Can I break a car window with a knife?

You can indeed break a car window with nearly any knife. The secret is windows absorb spread out shock really well, but concentrated force in a pinpoint area - not so much.

If you put the tip of any knife against the window near the upper outer corner and give the butt a good, hard pop with your hand it’ll bust. Might de-tip your blade, but if you’re that desperate who cares?

Pinpoint concentrated force. Hammers are too spread out over a large area. Can’t believe I’m agreeing with G Grasshopperglock , but the center punch was made for this. Just put that thing anywhere on the window and push.
 
ricklikesknives said:
I mean.. yeah, I guess.. maybe.. but why not try to find a more appropriate tool for the job? I equipped myself and my family with Resqme tools a few years back.. small glass breakers/seatbelt cutters.. we all keep them in our vehicles. I'd rather try my luck at breaking a window with something designed for for breaking a window than a random knife that was not..
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Windows are much easier to break from the inside due to the higher compressive strength and lower tensile strength of tempered glass and their shape.
 
ricklikesknives said:
I mean.. yeah, I guess.. maybe.. but why not try to find a more appropriate tool for the job? I equipped myself and my family with Resqme tools a few years back.. small glass breakers/seatbelt cutters.. we all keep them in our vehicles. I'd rather try my luck at breaking a window with something designed for for breaking a window than a random knife that was not..
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agreed...



also suggest a decent set gloves. can't recall how many times i've come across article/video where bystanders resorted to using debris, etc., in attempt to assist someone stuck in a wreck.
 
rlewpolar said:
Ooooo, I’ve been debating with myself for months about whether I should buy this very medieval implement from American Tomahawk. You may have given me perfect excuse to keep one in my car
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I'm glad I could help. 🤣
 
I've been looking for a quality tool for this type of situation but it seems like everything on the market is just super cheap looking. Yes I understand that these cheap plasticky tools will get that job done, but as someone who appreciates a well constructed tool made of good materials, I kept digging around until I came across this thing.

Just randomly saw this on Youtube, apparently they're not for sale yet but will be soon. What do you guys think?


I googled to see where you can buy it and this website comes up, says expected to go on sale in April this year.
 
nosuchagency said:
agreed...



also suggest a decent set gloves. can't recall how many times i've come across article/video where bystanders resorted to using debris, etc., in attempt to assist someone stuck in a wreck.
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Oooh... another Outlast in the wild. I wish I had grabbed a second. I carry it often as a duty knife as a Firefighter/Paramedic but worry about being able to replace it.

Though a Triage or the (similar Hogue Trauma) in MagnaCut would give most of the benefits of the toughness of 3V in the serrated blade, and the edge retention in the S30V drop point.

And having broken a number of windows over the years, a steel point might break a window, or might not. I have also seen them round over the point and basically be useless for a second break, as with a Hinderer designed Gerber Rescue knife that I carried early in my career. Carbide breakers like the two Benchmades picture have on the other hand have worked quite well for me.
 
Question for my Inkosi friends - I know the Zaan has a glass breaker, but has anyone (successfully) used the closed blade as a glass breaker on an Inkosi? 6876D813-6223-4DA8-8B38-65406375E697.jpeg
 
jux t said:
I keep a keychain spring loaded glass breaker in the glove box, along with a spare spark plug. My plan, if needed, is to use the glass breaker to break a piece of the ceramic off the spark plug. Once broken, that ceramic will break a window if thrown hard enough.
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:)
 
Yes; you can break a car window with the right knife.


That would be the one with a "brick blade"...
 
These are three of the knives I’ve forged - I carry the drop point on duty and the others went to buddies. I designed the handles with a pointy end to break glass. I tested it and while it took a good deal of force, just the shape of the pommel was enough to shatter side windows…6CFEC9D6-2D3C-4725-83A7-BCFD19B1D728.jpegF3BBB75B-F75E-443F-9CED-336AD22AFF92.jpegA124772E-E45C-4CAC-8AFF-EBDA633A1FA8.jpeg
 
Former autobody repairman here.
Post 1970 Auto side windows (includes vent windows as appliacable) and back light ("rear window") are tempered glass.
Only the windshield is laminated glass. (prior to c.1970 all automotive windows were laminated glass, at least in the USA.)
Tempered glass can be broken/shattered by a heavy scratch.
Therefore, if the knife can scratch the glass (or has a glass breaker stud) it will break it.

It is possible to break/shatter tempered glass with a nail. I've seen it done.
 
scoobtay said:
Question for my Inkosi friends - I know the Zaan has a glass breaker, but has anyone (successfully) used the closed blade as a glass breaker on an Inkosi? View attachment 2457562
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That's not a glass breaker, glass breakers have a single sharp point usually made of carbide or bearing. Titanium is soft, and will just bounce off rounding the edge and possibly injuring you in the process. Zac from BladeHQ made a video recently on glass breakers, pay attention to what happened with the "glass breaker" on the fake Microtech. They tried to break a window with a BM Immunity in M4 which is usually treated harder than S35/45VN and they snapped the blade.

 
not so dull said:
Can I break a car window with a knife? I mean, a regular knife, not the one with a carbide glass breaker tip. If I take a fixed blade, or even a folder which is strong enough (Cold Steel Spartan, etc.), will it get the job done?
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be sure to let is know.
 
Malty Falcon said:
Why weigh yourself down with glass window breakers? Out of all the people on BF, how many have actually needed to BREAK out a window to escape from a car?

My Toyota Tundra has one glass breaker for every occupant, they are called seat belt buckles. And in 48 years of driving, I've always been able to exit any vehicle by opening the door! Every single time! Even on Boeing 787 Max airplanes, the door opens when it's time to go, no need to break out the glass.

Next quiz will be: "What knife do I need to repel Anacondas?" "Best Knife for dispatching Vipers?" "Best Knife Material for slicing Monkeys?" Monkey fur is more coarse than reptile scales, is serrated appropriate if the monkeys are aggressive?
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Well I guess I'll keep my "Which knife to use in a manatee attack" thread away from here then.
 
afishhunter said:
Former autobody repairman here.
Post 1970 Auto side windows (includes vent windows as appliacable) and back light ("rear window") are tempered glass.
Only the windshield is laminated glass. (prior to c.1970 all automotive windows were laminated glass, at least in the USA.)
Tempered glass can be broken/shattered by a heavy scratch.
Therefore, if the knife can scratch the glass (or has a glass breaker stud) it will break it.

It is possible to break/shatter tempered glass with a nail. I've seen it done.
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This hasn't been accurate for several years. A lot of newer vehicles have laminated side glass also. Some of it is for sound deadening purposes "acoustic glass." It can even vary among different trims in the same vehicle year, where the upper trims get the laminated glass, lower trims tempered. Like a lot of things I noticed it first in luxury vehicles, then adopted by more mainstream vehicle. I had a vehicle with laminated front windows and tempered back windows and the difference in outside noise was actually noticeable.

But, it also helps vehicles comply with ejection mitigation standard also, so you may see it on even basic vehicles also.

If you look back at Post #37 there was a list compiled by AAA back in 2019 that listed vehicles with laminated glass outside of the windshields, and I believe it has become more common since then.
 
Kryme said:
That's not a glass breaker, glass breakers have a single sharp point usually made of carbide or bearing. Titanium is soft, and will just bounce off rounding the edge and possibly injuring you in the process. Zac from BladeHQ made a video recently on glass breakers, pay attention to what happened with the "glass breaker" on the fake Microtech. They tried to break a window with a BM Immunity in M4 which is usually treated harder than S35/45VN and they snapped the blade.

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Nice video that pretty well reflects my experience in using various glass breakers over the years. And I also avoid carrying some of the knives in my collection also for the same reason he does with catching hand on the carbide point. Generally I make sure I have a breaker equipped tool of some sort in each vehicle I am likely to be in, but not always in my pocket unless I plan to be away from a vehicle, or riding with someone else. I also have gloves and a jacket to throw on as well to protect hands/arms.

The only thing I will point out is that they were in a junkyard with very old vehicles, so they did not encounter laminated side glass. Getting access to newer vehicles for destructive training/testing is always a challenge, so I understand why they didn't test on newer vehicles. However the cameraman who said he had firefighting training should have been aware of that. I am still active as supervisor for a career FD, though I have not actively taught in several years due to other time demands, but at least the folks I taught were aware of this potential challenge for quite a while.
 
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