Strap cutters (Gerber vs. CRKT vs. Benchmade)

T

TKM

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Nov 3, 2010
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252
Hi guys!

Well here is the thing, my brother ( a doctor) is a volunteer with a our local Urban Rescue Team and the other night he was telling me about this accident they responded to, in which one guy had some kind of injury in the ankle area but he was wearing safety boots, so in order to help him, they needed to cut the boot without causing more damage.

He carries a Gerber Hinderer Rescue , so he deployed the seat belt cutter to go through the boot, but the cutter was too thin and didn't fit, he says he tried to use the resuce blade on his knife and even the blade of his buddiy's Victorinox Rescue Tool (which has a better angle) but the back and forth movement would hurt their patient. They ended up using those weird scissors all EMTs carry, but I took them quite a while to go through the whole boot.

The point is, when he told me this, I figure I'd get him for his b'day either a strap cutter or gut hook to use in those situations.

I've kind of narrowed it down to the following (price point and availability are almost the same, so that is no and issue)

1) The new Gerber Strap Cutter. It has a wide cutting area, a glass breaker at the end (which is a great puls) and a nice MOLLE-compatible sheath. The downside: 420HC, probably made in China (I've had awful experiences with Chinese-made Gerbers)

2) The Benchamade Model 5. The cutting area is also very good, 440C steel, US-made, Benchmade quality, the sheath is OK but there is no Glass Punch which is kind of desirable.

3) CRKT Extrik-8r. Looks fine, plastic sheath, has a screwdriver tip at the end which I guess could be used as a glass punch. Chinese-made but there is no info on the steel.

4) Buck/ TOPS strap cutter. I don't like the sheath but the tool is nice, US- made, Buck's 420 HC, again, no glass punch. BTW, I also like the traditional Buck Gut Hook.

I discarded the Benchmade Houdini Pro and the CRKT Exitool because of the LED light, since my brother usually works under the rain or around water.

So my questions,

Has anyone used the Gerber Strap Cutter? I'd be perfect for me but I'm concerned about quality.

Do you think I could use either the screwdriver on the Extrik-8r or the back of the Benchmade/Buck as a glass punch (given the case)? Are they strong enough?

Thanks guys.
 
Why not get one custom made so you have something made for that purpose. A custom will get you all the ideas you have on the knife ;)
 
TKM said:
Do you think I could use either the screwdriver on the Extrik-8r or the back of the Benchmade/Buck as a glass punch (given the case)? Are they strong enough?
Click to expand...

They might be, but I doubt that you are. Seriously, it is very difficult to break toughened vehicle glass without the correct tool.

I have no experience of the other tools, but carry a Benchmade 5 Rescue Hook in my firejacket. It is a very good tool.
For glass I carry a Res-Q-Me.
 
Thank you guys for your answers,

turbo-henrik, a custom made could be an option in the long run but not right now, It would imply a lot more time and money, but I actually already have one design in mind ;)

Steven Andrews, yeah, I kind of guessed It wouldn't be that easy without the proper tool, I have yet to find a scrapyard where they let me practice on an old vehicle. Thanks for your opinion on the Model 5, especially coming from someone in the field.

Cosmo7809, thanks for the link I don't know how I missed that one, I'm gonnna give it a good look.

So, I think I'm going for the Model 5 and I'm also ordering either the Gerber or the Benchmade ERT-1 for myself, just to try them.

Thanks again guys.
 
I never used knife in real life rescue but I've tested some on the belt, and all folders I use cut belt in single move. Therefore I don't think that belt cutter is nessesary. But spring glasbreaker is TIMES better than "strike the glass" method.
 
Just so you know, the LED on the Houdini Pro is waterproof, so him working in the rain/around the water shouldn't be a problem. The prototypes were tested by an Oregon response team during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, IIRC. I'd go with that, personally.
 
idaho said:
I never used knife in real life rescue but I've tested some on the belt, and all folders I use cut belt in single move. Therefore I don't think that belt cutter is nessesary.
Click to expand...

These tools are designed for rescue, where the cutting will be done in stressful situations and close confines.
Imagine how you'd feel if you caused unnecessary injury to a member of the public when there is the option of a safer tool.
 
I have used the Model 5 for a number of years now and like it very much. It works beautifully on all types of material including leather and motorcycle jackets, however trying to cut off boots/shoes without moving a possible injured body part is very difficult. I know some friends who recommend a product called Big Shears. Kind of pricey but they do have glass breaker and I have witnessed them cutting through a knot tied with a bed sheet and boots like butter.

http://www.bigshears.com/cart/

Also, I read on a review that if you want to have a vertical holster ,or one that doesn't cost so much, this flashlight holster does the trick

http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Prod.php?TxtModelID=8011
 
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Zero Tolerance JB-2 Shroud cutter. Jump-rated sheath w/carbide glassbreaker.

zerotoleranceshroudcutter1.jpg

zerotolerancejb2sheath.jpg
 
Thanks to everyone for your replies,

The Benchmade Model 5 seems to be the standard as of performance, so I'm going with it.

Those Big Shears look like a really beefed up version of the classic EMT scissors, they're kind of pricey, though. Maybe for his next birthday ;)

I like the Houdini Pro which I just found out is the same as the ERT-1, the only downside is the batteries CR1216 which are harder to find than others.

I'm still hoping to get some feedback on the Gerber strap cutter, it has a great price but the few reviews I read don't say much about its performance
 
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