Warning! Gerber LMF users must read!

[chiral.grolim]

Nice graphics, and thanks for the explanation. For the civilian market, I envision glass breaking feature will (hopefully) be used only to escape when trapped in an endangered vehicle (submerged, burning, door jammed, whatever). I see the advantage in holding the sheath for that, and that gives the LMF an advantage over the Ontario. I've smashed glass before with a toolbox hammer but never with either of these knives. In the trapped-in-car scenario, you really want the appropriate hammer and a dedicated seatbelt cutter. I've seen a specialized combo hammer/cutter tool for that but can't recall the brand name. Holding the LMF by the handle with bare hand as we were originally discussing, I still would expect the chance of getting the hand cut up to be high with either knife pommel design.

EMTs already have specialized equipment for breaking windows to extricate victims from vehicles.

Military market of course offers a lot more opportunity for B&E practice. And breakage generally.

Junkyard glass smashing video would be outstanding youTube material.

:thumbup: Agreement with all of the above, with the addition that neither of these knives is officially marketed to civilians.

 

[Thomas Linton]

:thumbup: Agreement with all of the above, with the addition that neither of these knives is officially marketed to civilians.

Not sure what this means. Walmart sells the LMF II. Amazon as well. They list it on the Internet as being for sale. Looks like marketing to me.

 

[Tallahassee]

I don't know your jurisdiction Chiral but both these knives are extensively marketed to civilians (as well as the Military). Yes, each knife was designed originally for the military Contract market (like the original USAF Pilot Knife/classic which is the ASEK's predecessor), maybe that's what you meant, but they are sold directly to & widely owned by civilians. I'd be interested to know how % of sales runs, military vs civilian markets.

 

[chiral.grolim]

You are correct, i should have typed "designed for civilian use". There are all manner of products originally designed and marketed to the military which also end up being sold on the civilian market, like the Kabar and its near kin. Each of these knives was designed and marketed to the military as an "aircrew survival egress knife", not a very civilian purpose and imho neither works very well in most civilian settings such as (mentioned above) escaping from your car wherein other tools are more effective.