Rescue knife opions

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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I'm thinking about getting a "Rescue Knife" to hang from my rear-view or dash or such to just leave there just-in-case.

Never been in the market for one. What's out there? All I've seen are a few Spydercos and BM fixed blades including that cool seatbelt cutter BM has.

What are my options? I'd love one with a shackle on one end. Heck, I'd love one for less than $35.00 since I'll probably never use it (hopefully).

What the heck, let's chit-chat about rescue knives. I'm honestly interested in hearing about them and others may be too. That new Spyderco with the Carbide breaker that comes out with a squeeze sounds cool. If it had a shackle where I could attach it to the interior of my vehicle somehow that would be great.

Maybe the BM seatbelt hook combined with a good folder is best? I don't know.

Let's bang this out. Please consider civilian "just-in-case" uses while we're at it.
 
Originally posted by fulloflead
Maybe the BM seatbelt hook combined with a good folder is best? I don't know.
Click to expand...

Seatbelt Cutter- Check!
Glass Breaker - Check!
Under $35 - Well 2 out of 3 isn't too bad
70-3.jpg
 
I have to say that upon some thought the only way to guarantee any kind of safety using a rescue knife in a precarious situation is to have a blunt tip. In my opinion I have never seen a "cool" blunt-tip rescue knife, except maybe for the rounded tip CRKT bearclaw (rather have the pointy one), and the Buck Tiburon water sports knife and even that has a chisel tip, and technically it's not a "rescue" knife (although it does have a seatbelt cutter)http://www.1sks.com/store/buck-tiburon.html, and it's a fixed blade. Also I don't know about your neighborhood but in mine, hanging it from the rearview would not be prudent. Soooo... get the 5W for 20 bucks, hang that, and then get yourself a nice new folder to celebrate your smart decision. Oh and get one for Marcelo Cantu for the great advice. :cool:
 
I've been looking at these (there's a whole line of them):
ct0101ffsb.jpg

Has the seat belt cutter and glass breaker (though I can't see exactly where the breaker is) but it costs about $60+.
 
Based on a post on a similar thread I'd say that you shouldn't hang it anywhere in your vehicle. The rule of thumb was "Don't leave anything loose in your car that you wouldn't want hitting your head at 60 miles an hour." The example was of a folding knife coming open and impaling a seat cushion during an accident.

I have an OMB Police Supply Window Breaker and a Benchmade Model 5 Rescue Hook with hard sheath.

5.jpg


omb-ps_1734_10469736


Both of these are stored in a latched console in the middle of my car, the area of the car most likely to still be reachable in the event of a severe accident. I also keep my EDC (usually a Scott Cook Lochsa or a Ralph/Wilson Tactical Elite) in my right pocket, for the same reason.

I also have a Smith&Wesson First Response Knife but it doesn't cut seat belts as well as the Benchmade and it doesn't break glass as well as the OMB Window Breaker, so it has been relegated to my collection. If I had to carry something to do the job of all three (knife, window breaker, and rope/seat-belt cutter), I'd carry the S&W.

ACFD69.jpg


My wife and kids, and a friend of mine were driving back from Long Beach when we were the first people on the scene of a roll-over into a water filled ditch. We would have been a lot better off with the proper equipment and some training. The training has somewhat been addressed via the Internet (cough, cough), and all three of us have the Benchmade/OMB combination for our cars.

Spyderco has a new rescue knife coming out shortly, and I'm sure the Spydernauts will be able to give a description of that.

Gabe
 
Interesting that this topic should come up again now. I just ordered a Meyerco Rescue One http://botachtactical.com/meyresone.html and a Smith & Wesson 911 First Response http://www.bestknives.com/smitwes911fi.html. I wanted to determine for myself if either one will meet my needs. I plan on carrying one in my "bag-o-stuff" that goes with me on the road as an LEO, as well as on the road on my own time. I'm really interested to see what Spyderco's rescue knife will look like.
 
Another suggestion is that you try using them a bit to get used to whatever you purchase so your are familiar with their behavior in case you actually need it. In my case, the BM hook slices much more easily than I expected, while the window breaker takes a lot more force than I expected and drives your hand towards the breaking glass.

You can go to a junkyard and ask if you can go around cutting belts and breaking windows.
 
Originally posted by gaben
Another suggestion is that you try using them a bit to get used to whatever you purchase...
Click to expand...

Good idea. I think I'll do that. But boy my neighbors are going to be PISSED!:D

Originally posted by gaben

You can go to a junkyard and ask if you can go around cutting belts and breaking windows.
Click to expand...

OH, is that what you ment?


Interesting thread so far. Thanks for the suggestions. Still pondering.
 
The spyderco rescue, assist w/ carbide tip...
model c79PS(c79ps2 has no carbide)...

factory 90USD, my source 55USD

but that's the january 01, 2003 list, so it might have changed...
 
Personnaly I'd take a window punch ahead of any dedicated rescue knife.Just my own expreince.Close to 14 years as a firefighter /emt I have never had to cut a seatbelt(I know others have and someday I might)just always pushed the latch.But doors don't always open after a crash and a window may be your only way out.That I have seen often.

Keep this in mind you don't want to MOVE,either yourself or others who have been in a crash!!The only time you would cut the belt and "save" someone would be if their life is in danger.Like the car is sinking in a lake,on fire,other they need cpr and so on.

Ok I have cut belts,but it has been to get the backbroad into place in the car or just cut those damn automatic shoulder belts that get in the way of working on a pt.know what? my sak cut those belts as well as anything,seatbelts are easy to cut with any blade.:)

Buy a rescue knife if you want,I would get a Spyderco rescue,but the key is being able to GET AT IT,things fly around like you would not believe.
 
I think an LEO or EMT in another thread made the observation that cutting the belt makes the point that the belt was in fact on, which helps in some insurance cases.
 
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