seat belt cutting

[z4vdBt]

Edit: Just watched that video. Assist is a pretty cool knife!

which video?

[JD Spydo]

Oh any of the better Spyderedged units would be great for slashing through a seat belt in a quick hurry. I would start off by recommending that everyone try to have one of the ASSIST models kept in your car at all times for that purpose as well as other emergency purposes that might come up.

My current favorite companion folder is my old and somewhat ancient Stainless Handled RESCUE model out of the ATS-55 era. I've used it on so many demanding jobs over the years and it has never failed me yet. And that model is built like an "Abram's Tank" :cool:

But any of Spyderco's RESCUE type blades, The ASSIST or any of the other sheepsfoot type blades in the Spyderco SE lineup would be fine. The older D-Allara unit also comes to mind for this type of tool. I would stay away from Spyderco's Hawkbills or Reverse S blades for that particular purpose unless you are really super experienced in knife usage because anything with a point on it in a panic situation could come back to cause harm to the user or others involved>> in other words be safe.

[Halfneck]

I use to use a CE Delica many years ago while working EMS. I found I used it more as a knife than a seatbelt cutter so I wanted a point. The couple of times I used it on a seatbelt it did just fine.

[Tucson Tom]

It would absolutely be the Jumpmaster 2. Settle for nothing less.

[tonijedi]

It would absolutely be the Jumpmaster 2. Settle for nothing less.

Kinda small and that pointy tip... whale rescue tool is my choice :cool:

[rangefinder]

Of the knives in the Spyderco lineup, I'd pick the Clipitool Rescue -- because it's the only knife Spyderco makes with a strap cutter (hook) blade.

But I'd rather have a fixed (vs. folding) strap cutter, because I don't want to deal with trying to open a folder in the middle of the chaos of an accident. So in my car I have a strap cutter from a different company.

[Bill1170]

I keep a Byrd rescue folder in my console for rescuing others. I have a ResQme hanging from my mirror for rescuing myself. Wife has one on her mirror, too.

[z4vdBt]

I keep a Byrd rescue folder in my console for rescuing others. I have a ResQme hanging from my mirror for rescuing myself. Wife has one on her mirror, too.

Never knew about the Byrd Rescue - thanks!

:)

[z4vdBt]

So in my car I have a strap cutter from a different company.

Benchmade? Ontario?

[ladybug93]

you didn't ask me, but since you are asking... i went with the leatherman raptor. emts use trauma shears for this kind of thing. the raptor is trauma shears and also has a hook and glass breaker. it's a great tool and i can attest to it's toughness. if you carry it folded though, the spyderco caribbean se sheepsfoot or assist would be faster.

[Doc Dan]

Has anyone done a side by side cutting test between serrated and non serrated on seatbelts?

[ladybug93]

i don’t know about a side by side, but in the video of michael janich showing off the assist, it goes through seatbelt material like it’s nothing.

[JD Spydo]

i don’t know about a side by side, but in the video of michael janich showing off the assist, it goes through seatbelt material like it’s nothing.

I'm not aware of any official Spyderco side by side controlled test on "seat belt cutting" either but in all the cutting that I've personally done of tough, fibrous materials I've always had better overall success using a serrated/ Spyderedged blade. Now I'm not at all saying that a plain edged blade wouldn't be adequate but there are a couple of things to consider. First off dealing with a plain edged blade your cutting edge would have to be kept extremely razor sharp at all times for optimum reliability. Because a plain edged unit being just slightly dull would make cutting through a fibrous polymer material extremely difficult in most cases. Whereas you can still use a serrated and/or Spyderedged blade even being somewhat dinged up but yet would still get through the material in pretty short order>> even if you literally had to saw through it with a serrated edge.

Now this is one job where I would really like to start a discussion on the advantages of certain types of serration patterns. Because this would be one emergency job where I believe a more rounded and wavy type of serration pattern might just have some really good advantages cutting that type of material, Albeit even the more conventional and "spikey' type of serration pattern you see on most of Spyderco's Japan made units and especially those of the Salt Series would still be an ideal cutting tool for emergency seatbelt cutting>> and I would still prefer those types of serrations over plain edges for that type of emergency cutting job. I would much rather rely on a serrated blade than a plain edged blade in this type of an emergency cutting job for obvious reasons.

There's a reason that Spyderco's ASSIST, RESCUE and most Hawkbill models have Spyderedges>> because they are mainly intended for those types of cutting jobs.

[ladybug93]

exactly. if you have to cut something quickly in an emergency, serrations are the way to go, especially if you are cutting cordage or webbing.

[z4vdBt]

i don’t know about a side by side, but in the video of michael janich showing off the assist, it goes through seatbelt material like it’s nothing.

it is a nice video...

https://youtu.be/uFtUdCZKJeI

[rangefinder]

So in my car I have a strap cutter from a different company.

Benchmade? Ontario?

Mine is an older Benchmade (the model 5). But I'm probably going to replace it with a Leatherman Z-REX because a) the Leatherman handle is a lot longer and b) the Leatherman has a carbide glass breaker integrated into the handle. I have a separate glass breaker in the car, but a single tool would be less things to keep track of.

If you've ever been in a serious MVA (I have) you're probably going to have an "adrenaline dump" which will degrade your fine motor skills and make your hands shaky. That's why I want the simplest tool possible. When I got the rescue hook, I tested it on an old tow strap, which is much thicker nylon webbing than a seat belt. The rescue hook sliced through the tow strap with no effort at all -- just one easy pull and the strap was cut. As the old saying goes "so easy, a child could do it".

Spyderco wish list: A Swick with a rescue hook style blade would be pretty awesome. The point at the butt of the Swick handle might even be sharp enough to use as a glass breaker without needing to add a carbide point.

[Mini2white]

I've used the 79mm and the Assist on seatbelts and ropes. The Byrd model also works although my two don't open as easily one handed.

I keep a ResqMe in the cars as they are alot cheaper and have a glass breaker as well. Its is just a hook and a pull and it cuts. You cant be tempted to use it on other things.

[ZMW]

It would be wise to avoid anything with a fine tip. Millie and PM2 might stick the person by accident. If you are ever in this situation, adrenaline is likely very high and fine motor goes to ****. So, you would want a rounded tip. The assist is the go to, all day long.

Seat belts are pretty tough too, SE blade is recommended.

[z4vdBt]

Got me a Leatherman Z-REX and a C79PSYL Assist Salt Lightweight - both for the car. I'm thinking one in the side door panel and one affixed to the sun visor. Better to have it and not need it than...

[Candyman]

I've used the 79mm and the Assist on seatbelts and ropes. The Byrd model also works although my two don't open as easily one handed.

I keep a ResqMe in the cars as they are alot cheaper and have a glass breaker as well. Its is just a hook and a pull and it cuts. You cant be tempted to use it on other things.

I second the ResqMe. I always carry an Autonomy so I feel very confident I wouldn’t have any issues. I bought the ResqMe off of amazon for like $8 for 2. Put them on everyone’s keychain in the house. I tend to be a bit over paranoid but they give me a certain sense of comfort to know that I have something in my pocket and something right in front of me in case of a car accident. I also have friends that are police officers that have told me that the tool has been the difference between life and death when they have arrived on the scene had an accident


Rich