Nsar

J

JJR512

Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
176
I'm very interested in the NSAR. I know the common information on it, like how it came to be, and that it's available only to Navy SAR personnel.

I would very much like to get one. I'm not in the Navy, but I feel the design of the knife is very suitable for more than just Navy SAR. I'm an EMT and can see the potential of a knife like this getting a lot of use in EMS as well as in SAR.

I know they occasionally, but rarely, come up on eBay and other places.

I have a few specific questions, information that I haven't been able to find on google. If anyone can help with this info, I'd greatly appreciate it.

1. Is the NSAR still made, and still available to order by Navy SAR personnel?
2. When someone in the Navy wants one, does he pay for it himself, or is it paid for by the Navy?
3. When someone in the Navy receives one after ordering one, does he legally own it, or is it legally property of the Navy?
4. Is it against any law or Navy rule or regulation for a Navy member who acquired one properly to sell or give it to someone else? In other words, if someone in the Navy got an NSAR properly, would he get in any trouble if he sold it to me?
5. When ordered properly, what is the actual cost of an NSAR?
6. What is the actual procedure for someone in the Navy to get one? I know the NSN is 4220-01-617-4266.
 
1) As far as I know, it's no longer made. Military personnel don't just order NSN equipment, the supply officer of the specific unit does it for everyone.
2) The Navy would be paying for it
3) It is the property of the U.S. Government
4) In all reality, it would be illegal for him to sell it to you if it was purchased with US Government money. You both could be charged if they wanted to push the issue. That said, they probably wouldn't pursue it.
5) I dont know
6) As I said before, the supply officer of a unit would order it for that specific unit. An individual military member can't order NSN equipment for themselves.
 
La_Maleta_Azul said:
FYI one is for sale on AZCK
Click to expand...

Thank you... I'm looking at that, and also looking into another source.

I see the one on AZCK is a plain blade, and on Google I've also seen that there's a partially serrated version. In fact, the NSN description is for a partially-serrated blade, so I don't know if the plain blade has a different NSN, or what the story is.

But I was also wondering which type of blade would be best for this particular knife. Remember, the blade is intended to slice through clothing. My feeling is that serrations are good on a general purpose blade, but this isn't a general purpose blade, this is a specialized purpose blade. And my thinking is that if one is holding the knife, edge up, between skin and clothes, and pushing or pulling the knife through the fabric, then the fabric might get hung up in the fabric. I'm sure with enough force you can just rip on through, but it seems to me like it wouldn't be as smooth or easy. The plain blade, on the other hand, should just slice on through the fabric.

Does that make any sense? Do you think I'm right or wrong here?

For when serrations are actually needed, a user would probably have another knife with a combo blade...
 
I'm a firefighter/EMT. I've been doing the job a little while and I've never used any knife in the manner you are suggesting. The best way to cut off a patients clothes is with trauma shears. In fact, I literally did it this afternoon while the ambulance was bouncing around on the way to the hospital. Even with the design of the NSAR and other rescue type blades, I never want to put a blade like that near a patient.

I'm not the be all end all expert, I suppose if you want to use a knife in that way on the job and it works for you then I say go for it.

As far as the serrated/underrated NSN numbers. IF the US Government has a contract for both versions the NSN's will be different. In many cases though, they usually only purchase black or tan coated serrated versions of knives. There are exceptions however, like the Strider NSN SMF.
 
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JJR512 said:
Thank you... I'm looking at that, and also looking into another source.

I see the one on AZCK is a plain blade, and on Google I've also seen that there's a partially serrated version. In fact, the NSN description is for a partially-serrated blade, so I don't know if the plain blade has a different NSN, or what the story is.

But I was also wondering which type of blade would be best for this particular knife. Remember, the blade is intended to slice through clothing. My feeling is that serrations are good on a general purpose blade, but this isn't a general purpose blade, this is a specialized purpose blade. And my thinking is that if one is holding the knife, edge up, between skin and clothes, and pushing or pulling the knife through the fabric, then the fabric might get hung up in the fabric. I'm sure with enough force you can just rip on through, but it seems to me like it wouldn't be as smooth or easy. The plain blade, on the other hand, should just slice on through the fabric.

Does that make any sense? Do you think I'm right or wrong here?

For when serrations are actually needed, a user would probably have another knife with a combo blade...
Click to expand...

You can send it in to EKI. And they can add serrations. Just FYI.
 
Silvanus said:
I'm a firefighter/EMT. I've been doing the job a little while and I've never used any knife in the manner you are suggesting. The best way to cut off a patients clothes is with trauma shears. In fact, I literally did it this afternoon while the ambulance was bouncing around on the way to the hospital. Even with the design of the NSAR and other rescue type blades, I never want to put a blade like that near a patient.

I'm not the be all end all expert, I suppose if you want to use a knife in that way on the job and it works for you then I say go for it.

As far as the serrated/underrated NSN numbers. IF the US Government has a contract for both versions the NSN's will be different. In many cases though, they usually only purchase black or tan coated serrated versions of knives. There are exceptions however, like the Strider NSN SMF.
Click to expand...

I normally use trauma shears, too, or more lately, my Leatherman Raptor. I've seen others use a knife for clothes, and keep in mind, it's with the edge facing away from the skin. With the blunt tip, the worst a sudden motion would cause is the back (spine) of the blade, or blunt tip, being pressed into the patient's skin. That would be the same as the bottom edge of trauma shears being pressed into the skin. I assume the NSAR has probably been used on helicopters, which can be every bit as bumpy as a ground ambulance.

Stay safe out there...
 
Yes, but the cutter carved into the blade of the NSAR is useful, too. For the same reasons in civilian EMS/rescue as in the military.
 
JJR512 said:
What I'm trying to figure out in what you quoted from me is whether or not I'd want serrations on this type of knife...
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Trying to save you pocket space by combining your desired rescue knife. I carry the SARK with the combo blade. Have used it in the field as first responder for seat belts and clothing. No issues when rapidly cutting shirts or jeans with the serrations. But if you are the type of guy that wants to carry two knives for two very similar tasks that's up to you. I was simply offering the option. I should have reinforced it with opinion to help.
 
Thank you, I do appreciate your input. And it's good to know that the serrations would not cause a problem in ripping clothes off.
 
Silvanus said:
1) As far as I know, it's no longer made. Military personnel don't just order NSN equipment, the supply officer of the specific unit does it for everyone.
2) The Navy would be paying for it
3) It is the property of the U.S. Government
4) In all reality, it would be illegal for him to sell it to you if it was purchased with US Government money. You both could be charged if they wanted to push the issue. That said, they probably wouldn't pursue it.
5) I dont know
6) As I said before, the supply officer of a unit would order it for that specific unit. An individual military member can't order NSN equipment for themselves.
Click to expand...

Tons of gear bought with taxpayer dollars makes it into civilian hands, often sold on gun forums and the like. Mags, AR accessories, sights, Surefires/lights, etc... I've seen plenty of issued Benchmade knives getting sold as well.

The government does care when it's high-tech stuff like optics/IR devices though.
 
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