Urban Survival Knife

[TattooBlade]

ANY blade that works in the wild works in the city. As long as built well enough to cut and do some prying that's all that really matters. Plus, everyone should have a multi-tool handy along with a fixed blade to cover all the odd ball non-cutting things you may need to do.

 

[Smash05]

As far as an urban survival knife goes just like a wilderness survival knife I'd much rather have a small fixed that any folder. The size would depend on the situation. So far the RAT HEST is exactly what I wanted for the current situation. In a SHTF situation where laws no longer applied it would be back up for a larger knife or would be backed up by a larger one in a pack. It's easily tucked away, stoutly made, fits my hand well, handles great, and is easy to keep a grip on. Granted I could likely do without the bottle opener but I don't mind it being there at all and will think of things to use it for I'm sure...even if just opening bottles or lifting wire handled pots off a fire. It is always good to have a folder on you, better for any tasks it will handle when done around people without drawing any unnecessary attention, but when it comes down to it I want a fixed blade when I need one. I've even had some very small ones made just because of that

I've been lucky in that in my line of work I always have a Breaking and exiting kit with me in my truck and with me at work anyway...I'm a carpenter. I have lots of tools but I have yet to see the building I couldn't get out of with a good straight clawed hammer and a heavy pair of Kleins with insulated handles. Multi-tools are great, I have a few of them, but cutting flex conduit or romex with them would be a pain in the neck to say the least, and very dangerous. tearing sheet metal with them would likely ruin them. I ruined my first leatherman cutting tie wire.

And whoever said punch a hole in the dry wall and then start pulling and then push the other side out was spot on. That's how we do it when we do tear outs. When chopping your just going to make a trench but by pulling and you can remove much larger pieces. Heavy boots, any chair with legs, even a bare fist in a hammer blow will do to start the hole. If there is someone there you don't like you can use them to start the hole ...just use your imagination drywall isn't that durable.

Honestly the small fixed would still be there in certain "bad" shtf situations. I am really focused on the idea that I should keep a low profile. I think the worst thing one could do in such situation in an Urban environment is to have a certain look about you. I want to appear to not be worth peoples trouble, and not a target. A large knife might give the impression to someone that I am well armed, and they may decide to eliminate me as a threat. I want to be prepared for threats, but threat avoidance is still at the top of my mind.

 

[jfn]

the only things left after the nuclear blasts will be cockroaches, and sebenzas

 

[CDHumiston]

The RAT Knives HEST !

I second the HEST. I have one and it is really well designed and thought out.

 

[koyote]

There's parts to this I rally don't get at all......

1: I don't pry (beyond maybe a paint can lid) with a knife, wilderness or urban survival. I choose some of my tools (I do have gorilla bars and crowbars in vehicles and such) for prying, and some things like multitool choices are specific to urban environments. But I'm not going from a 4 inch 3/32 leuku in the woods to a 6 inch 1/4 inch prybar with an edge for urban carry.

2: survival - as I see it- s a daily activity. Sure, it's nice to do a little extra prep for certain SHTF scenarios, but the truth is that if I can handle the van breaking down, a door getting stuck, a building main breaker going out- or whatever, on a normal day, then I'm probably fairly well prepared for that happeniuning on a non normal day.

I don't carry for SHTF- I'm ready for it, more or less. I carry to use, and use I do.

 

[caine]

Over the last couple of weeks I have been EDC a Emerson Super CQC-7 All black plain edge. With a added Emerson Skull Lanyard and Skull pocket clip.