Posted: 1/28/2025 2:42:45 PM EDT
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I've carried Gerber, a Benchmade, lots of different Cold Steel..... What do you guys like for a duty knife? Looking for a new one. |
| I have a fairly large knife collection and many are $350 plus knives, most of which I’ve carried or used enough to know if they’re a serious carry knife or a pretty knife for show and shelf. One in particular has become my daily carry and it was very generously gifted to me by a member here. It’s a Gerber Propel Auto. Worth a look at least. |
Herpin' TX.
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Benchmade Bugout is my favorite. Its thin, light and the blade is sharp. Assuming your carrying 20-25lbs worth of crap. You don't need an extra heavy 'tactical' knife added to the mix. 99.9% of your career your knife will be used to open packages or trim bits of string. |
| No matter what I try I keep coming back to Spyderco, been carrying them for 25+ years. I'm carrying the Pacific Salt 1, with the serrated edge for cutting through rope, seat belts, ect. I was carrying a Paramilitary 2 before the Salt it but I really prefer the serrated edge. |
| I've been doing this job for 0ver 26 years now. I've carried about everything you can think of at some point. Now, and for the past 7-8 years I have been carrying a Leatherman Sidekick. It's been great! I use the tools way more than I use the blade and it's always in my pocket. |
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fixed blade is best. was in a fight in jail (no gun) and couldn't get my tiny folder opened (hands were sweaty) to stab the guy so I had to take him out with my hands. he probably would've lived if i was able to stab him a few times or cut his arms (he was choking out two COs). eta-- this is what i have on my belt now hidden behind my mag pouch one of those tdi things. i still keep an OTF in my pocket for general knife use or picking open doors. 
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Originally Posted By Chowser: fixed blade is best. was in a fight in jail (no gun) and couldn't get my tiny folder opened (hands were sweaty) to stab the guy so I had to take him out with my hands. he probably would've lived if i was able to stab him a few times or cut his arms (he was choking out two COs). eta-- this is what i have on my belt now hidden behind my mag pouch one of those tdi things. i still keep an OTF in my pocket for general knife use or picking open doors. https://i.postimg.cc/TYpk89wZ/IMG-5026.jpg I genuinely like the TDI style as I believe its the most practical. But damn that carry style is uncomfortable lol. Combine that with the fact that I also don't like the idea of having to worry about retention on my pistol and on my knife in a fight. |
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Kershaw blur, serrated. Pretty light, but still substantial. One-handed opening. Cuts through webbing (seatbelts) or rope with ease. Good grip texture on the scales. Good build quality, but not expensive, so you'll actually be willing to use it. If you don't mind an unnoticeable blem, you can get them even cheaper from "kershawguy". |
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When I was working the streets I carried a paramilitary 2 most of that time. I had a Benchmade before the para 2 and I carried a microtech otf some. Now that I am not in uniform anymore I carry my Hinderer or mini Bugout depending on the situation. |
Gonads & Strife
| Old military surplus benchmade auto folder, half-serrated blade that I've sent back twice for service. I carried it clipped in my weak side front pants pocket. My rationale was if someone went for my holstered gun, I could grab the bottom of the holster, lift up and wedge the top perpendicular to my body, locking the gun in while I pull the auto folder and fend off the attacker with a few well placed pokes. I know people that would wear knives clipped on their outer body armor and in a roll around a bad guy got a hold of it. Always kept a leatherman tool in my patrol bag. Yeah, I agree F-Benchmade on the anti-gun stance, I won't but anything new |
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I bought my brother a Kershaw blur serrated with a glassbreaker ($60) and a cold steel recon 1 ($75 or so). As a knife nut I enjoy more expensive blades, but for duty you probably want something in this price range. Spyderco Endura or Delica would be good options as well. |
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I recently bought a Hougue Ballista. I am unimpressed. Feels cheap. I went back to the Gerber Asada I was carrying. I also recently found a Cold Steel Code 4 Tanto I thought I had lost. My daughter gave me a Cobratec Ryker for Xmas. I know they aren't the best, but damn if I don't like it. |
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Originally Posted By trgrpullr: Kershaw blur, serrated. Pretty light, but still substantial. One-handed opening. Cuts through webbing (seatbelts) or rope with ease. Good grip texture on the scales. Good build quality, but not expensive, so you'll actually be willing to use it. If you don't mind an unnoticeable blem, you can get them even cheaper from "kershawguy". Thanks for the recommendation on this one. I originally was going to get a cold steel recon but they don't offer a serrated blade outside of the tanto design, which I don't particularly like. |
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Uniform/Patrol? Carried an older stainless serrated Spyderco Delica (AUS-6 i think?). Its thin profile made it good for clipping on the trauma plate pocket or boot also. My tac rig had a small cheapo S&W scale-less tanto blade that i didn't mind using as a pry bar. Just 440, nothing fancy. It was like this one but with partial serration, and I see S&W up their game and now it comes in better steel. It was a very useful knife. https://store.smith-wesson.com/tactical/knives/fixed/smith-wesson-sw910tam-full-tang-tanto-fixed-blade-knife/SW910TAM.html#start=1 My dad carried this for 38 years OTJ. It has a curved blade to fit between inner/outer belts:  |
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Originally Posted By ICEAGE: I genuinely like the TDI style as I believe its the most practical. But damn that carry style is uncomfortable lol. Combine that with the fact that I also don't like the idea of having to worry about retention on my pistol and on my knife in a fight. It's not bad, mags hide it from view and I lost some weight so it doesn't push into my gut anymore.  
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Excellent on seatbelts and on sale now: https://www.knivesshipfree.com/spyderco-endura-4-wharncliffe-serrated-black-frn-vg-10-c10fswcbk/ |
Joined:
Jul 2022
Posts:
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IN, USA
| Carried a few at a time- slim Benchmade Mel Pardue folder tucked into my boot. Benchmade auto in a strong side cargo pocket. And a Spyderco Endura on my support side pocket. Spyderco got used all the time for everything, the others were more for really bad situations only… |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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Originally Posted By ICEAGE: Benchmade Bugout is my favorite. Its thin, light and the blade is sharp. Assuming your carrying 20-25lbs worth of crap. You don't need an extra heavy 'tactical' knife added to the mix. 99.9% of your career your knife will be used to open packages or trim bits of string. lack of liners make this a poor choice for anything duty related, the plastic only handle is not suited to abusive use |