Rescue knives are the unsung heroes of the knife world. With all the buzz surrounding tactical, EDC and survival knives I feel like the rescue blades often go unnoticed. This is somewhat unfortunate as one of these knives could very well save your life one day, or the life of someone you love.
Rescue Knife Reviews:
- Spyderco Atlantic Salt Review
This review is a series of firsts. After over 400 reviews, this is the first time we have reviewed a knife with a fully serrated blade. It’s also the first time we have reviewed a knife with H1, an uber stainless blade steel. At first glance, that may hold some significance. But really, this is ... - Hardcore Hardware Australia MFE01 Rhino Review
The Hardcore Hardware Australia MFE01 Rhino is a medium sized utility tool. It was designed by Australia based tool manufacturer Hardcore Hardware in conjunction with SOER, the Special Operations Engineer Regiment which supports the Australian Special Operations Command or SOCOMD. SOER specializes in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) threats. Buy the MFE01 Rhino ... - Gerber StrongArm ReviewOne thing I have always had is a healthy respect for is a good fixed blade knife. As a young infantryman I fell victim to some clever marketing from Gerber and purchased the Gerber LMF II Infantry. It had infantry in the name so I couldn’t go wrong right? While I may have been a ...
- Spartan Blade Works Pallas Review
Last Updated: August 8, 2019 Most of us who have been following Spartan Blades know the company started with high end fixed blade knives. A few years ago they launched the Akribis, a carbon fiber clad titanium framelock folder. I always appreciated the lines of the Akribis, but never got around to acquiring one. Although some ... - Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter Review
You won’t find too many hunting knife reviews on this website. The reason is because I am not much of a hunter. But despite being advertised as a hunting knife, there was something intriguing about the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter that made me buy the knife. Buy the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter at BladeHQ [easyazon_cta ... - Ka-Bar Becker BK-2 Review
Last Updated: July 20, 2019 Down here in Florida we don’t get a lot of seasonality. For example, I wore shorts and flip flops on Christmas. But when the air starts to turn cool I get a hankering for 2 things: cigars and fixed blade knives. I am pleased to say I have been able to ... - Rick Hinderer Knives XM-18 3.5 Review
Last Updated: June 23, 2019 In the past I have compared knife collecting to mountain climbing. Certainly there isn’t the element of physical accomplishment, as the only thing that really gets a workout is your wallet, but there is that spirit of pursuit and of course the ascent up a pile of incrementally more expensive knives. ... - Cold Steel SRK Review
Last Updated: April 3, 2020 The Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) has been a staple in Cold Steel’s catalog for well over a decade. In its role as the company’s go to mid-size survival / utility knife, the SRK has been selected as standard issue for U.S. Navy Seal team members going through BUD/S (Basic ... - Boker Plus S2 Review
Last Updated: August 30, 2019 I’ve been drooling over Sniper Bladeworks custom knives for a long time now. For the uninitiated, Sniper Bladeworks is the brainchild of Lance Abernathy and Jody Muller. Jody handles fabrication and Lance comes up with the designs. The result has been a number of award winning tactical knife designs and superbly ... - Kershaw Blur Review
Last Updated: February 20, 2019 While I enjoy reviewing all kinds of knives, it’s the mid size edc “working man’s” knives that I especially enjoy reviewing because these mid size EDC’s are what spend the most time in my pockets and in my hands. The Kershaw Blur is such a quintessential mid size EDC knife that ... - Benchmade 915 Triage Review
Last Updated: July 28, 2019 Rescue knives often go unnoticed in the knife community. There are large groups of enthusiasts gathered around tactical, survival, and EDC knives, but I have yet to see the rescue knife develop such a loyal following. One could argue that the average person doesn’t “need” a rescue knife, but do we ... - Smith and Wesson SWBG2TS BORDER GUARD Rescue Knife
The Smith and Wesson SWBG2TS Border Guard Rescue Knife is one mean SOB. I’ve been wanting to review this knife for a while now, and now that I’ve carried it I can finally do a review. Basic Information This knife has a large 4.4″ blade of 440C stainless steel and an overall length of 10″. Combine ... - Smith & Wesson SWFRS First Response Knife
Last Updated: August 2, 2019 The Smith & Wesson SWFRS First Response Knife is an emergency knife designed for those situations that you hate to think about but have to consider like a car accident or natural disaster. Smith and Wesson has put together a solid knife that is inexpensive enough to dedicate to your car ...
Selecting the Right Rescue Knife
Rescue knives aren’t always the sexiest blades, but you can’t deny their functionality. Often characterized by blunt tips and including extras like seatbelt cutters and glass breakers, these are the tool of choice for first responders and prepared individuals.
When selecting a good rescue knife I recommend getting something adequately big. This is not supposed to be a keychain knife. Most rescue knives are on the heavy side because they are typically heavily built and carry extra tools. That said, you want something comfortable and easy to carry because it won’t do you any good if you routinely leave the knife at home. Find a knife with a good pocket clip and high quality, ergonomic handle.
While I normally avoid partially serrated knives, I will make an exception for a rescue knife because serrations A) stay sharp and B) and good for cutting clothing, rope and and woven materials. I would even consider a fully serrated rescue knife (and many prefer them). That said, if you habitually sharpen your knives I think you would get by with a plain edge rescue knife just fine. You want a blunt tip to avoid stabbing people when you are trying to cut them free and remove shoes and clothing in the event they have suffered serious injuries.
Look for a knife that has a good blade hearty blade steel like 440C, AUS8 or 154cm. You want something that wont’ chip easily and holds a decent edge. I prefer a stainless steel over high carbon here because there is a high likelihood that the knife will get wet and/or soaked with other fluids.
Like I mentioned before, the handle should be a good size. Also, you may want to consider a brightly colored handle, like yellow or orange. Visibility is important, especially in high stress scenarios or where you might be in the middle of an emergency. If you drop your black handled knife in a pile of leaves you will need to waste precious time or use a metal detector to retrieve it.
Extras like seatbelt cutters and glass breakers are great but it would look at the knife first. A large handle can act as a glass breaker and a sharp blade can cut seatbelts too. Don’t skimp on the blade here as I that is where you will get the most mileage from a rescue knife.