PROFESSIONALS - what knives do you use?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - PROFESSIONALS - what knives do you use? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:32:53 AM EDT

Howdy.

One of my clients sells supplies to CSI units around the US. Recently they started adding knives to their stock. The thing is, their distributer sells EVERYTHING From KABAR to SOG to Spyderco to Paul Chen swords, to United Cutlery crap.

Now, they selected a few things, and I have suggested a few items. But I know there are a lot of Cops/EMT/Fire etc here. Maybe there is even some CSI. But they put me in charge of picking out some other knives that I think would sell.

I want to ask - what knives do you use? We want a range, from a $150 thumb opener, to a $15 pocket knife. FUNCTIONALITY is what we need. Something that will apeal to CSIs. I know that Police/Fire/EMTs etc have a different job than CSIs, but you should encounter similar situations and I am hoping the tools will be similar.

Please dont be silly and recomend a USMC Kabar (though at the dealer price, I might pick me up one). But any help you can give me would be great.

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:34:17 AM EDT

[#1]

I carry a CRKT M16 LE Folder, an MB Micortec Auto and a Ranger Shiv.

Sheep

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:37:38 AM EDT

[#2]

Microtech
Benchmade

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:37:54 AM EDT

[#3]

The SOG Flash I & II and their Trident models are winners....in all the various iterations...plain blade, part serrated, EMS, TiNi.

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:38:36 AM EDT

[#4]

Microtech are damn good blades.

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:53:08 AM EDT

[#5]

Al Mar SERE 2000

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:53:15 AM EDT

[#6]

Strider, Busse, Rinaldi, Spyderco and Emerson

Posted: 2/12/2006 10:58:30 AM EDT

[#7]

For Autos? Dalton, Protech, Microtech and Benchmade.

Posted: 2/12/2006 11:02:03 AM EDT

[#8]

Microtech Mini Socom Elite

Posted: 2/12/2006 11:17:48 AM EDT

[#9]

EOD is issued some form of Benchmade automatic almost exclusivly.

Posted: 2/12/2006 11:29:31 AM EDT

[#10]

Crime Scene Investigators? If that were my job I imagine a mulititool with a quality blade & pliers on it would be handier than a regular pocket knife. SOG & Gerber make good ones. TV aside my understanding is these guys are more lab rats than the pointy end of the spear.

Posted: 2/12/2006 11:33:23 AM EDT

[#11]

I carry both a CRKT M16 LE Folder & a Ka-bar TDI Law Enforcement Knife everyday.

Posted: 2/12/2006 11:47:18 AM EDT

[#12]

I just bought a CRKT folder - damn good knife for the price. I have an MOD and Benchmade Automatic - also great knives. Good thing about CRKT - its rugged as hell and affordable - not so easy to replace a $150-$200 automatic knife.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:35:01 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I carry a CRKT M16 LE Folder, an MB Micortec Auto and a Ranger Shiv.

Sheep

+1. I know a bunch of guys who carry these. They are pretty cheap too. Also, leatherman type tool. Not very exciting, but very usefull.

ETD - might start carrying the MOD Dieter CQD, but afraid it will just get jacked up.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:36:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Spyderco, emerson, al mar, CRKT, (some)cold steel, strider, microtech, EOD

either have owned it at one time or still do...

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:45:38 PM EDT

[#15]

+1 CRKT

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:45:49 PM EDT

[#16]

LEO here...I carry an Emerson CQC7 and have for several years. There's a lot of nice knives out there but I haven't found anything faster or easier to deploy.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:45:53 PM EDT

[#17]

Can't go wrong with Spyderco:

Spyderco Delica

Spyderco Endura (a bit bigger)

Spyderco RESCUE

All Reasonably priced and very well made.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:47:27 PM EDT

[#18]

Benchmande
Cold Steel
Protech
Microtech
CRKT
Emerson
Cuda
Blackjack (too bad they went out of business I thought they made wonderful knives.)

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:48:26 PM EDT

[#19]

SOG flashII and spyderco police

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:50:42 PM EDT

[#20]

I love my SOG Seal2k. It scares the lawyer's wives in the dive boat.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:53:10 PM EDT

[#21]

The Ken Onion Blackout by Kershaw. I lose or break too many knives to spend more than 50 bucks for one to use on duty.

Posted: 2/12/2006 12:55:28 PM EDT

[#22]

As a professional couch potato, my blade of choice is the CRKT M16-14LE.

I like it because it is slim and very sharp.

Not the best steel, or the best lock. It's not a Benchmade or an Emerson, but it does the job and if I lose it, I can replace it for around $60.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:03:21 PM EDT

[#23]

Spyderco native, delica, for smaller. For bigger Spyderco, endura, police or paramilitary.
Benchmade 710, 910 or one of the many griptillian variations.
Mulitools by leatherman ( I use a wave), gerber or SOG are all good.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:04:04 PM EDT

[#24]

I have a Cold Steel Recon 1 and wear it EVERYDAY...I love it, and would never be caught without it....next one I get will definately be Cold Steel

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:10:08 PM EDT

[#25]

Microtec, Emerson, Benchmade.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:18:25 PM EDT

[#26]

KA-BAR or CRKT

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:20:46 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
The Ken Onion Blackout by Kershaw. I lose or break too many knives to spend more than 50 bucks for one to use on duty.

Kershaw's actually producing some fun stuff these days. For it's size, I love the Chive.

Again though, I'd think a multitool might be more valuable than a standard folding blade. People say good things about Victorionox, I really like Gerber 400's and the oft-trashed Leatherman. I don't think the tools by SOG or Buck are worth much time.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:24:21 PM EDT

[#28]

tag

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:33:23 PM EDT

[#29]

www.sharpknives.com/messermeister_ultra_knife_block.htm

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:37:21 PM EDT

[#30]

Saved my life with one of these once.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:51:51 PM EDT

[#31]

Emerson commander, Cold Steel recon1 tanto
no serrations for me thanks

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:57:02 PM EDT

[#32]

CRKT's are great bang for the buck (I've got three) but I still think a multitool would be much more useful to CSI guys.

Posted: 2/12/2006 1:57:50 PM EDT

[#33]

Gerber EZ-Out.

Posted: 2/12/2006 2:06:34 PM EDT

[#34]

something fuctional? that youll use everyday? multitool, i like gerber
somthing thats fun to play with, and youll use it, but not as often as the multitool? Benchmade 9050sbt
something uber-tactical looking for the upcoming zombie invasion, but you wont use it much, unless you get in a knife fight, or have to chop through a 2x4? a huge hucken bowie, or something crocodile dundee would carry

Posted: 2/12/2006 2:19:14 PM EDT

[#35]

I was a field paramedic for 7 years, and in that time I carried the following:

Benchmade: AFCK
Spyderco: Delica, Endura
Kershaw: Blackout

The Benchmade was probably the best made and hardiest of the lot.

Posted: 2/12/2006 2:26:58 PM EDT

[#36]

Benchmade auto

Posted: 2/12/2006 7:20:37 PM EDT

[#37]

bump

thanks so far for so many replies!

Posted: 2/12/2006 7:30:00 PM EDT

[#38]

Al Mar
Benchmade
Spyderco
Emerson
Extrema Ratio (extremely heavy duty folders)

These are some of my favorite brands for the money. Al Mar has the S.E.R.E. 2000 folder, which is one of the best folding knives out there bar none. Benchmade makes awesome blades, especially the 710 folder and the Nimravus fixed blade. The Benchmade Griptilian is also tons of bang for the buck. Spyderco offers awesome quality and performance with premium bladesteels at great prices. It's really hard to beat the variety, design and cutting ability that Spyderco brings to the table. Emerson blades are awesome because you can get them with the Wave. Extrema Ratio, although a little pricey, would be able to literally take apart any of the previous suggestions but they are very large and bulky and not the most effecient cutters. Good luck.

Posted: 2/12/2006 7:31:50 PM EDT

[#39]

Benchmade.

Posted: 2/13/2006 7:14:11 AM EDT

[#40]

one more bump for the weekday crew.

thanks gang!

Posted: 2/13/2006 7:37:51 AM EDT

[#41]

CRKT....great knife for the price...much easier to swallow losing instead of $150 knife. About 80% of the officers I work with carry a CRKT.

I carry CRKT -left pocket and on vest- and TOPS -right pocket- (hell of knife!).

Also, many different models (pocket folders) to choose from with CRKT.

Posted: 2/13/2006 7:42:21 AM EDT

[#42]

A $15 cheapie I got years ago.

Saw blade for cutting line.

EVERY SINGLE ESPENSIVE KNIFE I HAVE EVER BROUGHT TO WORK ENDS UP GOING OVER THE SIDE!!!

Posted: 2/13/2006 7:46:17 AM EDT

[#43]

over the side of what

Posted: 2/13/2006 8:44:14 AM EDT

[#44]

Don't forget the sharpener - use mine at least once a week:

Posted: 2/13/2006 9:07:37 AM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
over the side of what

I sail the seven seas for a living.

Posted: 2/13/2006 9:33:13 AM EDT

[#46]

Kershaw Ken Onion 1550 or Benchmade auto here.

Posted: 2/13/2006 9:51:50 AM EDT

[#47]

Kind of hard thinking of CSI as a professional knife user. The typical application is cuttting boxes open.

With that in mind market appeal, functional, and low cost is probably the best choice. That would be the CRKT M16 LE Folder. It looks tactical enough, black blade, serrated, and a very good size for either belt or pocket. Cost retatil is $40.

Another small size is the Ken Onion Chive. Its all stainless with spring assisted blade. Not as suited for belt use, its an excellent pocket knife and great for opening boxes.

Tj

Posted: 2/13/2006 5:47:41 PM EDT

[#48]

Quoted:
Kind of hard thinking of CSI as a professional knife user. The typical application is cuttting boxes open.
Tj

Youre probably right. But they do need knives, and I was looking for people who use them in thier line of work (similar public servant work) vs the Uber tactical mall ninja who got a Laser Guided Thumbflicker because it wa the most tactically leet knife out there.

That and some people who order for the CSIs order for the rest of the police dept.

Posted: 2/13/2006 5:54:29 PM EDT

[#49]

+1 for Kershaw,.........I carry a tactical Blur every day. it also has the trac teck sandpaper grip. I absoutly love it except the sandpaperlike grip tends to wear through my pants pockets about every 6 months.

Posted: 2/13/2006 5:55:55 PM EDT

[#50]

StriderKnives and Spyderco.....

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - PROFESSIONALS - what knives do you use? (Page 1 of 2)

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