Responder/edc knives.

The most interesting thoughts I got from the emt s and fire guys so far are the folder with sheath, and one pointed out maybe producing something that would be usable in a fire. With a fire retardant and heat resistant handle material and sheath.
 
JBARR said:
I expected Constructive criticisms not sarcasm and sheer asshattery. Bravo.
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Yes, I was sarcastic and a bit of an asshat. Love the asshattery word, I will use that on shift tomorrow, I promise. I apologize for my brash nature. However, it still stands. I've been a medic for almost a decade, mostly in a busy metro area. Part of it in sandy areas as a contract medic. I want you to make a knife that is high quality, not kinda close enough. Do you know, absolutely know, that your methods are the best and most reliable way to make the type of knives you are asking about? You came in talking about selling your sand tempered knives, then talked about heat treating yourself, etc. Again, you have no idea what you're talking about. You need to slow down and read a bit more on the actual details. Your blacksmith might know what he's doing, he might not. We have no way of knowing. However, we DO know the right procedures to advise you to take to make a great knife that fits your parameters.

Also, guys that buy knives don't know what they want. They buy knives, not design them. YOU design them. YOU have to figure out what makes long term sense. An all in one tool often does a lot part of the way.
 
No I came in saying I sand tempered my hobby knives man. I from the beginning I was asking about steels and laser cutting. And even said if I made more than on knife at a time it would be sent out for heat treatment.
 
That was an exaggeration on my part. If I'm going to spend weeks making a knife with files and such I'm not going to sell it. Because I am not a knife maker so I can't ask a high price. And I'm not going to ask 50$ for something with that much time involved.

My intentions were to gain information on reccomended steels, and to decide whether my design would be feesable to produce using those steels. My intended price point is 50-80$ for these designs, once I get them to an acceptable level of fit and finish. Hense why I stated I would start with lower price steel and improve the knife and maybe take orders for very high end steel. At some point
Seems we both have a way with words... 😄
 
I would be doing many times more work than I expect if I make more than 50 knives a year even if they are all the same knife . I intended them to feed the hobby so I can improve. And make enough money with them to buy equipment to speed up my process and there for have time to improve more. Which is why I said " if I had a CNC and belt grinder".
 
Nobody here is trying to crush your dreams, or be a dick. However, these types of posts from new posters are a regular thing, so its at a point where it is met with skepticism by many. At least once a month, maybe more often, someone comes here and says "I have never made a knife, dont have any tools, but i just designed the best knife in the world that does everything from slicing sashimi to chopping down redwoods, and it has a pry bar, and a wrench, and lasers and a disco ball...." Im sure you get the point. The thing is they all have a plan to make a bunch of these and sell them, before making ONE. They have a company name, and a knife name, and and some crayon drawings all figured out, but often the knife is completely impractical. Some of the best makers in the world use these forums, and its not a case of not wanting to help. Its more a case of being tired of giving advice to people who know it all and wont listen anyway. After all the questions and advice and everything, almost nobody ever actually makes a knife at all.

I am not saying this is your plan, I am simply stating thats why there are people questioning the validity of your idea. How about posting a design sketch to get some input. I am pretty sure you are safe from anyone trying to steal your design. The best advice I can give at this time is to make a working prototype, send it out for heat treat, and have someone test the crap out of it. This will tell you if the design is functional before you move too far into this.

ETA. At the 50-80 price range, you will pretty much be stuck with a fairly basic fixed blade knife design if you want any profit at all. I cant see a feasible way to make a hand made respectable quality frame or liner lock folder in that price range, much less be able to sell it at that price point.
 
And see there is some invaluable advise. Stick with fixed until your good enough to bring your price point up. Perfecto. (I like sarcasm and asshatery by the way as long as there is some substance) 😄
 
Why are the bevels only twenty, twenty five percent of the total blade height ?




Medics have to deal with the dregs of society.
Possible or probable + for every disease

Possible schizophrenics, or any mental illness

Why make the medic expose a live blade just to use the O2 wrench ?



If he's attached to a fire rescue truck, they have a literal truck load of prybars, jacks sledges, wedges and saws.


If you're going to use it, it's nice to has a narrow straight blade that can get into a small area and cut outwards.
the wide blade and humpy shape make it very limited in that respect.
 
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reminds me of a Brous Silent Soldier. One issue is see is the large hole in the blade and the hex and oxy wrenches. If you plan to use the knife for prying in an emergency, they take too much meat out of the blade to keep it strong. They will be a real weak spot. Personally I would trade the finger hole for a good finger choil. Thats a personal thing, it will give a good secure grip, but could also trap a finger potentially leading to a broken digit depending on circumstances. The steep blade/handle angle looks extreme but could be an advantage in reverse grip when cutting seatbelts and such where the cut is made pulling toward yourself and not towards the victim.
 
12345678910 said:
Medics have to deal with the dregs of society.
Possible or probable + for every disease

Possible schizophrenics, or any mental illness

Why make the medic expose a live blade just to use the O2 wrench ?
Click to expand...
:thumbup:

Im a first responder... I've thought about ways to safely carry a fixed blade but I just can't come up with one.

My Leatherman sees a lot of use, and is kept inconspicuously on my belt. A small folding knife would be the only other blade that I would carry.

If you're serious about making a responder knife then I would suggest learning how to make a folder. Then make a few until you are happy with them... Then sell them.

Good luck.
 
The biggest issue I have with fixed blade carry is security.
1. Secure carry system. The classes can't come out when I'm twisting, turning through the never.....woah, random Metallica reference......our when I'm upside down or bending over or carrying a monitor, jump bag, o2 cylinder, and drug box up two fights of stairs.
2. It has to be comfortable. We post out. A LOT. Lots of sitting. I'm not a small guy. I don't want poked with a knife handle all day long. So it has to be sized appropriately and the carry system has to be made for comfort. Otherwise, you'll leave it in the station or or in the rig and you won't have it when you need it.
3. It has to be secure. Your basically carrying a weapon. Yes it's a tool. However I don't particularly want to have my tool slid between my ribs by a nut. Yeah, the scene is supposed to be secure. Sometimes they become not secure relatively rapidly. All it takes is once and someone wearing a white shirt has to make a horrible phone call. Don't ever violate the rules: 1. I go home. 2. My partner goes home. 3. The patient goes home. In that order.

My leatherman wave is on my belt on shift without fail. Fenix PD32 light, LM Wave, GEC TC Barlow. Not very tactical. Lol

Small story regarding medics and knives. I've been approached by at least two different people that know I make knives to show me "the cool knife I just bought." They have all been unknown steel, $10 foreign made junk knives. But these medics thought they were really awesome because they looked cool. So, that's what you're up against.

[/asshat]
 
I think this thread shows how we want a knife to do a bunch of different things other than what a knife is intended to do. For the most part, everytime you add another function to a knife, all of the functions suffer. Take a great knife, add a screwdriver. Now you have a good knife and a servicable screwdriver. Add a bottle opener, and now the knife and screwdriver suffer more. A leatherman is a very good example. It does a lot of things "ok" but doesn't do anything great. I would stick with a nice knife that does, as a medic, what you need a knife to do. Carry a good knife and a multi-tool and you have most stuff covered. Just my $.02.
 
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