Recommendation? Best/favorite knife to break auto glass?

annr

annr

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I'm looking for suggestions and feedback on knives (or tools/instruments) that people bought and/or have successfully used to break auto glass, windshields, seat belts, etc.

Any non-performers, types to avoid also good to know!
 
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Apologies for non-knife suggestions, but I strongly recommend trauma shears for seat belts and a spring loaded punch for windows. Both are inexpensive, widely available and easy to store in cars. A spring loaded punch is also going to a lot easier to use than anything you need to swing if an accident leaves you injured, or restricts the space you can move around in.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Apologies for non-knife suggestions, but I strongly recommend trauma shears for seat belts and a spring loaded punch for windows. Both are inexpensive, widely available and easy to store in cars. A spring loaded punch is also going to a lot easier to use than anything you need to swing if an accident leaves you injured, or restricts the space you can move around in.
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Thanks for this. I edited the OP to include other tools and instruments— I couldn't do thread title, at least not from here.
 
Cheap fleabay tac pen with carbide tipped cap. Just be sure to wear cloves or wrap a sleeve or rag around your hand.
 
Sosa said:
Cheap fleabay tac pen with carbide tipped cap. Just be sure to wear cloves or wrap a sleeve or rag around your hand.
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This brings up another point in favor of the spring loaded punch. Much less chance of putting your hand and arm through broken glass.
 
IM is right. If youre going to haul around something specifically for rescue purposes, it may as well be the best tool for the job.

I haven't used them, but I've heard good reports on these:

adventure-journal-leatherman-raptor.jpg

Leatherman Raptor Shears. They also have a strap cutter and a carbide glass breaker. I'd still also carry a dedicated glass breaker though. They're cheap and work a lot better.
 
I have a Kershaw Blur with carbide glass breaker. I considered a spring loaded punch but a drawback is it takes 2 hands, and when I looked online at the big river store many had bad reviews saying construction was shoddy.

Having a glass breaker is a really good idea, most people don't realize how tough auto glass can be. I recommend testing out whatever you buy if possible.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
This brings up another point in favor of the spring loaded punch. Much less chance of putting your hand and arm through broken glass.
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You are supposed to break it in a corner, this keeps you from accidentally striking someone or sticking your arm through. If a person is behind the glass you should cover them with a blanket or roll the window down and break it in the door.

Regular car door windows are easy to knock out as long as you use a carbide point. I have seen people beat on windows without breaking them and then pop them first hit using a carbide point.
Windshields are laminated. I use a glassmaster or rhinotool to cut those out. They are not something you are going to cut out in a timely manner using some rinky dink hand tool.
Seatbelts can be cut with pretty much any sharp knife or shears. The rescue hooks are popular because they limit the danger of unintentionally cutting something besides the seatbelt. If you cut them at a 45 degree angle they are easier to cut than going straight across.
 
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I am curious if we asked a bunch of first responders how often they need to cut a seatbelt vs break a window. My hunch is the glass breaker gets more use but they would be the ones to know.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
This brings up another point in favor of the spring loaded punch. Much less chance of putting your hand and arm through broken glass.
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Well me myself don't really want to carry a single task tool. A pen I can write with and usually carry anyway. The way tempered glass breaks all you really need is your sleeve or undershirt for protection.
 
MassMatt said:
I have a Kershaw Blur with carbide glass breaker. I considered a spring loaded punch but a drawback is it takes 2 hands, and when I looked online at the big river store many had bad reviews saying construction was shoddy.

Having a glass breaker is a really good idea, most people don't realize how tough auto glass can be. I recommend testing out whatever you buy if possible.
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Not sure what punches you've used, but the ones I have are definitely operable with one hand.
 
The butt or pommel end at one of the top corners. Carbide tip is not neccessary. If tinted, you will need to deploy the blade and cut downwards before punching the rest of the glass out with a protected hand. Any reasonably sharp edged tool will go right through a seatbelt.
 
MassMatt said:
I am curious if we asked a bunch of first responders how often they need to cut a seatbelt vs break a window. My hunch is the glass breaker gets more use but they would be the ones to know.
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I break more glass, because windows outnumber seatbelts most of the time. While on the subject, I also prefer opening doors and unbuckling seatbelts. Going through a different door may also be an option.

Not sure what punches you've used, but the ones I have are definitely operable with one hand.
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Some auto-punches have stiff springs.
 
Stay away from your cheapo " tactical rescue knives "
They suck at Everything including breaking glass.

I've heard nothing but good things about the rescue me tool which is a spring loaded glass punch.
I've also heard that a cheap spring loaded center punch will work extremely well.
 
Spring loaded punch work great, but really anything with a decent point will work. Spring loaded punches are cheap. For cutting seat belts, any sharp knife will cut a seat belt quick and in a hurry.
 
Jhansenak47 said:
If a person is behind the glass you should cover them with a blanket or roll the window down and break it in the door.
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Roll down the window and break it in the door? If you can roll it down why would you be breaking it at all? And if we've got time to deal with blankets and whatnot we can probably also wait for first responders with proper tools.

If I'm using a pocket tool to break a car window it's because someone inside is in immediate danger. No time for blankets.
 
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