes out as a sheet of broken glass. But you can get out!!
Have you looked at Master of Defense's (MOD) CQB knife. It has the features you mentioned in your post in a knife. Pretty cool idea, although I haven't played with one for any length of time. They make two styles (full size and a smaller version) which include a carbide tip and a seat belt cutter (Seatbelt cutter may only be on the full size, but I'm not 100%). The large is a pretty hefty piece of equipment, but you might like it. I don't know what you do or where you live, but you may be able to even get the auto version.
Hope this helps (forgive all my run ons. I'm a cop for a reason
)Robert
, check out the MOD. It's better to use a tool for what it was designed. Heck, sometimes they don't even work, but your odds are GENERALLY better then the others, Robert.
- Joined
- Feb 3, 1999
- Messages
- 3,180
I my younger days I ruined a Maglight trying to smash a side window on a car.
Since then I have gone to a Carbide tipped center punch, matter of fact, due to a accident where a car drove off into a canal with a woman and child in it, we are issuing everone a center punch. Those of us that are Rescue/Diver certified carry a Pony bottle (small SCUBA) system as well.
Since then I have gone to a Carbide tipped center punch, matter of fact, due to a accident where a car drove off into a canal with a woman and child in it, we are issuing everone a center punch. Those of us that are Rescue/Diver certified carry a Pony bottle (small SCUBA) system as well.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2000
- Messages
- 1,526
Check out www.thefirestore.com they have a res-q-me tool that hangs on your key ring.I believe it has a quick detach feature,the tool has a punch and a belt cutter.Not much bigger than a bic lighter.$10.
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2001
- Messages
- 492
SStrause:
Just as an emergency blade, I carry an older K-bar in an emergency throw bag in our car. It makes for a great utility blade in case you get caught stranded on the roadside in the middle of nowhere.
As far as vehicle window breaking, let me tell you this from personal experince. I've even used the pointed tips of a leatherman to break a car window during the course of a MVC rollover(motor vehicle collision) while on duty, using this method. I learned this from a couple of car theives, of all places. They were using 'spark plugs' as window breaks! Its a positional thing which makes it easier. If you have acces to an old 'junker' try it.
When you break a car window, strike in one of the lower corners of the window, where the window meets the door frame using a "pointed or tipped" object. If you're going to use a knife, don't stab at the glass, hold the point near the corner of the window and strike the butt with another object. I've done it using my hand (with difficulty),a more solid object makes it easier.
Hope that helps.
Just as an emergency blade, I carry an older K-bar in an emergency throw bag in our car. It makes for a great utility blade in case you get caught stranded on the roadside in the middle of nowhere.
As far as vehicle window breaking, let me tell you this from personal experince. I've even used the pointed tips of a leatherman to break a car window during the course of a MVC rollover(motor vehicle collision) while on duty, using this method. I learned this from a couple of car theives, of all places. They were using 'spark plugs' as window breaks! Its a positional thing which makes it easier. If you have acces to an old 'junker' try it.
When you break a car window, strike in one of the lower corners of the window, where the window meets the door frame using a "pointed or tipped" object. If you're going to use a knife, don't stab at the glass, hold the point near the corner of the window and strike the butt with another object. I've done it using my hand (with difficulty),a more solid object makes it easier.
Hope that helps.
RAYE pretty much covered it. Funny how the spark plug thing gets around. Even across Internaional borders. Seems that the porcelin body of the plug doesn't make a lot of noise when it strikes the window making getting in the car less obvious.
SStrause, I just want to add to RAYE's comments about breaking the window at the corners. The importance of this is because the center of the window offers the most flex. Thus, if you strike the center, the blow is both absorbed and distributed thoughout the window and many times the window will not break. If you imagine throwing a rock into a lake, the rippling action would be the force of the impact being spread out from center.
The corners on the other hand are less flexable as RAYE stated. Generally, the bottom corners are used (probably because they are the easiest to get at if the vehicle is upright), but it you are upside down I'd imagine any corner would work.
As for the knife breaking the window, I don't know. But my guess is that yes it will work. In a panic situation, you'd have to be careful not to stab yourself. The point of a blade is not completely symetrical (as it is on a carbide tip), so if the tip of your knife isn't completely square to the surface it may posibly skip off to one side or another. Hopefully it just goes into the door frame if this happens. I've seen a guy stab himself in the leg using an overhead thrust. The guy missed the intended target, hit a hard surface, and the knife skipped off the surface and right into his leg. OOUCH!!
Another thing to consider is that when gaining access from the outside in, it's much easier. When you are the one inside the car flipped upside down with crap in the backseat, now in your lap, it's a lot harder to do even simple tasks. You have to consider, you may be injured, if the force of the impact was strong enough to entrap you in your car. My point is this, considering all these things, you may not be able to take a full swing at a window or even a partial swing to break it. These window breakers (carbide tip variety) don't require you to "hit" the glass. It doesn't hurt to stike the window with a little authority, but you can push the punch into the glass and it will still work. The tip has such a fine point that it easily cracks the window and the tempered nature of the glass takes care of the rest.
Hope this helps. I'm happy to help. Robert
SStrause, I just want to add to RAYE's comments about breaking the window at the corners. The importance of this is because the center of the window offers the most flex. Thus, if you strike the center, the blow is both absorbed and distributed thoughout the window and many times the window will not break. If you imagine throwing a rock into a lake, the rippling action would be the force of the impact being spread out from center.
The corners on the other hand are less flexable as RAYE stated. Generally, the bottom corners are used (probably because they are the easiest to get at if the vehicle is upright), but it you are upside down I'd imagine any corner would work.
As for the knife breaking the window, I don't know. But my guess is that yes it will work. In a panic situation, you'd have to be careful not to stab yourself. The point of a blade is not completely symetrical (as it is on a carbide tip), so if the tip of your knife isn't completely square to the surface it may posibly skip off to one side or another. Hopefully it just goes into the door frame if this happens. I've seen a guy stab himself in the leg using an overhead thrust. The guy missed the intended target, hit a hard surface, and the knife skipped off the surface and right into his leg. OOUCH!!
Another thing to consider is that when gaining access from the outside in, it's much easier. When you are the one inside the car flipped upside down with crap in the backseat, now in your lap, it's a lot harder to do even simple tasks. You have to consider, you may be injured, if the force of the impact was strong enough to entrap you in your car. My point is this, considering all these things, you may not be able to take a full swing at a window or even a partial swing to break it. These window breakers (carbide tip variety) don't require you to "hit" the glass. It doesn't hurt to stike the window with a little authority, but you can push the punch into the glass and it will still work. The tip has such a fine point that it easily cracks the window and the tempered nature of the glass takes care of the rest.
Hope this helps. I'm happy to help. Robert
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2001
- Messages
- 492
Ji:
Thanks for the clinical explanation. I would certainly agree that the "right" tool for the job is always the best alternative. As a matter of fact, I just spoke to an EMT collegue regarding this subject earlier today. He said that their rigs are equipped with 'window-breaks' velcroed to the driver's side door for quick access while attending MVC's. Something to think about for our personal vehicles.
Thanks for the clinical explanation. I would certainly agree that the "right" tool for the job is always the best alternative. As a matter of fact, I just spoke to an EMT collegue regarding this subject earlier today. He said that their rigs are equipped with 'window-breaks' velcroed to the driver's side door for quick access while attending MVC's. Something to think about for our personal vehicles.
This is mainly a piece of mind thing for my girlfriend so the situation explanation will be an inside the car thing. Upside down with one arm points me toward a window punch over a knife. The corner of the glass point of impact of news to me. That piece of informnation alone is probably more useful than a $200 knife. I always assumed that the center would be the best place to hit. Thanks for all the help. I hope nobody got too irrated by this being in the wrong forum but since finding BladeForums I have become an Emerson Junkie.
SStrauss,
Hey Pal, now that you have that great piece of info, I guess you won't be needing that $200.00 knife right? 
In fact, I'll even throw in a $20.00 punch to cover your shipping to me. And if it's an Emerson you send me, no one can say that you weren't in the right Forum 
Wow, what a great deal!!
Seriously, I'm glad you got something from it and I hope you never have to use it. God Bless, Robert
BTW: What did you think of the MOD knives?
Hey Pal, now that you have that great piece of info, I guess you won't be needing that $200.00 knife right?
In fact, I'll even throw in a $20.00 punch to cover your shipping to me. And if it's an Emerson you send me, no one can say that you weren't in the right Forum Wow, what a great deal!!Seriously, I'm glad you got something from it and I hope you never have to use it. God Bless, Robert
BTW: What did you think of the MOD knives?