Urban Survival Knife?

mrostov said:
...It's the hatchet that has a one piece head and handle... It is strong enough to bash, smash, and chop through almost anything...
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Through almost anything but not through an electrically feeded wire cause then you won't be strong enough. For this purpose the handle has to be made in an insulating stuff with no protubering tang.

dantzk.
 
I love threads like this, especially now since i'll be moving to a very large urban area in just over a month.

There are alot of choices in regards to knives, i think you all tossed in some of the better choices. I'll vote for the Victorinox rescue tool, Leatherman Wave or Charge or any other SAK.

I would also suggest a bandana or cloth of sorts, as a dust mask, sweat wipe or emergency bandage etc.
 
You know, thinking about this urban scenario and the jobs needed for the tool, a small hatchet would almost fit the bill. (Assuming you have a blade in your pocket for slicing).

-A hatchet could knockdown a door by chopping and prying.
-Break glass? no challenge there.
-Hammer end for pounding stuff.
-Prying? If you use a small Estwing with integral steel handle you should be able to pry with the best of them.

Now, the down side, carrying the darn thing! Can't fix that one unless you are an urbanite who carries a pack or briefcase.
 
Living on the outskirts of Washington D.C. and spending alot of time in the city, I have had two emergency situations, and a knife was at the bottom of the list. Having two good flashlights is more important than a survival knife. A sak or multi-tool will be all you need in most cases, but if something happens inside of a building, you need light REAL bad. If you have a bob I'd keep a cats paw or some other small prybar in it, with some leather work gloves and several bandanas, and a small first aid kit.

This past winter the wife and I were on a D.C. metro train that de-railed in a tunnel just shy of the Mt. Vernon stop. Almost everyone on the train was totally un-prepared for the emergency INCLUDING the train operator. He had one 2 D-cell flashlight with half dead batteries. It was only Karen and I who had flashlights in our daypacks. Between Karens and my LED lights we had to take over guiding the passengers out of the tunnel to the next station via the emergency catwalk along the side of the tunnel. The Metro personel were very slow to respond, to the point that we were almost at the next station walking out when they appeared. It turned out the train operator did not even call in the derailment for several minutes!

If its something really catostrophic, I still don't think you will need anything more than a multi-tool and a mora. There is buildings for shelter, plenty of fuel for a small fire like broken up wooden chairs,tables, boxes, and such. The can opener on a sak or multi will open scrounged up cans of food. Scavanging in a city while you get out is alot easier than surviving in the woods. Why do you think the homeless gravitate to the cities and not live in the woods?

If I was going to carry a cutting tool bigger than my pocket knife and multi-tool, I think I agree with mrostov about the Eastwing hatchet. I'd rather have an all steel hatchet in a bad situation than a large knife. Much more effective if you have to go through a wall or something. A roofing hatchet may be even better, with the hammer on the other end of it.
 
I carry this in my work bag to the office along with a small FAK. It can hold quite a lot and will attach to your belt. I think a good flashlight is also important. This carries a Wave, Mag and a small necker that can also clip to a belt.

Main thing is none of it is "tactical" so it should keep you out of the eyes of "John Law".

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Hey Guys (Runningboar and EMS Rescue)

I don't make those things or sell them, but I do know that the original question was "how the ideal Urban Survival Knife would be constructed, and also for some examples of real knives that people think would make a good urban survival knife. By urban survival knife, I am talking about a knife that would be ideal in an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack in a large city. In these cases, obviously a traditional "woods" survival knife might not be the ideal candidate"

So with that in mind, I stand by the Terrell pick, the knives are hard use, a prybar, a glass breaker, chopper, door opener, saw, basically a big f'n ugly tool that fits the requirements of a lousy urban situation.

To whoever made the statement about the latest "super metals" that's cool too man, relax. These can be had in D2, S30V or whatever you like, that's what I like about them, each one is a tue custom. If you like the saw teeth keep'em, if you don't delete them.

My personal preference for a bad situation of any kind is to just go with I am already proficient with, god knows a bad time can be had when adjusting your tools on the fly.
 
As Jacknife pointed out, a flashlight is imperative.
I keep one in my desk with spare batteries. Power goes off in office building it can real dark. If it's daytime, the Office space and suites have windows to let in light, but corridors and stairwells can be pretty bad.

Getting through a closed doorway, to get in or out would be where a heavy tool would come in handy. It depends on the situation, type of building, etc.
For example: I work in an "open space" building, there are no traditional hallways and doors to offices. The only door I would need to get out of would be an exterior door.
Others might be in an apartment building or older office building and have multiple doorways to get through before reaching the outdoors.
 
Another vote foe the LM Wave. When I use it nobdy anyehere has a problem with it but, when I carry and use a folder with the same size blade, I get the "knife nut" look.
 
I had a Gerber LMF II and i think it would fit your specifications well. it didnt really work for what i needed so i sold it and got a RAT-7.
 
The Chef said:
To whoever made the statement about the latest "super metals" that's cool too man, relax. .
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I made it, I am very relaxed, working on my 3rd DOS EQUIS amber, and I didn't mean to stomp any toes. I do get tired of the hype that knife makers throw out, blade designs and steels. I am sure that USK is just the ticket, but it certainly is not my style. Peace, Chris
 
USK, that's kind of a hard one. I think this "class" is closer to what a regular grunt might need, than a backwoodsman. More likely to open a can than skin a deer. I EDC a Buck 501 and Leatherman Blast, (it honestly never occurred to me to think of them as burglary tools :eek:) they do just fine, but self-defense isn't a big concern for me. Likewise, if I wanted to be able to bash my into/out of stuff, I'd want a lot more blade, although you can thunk pretty hard with the butt of a Leatherman sticking out of your fist; diddly for prying though. The USAF knife looks like a good candidate to me, not a super slicer but sharp-ish and stout as the dickens. Go any bigger than that and we're back into medium knife/big knife/hatchet etc and I've been around that block enough lately.

I don't think I can legally carry any more than a 4" on the street, so I'm thinking about this more in terms of a daypack/VSK, I guess. Sure not going to walk around with my Trailmaster tucked under my t-shirt everyday.
 
GibsonFan said:
USK, that's kind of a hard one. I think this "class" is closer to what a regular grunt might need, than a backwoodsman. More likely to open a can than skin a deer. I EDC a Buck 501 and Leatherman Blast, (it honestly never occurred to me to think of them as burglary tools :eek:) they do just fine, but self-defense isn't a big concern for me. Likewise, if I wanted to be able to bash my into/out of stuff, I'd want a lot more blade, although you can thunk pretty hard with the butt of a Leatherman sticking out of your fist; diddly for prying though. The USAF knife looks like a good candidate to me, not a super slicer but sharp-ish and stout as the dickens. Go any bigger than that and we're back into medium knife/big knife/hatchet etc and I've been around that block enough lately.

I don't think I can legally carry any more than a 4" on the street, so I'm thinking about this more in terms of a daypack/VSK, I guess. Sure not going to walk around with my Trailmaster tucked under my t-shirt everyday.
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How about one of HI's KUK's? They come in every flavor under the sun and are hell bent for strong.
 
I think there are two "scenarios/issues" here, and I think those Terell USK knives illustrate them well.

1) If you are going to have an Urban Survival Knife, you need to EDC it at all times. It does no good if you are in the john in your office building, the building collapses, and your USK is in the trunk of your car or under your bed at home. Are you going to carry that thing (the Terrell) at all times? You are better off with a pocket tool and one of those PryBaby's (I forget who makes them).

2) After the disaster/apocalypse, open the trunk, and whip out the Terell, Air Force Recue Knife, KaBar, Busse, etc, etc. I think, at that point, carry laws may have gone out the window. (And I don't think you have to worry about freaking out Debi from accounts recievable)
 
marcinek said:
...After the disaster/apocalypse, open the trunk, and whip out the Terell, Air Force Recue Knife, KaBar, Busse, etc, etc. I think, at that point, carry laws may have gone out the window..
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This is my exact thinking also. I'm in Suburbopolis (on Long Island). My EDC is a Emerson SpecWar A BTS (which I may swap out for a Manix C95 that's on order). My illumination is a DigiLight PIS-104 White (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BTW) that's carried on my keychain, which also sports a Boy Scout Hot Spark, some cotton balls (in a small waterproof aluminum cylinder), a small swiss army knife, and an aluminum whistle. Here in Suburbopolis, descrete carry is needed (IMHO)...no need to alarm Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Sheepleton so I carry the SpecWar in a black nyon sheath on my belt that completely hides it. In addition, here in Suburbopolis I am never further than a 1/2 mile from my vehicle, in the trunk of which there's enough stuff to equip a recon patrol:
  • K5 hawk
  • SRKW Battle Rat
  • First aid kit
  • 2 Radios (1 hand cranked)
  • Stove
  • Six ways to Sunday to start a fire
  • Sleeping bag
  • HD poncho
  • Sno Sealed Red Wing Boots
  • Wool socks
  • 12 day ration of MayDay Bars
  • 550 cord
  • 3 gallons of water
  • Change of clothes
  • Compass
  • Flash lights
  • Space blankets
  • Rucksack
  • Candle latern
  • Etc. etc. etc.
Fact is if the time comes to abandon the vehicle I'm gonna havta leave some stuff behind. Better over-equipped than under-equiped IMHO.

The only item I don't carry in my trunk is a firearm...I just can't bring myself to do it, although I should. Then again, this is New York and the authorities wouldn't look too friendly upon such if discovered. Another prime consideration is that I am often in Manhattan on business and a firearm in Manhattan will land you in the gulag right quick.

As I see it, I only need to carry enough to get me to my vehicle. If I can make it to my vehicle I'm equipped for a 2-week walk home. Unfortunately, depending on where I find myself, I might have to walk through a couple of million Zombies to get home. Hopefully the K5 hawk in one hand and the BR in the other will discourage attempts to take what I carry and I will walk at night and camp out in a Salvation Army clothes bin by day. ;)

I've thought out the "gotta walk home through ZombieLand now" scenario l o n g a n d h a r d since Katrina. Please tell me fellas: WHAT HAVE I OVERLOOKED? :confused:
 
Sounds like you are pretty well set-up for survival out on the Island there citizenQ.

I think you made my point much more clearly than I did...i.e.,you need a certain amount of survival stuff on hand at all times to get you to your more-serious survival stuff.

Back to the original posters question...as far as urban survival always carry, pocket tool/SAK and my new Russell Woodswalker. Discreet, and, short of prying, should get me home.

For post event...I have been giving that thought lately, and I'm thinking a KaBar would do nicely.
 
I gotta throw my 2 cents in... I'm with Marcinek on the Ka-Bar; helluva stout knife, and will hone up and take a real nice edge. Overall not the best slicer because of its thick spine, and not the best chopper due ot blade length and balance. But tough as hell, and cuts pretty good. Plus, if the 'authorities' find a problem with it, you can just tell them to keep it, without too much pain. Couple it up with a multitool and a nice pocket knife of some type and you should have your bases well covered.
 
If you back up a step and think about your exit plan for the building you can decide from there what you need on your person. If you for see needing to chop your way free of the structure you may want an ax/hatchet stashed in a drawer or bag with you. You may also mention your concern to the boss and see if the company will/dose/can supply escape equipment. (fire ax, wrecking bars...) Post 911 aditudes about these things have changed a little even with the sheeple.

Plan for YOUR situation and think threw your escape. That will give you a best and worst choice list. Then you can decide what will work for you.

A concrete Quick saw makes short work of most construction materials but is hard to 'Stash' in a corner with out drawing attention.

Once free of the building your needs will/may change. After your free any stout knife/ multi tool combo your comfortable with should fill most your needs.
 
I wouldn't turn my nose up at either a Ka-Bar or a kukri, I just wouldn't EDC them on my person. 99.9% of the time I'm taking a needless risk of legal hassles if I do. Of course if the big storm comes, crew carry laws, I'm packin' the Trailmaster! Till then I think I'll stick with my Blast and Buck.

marcinek said:
...you need a certain amount of survival stuff on hand at all times to get you to your more-serious survival stuff...
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Exactly. I hope this doesn't lead us off-topic too much, but the VSK or cache is almost neccesary if you're thinking about a Katrina situation. You might not get to it, but you'll be mighty happy if you do. It could make things a LOT simpler and more comfortable in the event of a storm that's not going to cause total anarchy, just delay everything for a few hours. CitizenQ's list looks like a darn good start to me. I'd add a way to charge my cell (some crank radios have a jack for that) and some petty cash... contact info for the woman's work and kids' school, etc. And a pack of smokes! :eek:

Does anyone wear dog-tags or similar that list your blood type, allergies and what-have-you? That couldn't hurt.

I work less than a mile from home so if I can't make it that far I'm pretty much toast regardless. But I work with folks who live 30-50 miles away, that's totally different.
 
I work less than a mile from home so if I can't make it that far I'm pretty much toast regardless. But I work with folks who live 30-50 miles away, that's totally different.
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That is a nice thing, GibsonFan. I'm also walking distance from home and it is reassuring. For 15 years I worked in Manattan and lived directly across the Hudson from Manhattan in New Jersey.

I was in walking distance from home, but there was no way to get there. Except swim maybe. That was not a nice thing.

Your petty cash point was excellent, also. That and a cell phone can get you out of a lot of fixes.
 
I wouldn't turn my nose up at either a Ka-Bar or a kukri, I just wouldn't EDC them on my person. 99.9% of the time I'm taking a needless risk of legal hassles if I do. Of course if the big storm comes, crew carry laws, I'm packin' the Trailmaster! Till then I think I'll stick with my Blast and Buck.
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That I also agree with wholeheartedly. You cant carry a Trailmaster or KaBar around everyday in an urban setting.

But if all hell breaks loose, I will be carrying the biggest knife I've got everywhere.
 
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