Pocket Knife for a "kid"

I usually preach against half serrated blades, but for an EMT / firefighter, maybe consider it.

I say get him a Rat, or a Kershaw Link.

Edit to add: Honestly, a Recon 1 is hard to beat for someone in his line of work, as others have suggested.
 
Since you started off with your son's EMT training and his intent to become both and EMT and Fire Fighter, perhaps something work related might be a good choice?

Spyderco makes several quality folding knives designed specially for first responders. The Spyderco Assist and Rescue are both designed for cutting seatbelts and other uses while minimizing the change of cutting the rescue victim. THey are not, perhaps, the best EDC blades, but might see a lot of use in his chosen career.

Assist
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Rescue
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The photos show the knives with orange handles, but I think they are both available in black, too, if he wants something that stands out a little less.
 
If you want to go with Cold Steel, I'd go with the ProLite budget knives in a bright blue handle, which is much less "tactical" than a Code 4 or Recon 1. In his role as an EMT, I feel like a 4" blade would be less useful than something smaller (trying to make a delicate cut with a 4" blade while in a moving vehicle seems like a bad idea). A smaller blade would also go a long way to negating any law enforcement issues. The Ultimate Hunter seems like an okay compromise, but you'll have to convince him that it's okay to beat on a knife that's 10x the price of the one he'd picked out.

Since he'll be working around bodily fluids, it's probably a good idea to have something that won't stain or have any adverse reactions to being cleaned. A Spyderco Salt in LC200N wouldn't be a bad choice in that regard. The Atlantic Salt has a sheepsfoot blade that helps avoid inadvertent stabbings.
 
BJE said:
I wouldn’t worry about any knife looking too tactical in Fl, provided your son is responsible with its use, sounds like he would be. Also, he might be young, but is no longer a kid at 19, and with working with the fire dept, he has a good reason to always have a knife.

Get him the Recon 1, it’s what you want to get him and it’s a very appropriate knife for his line of work.
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I wasn't worried about the appearance while he was ON DUTY. I worry that coming out of Walmart, in civvies, ending up talking to L.E. over some silliness that happens there. But I am worrying less about that. I think as long as he can politely explain it was a gift FROM A COP, they might change their tune a tad.

For example- a colleague's Sergeant wanted to crack down on some local skinheads. He told my colleague to start charging them with the fixed blades they were O.C.'n. Obviously my friend refused, explaining that there actually has to be a LAW against something before he can charge someone BUT keep in mind..... that was a SUPERVISOR. They're out there.

Thank you all very much for the task specific suggestions. I am going to ask him about shears and blunted cutters. See what he says. He (and y'all) no more about the appropriate tools than I do (driving the ambulance has been the extent of my involvement with EMT, FD). I appreciate your insight an plan on linking him this thread.

It will be a while before he is working in EMT or FD, he is currently just their "logistics" guy, runs errands, opens boxes, shit like that. So he might not need any shears yet but I will find out.

The cheapie he showed me had a seat belt cutter and window punch on it. If there was a quality version of that, it might be a good plan.

I gotta be really careful not to buy MY choice instead of what is best for him.

Thanks again
 
Where do you live that you're worried about your son getting in trouble for carrying a tool?

And by the way, I make it a habbit to thank EMT's and Fire fighters for their service. Too often they are taken for granted and forgotten about. My best friend was a paramedic and firefighter. Some of his stories would make your hair curl. And he always had a good attitude.
 
19 year old firefighter. Is he responsible? Xm-18 for sure. Irresponsible? Any other bubble pack locking knife from a big box store.
 
Billy The Hungry said:
Where do you live that you're worried about your son getting in trouble for carrying a tool?

And by the way, I make it a habbit to thank EMT's and Fire fighters for their service. Too often they are taken for granted and forgotten about. My best friend was a paramedic and firefighter. Some of his stories would make your hair curl. And he always had a good attitude.
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Over the course of my career I have met a wide variety of cops. Most are decent guys just trying to keep everyone from hurting each other, while squeaking out a modest living. Some, however, are the stereotypical wimps who got beat up, as kids, and now jump at the chance to reinforce their broken ego. Some are the gung ho "I am the law" types that need to prove they are the alpha. I won't mention particulars but there is a county nearby where the L.E.O.s do NOT inspire confidence and typically fit into those negative categories. That county is also notorious for stealing knives. I honestly believe anyone who has spent time in "the biz" has met these types.

That said, if he doesn't hurry up, answer my texts, tell me he has watched some of the video reviews I recommended, and gi e me some input...... it won't matter because I won't be getting him ANY knife. I will probably get ME a Recon 1 clip point tho lol
 
Yeah, watch the Florida contingent on that show "Live PD" and it doesn't inspire much hope that LEO's are community minded folk.

I get your concern for the knife that would be visible on the boy. Wouldn't surprise me to hear a cop say that a clipped knife was "brandishing". :rolleyes:

And do get yourself a knife for the trouble. :D
 
Lot's of responders carry something cheap enough to not cry over .

Cold Steel with a Tri-ad lock is a great idea , but only the Pro-lite is very inexpensive .

If cost / loss is no concern : AD-10 , Bush Ranger , or Ultimate Hunter .
 
DocJD said:
Lot's of responders carry something cheap enough to not cry over .

Cold Steel with a Tri-ad lock is a great idea , but only the Pro-lite is very inexpensive .

If cost / loss is no concern : AD-10 , Bush Ranger , or Ultimate Hunter .
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YES, this was the idea - inexpensive enough to use without feeling guilty BUT quality enough to use without fear of injury. There is one more variable - HIS experience. I am looking for (i guess I'd say) intermediate knife. Down the road, I'd have no problem buying him a ZT or a Hinderer but for now wanna stay around the 80-120 mark. This rules out the AD10 (mine should be here tomorrow). I figured Cold Steel offers the safety of the Triad lock and a price that won't make me sick if/when he loses it OR throws it in a drawer because he doesn't like carrying it. Kind of easing him into the knife thing.

I am becoming less concerned with appearance. If there is a problem, he can politely explain it was given to him BY a cop who told him it was legal. Hopefully that would get me involved in the situation. Now I just need him to decide if it is too big for him to comfortably edc.
 
I've never had a cop give me any kind of trouble over my knives or guns. I conceal carry, but sometimes do print. I guess the cops here in Florida, Texas and West Virginia just don't give a damn, lol.

You're a good dad. Just buy the boy a Recon 1 in clip or spear point and be done with it.
 
Not saying there aren’t differing levels of hardass in the field. Of course there are. We’re all different people with varying backgrounds, amounts and levels of training, and job/life experience. The vast majority of us are good people just trying to do what’s reasonable and right for the law-abiding citizens in our respective AORs. But, those aren’t necessarily the ones giving us the shining nationwide public perception, are they?

As for myself, if you think I’m going to stake my career or reputation with the court by trumping up charges on someone just to be a jerk over a pocket knife, you got another thing coming. Now, if you give me a lawful reason to need to take your knife from you, that’s gonna happen. It’ll be documented in the report, and your knife will be put into evidence where you can retrieve it in the condition it was received when you’re able to. I personally think this is most cops’ mentality, but, again, those aren’t usually the type of cops that get talked about.

My jurisdiction was largely rural when I was growing up, but it’s getting more and more city-fied every day. There are lots of rural types who remain here who go on about their daily business with a Buck 119, Schrade Sharpfinger, or similar hunting type knife just openly hanging on their belt. We see them all the time, and don’t go “roughing ‘em up” just because they have a knife. Why? Because they’re not doing anything wrong. Yet, as we get more suburbanites and northern transplants moving in, we get calls reporting said rural types at the convenience store “brandishing” a knife and shocking their sensibilities. Why? Because those callers are not used to seeing knives carried where they’re from and they have a little freakout. We check it out, and typically send the scary scary, now inconvenienced, knife carrier on their way, followed by a phone call to the complainant explaining that there’s nothing illegal about the horror they just witnessed.

That said, if you’re trotting around town with a 12” Bowie or a machete stuck in your pants, concealed by your shirt, and someone calls us and you don’t have a CCW...or, you’re in the street swingin’ a sword around... or, cutting/stabbing, or threatening to cut/stab yourself or someone else with your pocket knife...etc... these are definitely things that are going to garner our attention.
 
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