New knife for Paramedic...

R

RipD

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Dec 10, 2014
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No rescue knives or multi-tools. Just a folder. Has to be pocketable, but can be larger than EDC since it's on-the-job and in cargo pants.

She has a Kershaw Funxion I got her before I knew better. All she's ever used is the blade. She does't need the partial serrations. Took her to Benchmade for an upgrade. She got a Volli. Fits her hand better, obviously better steel.

It's much better than her Kershaw. But she's been having issues with the lock release. It went back to Benchmade to get fixed. And while she likes it, it's still not the perfect knife for her.

She needs:
  • Simple to use folder. No fiddly stuff. Has to come out and open easily with gloves
  • She would prefer assist, manual may ok. Probably a flipper (gloves)
  • Blade: Non serrated blade, good steel, coated
  • Her other knives are a good indicator
  • Lock: I'm thinking liner - fewer parts to fail
  • Production knife - something we can get fixed and/or parts for
  • Price: < $200. But I'm open to more for the right knife
Given this, any thoughts? I wish she could go into another showroom and try everything they have. Not too many options for that. I think ZT has some knives she'd like. I would prefer US made. She's less concerned about COO, provided we can get parts.
 
My duty knife is Benchmade Auto Presidio. Have carried it every shift since I've been Paramedic except twice.

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Others I've noticed others carrying or that I've personally given to coworkers that are more in line with her stated tastes: Ontario Rat 1, Kershaw Blur, Kershaw Blackout, Kershaw Cryo, Benchmade Griptilian.

If in your shoes, I'd probably try the Benchmade Barrage or Mini-Barrage.


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I'm looking at the Freeman line of flippers. Hear good things about them. Choice of 2 blade steels.
Around $225 retail.

 
I carried a Benchmade Triage for several years while working as a mechanic and loved it. It's extremely glove friendly, I don't think there's any lock that can match AXIS for ease of use with gloves on, and that applies to opening as well as closing since you can do the "AXIS flick." It's extremely corrosion resistant and easy to clean, and the hook is very useful but doesn't get in the way when you don't need it.

If she really wants AO, the ZT0566 springs to mind. It's assisted, it's a flipper, it's designed by a guy who's closely associated with EMS, and a framelock is much more glove-friendly than a liner lock.
 
That was fast! Thanks for all the replies.

She had a serrated blade. Doesn't want one. I can argue, but she does the job and had partial serrations. She's been to Benchmade and tried everything that seemed like it might work. Outside her Volli nothing else there was a keeper. Griptillian seems like a no brainer to me, but it's going in her hand, not mine.

Will check out some of these options. Thanks.

Max Archer said:
...and a framelock is much more glove-friendly than a liner lock.
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Yeah. Wasn't thinking. Liner is simpler but nearly impossible with gloves. Good catch.
 
Ok if Benchmade is completely out, then my suggestion would be Kershaw Blur in S30V. Medical gloves are a non-factor in opening and closing a knife.


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Hmmm... I dont understand the "no serrated" stance. I worked EMS for several years and a full serrated Delica was perfect for cutting clothes, belts, straps, etc. And, the lockback is easy to use with any type of gloves on. The Salt1 or Atlantic Salt would be my choice today due to its corrosion resistance with chemicals, blood and other fluids. But... they also make these in plain edge. &#128077;

Another option is a Cold Steel American Lawman.
Great size, coated, plain edge, easy to use lockback. Good grippy G-10 knife.
 
For the price (~$96 USD), i believe the upgraded American Lawman is the best folder around.

CTS-XHP American Lawman Triad lock $96 USD

I am not a Cold Steel fan boy - simply a user who requires his gear to work in challenging situations and I have ZERO tolerance for failure. I will "call out" loud and clear ANY short comings an item has - particularly an item depended on.

I have the original version of the American Lawman and it has been absolutely flawless. The only critiques i would assess (being OVERLY NIT PICKY) are blade material and size for a pocket. The latter is addressed by using the pocket clip which keeps the knife clipped to the top of the pocket seam and locked in place so it remains along the seam in the pants. The former critique is remedied with the new CTS-XHP blade material available (I would have preferred Cold Steel incorporate Elmax, but I suspect the CTS-XHP had a more palatable price tag).

Previously, the blade material available was quite satisfactory. It takes a very sharp edge and holds it fairly well, but not as long as i'd prefer. However, with the knife now available in CTS-XHP (i suspect it is a higher grade steel than the one i have though i have not personally verified this) i believe the new version is superior to my older one.

The Triad lock is unbeatable. It has no competitors - no other folder lock mechanism works as well. I have tried several types (Spyderco, Buck, Benchmade) and found them to fail under duress while the Cold Steel Triad lock did not fail.

So, there ya go - my opinion of the best folder for a "working knife" within your price range.

ETA: Serrated blades suck ballz for everything except cutting rope. Anyone who tells you different is not or has never worked in emergency situations (my time spent as a LEO taught me that...).
 
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Have you looked at any of the ZT models????? They have both flippers and A.O.
 
What about an auto? Benchmade and Protech make awesome, reliable autos. Take a look at the AFO II or CLA from BM or a TR-3 from Protech.

Some other suggestions: Kershaw Knockout, Camber, Blur (already mentioned), BM Auto Triage, BM Barrage/Mini Barrage
 
NDJeep said:
Hmmm... I dont understand the "no serrated" stance. I worked EMS for several years and a full serrated Delica was perfect for cutting clothes, belts, straps, etc.
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To be honest, neither do I. I can try talking to her about it again, but she wants what she wants. Thanks for the suggestions. Will take a look.

And thanks to the rest - great suggestions from you guys. fmajor007 , thanks for the details and thanks for what you do (or did). The wife may be heading to LE in a year or two when she finishes school. (The money says nurse practitioner or PA. Her spirit says LE.)
 
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At least half serrated IMHO. When I was in law enforcement, that's what I carried.
Way easier for fibrous material like seat belts.
 
Get her the new Spyderco Para 3! It rhymes with Paramedic, or PM2. Both are glove friendly


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I have found the axis lock to work well with gloves . If she has been having trouble with the axis lock the best bet is a lockback . I would suggest either the spyderco delica or endura , they are easy to open and close and pretty well a muscle memory thing to close after a few days carry. The suggested cold steel american lawman is also a good choice but can be quite stiff at first.
 
RipD said:
To be honest, neither do I. I can try talking to her about it again, but she wants what she wants. Thanks for the suggestions. Will take a look.

And thanks to the rest - great suggestions from you guys. fmajor007 , thanks for the details and thanks for what you do (or did). The wife may be heading to LE in a year or two when she finishes school. (The money says nurse practitioner or PA. Her spirit says LE.)
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Yeh - i hear ya about the $$$....but if the hearts not in.... the extra bucks in difference won't make up for the "i wonder...." questions and sense of loss.

SoCalEDC said:
At least half serrated IMHO. When I was in law enforcement, that's what I carried.
Way easier for fibrous material like seat belts.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Thanks for holding the line.

I saw a lot of guys-n-gals use the serrated blades. In fact, i started out with a Spydie Delica serrated (it was wicked sharp - still is!).

However, i noticed the old salts all carried non-serrated. So i asked 'em why. Responses were pretty much the same... a truly sharp normal edge will cut just as well (if not better) and will never get snagged "on the way in" by miscellaneous stuff - making it sort of faster to get to what needs to be cut. So, i went back to a normal edged lock-blade knife that i kept hair-popping sharp and never had another snag (the initial reason for noticing and asking about others' knives).

The American Lawman would have been "a more better" knife than what i used (a Buck of some model - smaller than a 110, OD green w/finger grooves - still have it).

JMHO and experience....
 
I always recommend the Triage to Paramedics. Since that sounds like it is not the right choice I would seriously consider a ZT0350. While a lot of people do not like recurved blades we have several local Paramedics that frequent our shop and swear by it as the perfect knife for their job. Besides that it fits all the other parameters you have included.
 
Yeah the hose-draggers and band-aid brigade folks had different needs/uses than we did.....

IIRC the fancy curved shears were in the back pocket of about every EMT/Para i ever saw. I didn't really check out the back pockets of the hose-draggers cause they were all guys.... but there were some awfully nice lookin' lady EMT/Paras though!!!
 
I just got a Microtech LUDT that I am very impressed with.

Also the Benchmade Griptilian, mini or regular size. You can get one, choose the steel and everything at the custom configuration website, for about 150-160. Great knives. I got a mini in M4 for 155, works great!
 
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