Search and Rescue

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Livebythesword

Joined
Aug 1, 2008
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A guy I know is joining search and rescue soon and he is going to need a knife. It can be either a folder or a fixed blade. The knife must have:
-A serrated/combo edge blade
-Preferably a rounded point on the blade
-A stainless steel blade
-A glass breaker
It can’t be a flick knife, maybe an assisted opener. Somebody suggested the Gerber LMF or the Smith and Wesson Search and rescue tool. I would value any input. Thanks in advance.
 
Avoid the Smith and Wesson. Check out Cold Steel Land and Sea, Emerson Search and Rescue, Gerber Hinderer, Any of the Spyderco Rescue models, and Victorinox Rescue.

Personally I would go with the Gerber Hinderer or Victorinox but all of the above brands are quality.
 
I like the look of the Gerber. Is it a flick knife or what because I can't get flick knives where I live. Thanks
 
as far as Im concerned the emerson sark is the best and only option short of customs.

and in the US to be a "flick knife" is incredibly poorly defined, usually states consider it to be a switchblade or a gravity knife of some sort.

here is the page for the sark. dont pay msrp, you can get one for about 100USD so look around. 154cm, TI liners, the best g10 texturing on the production market, slotted screw pivot. Its pretty much the most boss sark knife there is.
 
You'll have to define "flick knife" as a broad generality, most Canadians think of a gravity knife when you say "flick knife".
 
yobbos1 said:
You'll have to define "flick knife" as a broad generality, most Canadians think of a gravity knife when you say "flick knife".
Click to expand...

and most americans think of the paratrooper knife when you say gravity knife D:

check your local law, its the only way too know. BTW, all sark knives lock.
 
Irish law states that a flick knife is a knife which opens when hand pressure is applied to a button, spring, lever or other device in or attached to the handle, or a knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and when released is locked in an open position by means of a button, spring, lever or other device (note, locking blades are allowed so long as they don't qualify as a flick knife). Does that apply to the Gerber Hinderer. I also looked at the SARK. It is perfect apart from the fact that it does not have a glass breaker. I personally could live without the glass breaker but the knife is for a friend so I'll have to run it by him. Thanks for all the help so far.
 
"Rescue Knives" are a bugbear of mine. In my opinion you should not be equipping yourself with a knife with the intention of using a sharp blade in close proximitity to collegues, casualties, patients or animals in confined or stressful conditions.

Yes, carry a sharp knife for general use, but professional SAR, Fire, Paramedics, Police etc should have access to a safety blade: EMT shears, Rescue Hook, ResQMe etc. Accidentally cut someone with a personally owned knife and you're going to feel very bad and potentially get into serious trouble.
 
Livebythesword said:
It is perfect apart from the fact that it does not have a glass breaker. I personally could live without the glass breaker but the knife is for a friend so I'll have to run it by him. Thanks for all the help so far.
Click to expand...

an unsharpened portion of the blade sticks out when folded which is the glass breaker. its small but its definately enough to break a window or even be used as an impact device

hard to see it in this pick but if you look close you can:

emersonsark-t.jpg


you can really see it on this larger picture, this is the Psark, just a sark with a sharp point.

http://www.police.com.tw/emerson/EMERSON-P-SARK-BTS-800.jpg
 
Thanks a million for all the help. I haven't decided yet but its between the Sark the Gerber Hinderer and the Spyderco range. I'll post back when I choose.
 
I carry a rescue knife (a spyderco) but I agree that a rescue hook is a safer option. I went so far as to take a file to the rounded point of my Spyderco to make it even more rounded, by removing one and a half of the serrated teeth.

I was unhappy with the rescue hooks I've seen primarily because I was just not confident they would cut well - perhaps I was mistaken? They also did not fit into a pants pocket nearly as well as a small knife would, and I like to keep a minimum of gear on my belt. My approach has been to always reach for the shears first, and reserve the knife for those unusual situations where the shears would not be up to the task. I have yet to actually use the knife, BTW...
 
I just ordered a 5W for some personal testing; it's inexpensive, and a nice excuse to get another edged thing to play with. 440C is decent steel.
 
I would carry a hook, and a Delica. The delica has a slightly rounded tip along the backside. I just think its best to carry a knife in addition to the hook. You never know the rope could be too thick for the hook. preferably a knife with a point.

Sog also makes a knife with a "V-cutter" called the Bi-Polar that i have no experience with and wont recommend. but look into it.
 
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If he is worried about cutting a patient (or even if he is not), look into the res-q-rench.

http://www.tft.com/newsite/literature/library/files/rr.pdf

Glass punch, seatbelt cutter, gas valve shut off, pryer (for vehicle trim), and spanner wrench in one folding tool. I keep one in my gear, in addition to my S&W 911, though I have had mine since before the Gerber Hinderer came out, and were I to purchase today I may go the Gerber route instead. I've had no issues with my S&W, but some of my co-workers have. From what I can gather the Gerber is fairly bulletproof, but I have not had my hands on one yet.

Hope that helps!
 
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At my unit in the Coast Guard, we used these:

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=63

It's got a glass breaker (and a whistle actually). Sounds gimmicky, but it actually worked pretty good. I think your friend will find though, that if he needs to remove clothing, he'll find shears in the med-kit, which should be used instead of his knife. Just for thought.

mike
 
I'll agree with you on the removing clothing, but as for cutting seatbelts/harnesses/webbing etc., a good blade is a necessity. You can try and get away with a cutter like the one on the Gerber or the Res-Q-Rench, but eventually you will find one that is twisted or at a bad angle, etc. and need a blade (I know no one was going that route, but I thought I would toss that out there). PT safety is #2 behind your own safety, so a 'seatbelt cutter' is a good first thought during an extrication. Also (as far as blades go), in the event you will need to self rescue, being able to cut on demand is a plus.

I looked at the Spyderco knife as well when selecting mine, but had a hard time spending that kind of money for something that may get destroyed the next time out (just me, not a statement on quality or anything). I will say though, I have a few guys I work with that carry them, and they are quality blades. Good looking too! If you go with the Spyderyco, get him orange or reflective tape or something. Nothing like dropping a black knife in low visibility ;D
 
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Sorry to keep posting, but this hits 2 of my passions, Firefighting/Rescue and Knives/tools :D

You may want to find him a good knife, independent of the rescue portion, and consider something like this:

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_1354_auto_rescue_kit/

Of course, even for self rescue, a blunt tip knife is still a good choice, since you won't have to worry about poking yourself in a tight space or puncturing your SCBA low pressure hose.

Another good tool to keep in his pocket may be a folding, locking box knife (I'm sure you know the type). The blades are disposable and come in handy for cutting things you wouldn't want to use a good knife on, plus you don't have to worry about having a dull blade. I also like them for cutting plastic sheeting during overhaul, and I've even removed sections of drywall for inspection holes (though it's not nearly as fast or fun as using the hook :p ).

Ok, enough from me, sorry :D
 
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