Urban Survival Knife?

[EmsRescueGuy]

Skunkwerx And Jackknife have already said it but Im going to say it again. a good flashlight (or two) is probably going to do more to get you out of a Building than any other tool, I was in a hotel that was evacuated due to a fire in the electrical room, four of us with flashlights helped evacuate people since there were no stairwell lights. I EDC A pelican Mitey light in my pocket, Keep a larger Led/Xenon light in my bag and another Light in my locker (and spare batteries for all)

CitizenQ: I understand your hesitation about the firearms, I live in NJ and have worked in NY, I Have tried to carry A firearm in my car or on my person, but cant stand the idea of going to jail and loosing my right to own firearms alltogether, oh well Thats part of the reason I am Looking to relocate to a state where CCW is not considered a criminal act.

THE CHEF: If the SHTF Ill look for the guy with the USK on his hip and make sure to say HI

Seriously I am Not debating you about the quality or Reliability of the blade, You like it For your reasons, I dont for mine, I hope if you get one it serves you well. :thumbup:

 

[JERSEYTEX7]

I carry a tool belt with everything needed for "entry, ect." and if stopped, I have explained I am a part time "handyman" with my tools at the ready. No problem. I'm surprised that this has never been brought up before. Tool belt is secure in the trunk of my car.

 

[perpster]

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

Hikeeba, I've googled for surplus Belgian fire brigade hatchet/axe (and variations) with no luck. Do you have any links/pics? Thanks.

 

[hikeeba]

Hikeeba, I've googled for surplus Belgian fire brigade hatchet/axe (and variations) with no luck. Do you have any links/pics? Thanks.

I'll try to get some pics of the brigade hatchet up soon. Basically, it is a pick axe. The head is cut from a chunk of thick steel, and appears to have been welded on top of the steel handle (I'm describing this from memory, so I may be off a bit). The handle has a rubber coating on it. it is HEAVY for such a little thing. It wouldn't be a good tool for doing a lot of prolonged chopping, but for chopping, smashing, maybe some prying, and light to medium 'overhaul,' it'll work.

I've also thought of another good tool for USAR, Urban Survival, etc. I have an 18" nail-puller/prybar thingie that is a good tool. It has a hammer end on the right-angle end. It is small enough that it is easily stowed in or lashed to a pack, yet is isn't too short that it isn't effective. I'll try to get pics of that, too.

And while I'm on prying/smashing tools, the Stanley FatMax 4-1 Utility Bar has always intrigued me, but the thing is HEA-VY!!

 

[Lone Hunter]

Ah the Stanley Fubar, loved by many.....

I do the things you list on a regular basis, as a LT on the FD.

Right now not at work i have a Strider DB,a Prybaby, ZT 0200 and Surefire on me.

On the job I find a Stanley 7 inch pry bar just great for locked office doors and the like. Last day trick we did highrise training in an old building to be torn down.We knocked doors off their hinges for sure, we used our rabbit tool to pop doors and my Stanley pry bar and a shove knife also opened many doors with ease. There are times we don't need to destroy door as time is not that important, the 7 inch bar can really move a steel door in its jam quite far and gets us in with no damage. Even my little 3 inch prybaby got one door open.

We have two types of tools on the load, ones that cut and ones that pry. Something to think about.

A multi-tool would be good also, I just don't carry one. To me its more of a 'finishing tool" turn a screw, file a burr, strip a wire and so on.I'm more interested in hack and destroy. If I could not carry a stout FB I would tote one around I guess.

 

[hikeeba]

Here are a few pics of the tools I mentioned earlier, minus the Leatherman tool. I had described the hatchet as a Belgian fire brigade axe, because that was the item description as stated in The Sportsman's Guide when I purhcased the item. Maybe it was made in the Netherlands, and used in Belgium? Whatever the case, here it is:

The little axe weighs 2.25 lbs., and the head thickness varies between 0.391" and 0.410"

The prybar is an Estwing Pro Claw PC 450. I have the split ring on it to facilitate the attachment of a lanyard. The ring is large enough to allow the lanyard to be slid up and down the shaft and out of the way of which ever end is working.

 

[troutfisher13111]

Leatherman wave or any other good multitool would be my choice. And I agree 100% with needing a good flashlight for urban or wilderness EDC. I carry a surefire E2E with a KL1 led head on it.