Your thoughts on Glass Breakers for a fixed blade knife pommel?

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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I have not had glass breaker pommels requested very often on knives in general, but after hearing James Williams' explanation of why he doesn't advocate them on fighters, I tend to agree. That being said, it could still be a useful feature on a knife. What are your thoughts on glass breakers? Is there a type of knife it is best suited for? Something heavy that can hit hard, or something light that can be swung fast? Should they only be included on knives with short blade to minimize likelihood of injury to the user (since some might point the blade toward themselves in order to strike with the butt)? Should it be carbide only, or is a four faceted sharp pyramid of protruding tang sufficient? Should it be on a small knife likely to be on your person in cases where you might need to exit a vehicle in an emergency? Just looking for opinions and experience to munch on, thanks!
 
The one time I had to break a car window with my knife I simply stabbed it. It was an emergency and I lost a couple millimeters of tip. Nothing that couldn't be sharpened out. I find glass breakers on combat-oriented knives to just be added weight and discomfort, as I practice reverse-grip mainly and thumb-cap. I comissioned a Recluse model from MMHW without the extended pommel a few years back. It is very nice.
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All the real glass breakers I've seen/have are carbide, that's on folders.
I have a couple of fixed that I ordered with skullcrushers/lanyard holes. I liked the idea of having some offense on the backswing.
I would think that any knife designed for first responders would benefit from this type of pommel.
I designed/asked for mine to look more benign as opposed to a spike type design but I think a spike/pyramid would be okay.

IMG_0453.jpg
 
I'm working with a smith on a blade he designed for first responders/popo as a 'last resort' knife.
I think on this one I'm going to ask to do a conical shape on pommel with lanyard hole:

IMG_0452.jpg
 
I have a glass breaker on the pommel of a folding "fighting knife." I like it.


EDIT: Obviously, I didn't read the thread title very carefully. I'm an idiot. Sorry.
 
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I think it depends on if you think you are going to be the one breaking into or out of the car. Fixed blade knife for a first responder? Sure. Why not. It may save a life.

For me trapped in my car in a roll over? No thanks. I much prefer an OTF that hides the dangerous part of the knife safely away as I wang my way to safety. I think that even if I had to cut myself free from my belt, short of a massively time sensitive emergency, I would still snick the blade shut before I attacked the glass.
 
Never had a need for one. On my folders I hate them. They were carbide tips and just something extra pointy to poke me when I put my hand in my pocket. When I was in a job where I needed such a thing I always had a dedicated tool for it.
 
As a general rule: no to glass breakers. I actually remove them from my knives if at all possible. I just never have a reason for them. I have also never heard, seen, or know of anyone using the glass breaker on their knife. In fact, I don't even know of anyone that knows someone who has.
 
Never had a use or need for a glass breaker on a fixed blade.

I do like then on folders I keep in my truck and bike bag though. I have a Spyderco Assist Salt in my bike bag, a Benchmade Triage in my truck, and my wife has a SAK Rescue Tool in her car, all of which have glass breakers in the handles. I used to be a volunteer firefighter and I can’t tell you how many times a window punch came in handy. I’ve seen a pipe wrench bounce off of a car window.
 
sabre cat said:
And I have seen two Firefighters bounce hammers off of a car window.

Nothing works like a spring loaded center punch. Nothing.

No window punch on a fixed blade for me.
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity though, the hammers made it through after a few strikes, I take it?
 
I've read that some newer vehicles have laminated type safety glass , even in the side windows now , like windshields have been made for a long time .

I don't think many commonly available glass breakers work very well on this type laminated glass .

If I was gonna bother with a glass breaker for serious use , I'd try to find something that would work on all of them .
 
wondering why there aren't any
spring -loaded punch glass breakers
system built into a a knife scabbard?
considering that its seen on folders
for the longest time....

Small rescue knife??? - General Tool Discussion - Multitool.org Forum

or maybe this
yes laminates require a whole different solution

​

 
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David Mary said:
Out of curiosity though, the hammers made it through after a few strikes, I take it?
Click to expand...
Yes. IIRC, it took at least six or seven strikes before the rolled up window broke. Scattering glass everywhere, I might add.

The Firefighters were using pretty beefy hammers but they were not swinging with all their might. I was actually surprised how much force it took to break a car window.

I have also seen an angry punk take out a car window with one hit.
 
DocJD said:
I've read that some newer vehicles have laminated type safety glass , even in the side windows now , like windshields have been made for a long time .

I don't think many commonly available glass breakers work very well on this type laminated glass .

If I was gonna bother with a glass breaker for serious use , I'd try to find something that would work on all of them .
Click to expand...
They don’t.

Victorinox offers a rescue knife with a glass saw. It is time consuming but, it does work on windshields and other similar laminated windows.
 
I have that S&W 1911 tool. The glass breaker worx great. Most windows in cars have a whole lot.of flex in them and can take some serious whallops and not break! You have to impact in the corner of the glass where.there's less flex. As a tractor trailer driver I've seen more accidents than I care to recall and have pulled more than A dozen people from cars who were stuck in there seatbelts..

I will not ever wear A seatbelt, ever. I've watched someone burn alive because of a seatbelt n I got there too late.. No one had a knife! Can you believe that!

Remember if you need to break A car window, hit the corner!!!!!!
 
Ohhh, this is an interesting topic. If a fixed blade should have a glass breaker, skullcracker, or whatever you call it, it shouldn’t interfere with ergonomics or function in any way. In my opinion, knives like the ESEE 5 and Becker BK7 have well done glass breakers or exposed butt tangs. Folks who are neutral about breakers won’t be bothered by them and folks who like ‘em will be plenty satisfied. The breaker shouldn’t be excessively pointy nor should it protrude from the handle profile too much.

Is it absolutely necessary on a fighting/survival knife? Probably not. I think it’s one of those things that are just nice to have in case you need ’em. Personally, breakers don’t really factor that much on whether or not I like a knife.
 
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