Rescue knives

[JJR512]

I have recently become interested in collecting rescue knives. When I say "collecting", I don't mean to put on display on a shelf behind glass. I mean I actually want to try all of them and see what works best for me.

I'm mainly interested in items that are primarily a folding knife with other specialty features added to the design somehow. I'm interested in tools that are designed and intended for use by first responders, such as EMS and firefighters and other rescue personnel.

I already have two such products:
1. Gerber Hinderer Rescue
2. Emerson NSAR

I am aware of two other similar products that are on my short list:
3. Benchmade Triage
4. Spyderco Assist

Are there any other products that are similar in nature or concept to any of the above, or anything else you feel I should consider adding to my collection and trying out?

If there are any other related products that aren't folding knife style designs, feel free to mention them. I already have a Leatherman Raptor and Leatherman Z-Rex, and plan to get the Leatherman Skeletool RX when it becomes available. I also plan to get one of the Benchmade Rescue Hooks soon, probably the 8 to compare against the Z-Rex.

I am not interested in cheap gimmick products like the $8.99 knives that have Maltese Crosses or Stars of Life plastered all over their handles.

 

[jday2727]

Try the Raker Ring Tool. The CRKT one is great but I personally own two of the real deal.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I've carried a pair of these belt/strap cutters from Gall's on my duty belt for 25 of the 27 years that I've been an EMT.

This is what is velcroed inside the center console of my car. (Velcroed so it's where it's supposed to be in case the vehicle is involved in a roll-over collision)

 

[mauser9]

I suggest you check out the Buck/Tops CSAR folder. Rugged as hell with 3 1/2 inch blade with glass breaker and seat belt cutter at end of handle. New ones being with 154 CM steel. Just got one this month and it appears to be very rugged and should stand up to tough usage. Others here said I would be satisfied. Got mine online for around $90. Hope this helps

 

[JJR512]

Would that be this one? http://www.buckknives.com/product/tops-buck-csar-t-responder-knife/0091BKSTP1-B/

 

[whitty]

I am glad to see the Benchmade Triage on your short list. That is a must for anyone looking for a great rescue knife! If I think of others I will come back!

 

[bt93]

Victorinox Rescue Tool. It's pretty awesome.

 

[DPC]

Rescue knife is literally any knife you're comfortable with using and carrying when you're rescuing someone. Professional Search and Rescue units sometimes carry fixed blades, and , like in the army, they sometimes carry cool ones that are gifted by famous brands. Then you have the Emergency Units of the army and the paramedics that may use folding knives.

Most people are not knife people, and usually, according to experience, they will use cheap stuff like MTech and United Cutlery folders.

However here are some more tasteful choices for the more refined rescuer or collector:


Victorinox Rescue Tool

Leatherman Charge Tti

FKMD (FOX) A.L.S.R. 2

And many more. Bear in mind; these are just some folders and multitools. When you step into the fixed blade territory your options expand a lot .

 

[WEB2]

The crkt m16-14zer is pretty nice

 

[JJR512]

Thanks for the replies so far. Here are some thoughts I have...

Whitty, does your site sell any of the products mentioned so far? I did a search for the Benchmade Triage but didn't see it.

I'll put the Victorinox Rescue on my list to consider. The CRKT knife as well.

I actually have a Leatherman Charge TTi, it's part of my standard kit. I never really considered it to be a rescue tool, just a utility tool. But in retrospect I can see that it can be used as a rescue tool if need be, such as if a primary rescue tool got lost or broken during a situation. So this is a good reminder to me to remember ALL the capabilities of everything I have with me, and to remember to adapt if needed.

I don't know much about Fox Knives. What's their reputation? How do,they compare in quality to Benchmade or Spyderco?

 

[Horsewright]

This one is a little different. It was designed by a Junior Rodeo judge. He wanted something he could use to cut some kid loose that got hung up or tangled in a rope or whatever without endangering either the kid or the animal. This was a custom one off that I built him to his design. Elk handle and AEB-L stainless at 62 RC. What was interesting is its cutting effectiveness. When I finished grinding the blade I was able to cut 6 strands of hay bale twine with one swipe. This was before the blade had an edge! Literally no edge was yet ground on the blade. No sawing or two passes on the string, just reach out, blade up and pull back and all six strings cut.

After finishing the knife I put a small/micro secondary bevel on the blade. It cut through the rope pictured in one swipe. This rope is tough stuff, hard rolled nylon, its designed to rope cattle with. Think we acheived what he was looking for.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Dave -

I really like that design. Over in the "knives in cars" thread, I stated that the only kind of "straight edge", fixed or folder, (i.e., non-hooked - as opposed to my Galls cutter above) that would be safe as a belt/strap cutter would have a very blunt, rope-knife like point. Yours definitely meets my requirements. That single bevel profile is typical of the hooked rescue knives that I have tried that worked well. I attempted something similar to yours a while back, but it sure didn't turn out nearly as good looking as yours. My knife making skills still fall under the "Amateur Hour" category.

Just guessing, but is the blade length about 3" with a 4" handle?

 

[sabre cat]

I have recently become interested in collecting rescue knives. When I say "collecting", I don't mean to put on display on a shelf behind glass. I mean I actually want to try all of them and see what works best for me.

I'm mainly interested in items that are primarily a folding knife with other specialty features added to the design somehow. I'm interested in tools that are designed and intended for use by first responders, such as EMS and firefighters and other rescue personnel.

I already have two such products:
1. Gerber Hinderer Rescue
2. Emerson NSAR

I am aware of two other similar products that are on my short list:
3. Benchmade Triage
4. Spyderco Assist

Are there any other products that are similar in nature or concept to any of the above, or anything else you feel I should consider adding to my collection and trying out?

If there are any other related products that aren't folding knife style designs, feel free to mention them. I already have a Leatherman Raptor and Leatherman Z-Rex, and plan to get the Leatherman Skeletool RX when it becomes available. I also plan to get one of the Benchmade Rescue Hooks soon, probably the 8 to compare against the Z-Rex.

I am not interested in cheap gimmick products like the $8.99 knives that have Maltese Crosses or Stars of Life plastered all over their handles.

When I was a medic, I would of loved having any of the rescue knives listed above. I carried a CRKT M16 or a CRKT Prowler for most of my service time. Later on I ended up with a Gerber rescue knife. I think it is called an E Z Out. It has a yellow handle. Not as nice as the Hinderer model that Gerber is offering but it cost much less so you don't stress if it is lost or left on a call. Now days I carry the standard issue Benchmade Rescue Hook in my bag. I think it is a model seven.

SOG offers a Flash II Rescue. I had one of those for a while. Gave mine to a friend after he completed Paramedic school. The blade reminds me of an Emerson.

Spyderco offers a model called a Clip-It rescue. I like those. Lightweight and not very much money. Mine is around here somewhere. Oh, don't forget about the Spyderco Byrd series of knives. They offer a budget rescue knife that can't be beat for the money.

I retired in 2002 but if I had to do it again, I would carry a Benchmade Triage on duty and a Benchmade Stryker away from work. If I was on a budget, I would go with a Byrd rescue or a Spyderco Clip-It.

Hope this is of some help to you.

 

[Horsewright]

Good guess ZZ! Just a hair over 2.75" on the blade and the handle is at 4". I made a crossdraw horizontal sheath for it. Out of the way till ya need it but handy when ya do. It was a difficult grind, particularly the front plunge. I ended up ripping belts into 1" ers and then running em off each side of the the platen. Where I think this design would really shine is with packers. Anybody leading a packstring of horses or mules would love this knife

 

[FearDoiteain]

When I was a medic, I would of loved having any of the rescue knives listed above. I carried a CRKT M16 or a CRKT Prowler for most of my service time. Later on I ended up with a Gerber rescue knife. I think it is called an E Z Out. It has a yellow handle. Not as nice as the Hinderer model that Gerber is offering but it cost much less so you don't stress if it is lost or left on a call. Now days I carry the standard issue Benchmade Rescue Hook in my bag. I think it is a model seven.

SOG offers a Flash II Rescue. I had one of those for a while. Gave mine to a friend after he completed Paramedic school. The blade reminds me of an Emerson.

Spyderco offers a model called a Clip-It rescue. I like those. Lightweight and not very much money. Mine is around here somewhere. Oh, don't forget about the Spyderco Byrd series of knives. They offer a budget rescue knife that can't be beat for the money.

I retired in 2002 but if I had to do it again, I would carry a Benchmade Triage on duty and a Benchmade Stryker away from work. If I was on a budget, I would go with a Byrd rescue or a Spyderco Clip-It.

Hope this is of some help to you.

I agree with his conclusion. If you have to carry one, the Benchmade Triage is on a very short list. But as he says earlier are you comfortable carrying and losing something that nice?

The combo of a decent all around knife cheap enough to abuse or lose, and a Benchmade hook is also very viable.

The Hinderer Rescue, while being a nice knife that I personally carried had too many trade offs for general use for me to consider it for anything other than a dedicated duty knife. It's thick, heavy, and lacks a point (on purpose for prying) but I have used the oxygen wrench on there in a pinch. For me the biggest disappointment was the window breaker. Its steel and rounds out and loses effectiveness quickly. If you only need to break a window once or twice it may work. And likely, the cost of replacing the knife will be small potatoes at that point.

But a carbide breaker is what you really want.

I've use the Kershaw Funxion EMT's (carbide) breaker several times and did not notice a degradation in performance. And it is $25-30 depending on which version and sale you see. That is where I'd start most people. The hook works well enough to cut clothes and belts (I actually have used it several times). But it does not cut or hold an edge like the Benchmade. And the knife itself is usable also, but I'm not a fan of combo edge only.

At that price, if you outgrow it, you're not out much.

I also have the Swiss Army Rescue Tool. But that actually lives in my wife's car. I usually have better individual tools in my truck, and (my pockets depending on what I grab heading out) But it gives me piece of mind knowing that I can at least get the basics done with what it includes.

 

[JJR512]

Thank you FearDoiteain. For me, general-purpose utility is not a factor. I'm going to have a regular folding knife as well as a multitool.

 

[DeadboxHero]

Leatherman Raptor.

That's the best tool I've ever carried for EMS

 

[nlewman]

I'm going to go with a knife already on your list. Spyderco assist.


I keep one in my truck at all times. I got the salt version, just because I wanted a salt. But it's great. Serrations cut like nothing else, and it has come in handy so far when someone needs something cut off of them. Luckily I've only had to use it 3 times so far, but it works wonders. I touch a seat belt and it disenigrates.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[sabre cat]

I also have the Swiss Army Rescue Tool. But that actually lives in my wife's car. I usually have better individual tools in my truck, and (my pockets depending on what I grab heading out) But it gives me piece of mind knowing that I can at least get the basics done with what it includes.

If you are talking about the rescue knife based on the 111mm Soldier knife, I have to ask, do you like it? Is it worth the money? I am considering one for my wife's car and maybe another for the tank bag of my K bike. The video that Victorinox made for that knife is a hoot.

By the way, I found that a good quality center punch works much better than any carbide breaker on the back of a knife. Just my opinion.

 

[RamZar]

I have these:

• Spyderco Assist Salt H-1 (newest one in rust-proof steel, blunt tip)
• Kershaw Funxion EMT (can't beat the price)
• Camillus Rescue Heat (oldest one from 2006, blunt tip)
• Fox FX-214 E.R.T. Rescue (favorite, blunt tip)
• Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Rescue Tool (lots of tools)

Unfortunately, I never got the Benchmade Triage with N680 steel and they come in quite a variety of models.

Personally, any folder with partially serrated blade and glass breaker can be quite handy in such situations as well. Blunt tips work safer for cutting clothing.