- Joined
- Nov 17, 2006
- Messages
- 595
Hello All,
About a month ago, I received a Boker Plus RESCOM (Yes, Chad's excellent design) from a good friend
. I've been wanting to write a review over the RESCOM for quite some time now, but I just haven't had the chance. Now is the time.
First off, take it from me, this little thing is nothing short of amazing. For any of you who own a SUBCOM, and have been thinking about picking up a RESCOM to keep in the car, your jacket, or backpack, etc, do it. It is well worth the money you will spend. The RESCOM is almost exactly like the SUBCOM, except it is designed to prevent you from stabbing yourself or a patient while performing your cutting task. It must weigh almost the same, so if you are used to carrying/ using the SUBCOM, the RESCOM will fit you perfectly.
The Blade
The RESCOM sports an AUS 8 blade (just like the SUBCOM). Unlike the SUBCOM, the RESCOM's blade is not pointed, and features a blunt, flat "tip." This tip is, of course, a razor-sharp hook on the underside. The non-hook part of the blade features a serrated edge, which is great for any emergency related cutting chores that the hook can't fit its mouth around. This serrated edge is probably three quarters of an inch from the lower edge of the hook, so there is a large crevice to fit your desired cutting material into, which keeps your fingers safe and out of harms way. Did I mention the RESCOM is sharp?
It's sharp. Ask the 4 seatbelts and loads of kernmantle, paracord, wire, zipties, and other random objects that have been severed!
The blunt edge is a great addition when working in the emergency setting. It keeps the patient safe, if you are using the tool around people, and in case you accidentally let the blade slip, you're not going to stab yourself or anyone else. In my line of work, time can be an issue at certain points. If I'm using my EMT shears, I'll drop them as soon as I'm done cutting whatever I'm cutting. Another great thing about the blunt edge is that if you drop the RESCOM, you don't need to worry about stabbing yourself in the foot or having a sharp, pointed object laying around on the ground. Sure, it still has a sharp edge inside, and I will close and pocket it whenever I can, but at least there is not a pointed edge laying about.
Chad will probably cringe when he hears this, but that blunt tip isn't only good for safety issues. It also makes an excellent flat-head screwdriver. Generally, I won't use a knife as anything except a knife (ie, not a screwdriver or prybar), but when you're at an accident or a fire, you really don't care about taking care of your knife, and you use what you can to get the job done. I carry a Leatherman with me, but the flat edge of the RESCOM works just as well. I wouldn't advise this as an everyday habit, but it works. I have forced only minimal blade play upon my RESCOM from doing this.
Spyderco is my main brand because I just love that darned Spyder hole so much, but Daywalker's RESCOM does have a very nice ambidextrous half-moon thumb stud. It is much easier on the thumb than any other thumb stud I have used. It works best to press them open, and not by flicking them. There is very aggresive jimping on both the spine of the blade as well as the spine of the handle, which definately improves handling when not wearing gloves.
Lock-up
The RESCOM locks up extremely solid out of the box. Not a hair of blade play in any direction. In all honesty, I find that amazing. I have had $100 knives with blade play in them, yet a $40 RESCOM and SUBCOM have NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. No blade play out of the box. The frame lock is an excellent design - it is on the underside of the handle (think of the Karambit) rather than the top (like the ATR has). Over the past month or so of use, the lock has never failed me, and the blade has remained extremely stable. I don't forsee this lock failing me anytime soon, and the only blade play the RESCOM has is extremely minimal, and I caused that myself by using the blade as a screwdriver .
My only qualms with the lock is that it is near impossible to operate when wearing gloves. I don't mean regular old driving gloves or thin snow gloves, but heavy-duty fire gloves. Our gloves are very thick to begin with, and dexterity is next to nill after they've been soaked with water and hardened with sweat, grime, dirt, and ash over a 100 times. The RESCOM can be easily opened with fire gloves on, but only two-handed. This isn't a big deal though, because with heavy fire gloves, almost any knife must be opened with two hands. The RESCOM cannot be closed quickly while wearing fire gloves. I'll either drop it and close it when I'm finished and I can take my gloves off, or I'll slide it in one of my giant cargo pockets on my bunker pants while it's still open. Really not a deal breaker, because like I said, there are very few knives I can open and close easily with fire gloves on. My crew and I played around with it a lot while wearing our fire gloves, but it is very hard to close, simply due to the fact that our thick, hardened fire gloves just don't have that much dexterity. Wearing Ringers gloves, or other rescue-specific gloves that have more dexterity, it can be easily opened and closed one-handed.
Without fire gloves, it is a whole different story. Smooth opening and closing. The lock is great and is very easy to use while wearing only rubber EMS gloves, or while using with no gloves at all.
Handle
The handle is FRN (familiar to us all). It is FRN on one side, and stainless (I think) on the other. It allows for a firm grip, yet is not so big that it weighs you down. Holding the RESCOM was awkward at first, because I didn't get my SUBCOM until at the same time, so it took a minute to get used to, but that was all. After a few minutes of toying with it, it became an extension of the hand. The handle is grippy enough to maintain a good hold on the knife, even when it is wet, yet not so grippy that it takes a layer of skin when you put it away or pull it out. The pocket clip is durable, and can be mounted right-hand tip-up or tip-down. It keeps the RESCOM where you put it, enough said! There is aggressive jimping on all three sides of the handle, and it really does a lot for grip and maneuverability (is that a word?).
Overall
The RESCOM is a mini-beast! I have more than used this rescue hook, I have abused it. It has stood up to everything, and is no worse for the wear. I recommend the RESCOM to any Fire/ Rescue personnel, EMT/ MICT's, LEO's, Military, and also to every other citizen out there. The RESCOM works, tried and true, and it is very affordable. It is an excellent tool to have with you in any situation.
What I'd Like To See
I would really like to see the RESCOM with a Yellow or Orange handle, for high visibility. Somebody posted a link to a RESCOM that had been modified on the Spyderco.com forums, and it even had glow-in-the-dark strips applied to the handle, which I thought was very cool. A high visibility handle, possibly one that can even be easily found in the dark, would be a very good modification. A lot of our gear, like our helmets and bunkers, have reflective striping that will glow after light has hit it, and I think that would be great on the RESCOM.
Another thing that I would like to see is possibly a fixed blade RESCOM (like the SUBCOM FB) with a simple easy-access nylon or kydex sheath. It would eliminate the need to open and close the knife, and wouldn't have any moving parts to get messed up.
However, these are major modifications (changing the handle and going from folder to fixed), and of course, the market would need to be there and demand would need to be high, so I don't know how feasible these changes would actually be. I think they would be good improvements for emergency services crews, but those numbers are limited, so I guess only time will tell if we will see another version of the RESCOM.
On Duty Use
I carried my RESCOM everday I was on duty for about three and a half weeks, and then I passed it around for other crews to use for about a week.
The clip on the RESCOM is perfect. It extends almost the entire length of the folder, and is very secure. I carry mine clipped to the inside of my right cargo pocket on my bunker pants, and never had any problems with it falling out or shifting even with all of the crawling, dragging, and carrying that I do. I had the chance to use my RESCOM several times in the field. I was able to cut a few seatbelts with it, which it went through like butter, and cut a lot of other smaller items as well. I can't really recall how fast or how pretty the cuts on the seatbelts were, because when you're on a 48 pin or an injury accident, your adrenaline is pumping and you're just trying to do your job as best and as quick as you can. I know the RESCOM cut through the seatbelts pretty quick, but I'm sure I used a lot of force due to the nature of the moment (well, enough force to get the seatbelt cut, but not so much force to move or further injure the patient). The blade on the RESCOM never got any second looks from patients or from PD. It seems like a very friendly NKP knife. I'm sure the blunt tip is what accomplishes that.
I played around a lot with my RESCOM, too. I cut through a lot of old training ropes, just to see how the RESCOM would handle it, as well as several other small objects including zipties and even small wire. I used the blunt tip as a screwdriver on more than one occasion, and it only just slightly loosened up the blade.
My crew was pretty fond of the RESCOM. After about three weeks of carrying the RESCOM, I let other members of my crew and other crews carry it. The general consensus was very positive. My shift, as well as the others, stated the same things I have stated above. They said it was a solid rescue hook, had a friendly appeal to it, and above all else, performed flawlessly. The only things that didn't appeal to them were the cost and the fact that it is hard to close while wearing fire gloves.
To us knife nuts, $40 is nothing. Actually, you can find the RESCOM for around $30 at several places. I don't mind spending $100 on a Spyderco, but to some of my crew members, that thought is just plain ridiculous. You've got to remember though, some of these guys have three kids and a wife and only make around $30,000 a year. So to them, $30 for a knife is high. The issue about not being able to close the RESCOM with fire gloves on isn't so much of a big deal, because it is very hard for us to close almost any knife with those gloves on. I just drop mine in my bunker pocket open, because it won't stab me with the blunt tip, and my bunker pants are thick and heavy enough that it won't cut through them. Most of the time, when we are running medical calls or car accidents that don't require heavy rescue, we only have on EMS gloves anyway, so closing the RESCOM is no problem.
The RESCOM is light weight, doesn't add to already heavy bunker gear, duty belts, etc, so it is no problem to add to your gear. It is tough and stands up to most anything you put in its mouth, and it is sharp enough to keep going after you've used and abused it. If you don't have a RESCOM, buy one. You won't be disappointed.
Buy a RESCOM.
Many thanks to Chad for letting me test his product. Mahalo Daywalker.
Take care,
FF880
About a month ago, I received a Boker Plus RESCOM (Yes, Chad's excellent design) from a good friend
. I've been wanting to write a review over the RESCOM for quite some time now, but I just haven't had the chance. Now is the time.First off, take it from me, this little thing is nothing short of amazing. For any of you who own a SUBCOM, and have been thinking about picking up a RESCOM to keep in the car, your jacket, or backpack, etc, do it. It is well worth the money you will spend. The RESCOM is almost exactly like the SUBCOM, except it is designed to prevent you from stabbing yourself or a patient while performing your cutting task. It must weigh almost the same, so if you are used to carrying/ using the SUBCOM, the RESCOM will fit you perfectly.
The Blade
The RESCOM sports an AUS 8 blade (just like the SUBCOM). Unlike the SUBCOM, the RESCOM's blade is not pointed, and features a blunt, flat "tip." This tip is, of course, a razor-sharp hook on the underside. The non-hook part of the blade features a serrated edge, which is great for any emergency related cutting chores that the hook can't fit its mouth around. This serrated edge is probably three quarters of an inch from the lower edge of the hook, so there is a large crevice to fit your desired cutting material into, which keeps your fingers safe and out of harms way. Did I mention the RESCOM is sharp?
It's sharp. Ask the 4 seatbelts and loads of kernmantle, paracord, wire, zipties, and other random objects that have been severed!The blunt edge is a great addition when working in the emergency setting. It keeps the patient safe, if you are using the tool around people, and in case you accidentally let the blade slip, you're not going to stab yourself or anyone else. In my line of work, time can be an issue at certain points. If I'm using my EMT shears, I'll drop them as soon as I'm done cutting whatever I'm cutting. Another great thing about the blunt edge is that if you drop the RESCOM, you don't need to worry about stabbing yourself in the foot or having a sharp, pointed object laying around on the ground. Sure, it still has a sharp edge inside, and I will close and pocket it whenever I can, but at least there is not a pointed edge laying about.
Chad will probably cringe when he hears this, but that blunt tip isn't only good for safety issues. It also makes an excellent flat-head screwdriver. Generally, I won't use a knife as anything except a knife (ie, not a screwdriver or prybar), but when you're at an accident or a fire, you really don't care about taking care of your knife, and you use what you can to get the job done. I carry a Leatherman with me, but the flat edge of the RESCOM works just as well. I wouldn't advise this as an everyday habit, but it works. I have forced only minimal blade play upon my RESCOM from doing this.
Spyderco is my main brand because I just love that darned Spyder hole so much, but Daywalker's RESCOM does have a very nice ambidextrous half-moon thumb stud. It is much easier on the thumb than any other thumb stud I have used. It works best to press them open, and not by flicking them. There is very aggresive jimping on both the spine of the blade as well as the spine of the handle, which definately improves handling when not wearing gloves.
Lock-up
The RESCOM locks up extremely solid out of the box. Not a hair of blade play in any direction. In all honesty, I find that amazing. I have had $100 knives with blade play in them, yet a $40 RESCOM and SUBCOM have NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. No blade play out of the box. The frame lock is an excellent design - it is on the underside of the handle (think of the Karambit) rather than the top (like the ATR has). Over the past month or so of use, the lock has never failed me, and the blade has remained extremely stable. I don't forsee this lock failing me anytime soon, and the only blade play the RESCOM has is extremely minimal, and I caused that myself by using the blade as a screwdriver
.My only qualms with the lock is that it is near impossible to operate when wearing gloves. I don't mean regular old driving gloves or thin snow gloves, but heavy-duty fire gloves. Our gloves are very thick to begin with, and dexterity is next to nill after they've been soaked with water and hardened with sweat, grime, dirt, and ash over a 100 times. The RESCOM can be easily opened with fire gloves on, but only two-handed. This isn't a big deal though, because with heavy fire gloves, almost any knife must be opened with two hands. The RESCOM cannot be closed quickly while wearing fire gloves. I'll either drop it and close it when I'm finished and I can take my gloves off, or I'll slide it in one of my giant cargo pockets on my bunker pants while it's still open. Really not a deal breaker, because like I said, there are very few knives I can open and close easily with fire gloves on. My crew and I played around with it a lot while wearing our fire gloves, but it is very hard to close, simply due to the fact that our thick, hardened fire gloves just don't have that much dexterity. Wearing Ringers gloves, or other rescue-specific gloves that have more dexterity, it can be easily opened and closed one-handed.
Without fire gloves, it is a whole different story. Smooth opening and closing. The lock is great and is very easy to use while wearing only rubber EMS gloves, or while using with no gloves at all.
Handle
The handle is FRN (familiar to us all). It is FRN on one side, and stainless (I think) on the other. It allows for a firm grip, yet is not so big that it weighs you down. Holding the RESCOM was awkward at first, because I didn't get my SUBCOM until at the same time, so it took a minute to get used to, but that was all. After a few minutes of toying with it, it became an extension of the hand. The handle is grippy enough to maintain a good hold on the knife, even when it is wet, yet not so grippy that it takes a layer of skin when you put it away or pull it out. The pocket clip is durable, and can be mounted right-hand tip-up or tip-down. It keeps the RESCOM where you put it, enough said! There is aggressive jimping on all three sides of the handle, and it really does a lot for grip and maneuverability (is that a word?).
Overall
The RESCOM is a mini-beast! I have more than used this rescue hook, I have abused it. It has stood up to everything, and is no worse for the wear. I recommend the RESCOM to any Fire/ Rescue personnel, EMT/ MICT's, LEO's, Military, and also to every other citizen out there. The RESCOM works, tried and true, and it is very affordable. It is an excellent tool to have with you in any situation.
What I'd Like To See
I would really like to see the RESCOM with a Yellow or Orange handle, for high visibility. Somebody posted a link to a RESCOM that had been modified on the Spyderco.com forums, and it even had glow-in-the-dark strips applied to the handle, which I thought was very cool. A high visibility handle, possibly one that can even be easily found in the dark, would be a very good modification. A lot of our gear, like our helmets and bunkers, have reflective striping that will glow after light has hit it, and I think that would be great on the RESCOM.
Another thing that I would like to see is possibly a fixed blade RESCOM (like the SUBCOM FB) with a simple easy-access nylon or kydex sheath. It would eliminate the need to open and close the knife, and wouldn't have any moving parts to get messed up.
However, these are major modifications (changing the handle and going from folder to fixed), and of course, the market would need to be there and demand would need to be high, so I don't know how feasible these changes would actually be. I think they would be good improvements for emergency services crews, but those numbers are limited, so I guess only time will tell if we will see another version of the RESCOM.
On Duty Use
I carried my RESCOM everday I was on duty for about three and a half weeks, and then I passed it around for other crews to use for about a week.
The clip on the RESCOM is perfect. It extends almost the entire length of the folder, and is very secure. I carry mine clipped to the inside of my right cargo pocket on my bunker pants, and never had any problems with it falling out or shifting even with all of the crawling, dragging, and carrying that I do. I had the chance to use my RESCOM several times in the field. I was able to cut a few seatbelts with it, which it went through like butter, and cut a lot of other smaller items as well. I can't really recall how fast or how pretty the cuts on the seatbelts were, because when you're on a 48 pin or an injury accident, your adrenaline is pumping and you're just trying to do your job as best and as quick as you can. I know the RESCOM cut through the seatbelts pretty quick, but I'm sure I used a lot of force due to the nature of the moment (well, enough force to get the seatbelt cut, but not so much force to move or further injure the patient). The blade on the RESCOM never got any second looks from patients or from PD. It seems like a very friendly NKP knife. I'm sure the blunt tip is what accomplishes that.
I played around a lot with my RESCOM, too. I cut through a lot of old training ropes, just to see how the RESCOM would handle it, as well as several other small objects including zipties and even small wire. I used the blunt tip as a screwdriver on more than one occasion, and it only just slightly loosened up the blade.
My crew was pretty fond of the RESCOM. After about three weeks of carrying the RESCOM, I let other members of my crew and other crews carry it. The general consensus was very positive. My shift, as well as the others, stated the same things I have stated above. They said it was a solid rescue hook, had a friendly appeal to it, and above all else, performed flawlessly. The only things that didn't appeal to them were the cost and the fact that it is hard to close while wearing fire gloves.
To us knife nuts, $40 is nothing. Actually, you can find the RESCOM for around $30 at several places. I don't mind spending $100 on a Spyderco, but to some of my crew members, that thought is just plain ridiculous. You've got to remember though, some of these guys have three kids and a wife and only make around $30,000 a year. So to them, $30 for a knife is high. The issue about not being able to close the RESCOM with fire gloves on isn't so much of a big deal, because it is very hard for us to close almost any knife with those gloves on. I just drop mine in my bunker pocket open, because it won't stab me with the blunt tip, and my bunker pants are thick and heavy enough that it won't cut through them. Most of the time, when we are running medical calls or car accidents that don't require heavy rescue, we only have on EMS gloves anyway, so closing the RESCOM is no problem.
The RESCOM is light weight, doesn't add to already heavy bunker gear, duty belts, etc, so it is no problem to add to your gear. It is tough and stands up to most anything you put in its mouth, and it is sharp enough to keep going after you've used and abused it. If you don't have a RESCOM, buy one. You won't be disappointed.
Buy a RESCOM.
Many thanks to Chad for letting me test his product. Mahalo Daywalker.
Take care,
FF880
Maybe next you could try the Victorinox Rescue tool and do a review on that? Here's some video on that, if you haven't checked it - maybe some thoughts from you on this?
I went though a bunch of tools (most broke and some were useless for the job), in the end had to call in a professional for the removal. The Victorinox RT looks mightly tempting.