Urban Survival Knife

You really gonna say "Excuse me while I unfold my Xtreme Tactical Folder and shove it in your face"? :)) Why not buy a knife specially designed for urban survival?

cheers

RYP

Get a RAT DPx H•E•S•T
RCHEST1.jpg
 
I EDC a Victorinox Cybertool and a Leatherman Wave - between them I can cover a lot of tasks. They give me 3 plain blades, 1 serrated blade, 1 saw, 1 file, various screwdrivers, 2 pliers, 2 scissors, 2 can openers, 2 bottle openers, a corkscrew, etc

I have also started carrying a Leatherman K502x - normally I keep it out of sight because it may or may not be legal (the laws are not exact) but if searched by the police (I'm 42 and have never yet had that happen) I would say "oh, that is a multitool" and hope like hell they aren't having a bad day or a mad at me. The K502x does give me a reasonable locking blade made from 152CM stainless and I have sharpened it to a good 'shaving sharp' standard.

I would also love to have a good fixed blade and if the SHTF when I was at home then I would have some good options. But there is no way I am going to start carrying a BK9 around the city (for some reason there would be many people that would be unhappy to see someone carrying a knife with a 9" blade).

The 2 knives on the original post would most likely be illegal, I couldn't explain a genuine need to be carrying them. If you work in S&R or police then I guess they could be good choices.
 
Wow, there has been a lot of interest in this topic and a lot of responses. I appreciate everyone's input.

Yeah, the two knives I pictured at the beginning aren't the best choices. I like the suggestion about the multitool. I already have a Wave, Juice, and MP600. There have been so many other good suggestions too. The RAT HEST is a fantastic knife. I'll get one at some point, and I'm really amazed at how prepared some of your survival kits are.

Personally, I actually have a bit more flexibility than some inferred from my initial post. I spend most of my work days on the road so I can keep basically whatever I want in my truck. I am in client offices from time to time, but even so I still have a fair degree of flexibility in what I carry.

I'm going to digest what everyone has said and put some time into fitting out my own kit. Thanks much.:)
 
I typically carry a big folder or a small fixed blade while out and about in an urban setting.

That combined with a Leatherman Wave and a small prybar would be about as prepared as I figure I'd be as I don't normally carry a bag on me.

If I got lucky and someone crapped in the fan while I was in my car I'd have a bigger, more stout fixed blade as well. (Gerber LMFII or RC-5)
 
For me, it's water purification tablets, filter mask, ear plugs, solar radio with LED light, some paracord, flashlight, antibiotic and bandaids, rubber gloves, bandana, water bottle, purell, lighter, couple glow sticks for trail markers, some change and $$, whoopee cushion, smoke bombs, itching powder and some mistletoe.






Ok, those last few were just for laughs.
 
As much as I love knives and always thought of multitools as "pliers with a blade" (and never the other way around), I hate to admit but the best urban survival knife is a good MT. It has all you need in one piece of equipment :rolleyes:.

Yeah, yeah, I will also carry a fixed blade or folder, but that's because I'm a knife geek. A MT has a sharp blade so if you need to uh, cut things, it would work basically just as good as a regular folder or knife.
 
For the most part, I like the looks of the H.E.S.T. I just can't get past the bottle opener.

To me it's like the Becker Tac Tool. Great except for the 'gut hook'.

That's just me, of course, and that, having been said, without ever having one in hand.

Doc
 
I'm not tootin horns, but the HEST and a few of the shorter broad blade customs seem to be creeping into first place as the "survival knife of 2010"- it might just end up that the various forms of the 3-4.5 inch really broad blade will be IT. :D
 
cgmblade said:
I like the suggestion about the multitool.
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I am self employed and spend a lot of time visiting customers, as far as I am aware they are all non knife people. No one ever seems bothered about my SAK or LM Wave - pocket knives and multitools just don't scare people. But if I whipped out my RAT 1 and flicked it open one handed to open a box . . . I think many people would be a bit worried about it. In the urban environment people just don't see why someone would be wondering around with a knife so my K502x stay in my pocket and I stick with using the SAK or multitool, I have no desire to upset people or make them uncomfortable.

The best compromise is to have a bug out bag in the car that contains a pry bar and fixed blade or 3 - but stick to carrying less scary stuff.

I never go out without my SAK & Wave - what if I needed a tool or knife?
 
mistwalker said:
I just used the bottle opener...it works very well :)
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I'm sure it does, mw, but it's unnecessary IMHO and to me, detracts from the overall appearance. Now, I know, that form follows function, as it should, but given that we can open bottles with Bics, pieces of wood, the edge of the knife blade, etc., I think it's definitely a negative in the overall picture. As always, YMMV

And it's true, that other uses may be found for it, and, maybe even, a use or two that would swing me over, but until then...

Once again, just my 2 cents.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
To me it's like the Becker Tac Tool. Great except for the 'gut hook'.



Doc
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I do believe the gut hook is actually intended to be a seatbelt cutter/rope cutter. If you look closely, you can see that the whole edge of it isn't actually sharpened, but there's a small blade in it, similar to most seat belt cutters.
 
6shooter said:
I do believe the gut hook is actually intended to be a seatbelt cutter/rope cutter. If you look closely, you can see that the whole edge of it isn't actually sharpened, but there's a small blade in it, similar to most seat belt cutters.
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Thanks 6shooter. I just used the 'gut hook' label to identify it - I didn't actually know what it was for.

Doc
 
The bottle opener is something I definitively would take out of the HEST, since come on, there are a fair amount of ways to skin this particular cat without it. Even using the HEST, and with no damage to the knife.

It's one of those things that give a bad rep to a blade without any positive gain. And I'm talking about knife nuts. But I bet that to Johnny Q. Public it would make the knife look cool and maybe even more friendly.
 
LUW said:
The bottle opener is something I definitively would take out of the HEST, since come on, there are a fair amount of ways to skin this particular cat without it. Even using the HEST, and with no damage to the knife.
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%.
 
glad to see some of ya'll carry particle/dust masks
i'm always surprised when i dont see those in a bob
tho they wont stop most chemicals
they would be a life saver when it comes to dust and smoke
great info
good ideas and gear
no matter how well you've thought out yr kit
theres always new info/ideas
thanks guys
 
I primarily rely on a multitool, secondly a small sized prybar similar to an EOD Breacher bar.

If a dedicated knife was seen useful, a knife such as Gerber LMF II would serve well since it's specifically made as an asek with functions similar to what one might encounter in a urban disaster/survival situation (serrated blade, electrically insulated handle etc.).
 
Well.... like most folks here I could fill up two or three BOB's with nothing but my blades, and still have to go back for a second trip... :) But I think the original posted was thinking on person blade, not in a gear bag or BOB/GHE/EDC bag.

The original poster had a picture of a Smith and Wesson Extreme series blade, which I do not really care for. My thoughts on Urban Survival tend to be more escape and evade then anything else. I love my HEST as a EDC blade, same with the RAT Izula. But my Urban Survival gear is simply a Kershaw folder and a Letherman Surge or Core. It you are wearing them in most environments they aren't going to draw a lot of attention, but they do cover almost all the basis for needed blade/tools. Sure they aren't "tacti-cool" but they will (IMHO) get the job done better then a lot of the stuff out there. I would love to carry a small fixed blade but it really does attract too much unwanted attention in todays city environment.

Please keep in mind that your blade/multitool is only one part of your Survival Kit (Urban or otherwise). Your clothing, boots/shoes, and whatever is on your person are just as important. Having the very best in Multitools, and a huge survival blade does you little good if you have sneakers on, and have to climb over tons of rumble in 20 degree weather in a tee shirt. The likelihood that you are going to need to fend off Zombie's with a RC-5 are pretty remote, but the fact that you might have to walk a long way to get clear of the danger zone is very likely. Don't count on your EDC bag. Dress as thou you are going to have travel a distance in what is on your body, and nothing more. Little things can make a huge difference. Example, I carry a pair of good safty glasses in my jacket pocket all the time. I always wear fairly heavy, quality slacks WITH a good quality leather belt. I wear solid hikers everyday.

So for Urban environment my blade choices are:
Leatherman Core or Leatherman Surge or SOG Power Lock or Victorinox Spirit
Kershaw Chive or Kershaw Mini Cyclone or KaBar Dozier OR Victorinox Fireman (Etc)
RAT Izula or RAT HEST or Gossman PSK

But as others have said, and I will repeat, you MUST build your gear around what works in YOUR Urban area, around your environment. Katrina, Haiti, 9/11, and any number of other examples out there give you a good insight into what you should have in order to make it clear of the effected area.
 
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