advice on a good firefighter knife

S

sticknrun

Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
733
Hey everyone,

I would like some input on a good knife for a firefighter. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
sticknrun,
Welcome to the forums.

Spyderco makes 2 knives that may suit you well for your line of work,
The rescue comes in 2 sizes and is available in blaze orange as well as black and their snapit model has a shackle like attachment that could hook onto turnout gear and stay put until needed.
The opening holes are large enough to accomodate a gloved hand.

recoil
 
Ok,I'm on the job(12 years)and a knife nut.You see everything and anything.Many carry sak's, Buck 110's, whatever knife the already own, a hunter is likely to carry his folding hunting knife ect.

I carry a 50/50 blade one hand opening,clip style knife,more and more are slowly going in this direction:) .Right now I switch between a BM 710,and an Emerson CQC7a.In the past I have carried Spyderco Endruas and Delica and Cold steel voyagers ,all make good knives for FF.
CRKT is just coming out with a FF version of their m16 knife,looks very good.

I used to carry a Spyderco Rescue in my bunker coat pocket but lost it at a fire.This is a REAL possibility and one reason guys don't like to spend a lot on knives.Many find the Rescue to single purpose,they often want a point(we got shears to cut around people)and don't care for an all serration knife.

As far as opening with gloves on the Rescue was better than most however,our gloves are very thick,they get wet a lot and tossed on a pipe in the boiler room to dry,so they are very stiff.I can't even bend the distal joint of my finger with gloves on let alone open a knife.Always took my glove off to use a knife.

You can't go wrong with an Endrua,Voyager,or the M16/ff knife get the 50/50.Good enough to get the job done and one can always move up from there,if the "bug"bites;)

Check Blade magizine an issue or 2 back they did a piece on knives of ground zero.By FAR the best piece I ever read about FF knives,the only one I ever read where I thought the author had any clue as to what we need and do!!!Most talk about cutting seatbelts which is so far down the list,I imediately know they don't "walk the walk".

Ok heres what I forgot,this is for a structural firefighter,wildland or crash,fire,rescue(airport)may have differant needs.

I also break uses up into 3 parts.

1.around the firehouse use,whatever you cut at home we cut at the firehouse,rags,cardboard,food ect.

2.self defense,a few years back we had 5 people killed within 100 yards of our firehouse,more than once have I watched the "ninja"dressed police jump out of vans and case the drug dealers across the street.

3.on runs(calls)use,cut a lot of tar paper and plastic,burned carpet,matterses and sofas,cut rope and electric cords that people use to tie gates shut with(getto padlock)

You see its much more than one would think.Good luck and WELCOME.
 
i am sure that Lone Hunter would know much more about this than me but i think i would get a Benchmade Nimvus/nimvus Cub in M2 steel. It has a G10 handle (glass lamminet material) so it should with stand heat better than plastic handled knives, and it is made out of a good tool steel that can hold its temper when exposed to heat (if nothing else this would warrent extra bragging rights) also its a fixed blade so it would pry and in general perform better, and probably be easier to use with gloves.


bm-140hs.jpg


good luck

brian
 
Ive been a volunteer firefighter for 13 years now and have carried alot of knives,but the most useful one by far has been a leatherman pst2.I always have the PST 2 or Wave on my side along w/a SS Delica 2 or a Plain Old Timer stockman.These knives have always got the job done for me.
 
Don't forget, your department may have rules about what is a permissible knife (i.e., no fixed blades). Another FB disadvantage is that many come with a kydex sheath, and when you get kydex up around 200 degrees it gets soft. I think Lone Hunter has given you good advice; the other knife you may wish to consider is a Spyderco Military. It has a larger opening hole than many Spydercos, making it easier to open with gloves on, and the G-10 handles should be relatively impervious to heat. Problems with it? Fragile point, more expensive ($100)

I spent last summer as a wildland fire-fighter. I carried my Strider AD and was very happy with its performance. Given that it's a fixed blade in a kydex sheath that might make it a little less suited for the higher-heat conditions structural guys experience.
 
Check out the Spyderco Rescue.... Good blade with a blunt tip for cutting clothing, seatbelts and lifelines. They're relatively inexpensive and won't be a major loss if they get lost or destroyed...
 
Stick, do yourself a favor and get a Buck/Strider, i carry a Spear point!! I'm a Firefighter/Paramedic in Ft.Lauderdale Fl., and i've carried just about everything short of a fixed blade, this thing will do you right !! It's a rarity that i have to cut a seat belt, and the best thing for a pair of jeans that need to come off are Trauma Shear's !! With the B/S i've cut various materials,pried, and even taken out a window or two with it (center punch has got nothing on this Bad Boy), and best of all i was able to pick mine up for $85 buck's !! Might feel a bit heavy in the pocket at first, but you get over that real quick, and bottom line is you need something you can depend on !!

Good Luck, Mario C.
BCFR-Local333
 
personally, after reading everyone elses posts regarding which knife is ideal for a firefighter, wearing heavy gloves, and without being a fixed blade, I would reccomend the MOD CQD Dieter with glassbreaker and web cutter. It just seems all too obvious a choice. First reason why it seems obvious to me, are the large machined "lobes" on the top of the handle that facilitate pulling the knife out from the pocket. Secondly, if you dont get the auto version, the thumb studs are sufficiently large enough and far enough away from the handle that even with thick gloves one can open it fairly easily. Finally, a situation that should prove why a firefighter might choose this knnife.

Someones stuck in a car, badly injured, what do you do?
Pull out your CQD, break the glass window, then use the web cutter to cut off the seat belt, and hopefully pull the person out safely.

Anyway, thats why my logic tells me whats best. Good luck in choosing your knife.
 
Box 27,I have often thought of getting a spearpoint Buck/strider myself,you may have me adding to my collection.

pechelman,thats a good knife also,about 4 times what most firemen would ever spend though.Really,a lot of guys come to me with a broken pos knockoff and say"Igot this for ten bucks,can you get me another" Well for about 40 I can get you a real spyderco."40 bucks,thats to much for a knife I'll just lose at work."

Unless that person badly hurt in a car,is in a car thats on fire,sinking in a lake or some other imediate life threatening situation.DON"T MOVE HIM!No offense but this reach in cut the belt and "save"the person that we read about so much in the knife ad's and magizines is 100% wrong!We go in do an assesment,treat any life threats,apply o2,stabilize the spine,apply a collar,backboard than remove the person.

Again nothing personal this is just something that bothers me and I read it over and over in the knife mags.If the cars stuck on railroad tracks and old number 7 is head'n its way,well then its a clear cut save his life ,don't worry about paralysis,other wise don't move them.
 
well yea, obviously, but im glad you pointed it out for some people who may not know. Being the son of a doctor, and having gone through many training sessions on what and what not to do in an accident situation i guess i just made the assumption that everyone else was aware of that fact. Just to reiterate to make sure no one gets harmed, whethet it may be the victim in the car, or the person helping the victim via lawsuits, dont touch anyone unless its an immediate life\death situation (ie victim knocked-out drowning in a lake or in a car on fire, etc).
 
colt has a FF edition cobra with the laser cut serrations. I have a colt python 2 with the same serration and like it alot. Its a nice knife and is fairly cheap
 
I thought the guy just asked for advice on a practical firefighter knife.... not a lesson on basic life support. Let's face it, most firefighters don't carry trauma shears on their turnouts. However; they may have to first respond to an accident or car fire and free a victim -in which case a folder beats a fire axe. Wouldn't you agree?
 
P590, that's why i suggested the Buck/Strider, i'd take that over the MOD anyday, and like i said before you can't beat the price !!!

Lone, pick one up !! you won't be sorry !!

Take Care all, Mario C. :D
 
Originally posted by Jerry Hossom
Are fixed blades definitely out with FD's?
Click to expand...

Cant speak for FD's but I am a fulltime police officer. The department where I work does not allow the carry of fixed blades. :(
 
Pechelman,sorry if I came on to strong,:) but that whole cut the belt and pull them free thing scares me.Again I meant no offense.

Persuader590,well a lot of guys on my dept.do carry shears in their turn outs.Theres 2 pair in our ems bags,but at a multiple shooting or car crash with many injuries that is not enough,or as is often the case, you can be working on someone while the bag is on the other side of the street.Now if your a volly responding in your own car,carry the shears in your "gear bag"in your car.I'm not a volly,yet I carry them along with ems supplies in my car in case I come across someone who needs help.(kind of like carring an off duty gun)Ems is the number one call for most fd.you should carry the right tools.If its life and death and you got a knife,cut away!Basic car crash,shooting ect.do everyone a favor keep the sharp things in your pocket.


I did suggest what i believe to be goods knives,Endrua,Delica, Voyagers ect.Good basic not to costly.There is no right one really,3-4 inch 50/50 blade with a clip from a good company will do nicely for most.

Jerry,as far as fixed blades maybe and thats a big maybe.I don't think many cities would allow it,some might,and it would depend on how the guys carried them(low profile).I am thinking of hanging an Arclite upside down from my scba straps.Now at a fire scene nobody would say much(or even notice it)but if a hung a bowie on my belt when we go out on building inspections well that wouldn't cut it,so to speak.;) Small fixed blade kept out of sight as best as possible,that might work in if there are no rules against Fb.Wildland or firemen out in the country may be able to carry them also.So all is not lost,keep it small give it a fire service sounding name,made for"just what the fireman needs"and it might work.
 
Yeah, I had no trouble carrying a FB as a wildland firefighter, and I saw plenty of other guys carrying even pretty good sized knives. One guy I worked with even had a Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri. He said everyone made fun of him for dragging around that much weight, but when something needed cutting...
 
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