Window Punch?

M

maury

Joined
Sep 24, 2000
Messages
606
So far, (Thankfully!!) I’ve never needed to break out an auto window, but the idea of carrying a window punch seems like a practical consideration. I have seen several folders that have some sort of window punch built in, but while the knives seem hefty enough, the actual punching tools do not seem all that rugged (IMHO). On the other hand – and there’s always another hand! – I do like the idea of having a single tool to grab in an emergency rather than having to fish around my belt for the right one.

So, first off: has anyone had any actual experience with one of these combo knife/window punch tools? What about those special window punch tools I’ve seen in catalogs; anyone have anything to say about them?

Finally- being a gadgeteer at heart as well as always looking to save a buck - I have thought about making my own window punch out of an old drill bit, maybe epoxied into a piece of tubing for a grip with about ½” inch of the chuck end protruding. Sounds workable to me, but again, recommendations appreciated.
 
The windows on cars are made of safety glass. The way the glass is made there is pressure pushing the glass from the inside out and the only thing holding the glass from shattering is the outermost layer of glass. This is why the glass shatters into a million pieces instead of large shards. So to break the glass you only need to start a small crack and the glass will do the rest. The two ways to do this are using something harder than glass (glass is harder than steel so carbide is used) or to put a massive amount of pressure on a very small section of glass. Either way works, but I found a really great product, the Res-Q-Me which combines a spring-loaded centerpunch and a seatbelt cutter.
 
rhino said:
Couldn't you do it with the point of a fairly sturdy knife?
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I guess you could. BUT You'd have to use the point and only the point so accuracy helps and that comes from being closer to the point/smaller blade. I'd also hate to ruin the blade of my knife breaking IN to a car that I need to cut the seatbelts of. Glass breakers are kind of a "better to have and not need it" thing or an attempt at validating someone's knife as a "rescue tool."
 
As far as combo knife/ window punch tool is concerned, the Spyderco Assist tool works quite well. I have used it successfully to shatter auto glass both from inside and outside of the car. The replaceable carbide tip can and should be replaced after each use to insure structural integrity. The carbide tip at the butt end is pushed outward during a squeeze of the entire folder- much like clenching your fist, an intuitive action while under extreme stress. While the standard auto punch is an old standby, there may be times where it is needed asap- meaning it should be on the person somewere. But the protruding tip requires some sort of sheath/ holder. So differet choices for different situations.

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
I have a heavy duty automatic center punch so I don't have to swing anything [that might be difficult under some situations] . Use side windows and the corner of the window. I also have Benchmade's heaviest seatbelt cutter as I work at automobile rallys and may have to cut heavy duty race car belts.
 
mete said:
I have a heavy duty automatic center punch so I don't have to swing anything [that might be difficult under some situations] . Use side windows and the corner of the window. I also have Benchmade's heaviest seatbelt cutter as I work at automobile rallys and may have to cut heavy duty race car belts.
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I have never really thought about that before.
I guess my first instinct would be to punch into the center of the window, but maybe the glass would bend too much and make it harder to break.

With a professional window breaker it probably won't make much of a difference, since the glass will scatter anyway, but when using the tip of a knife(which is more likely to be in my pocket in an emergency situation) it can maybe make a lifesaving difference.

Is punching in the corner of a window something being taught to rescue-workers, or is it just your good developed logical sense?
 
I use the Res Q Me thingerma jinger. It's on my keychain. Have used it 4 times this year I think. Great tool. Small,you forget it's on there.
 
A prick punch works great, usually only take one or two snaps to work. I carry a spyderco assist II with carbide punch. It also works great. I have seen the rescue tool work well also.

Things that you should be aware of. These punch type tools will only work on side and rear windows. It will not work on the laminated front window. Problem is that a lot of the high end vehicles are now moving to make the side and rear windows laminates also. This will adversely affect your ability to egress from the vehicle through the side windows. Check to make sure that your vehicles don't have laminated side window glass. Laminated glass can only be breeched with a saw or smashing holes in it.

KR
 
Oh, and another thing. I dont want to come off as a know it all whatsoever, but when you do utilize a window punch like a Res Q Me tool or any other punch tool... please remember to always use the CORNER of a window at the 4 o'clock/7 o'clock position(for lefties) and brace part of your hand against the frame. You dont want your hand going through the window,nasty cuts happen. I have busted thru laminated windows with a punch but it takes alot of practice. It's the new plastic windows that need to be handeled with a crash axe or halligan tool.

Oh, and what if you need to bust through a window and dont have a punch? Simple. Use the vehicles antenna. unscrew it or bend a few times and break it off. The little ball on the end of antennas are hardened for this very purpose. Just whip it at the window and glass goes flying. Watch your eyes and the victims eyes if possible.
Please have a happy and safe New Years.
 
FireInvestigator said:
Oh, and what if you need to bust through a window and dont have a punch? Simple. Use the vehicles antenna. unscrew it or bend a few times and break it off. The little ball on the end of antennas are hardened for this very purpose. Just whip it at the window and glass goes flying. Watch your eyes and the victims eyes if possible.
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I never would have thought of that! It's a great idea!
 
My Victorinox Rescue Tool works incredible for auto glass, wire mesh safety glass and house glass.
 
buckabee said:
Is punching in the corner of a window something being taught to rescue-workers, or is it just your good developed logical sense?
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They taught us to use the corner of the window in my fire classes for two reasons. First is because it is a lot easer to break it in the corner, and second was so that you don't put your hand through the window. You should use the right bottom if your are right handed or the left bottom if you are left handed. This way your hand will hit the door instead of the going thought the window. Also they may call it safety glass, but that doesn't mean its safe. the glass can still be sharp, so be careful! I carry a center punch in my turnouts which seems to break side and back windows without any problem as long as they aren't laminated. You cant pick up center punches at most hardware stores.
 
I've used the carbide tip on my Eickhorn-Solingen PRT quite a few times for just that: busting windows. It gets the job done in one hit with one swing, but then again, I have never had to break out of the glass from the inside! You wouldn't need much room though... unless you're underwater, at which point I could see the usefulness of a spring-loaded punch-- the S&W First Responder knife has one, but I wasn't impressed: the one I saw failed bust the glass with the spring power alone. In any case, if you have time, cover yourself (and the pt) with something; I got over-eager at one accident doing windshield removal with an axe and no jacket only to have little spots of blood appear all over my arms...

For anyone else reading this thread in the extrication business, I hear gel shaving creme along the inside & outside where you intend to cut with a glass saw greatly reduces the amount of glass shards produced. Never tried it, but maybe someone who has can chime in... ?
 
^ yea, seen that used a few times....you spray the shaving cream onto the window, it rapidly foams up thick and you use whatever tool you got to shatter the glass. The foam acts as a buffer and prevents flying shards, in short it absorbs the shards and they drop down in a goopy mess.
 
Windsheild wiper arms work too, well the ones with a "pin" at the end at a right angle . Snap off arm with one quick snap, pull off blade ,swing pin into glass. Whole thing takes about 3 seconds .
 
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