Sal: Spyderco rescue hook?

[PropThePolecat]

Hello Sal and everybody else at Spyderco

Have you considered producing a rescue hook? I've handled and used several hooks, but I'd like to see what Spyderco could come up with. I imagine it would be ergonomic and shaving sharp!

I currently carry a Benchmade 7 hook on my duty belt and a Leatherman Z-Rex in my patrol bag. I've also got one on my 915 Triage, but I don't always carry that.

The Benchmade 7 hook has just the perfect size. Its small enough for comfortable carry on the belt, yet big enough to be used and manipulated while wearing gloves. The hook is coated, but the cutting edge is polished and it cuts extremely well. The only thing it lacks is a integrated tungsten carbide glass breaker, as I think that goes hand in hand with a rescue hook.

The Leatherman Z-Rex is well designed with the replaceable cutters and it has the glass breaker on the end of the handle. The handle is contoured for the fingers and has rounded edges. Its extremely ergonomic, but I see no need for the large hole near the end of the handle. I realize it's for sticking a finger through, but I never use that kind of grip, not on the Z-Rex nor on the 7 hook. The Z-Rex is light but too large in my opinion. It sticks out visually on the belt, and it feels uncomfortable while driving, if carried in the small of the back. That's why I've relegated mine to the patrol bag. The sheath feels cheap, soft and loose, and is a let down.

I've also owned the Zero Tolerance Shroud Cutter. I didn't find it comfortable to handle as it's quite thin with relatively sharp edges. Benchmade fixed this on the 7 hook by coating the handle in a rubberized material. ZT appears to me, as if they focused more on the visual aspect instead of the practical.The DLC coating on the cutting edge caused it to not cut as well as the Leatherman and Benchmade. The sheath was a bulky affair too, but that's because its jumprated and fitted with a plastic buckle.

What I'd like to see in a hook:

-Ergonomic handle with rounded or chamfered edges.
-Integrated tungsten carbide breaker
-Polished (free of coating) cutting edge.
-440C, N680 or any other affordable corrosion resistant steel.
-Practical sheath with a low and slim profile. Preferably a simple nylon sheath to keep costs down. A hard sheath option with a exposed handle would be excellent too.
-I'd like to see a standalone hook to keep costs down, instead of a integrated one like on the Triage.

Any other users of rescue hooks out there...what did you like? And what didn't you like? Maybe if we throw in some input, we might some day see a practical and functional Spyderco rescue hook.

Thanks,

 

[Ruudr]

I like the idea.

 

[Swigert]

I'm in

 

[Sal Glesser]

We've discussed the idea. Thanx for the detailed preferences. Let's see what is posted here.

sal

 

[Bogie]

As a guy that uses one a few times a week I too would like a Sypderco variation.

I carry a Benchmade 7 as well but bought a kydex sheath to keep it in. I don't care for the adding or glass breakers to everything as that place your hand in danger, I'll use the center punch I'm my gear or more likely the Haligan in my hand. Do stick with good corrosion resistant steel I generally get wet daily. A high vis colored coating would be a bonus, deffently rounded I did once tear a rubber glove on a original 5 Hook.

 

[dishcore]

I would absolutely be interested in a Spyderco rescue / safety hook. The glassbreaker would be a welcome addition, I have always thought about a way to add a glassbreaker to a fixed blade while still being able to "hide" the glassbreaker by folding it into the handle / locking it into place for use - to reduce handle pointy-stabby incidents. I've always liked Spyderco's models that are no frills, "direct action", and with as little unnecessary stuff as possible in the design.

 

[PropThePolecat]

A properly designed carbide glass breaker should be rounded just like the ones found on the, Z-Rex, Contego and Triage. I can take any one of those and press it.into the palm of my hand with no ill effect. I even recall Sal stating that, that's the most effective design for breaking glass. If that's the case, then I see no discomfort or danger to the user.

The one on the Shroud Cutter was pointed like a needle though, and that would have punctured skin should you have an unlucky accident with it.