Newbie here with a question...

D

Dart368

Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
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Hey everyone. My name is Rick and I am new to the forum. I have been in law enforcement for over 10 years now and am not really a total knife freak but would like to gain knowledge, especially if I am going to carry one. Okay, on to my question:

I recently have been accepted into our department's SWAT team and in the orientation we attended, our LT. suggested we purchase a fixed blade knife for multi-purpose use such as prying things, cutting things and of course as a last result self defense item. I don't really want to spend over $100 including the sheath but I do not want to get something that is a cheap peice of crap that will bend or break on it's first operation.

Being the newbie that I am, I was thinking of something in all black that sort of looks cool (I hope I didn't make too many people cringe with that last part...rolling your eyes is okay) and something with a plastic sheath that will fit on my 2" nylon belt or drop leg holster.

Help a newbie out, thanks in advanced and I am glad to be here.
 
Benchmade Nimravus, all black, looks very tac-ish, regular models can be had for $100 online or for $107, you can get the same model in M2 steel. Comes with a Tek-lok sheath.

BM140%5Bmedium%5D.jpg


From gpknives.com. :thumbup:
 
Welcome to Bladeforums, Rick, and congratulations on your new assignment. :)

I think it's great that your Lt. recognizes the utility of a good fixed blade. You will hear a lot about many strong folders, but they are inherently weaker.

We've got a lot of law enforcement and emergency services people here, so I will let them recommend specific knives they've found useful. I assure you, you will be able to find some well within your budget.

One way to keep cost down and performance up is to look for high carbon steel rather than the more exotic stainless steels. Unless you work in a really humid or ocean environment, carbon steels are not that hard to maintain -- and that black coating will also help protect them from rust.
 
I can highly recommend the Ontario RAT-3. D-2 steel (semi-stainless, outstanding edge holding, tough), comfortable handle, and a good kydex sheath with Tek-Lok (affords multiple carry options, and can be had in several colors), all for less than $75. The Nimravus is a good choice, but being in law enforcement for the past 11 years myself, the RAT-3 beats it hands-down for everyday versatility and usefulness. They also offer the RAT-7 if you're looking for something a little larger. D-2 is just great steel for hard use knives, and requires little maintenance. A maker once said that D-2 takes a lousy edge and holds it forever. I don't know about the lousy edge, although it's an aggressive steel, but it does like to hold onto it. The RAT-3 is just a great bargain, IMO. I carry one on my duty belt every day, and couldn't be more pleased with it.
 
Thanks for the quick reply to all. I forgot to mention that I wanted the sheath to have some sort of retention to it and I am glad you guys made mention of it with those models.
 
Get a cold steel SRK. Very durable Carbon V steel. Nice Concealex Sheeth. Full Tang blade. Very nice looking blade. Retail $90, you can get them here:

http://store.tradingpostsupply.com/yhst-12630110006743/38ck.html

That's where I bought mine. Very good company to deal with.

BTW, a lot of Special Forces use this knife, along with a lot of soldiers over in Iraq. -Andrew

Sheeth looks similiar to that of the benchmade listed above, except looks better IMO.

Check out the knife with it's sheeth here: http://www.coldsteel.com/38ck.html
 
First recommended the kabar, not sure you should go that route. Most of there blades don't have a full tang, and would probably break if you used them to pry stuff.
 
Hi Rick, and welcome to BFC, and congrats on being accepted into SWAT!

As a SWAT officer you will most likely be equipped with all kinds of assault rifles and sidearms. The knife you carry will be used more as a tool than as a weapon. In this case I might suggest this:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CMBK3

by Becker Knife and Tool. It doesn't have a little pointy tip that will most likely get bent if you try prying with it, and best of all,it's in all black. :D

Seriously, I would have also suggested the Benchmade Nimravus, but I consider that more of a true cutting tool, but not for prying.
 
Camillus makes a knife called the CQB Knife center has the 1095 version for $69.95

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CMCQB3S

I am not wild about the sheath on this knife though. The knife is excellent A few months ago an internet retailer had this knife for $29.99, A bunch of people here, including myself, bought one.

Cold steel SRK is also a good knife Smoky mountain knife works ( www.eknifeworks.com ) Has it for around $70 You can probably find it in the $50 to $60 range on ebay

Cold steel also makes a knife based on the Randall #1-7 They sell carbon steel version with a Kraton handle for around $70

Ontario spec plus knives are pretty tough They make a Tanto with a 1/4" thick 12" blade that is solid as a rock 1095 steel for around $50 I wouldn't hesitate to pry with it. They have other knives in this line also.

Others mentioned Becker. They have an excelent product in the $80 range. Some don't like the handle and find it too bulky. I'm one of them, I have big hands but short fingers. I do like the style and feel of the Becker blades though.
 
Thanks for all of the input. It really helps a lot. And thanks for the congratulations on my SWAT assignment. I have heard a lot of good things about the "RAT" knives, mostly on this forum and another tactical forum. I have heard to stay away from the KRATON G handles as they are not very durable but I like the look/price of the KABAR's. What makes the "RAT" knives so good?
 
I have no experience with Kraton handles, but I don't like the idea of any molded-on handle for a hard-use knife. The last thing you want is for the handle material to slip around the reduced tang inside it. I'm not saying any particular knife will have this problem, but I would not want to have that worry at the back of my mind, in a high-stress situation. Call be a worry-wort, or a perfectionist; I don't care!

I'd rather have a handle that is bolted on, right through the handle tang, and with the tang edges exposed. Then I can SEE that the handle slabs are securely fastened to the tang.

You can see examples of this type of construction in the Ontario RAT-3 and the Beckers.

The other thought I had was to keep the knife as short as possible, but still be practical for the tasks, because you will have enough other gear as it is, cluttering up your uniform. With its short blade, the Ontario RAT-3 looks good to me.

Congrats on your promotion, and take care of yourself,
Pocketknife
 
Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on your new asignment. The knifesnob in me would get a CRK or a Busse. I suspect you'll get one of those for yourself eventually, since you've been infected by the knife virus ;)
Bus speaking of tight budget, I'd recommend a Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto (the fixed blade, as they also have a folding version). It is lightweight, affordable and has a tanto blade with a strong tip (hamaguri or appleseed), which makes it ideal for piercing.
FB03.jpg
 
I've got no idea on what a SWAT guy really needs out of his knife, I just thought I'd throw in some smaller knives to consider, like a HAK, a SPOT, a KISS, etc.

Very light weight.

Of course, if I had a free ticket to EDC my khukuri, I'd probably at least try it. I mean, you know it's tough enough, and I'd be pretty dang intimidated of a guy who is hardcore enough to bring such an evil looking big knife with him in addition to a submachine gun. Heck, if I could carry it, I'd go ahead and grab a katana.

I stick to really small practical knives (3 inches and less in general) in real life--but man, if I lived on a deserted island, I'm going to be carrying some really neat-o stuff.
 
The Buck Nighthawk and Short Nighthawk are good for the money.

I really like my KA-BAR USMC Fighting knife.
 
I second the Becker Tac Tool. It would come in handy if you need to pry a door or window without the risk of breaking the tip. It's solid, well built, and will stand up to pretty much anything. And the price is right.

bk3.jpg


The knife was designed by a cop, btw.

CM BK3 Becker Knife & Tool TACTOOL™
With the introduction of the BK&T TACTOOL, there is finally a tool-knife designed for the needs of the Tactical Officer. The TACTOOL was developed in close consultation with John Benner, 20-year field commander of the Hamilton County Ohio Police Association SWAT Team, and President and Chief Instructor of the Tactical Defense Institute.
TACTOOL's smash, bach, pry, hammer and cut. When you leave the battering ram at the door, TACTOOL gives you a fistful of handy power. You can lift stubborn hinge pins, pry open doors and windows, quickly cut "550 cord", hammer glass out of the way, or use it a knife. The blade is finished with a durable reinforced epoxy coat. The sheath is ambidextrous and is compatible with most tactical belts and LBE systems.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
12-1/2" overall length
7" length blade
.230" blade thickness
Weight: 18.6 oz
All Feature: devastating cutting power – proven in the world’s most challenging environments.
Each flat ground blade features an incredibly sharp blade and the most comfortable hard-use knife handle in the world.
Exclusive high carbon steel (0170-6C)
58-59 RC blade hardness
Black epoxy coating
Becker trademark GV6H ergonomic handles
Proudly made in the U.S.A.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Rick, Congrads on your entry in to SWAT and hope you are always safe. I too would go with the Benchmade Nimravus. You can get it in tanto blade too for some heavy duty sticking.....paul
 
The Emerson Police-Utility knife (PUK) was designed precisely with the SRT application in mind. They can be had for around $120. I'd be hesitant to recommend a heavy fixed blade like the Becker, cops already hump a ton of gear and weight you don't need just makes you slow. Keep one in the cruiser.

The BM Nimravus is a first rate slicer, thin and lightweight, with a utilitarian sheath. Not really a "utility" knife, but a great back-up fighter and general cutting tool.

No worries with the Swamp Rat Howling Rat or Bandicoot grips. Either would make a tremendous compact, heavy duty fixed blade, although the sheaths suck. Custom teklok equipped kydex is easy enough to find though, and the knives are good enough to put up with finding the right sheath.

Finally, the Al Mar SERE Operator is a first rate, compact S30V fixed blade with a great sheath, around $130.

Any of the above will serve you well.
 
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