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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
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 also be helpful for other purposes, such as hiking, camping, hunting, and survival.
Picking a trustworthy tool to assist you even in a rush is important.
Key Takeaways:
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- Essential Features: First responder knives often include a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter, which are useful for emergency and non-emergency purposes such as hiking, camping, hunting, and survival.
- Key Qualities: Ideal knives should be operable with one hand, suitable for self-defense, have a sharp blade, a non-slip handle, and perfect weight balance.
- Types of Knives:
- Folding Knives: Easy to carry, operable single-handedly, available in various designs, but harder to clean and less sturdy.
- Fixed-Blade Knives: More rigid and suitable for heavy-duty tasks, easy to clean, but bulkier and unfavorable with the law.
- Top Picks: Reviews of the best knives include:
- CRKT M16-14ZLEK: Lightweight, easy to carry, and includes a partially serrated blade.
- Snake Eye Tactical: Stylish, reliable, rust-resistant, and spring-assisted.
- Gerber Hinderer: Includes seatbelt cutter and window breaker, with a non-slip grip.
- SOG Escape: Lightweight, durable, and suitable for multiple purposes.
- Gerber Gear Strong-arm: Fixed blade, rust-resistant, and includes a lifetime warranty.
Before reviewing the best rescue knife, you must know its key features and types.
For that purpose, we will briefly review 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 must-have factors make the knife the right option.
In this section, we will 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 hiking and camping to escape the dangerous attacks of animals and reptiles.
- The sharpness of the blade makes the first responder knife more reliable. A good rescue knife has a sharp blade that can slice any object with a single cut.
- The handle of the knife plays a vital role in gripping it. Therefore, a good rescue knife always has a rigid handle that is non-slippery and easy to hold.
- Perfect weight balance is also important to make the first responder knife the right choice.
Types of First Responder Knives
There are two types of rescue knives: folding and fixed-blade knives. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Here, we will talk about the kinds of first responder knives and these tools’ positive and negative sides.
This will make it easy to pick the right tool for your everyday carry.
Folding Knives
A folding knife, also known as an EDC knife or jackknife, is a tool with one or more blades that can be folded into the handle.
The blade’s length may vary between 2 and 5 inches and can be used in emergencies.
One thing that makes folding knives the right option is that they are easy to carry. You can clip this knife even with your pocket and avoid dropping it accidentally.
In addition, folding knives come in different styles, which you can gift to your friends and loved ones.
Here, we will tell you 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, reducing the chances of dropping the knife.
- Easy to open so that 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.
- 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 than fixed knives, as 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, they must be kept in a sheath to protect them and avoid any unwanted injury.
The best part of a fixed-blade knife is that it can be used for multiple purposes, such as hiking, hunting, camping, etc.
Like folding knives, fixed-blade knives have positive and negative sides, which we will 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 help cut thick objects
- The blade of a blade knife is fully honed and doesn’t need 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 a blade knife are the most prominent disadvantages 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 will disclose the best rescue knives, which have been 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
The CRKT M16 folding knife is one of the best rescue knives on the market. It is very lightweight and easy to carry.
This folding knife has a liner safety feature that makes it easy to operate. The bearings in the pivots make it easy to open and close.
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, which is stylish and reliable.
You can easily carry this tactical knife with you because of the clip attached to this knife.
This knife’s 3.5-inch blade easily penetrates thick items. It is also rust-resistant, so there is no need to worry about the oxidation factor.
Moreover, the knife is spring-assisted, which makes it easy to operate. You will not face any issues 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 be useful in tough situations. Therefore, you can’t question the rigidness of this knife.
One of the best things about this knife is its textured grip, which is 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, such as firefighting, hiking, hunting, and paramedics.
The most prominent aspect of this knife is that it is very lightweight and easy to operate. Therefore, you will not face any issues while working with it.
Furthermore, the knife is built to last. Therefore, even if you have been using it for years, you will not see any drop in performance.
Gerber Gear Strong-arm – Fixed Blade Tactical Knife
Here is another Gerber rescue knife that has a fixed blade and is known for its sturdiness.
This knife is perfect for those who have to tackle tough jobs.
This top-notch knife has a ceramic coating that makes it rust-resistant and maintains the blade’s sharpness for a long time.
The best feature of this first responder knife is that it comes with a lifetime warranty.
You can return this knife to the company if there is any fault in the quality or 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 rescue purposes. The built-in seatbelt cutter and glass breaker make them the right choice for 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 to carry this knife with you.
How often should I maintain and sharpen my first responder knife?
The best way to maintain a knife blade’s sharpness is to oil it over time and hone it every 1-2 months.
How should I choose the right blade material?
The serrated edge blade generally provides a fine cut. Furthermore, the blade’s carbon coating makes it rust-resistant.
So, these are the most common things you must consider while choosing the right blade.
What training is necessary to use a first responder knife effectively?
It would be best to learn how to open the knife in an emergency so you can’t get injured while operating it quickly.
Besides that, you must train yourself to carry 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 you should always carry. We have discussed all the top features that make a first responder knife the right choice. We have also reviewed the best first responder knives, which are reliable in performance and build quality.
I hope you find this article beneficial and that it will assist you in picking the right rescue knife.
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