what makes the police model suited for police

[yablanowitz]

My two cents on the subject:

Most uniformed officers carry a bunch of gear, and I mean a BUNCH. Radio, flashlight, baton, pistol, ammunition, handcuffs, mace, tazer...sometimes even more. All that stuff can make it hard to get a knife (or anything else) in and out of your pocket. In that situation, clipping the knife in your waistband makes a lot of sense. The smooth stainless handles of the Police will slide into place between the shirt and pants much easier than a grippy G-10 or CF handle. It also can be drawn back out without pulling the shirt tail out with it.

An officer's knife is a hundred times more likely to be used as a tool than a weapon, so the benefit of easy drawing and stowing might well outweigh the inconvenience of a somewhat less secure grip.

 

[The Deacon]

"One of the longest selling designs" proves nothing about how slippery a SS handle is. Nor does it address why more police AND more people overall choose to carry the D+E rather than a Police model. If it is more slippery, than it is "too slippery" for some people. The addition of G-10 would make it "more" suited for police. You wouldn't find many police officers that would want to carry a duty weapon with sterile SS grips.

I see two flaws in your logic. First, although it is almost certainly true that the Delcia and Endura are carried more than the Police, I doubt there's any reliable data as to whether that holds true among LEOs. Second, Spyderco did offer a G-10 version of the Police about ten years back. It failed in the marketplace. So, even if G-10 would make it "more suited" for police in your eyes, when given the choice, the actual buyers of the knife appear to have felt otherwise.

I think Yablanowitz's theory may be closer to the truth. Another possibility is that some percentage of them are given as gifts by family and brother officers to commemorate some milestone in an officer's career, such as promotion or retirement. SS has the advantage there as it takes engraving nicely.

Paul

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[zenheretic]

i wouldn't carry a stainless pistol.

i work nights, so more peace of mind than anything. i try to wear the least amount of reflective stuff i can. if i could get away with a subdued badge, i would. and you never know when you'll have to use a particular tool.

Do you train weekly on knife defense?

 

[zenheretic]

"One of the longest selling designs" proves nothing about how slippery a SS handle is. Nor does it address why more police AND more people overall choose to carry the D+E rather than a Police model. If it is more slippery, than it is "too slippery" for some people. The addition of G-10 would make it "more" suited for police. You wouldn't find many police officers that would want to carry a duty weapon with sterile SS grips. :jerkit: Too slippery.

Actually you are quite wrong. If the Police is so slick that it is like handling a greased pig, it would stop selling. My gut tells me you are just mouthing conventional internet "wisdom" about stainless steel knives and have never actually used a Police to cut something.

As far as sales go, by and large Police aren't paid what they deserve for the job and have to be a bit budget minded, just like a lot of working joes. The Police obviously costs near twice the Endura. Why would I get a Police when the Endura will do the same thing if cost is a primary motivator?

Try and remember that all Spydercos were SS when the company first started. Of those early designs, only the Police and its progeny remain in the lineup. Stainless handles = slick grip is a myth when considering Spyderco knives.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Do you train weekly on knife defense?

i dont train weekly on anything, technically. i practice my draw regularly, among other things, but i don't think i would call it training.

i have trained on knife defense, but it is not a regular part of our curriculum. our dt instructors have given me some one on one, but have not offered it as departmental training.

 

[zenheretic]

i dont train weekly on anything, technically. i practice my draw regularly, among other things, but i don't think i would call it training.

i have trained on knife defense, but it is not a regular part of our curriculum. our dt instructors have given me some one on one, but have not offered it as departmental training.

By training of knife defense, do you mean defending yourself against a knife attack using your service weapon, or defending yourself against an attack using your knife?

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

"One of the longest selling designs" proves nothing about how slippery a SS handle is. Nor does it address why more police AND more people overall choose to carry the D+E rather than a Police model.

all three of those designs are "longest selling" designs.

More people carry the Delica and Endura because they are cheaper.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

By training of knife defense, do you mean defending yourself against a knife attack using your service weapon, or defending yourself against an attack using your knife?

yes, yes, yes. the third being the least practical for me, but still fun to learn.

the vast majority of my training is firearms related, as im an instructor.

but my interest in knives has led me to some edged weapons training as well. two of our dt instructors are pretty good, and spent some time with me.

admittedly, i am far from being proficient at any of the knife stuff, but i try.

 

[rmc85]

well, since i often carry one on duty, i can tell you what i like:

-long cutting edge, the 4" blade is actually our policy limit.
-slim and light.
-solid lock.
-black scales/clip dont reflect light (i would love a black blade).
-broad tip, with moderate distal taper, should the need arise to pry.
(i have a small pry bar, but in emergent situations, i may have to use a knife)
-relatively inexpensive, at least compared to my other knives.
-comfortable grip.
-easy to sharpen.
-easy to open.
-ambidextrous.

and mine doesn't say "police" anywhere on the knife.

Is 4 inches the limit on the blade or the cutting edge? because if its the blade then you are breakng policy.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Is 4 inches the limit on the blade or the cutting edge? because if its the blade then you are breakng policy.

im not in violation of policy.

thx.

 

[dragonram7]

My two cents on the subject:

Most uniformed officers carry a bunch of gear, and I mean a BUNCH. Radio, flashlight, baton, pistol, ammunition, handcuffs, mace, tazer...sometimes even more. All that stuff can make it hard to get a knife (or anything else) in and out of your pocket. In that situation, clipping the knife in your waistband makes a lot of sense. The smooth stainless handles of the Police will slide into place between the shirt and pants much easier than a grippy G-10 or CF handle. It also can be drawn back out without pulling the shirt tail out with it.

An officer's knife is a hundred times more likely to be used as a tool than a weapon, so the benefit of easy drawing and stowing might well outweigh the inconvenience of a somewhat less secure grip.

Uniformed/Plain clothes (off Duty)/ or undercover, the Police has several advantages listed above. I usually carry IWB because thats the way I've trained over the years. I retired in January but I feel naked without a knife. Don't get me wrong, I love G10 and CF. The SS excels in the IWB carry because I sweat. I've never had a corrosion problem with the Police and the SS doesn't hang up on my clothing. For me, the SS disappears in this carry method.

I was a rangemaster, tactical instructor, and defensive knife tactics instructor for POST. I trained/train regularly with my knives. Yes, I've used my knife over the years more than my handgun. The Police is both utilitarian and SD oriented in it's design.

 

[rmc85]

im not in violation of policy.

thx.

From Spyderco....

Police3 G-10

length overall 9 7/8" (251 mm)
blade length 4 3/8" (111 mm)
blade steel VG-10
length closed 5 9/16" (141 mm)
cutting edge 4" (102 mm)
weight 5 oz (140 g)
hole diameter 1/2" (13 mm)
blade thickness 1/8" (3 mm)
handle material G-10

I was just asking because you were not clear on if the 4 inches was your limit on the blade or cutting edge. Sorry for asking!

 

[langston302]

I have found that its long slim design allows for me to still get in my pocket with a duty belt on, unlike my endura or delica.

it just lies better in my pocket.

 

[Rex G]

Ah, you youngsters and all of your speculating! G-10 and FRN were not in use for knife handles back when the Spyderco Police hit the market, so there was no Endura, no Delica, no Military. There were plastics in use, but not FRN as we now know it.

OK, now I will speculate a bit, myself: The Gerber Guardian boot dagger was VERY popular back in the day with police officers. I seem to remember those having a 4" blade. Well, the Spyderco Police, with its swedge and general blade shape, gave police officers a folding sticker. Texas peace officers could, and can, carry virtually any blade type, but this is not true all over the USA, so a folding dagger-like knife, which was not actually a dagger by definition, seemed to make sense. The continued success of the Police indicates it was a wise enough business decision.

As for the lack of texture on the handle, well, the handle itself locked into my hand well enough. When I badly chipped my Police blade near the tip, while, yes, of course, prying something now forgotten, I fixed it by filing the tip into something like a squared-off diving knife, and continued to use it for many years as a utility knife.

I jumped on the Military when they first hit the market; it is a MUCH better police knife than the Police, in my opinion.

 

[dragonram7]

Thanks for the compliment Rex, but some of us are not that young. I love the Military, it is one of the few Liner locks I'd put faith in and it is a cutter. Love the CF Military/BG-42. It's great for Tactical Trousers side pockets. However, for IWB it's hard to beat the SS Police.

 

[lpd10574]

I gave away my old police model years ago to another LEO friend of mine, and he still carries it to this day. I also had reservations about the slipperiness of the steel handles.

I have since seen the new police with the g-10 which I really like, but dragonram7 makes me rethink not wanting to carry the stainless back in the day.

I am torn now. Stainless or G-10?

 

[3Guardsmen]

I am torn now. Stainless or G-10?

Pick your poison. With the Police 3, you've got the 4-way carry option, the improved grip (G-10 and choil), and a flat-ground blade. It's a tad bit thicker in the hand than the original Police. With the original Police, you've got Right hand, tip-down carry only (unless you specifically seek out a left hand model, which will be difficult....it's easier to just drill & tap), SS handles, but it's a bit thinner in profile and has a saber-hollow ground, dagger style blade. You can also sharpen the false edge on the original Police. Blade steel, blade length, and Country of manufacture are the same on both.

Personally, I'm sticking with my original Police, though I seldom carry it on duty, preferring instead to carry my Endura 4 Wave strong side and a zip-tie waved Dodo weak side. My original Police has a sharpened false edge and grip tape on part of the non-clip side handle, and it works great for me. I seldom, if ever, carry a non-waved knife on duty, so I don't think I'll be getting a Police 3, though I've handled it and feel it's a great knife. Good luck to you in whatever you decide and be safe!:thumbup:

Regards,
3G

 

[dragonram7]

not to change the subject but the Dodo is a very under rated knife. If I could find one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. THANKS 3G. Be safe out there.

 

[yablanowitz]

I gave away my old police model years ago to another LEO friend of mine, and he still carries it to this day. I also had reservations about the slipperiness of the steel handles.

I have since seen the new police with the g-10 which I really like, but dragonram7 makes me rethink not wanting to carry the stainless back in the day.

I am torn now. Stainless or G-10?

My two cents on this one, it depends on your carry preference. I find the G-10 of the new Police3 irritating when carried inside my waistband. The lower riding position (clip mounted closer to the end) also leaves a lot less to get a grip on when drawing the knife. If you carry in a pocket instead of IWB, please disregard this advice.

 

[Reeek]

My two cents on this one, it depends on your carry preference. I find the G-10 of the new Police3 irritating when carried inside my waistband. The lower riding position (clip mounted closer to the end) also leaves a lot less to get a grip on when drawing the knife. If you carry in a pocket instead of IWB, please disregard this advice.

I can see that and I will respectuflly disregard but only because I carry mine in my right hip pocket and in that regard, the G10 on my Police 3 is just about perfect. In fact I find myself pinching the top of the knife above the pcokert clip while it's in my pocket and I silently comment to myslef how perfect this G10 texture is. Then I let go before people think I'm a perv . . .

I haven't carried any other knife for weeks now since I received my Police 3. That's not to say my other knives are in the dog house by ANY stretch! It's just that this is almost the perfect long blade EDC IMHO.