Urban Survival Knife?

If all hell breaks loose, I'll be sure that my USK is attached to my hip and that hip is haulin butt away from anything resembling "URBAN" :)
 
The Chef said:
If all hell breaks loose, I'll be sure that my USK is attached to my hip and that hip is haulin butt away from anything resembling "URBAN" :)
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Another excellent point. After getting home, my hips will be in the car, headed in the direction most opposite of urban having the least traffic.
 
marcinek said:
But if all hell breaks loose, I will be carrying the biggest knife I've got everywhere.
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I don't want to stray too far from the origin topic request either, but I believe most of the tangents that have been generated are related to the initial post. For example, up until a few days ago I thought a bigger knife was better overall, then someone mentioned it'd be a lot harder to stab a cougar that's on top of you with a 14-inch knife...better to have a 6-inch knife in that situation. As a result, my opinion has changed...now I'm thinking along the lines of flexibility. Yes, I will carry my Battle Rat if the Big Storm comes, but I'll also have a smaller knife on my person in case I find myself in a situation where weilding the big knife doesn't work. Actually, now that I think about it, I have that knife on my belt every day...it's my EDC.
 
The Chef said:
If all hell breaks loose, I'll be sure that my USK is attached to my hip and that hip is haulin butt away from anything resembling "URBAN" :)
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That makes a lot of sence Chef :thumbup: , except when (A) one's family is still sittin' in the midst of it and you gotta go back to get them or (B) you live smack dab in the middle of Megalopolis as I do. To my back is the Atlantic Ocean. To my front and flank are 50 million Zombies from DC to Boston and the best shot to wilderness is Northern NYS or PA, but you have to cross New York City and Westchester or New Jersey to get there. And that's a damn hard 100 miles in the best of conditions.

Make that 49.75 million Zombies. I'm sure that 250,000 are prepared citizens such as those of us here. :(
 
I think one thing that has been overlooked is a pocket full of change. I work as a law Enforcement Officer and count how many times I've counted on vending machines for meals during disasters.

I also EDC a Leatherman Wave, a large Case stockman and a good flashlight.

Greg
 
Leatherman Charge XTi, has a belt cutter built into the serrated blade.
 
Has anyone mentioned the Victorinox Fireman? I bought one for Mrs. Q and Qjr. for Christmas a few years back. A great tool IMHO :thumbup: (except for the missing corkscrew ;)...

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=VN54868

Description
Model VN54868: Victorinox Fireman One-Hand Opener
Victorinox One Hand Fireman. 4 3/8" closed. Black nylon handles. Features partially serrated locking blade with thumb slot, seat belt cutter, wood saw, bottle opener with screwdriver tip and wire stripper, can opener with screwdriver tip, corkscrew, reamer, toothpick, tweezers and key ring.

vic-oh-fireman-.jpg
 
Q,
I think they have the photo mixed up on that site.

Here is what the one handed fireman looks like:

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=everyday&product=54868&

I believe the one pictured is the Trekker:
http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=outdoor&product=54854&

In any case, I have heard nothing but good things about both, but only own the Trekker. I like it very much, and carry it when on longer hikes when I don't want the weight of my Manix.

Brome
 
i think that in a city, if i were working in an office type setting, i would hide away a big beasty knife or some kind of tomahawk/hatchet/axe type of bashing and entering tool. that would be in a kit, if i could, left in a cubicle etc with things like a good flashlight and lots of extra batteries, maybe some MREs, maybe even a small lockpicking set and guide, a very small tool kit and med kit (pliers, screwdrivers, bandages, disinfectant etc).

on my person i would carry some food, water, an SAK and/or a leatherman, and a flashlight. as long as i can get to my stash, i am set. luckily, its not as fatuiging to walk a few miles in a city as up the side of a mountain in teh woods.
 
I carry alot of tools everyday. At work I have a LM Fuse and a Fallkniven U2. If I am going somewhere else I bring a Fallkniven F1 and a SAK as well.
I can understand that Leatherman had to "improve" their series of tools but the plain PST with the old leather sheath was the nicest and fanciest tool combo I have ever seen. It dint weigh much but it packed a lot of goodies.
 
I like the Mark Terrell USK. I'd maybe opt for Jenson EVO-type serrations rather than the saw-type teeth though.

Me? I'll stick with my Leatherman Wave or Charge, a Becker TacTool, and a surplus Belgian fire brigade hatchet/axe thingie.

I'd love to have a Paratech Biel Tool, Pry Axe, or Buster, but these things are priced a little out of my league.
 
I know of an office, don't know who it belongs to but who ever it is has a camo flak (sp) jacket (bullet proof) on the chair. Wonder what else they have in the office.
 
Man I just accidently deleted my first version of this post. We my lousy typing skills that really sucks!

CitizenQ I would add chlorine dioxide water purification tablets and maybe an HTI system. Both will remove/kill viruses, an important consideration in an urban environment. The HTI will also add some needed calories. Add some form of protein for longer term energy such as beef jerk or " protein bars. A few 1-a-day vitamins will help too. An LED headlamp is good when you are on the move. How about money and barter items such as cheap booze. A small AM-FM radio can help you pick a route while on the move.

In the fire department we carried pick head axes, sledge hammers, and halligan tools for forced entry/exit. Consider a 3' pry bar to stash in your trunk. It won't draw any attention in your car, makes a heck of a pursuader, and can be ditched with no concern about cost. It will out pry any knife made too. Titanium versions are available cheap.
 
2dogs said:
...CitizenQ I would add...
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Good stuff 2Dogs. I've already got the chlorine dioxide tablets, LED Headlamp, and a couple of radios in the trunk, but I'll be adding the protein, cash, and a big old crow-bar. I need to look into the HTI systems but I think your right. Water purification is a prime concern in an urban enviornment where the only available water may be puddles in parking lots.:eek: Thanks for the ideas brother.
 
You're welcome. I hope you never have to use your kit. BTW do you have a rondezvous point or a phone number out of the area where you can check in?
 
One of the earlier responders to this thread brought up the concern that a lot of the tools suggested would be considered as burglary tools, especially when carried together. Unfortunately, for a true urban survival scenario, these same tools would in all likelihood be the best tools for the job. Just something you would have to weigh. If you work, play, or go to school near where your vehicle is parked, this would open up a lot more options of what coud be carried. Carry a basic pocket survival kit of a knife and flashlight on you, perhaps with a small prybar then keep a much more extensive kit in the vehicle with an axe/hatchet or larger knife along with rations, water, clothing, etc.

Charles
 
No single tool will effectively accomplish the tasks that you've set forth. And yes! An outdoors survival knife is often different than an urban survival tool.

If you still insist on a single 'Knife' then I would suggest the Ka-Bar D2 Extreme Fighting/Utility Knife or a comparable. Such a knife can be used in both urban and rural as well as combat scenarios.

If you're willing to consider other tools, here are my recommendations.
1) A forced Entry/Exit tool. I'm designing one now but there are some great ones out there already, Such as...
A- Paratech Buster or Biel
B- Raid Ops EAGIS - M or EAGIS-C
2)Vehicular extrication
A-(side and rear glass only) and set belts, I would highly endorse the Res-Q- Me tool or the new Benchmade tool that I have yet to see. For front glass you need the GlasMaster tool.

* The usefulness of a knife for urban defense is highly debatable and depends on where you live and operate. No knife can beat a properly used firearm and with proper training a person with a chair can defeat any knife.

Lastly- don't overlook the many other tools you'll need to survive in the Urban Jungle. A knife or Entry/Exit tool is likely to be the least important:cool:

Dave568 said:
I'm looking for opinions on 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. While I always carry a Mora with me in the woods because of it's excellent wood crafting abilities, that is kind of a moot point in an urban survival situation.

Some of the uses for an urban survival knife that I can think of off the top of my head that would be specific to an urban environment vs. a rural environment would be as follows:

Breaking glass
Cutting seatbelts
Prying (locked doors, stuck elevator doors, electrical panels, etc.)
Hacking through hard materials (Plastics, hardwoods, even metal)
Self defense
And I'm sure there are many more...

So what qualities would you look for in an urban survival knife? Would it differ from what you carry in the woods? If so, how?
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I've got a Vic Swiss Army Mechanic I carry with me everywhere I go but always wished it had a one hand opening blade and something to pierce glass in a pinch.

If that Rescue Knife had a pair of pliers and a can opener (yes I use the can opener) I would go buy one today.
 
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