Complete Review On The Best First Responder Knife
Understanding First Responder Knives
The first responder knife often contains a glass breaker and a seatbelt cutter. However, this tactical knife can be helpful for other purposes as well like hiking, camping, hunting, and survival purposes.
Therefore, it is quite important to pick a trustworthy tool with you that can assist you even if you are in a rush.
In this article, we will give you a detailed review of the best tactical knives that you need to keep with you all the time.
Before we start to review the best rescue knife, it is quite important for you to get an idea about its key features as well as its types.
For that purpose, here we are going to have a brief review of the features of this knife.
Key Features
There are a lot of elements that are needed to be considered for the right tactical knife. 
However, some of them are the must-have factors that make the knife the right option to use.
In this section, we are going to disclose the top qualities of the best first responder knife that make it the perfect choice to carry.
- A fragile knife becomes easier to carry if it can be operated with one hand. So, it is the most important feature of a durable rescue knife.
- First responder knife can help you in self-defense. This feature is especially helpful for those who go hiking and camping so they can escape the dangerous attacks of animals and reptiles.
- The sharpness of the blade makes the first responder knife more reliable. A good rescue knife comes with a sharp blade that can slice any object with just a single cut.
- The handle of the knife plays a vital role to grip it. Therefore, a good rescue knife always has a rigid handle that is non-slippery and easy to hold.
- Perfect weight balance is also an important thing that makes the first responder knife the right choice.
Types of First Responder Knives
Rescue knives are of two types that are folding and fixed-blade knives. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Here we will talk about the kinds of first responder knives and tell you the positive and negative sides of these tools.
This will make it easy for you to pick the right tool for your everyday carry.
Folding Knives
A folding knife also known as an EDC knife or jack-knife is a tool that comes with one or more blades that can be folded into the handle.
The length of the blade may vary somewhere between 2 to 5 inches and it can be used for emergency situations.
One thing that makes folding knives the right option is that it is easy to carry. You can clip this knife even with your pocket and avoid dropping it accidentally.
Other than that, the folding knives come in different styles that you can gift to your friends and loved ones.
Here we will tell you both the advantages and disadvantages of a folding knife.
Pros
- Folding knives are easy to carry as you can attach them to your bag, pocket, or belt waist. So, the chances of dropping the knife get reduced.
- Easy to open so you can operate this knife even single-handedly.
- These knives are generally more favorable with the laws as you will not be investigated for carrying a folding knife with you.
- Folding knives come in different designs and shapes that you can gift to your family and friends.
Cons
- The blade of a folding knife is not as hard as you get in a fixed blade knife.
- Folding knives are a bit harder to clean as compared to fixed knives as the dust gets stuck in the hinges of the handle.
Fixed-Blade Knives
Another type of first responder knife is a fixed-blade knife that can be used for tactical purposes.
This knife is considered more rigid than the folding knife so you can use it for heavy duties.
These knives are fixed in one place and can’t be folded. Therefore, you have to keep it in a sheath so that the knife can be kept protected and any unwanted injury can be avoided.
The best part of a fixed-blade knife is that it can be used for multiple purposes like hiking, hunting, camping, etc.
Just like folding knives, you will also get the positive and negative sides of a fixed-blade knife that we are going to discuss here.
Pros
- Fixed-blade knives are generally harder and can be used for heavy-duty tasks
- The length of the blade in these knives is larger which can be helpful in cutting thick objects
- The blade of fixed blade knife is fully honed that doesn’t needs sharpness after every single use
- One of the top benefits of fixed-blade knives is that they are easy to clean
Cons
- The size and weight of fixed blade knife is the most prominent disadvantage of a fixed blade knife
- Not favorable with the law
Top 5 Best First Responder Knives in the Market
So far, we have discussed everything about the first responder knife in detail. Hope this information is vital to you.
Now we are going to disclose the best rescue knives that are reviewed by experts and trusted by millions of users.
Let’s have a look at each of these knives.
CRKT M16-14ZLEK EDC Folding Pocket Knife
CRKT M16 folding knife is one of the best knives that come in the list of best rescue knives that is very lightweight and easy to carry.
This folding knife comes with a liner safety feature that makes it easy to operate. You can easily open and close this knife because of the bearings in the pivots.
A glass-reinforced handle and a partially serrated blade make it a perfect choice for EDC.
Therefore, you can’t ignore this first responder knife while looking for the top options.
Snake Eye Tactical Assisted Opening Rescue Pocket Knife
Here comes the snake eye pocket knife that is very stylish and also very reliable with its working.
You can easily carry this tactical knife with you because of the clip attached to this knife.
With this knife, you will get a 3.5 inches blade that can easily penetrate into thick items. There is no need to worry about the oxidation factor as the knife is also rust-resistant.
On top of all, the knife is spring assisted which makes it easy to operate and you will not face any issue with opening or closing the knife.
Gerber Hinderer Combat Life Saver Knife
This rescue knife by Gerber is a masterpiece because of its top-quality features. The oversized thumb stud on the top of the handle makes it easy to operate.
A seatbelt cutter and window breaker make it a tool that can also come in handy in tough situations. Therefore, you can’t question the rigidness of this knife.
One of the best things about this knife is that it has a textured grip that makes it non-slippery and allows you to operate it even with wet hands.
SOG Escape Tactical Folding Knife
This SOG escape knife is another amazing tactical knife that is the perfect choice for multiple purposes like firefighting, hiking, hunting, and paramedics.
The most prominent thing about this knife is that it is very lightweight and easy to operate. Therefore, you will not face any issues while working with this knife.
Furthermore, the knife is built to last long. Therefore, you will not see any drop in performance even if you are using it for years.
Gerber Gear Strong-arm – Fixed Blade Tactical Knife
Here is another Gerber rescue knife that is a fixed blade and is known for its sturdiness.
This knife is a perfect choice for those individuals who have to tackle tough jobs.
This top-notch knife has a ceramic coating on it that makes it rust-resistant and maintains the sharpness of the blade for a long time.
The best feature of this first responder knife is that it comes with a lifetime warranty.
So, you can return this knife to the company if there is any fault in the quality or the workmanship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions that people ask about first responder knives. 
Let’s have a look at these queries.
What is the purpose of a first responder knife?
First responder knives are commonly used for the rescue purpose. The built-in seatbelt cutter and glass breaker make it the right choice to tackle inoperable situations.
Are there any legal restrictions on carrying first responder knives?
Yes. You can’t carry this knife with you publicly otherwise you may face legal charges over this act. You need to get permission from the government for carrying this knife with you.
How often should I maintain and sharpen my first responder knife?
The best way to maintain the sharpness of the knife blade is by oiling it over time and honing it every 1-2 months.
How should I choose the right blade material?
Generally, the serrated edge blade provides you with a fine cut. Furthermore, the coating of carbon on the blade makes it rust-resistant.
So, these are the common most prominent things that you need to consider while choosing the right blade.
What training is necessary to use a first responder knife effectively?
You need to learn about opening the knife in an emergency so you can’t get injured while operating it in a hurry.
Other than that, you need to train yourself in carrying the knife with you so it can’t open accidentally.
Conclusion
Whether you are a camper, firefighter, or hunter, a rescue knife is a must-have tool that you need to carry with you all the time.
In this article, we have discussed all the top features that make a first responder knife the right choice to carry.
Not only this, but we have also reviewed the best first responder knives that are reliable with their performance as well as build quality.
Hope you find this article beneficial and that it will assist you pick the right rescue knife.
