something new - rescue swick

[dogrunner]

I'm the exception. I don't like it.

It is much too pointed to be used safely. The serrated "Rescue" model is better suited as evidenced by its use my many emergency professionals ( or one of the emergency rescue tools from Benchmade), IMHO.

Not everything will work for everybody. The logic of the pointy tip was given near the beginning of this thread and it makes sense for those folks. For me, I agree that it is too pointy, but it is much easier for me to round the point than it would be for the river rats to make a round tip pointy. In any case I certainly do not want a blunt tip, for reasons already given. I do not see this as an obstacle for my purposes. So put me down for 2 (so I have a backup after I lose the first :D ).

[trailmix]

I'm the exception. I don't like it.

It is much too pointed to be used safely. The serrated "Rescue" model is better suited as evidenced by its use my many emergency professionals ( or one of the emergency rescue tools from Benchmade), IMHO.

i appreciate the feedback. if the pointy tip is the only problem that you have with the design, then we are doing pretty well. that is a concern easily enough taken care of by the end user, as has been addressed. however, i must add that i agree this knife is too pointy for some to use safely. i have meet, and operated with, people that i wouldn't trust with a butter knife in an emergency situation, because it too would be overly pointy.

as far as the regular rescue model, i love them. my first spyderco was an orange handled rescue (now given to a dear friend) and i still carry a small rescue in the visor of my car. but, the idea of opening a folder while fighting moving water is not a proposition that i look forward to.

and the rescue hook works great for seatbelts (i carry one of these in my extrication suit), but have you ever tried to cut a piece of half-inch rope with it, or cut a boat? it can't be done.

this knife is what i, after years of serving and working in these environments, want in a water rescue knife. that is all it is.

[jaislandboy]

Sweet knife Kevin! I'm glad the design came for the Whitewater/PBR Mecca of the SE!

[trailmix]

just a quick update, the testing is going well. our whitewater season is well underway so the proto's are getting a lot of test time. the responses, for the most part, have been positive with only minor changes suggested. the hardest part is getting them back to pass around to more folks. i take that as a good sign.

[rcbalt2]

keep us updated the rescue swick is a sweet knife.

[untamed]

As an extremely proud and recent owner of the SWICK, which is IMHO, one of the best designed neck knives out there, I'm getting a lot of insight from the application this design as a rescue tool. H1 looks to be superb.

Being a of the more SD persuasion, this particular knife looks sweet for "pikal"/RGEI (rev. grip, edge-in) position!

[peacefuljeffrey]

Well, if they're gonna tool some Swicks in H-1, I would hope they give us some regular original Swicks in H-1 as well...

One can certainly keep hoping...


-Jeffrey

[dialex]

Thanks for the update. I was wondering if you considered putting Micarta scales (like at the VG-10 Spot). Micarta is great in wet environments (not that the actual shape of your knife wouldn't allow for a safe grip, but that's just me, I always ask for more). :o

[Cameron23]

Alright...I want this to be a production model (if Sal and gang decide it's worth tooling up for), but if it won't be a full release model...

How would one (meaning me) go about getting one of the ones there in Colorado?

Sal or trailmix...I don't know your position on bribes, but...? :D

C :spyder:

[trailmix]

thanks guys, we're working on it.

[smcfalls13]

thanks guys, we're working on it.

Keep working on it. I did my part(lost track of how many SWICKs I bought) so it's all up to you now

No pressure or anything :p

[JspyEDC]

Great design. I can see that being tested for swiftwater rescue, that it might be easier to not have to turn your arm (thus, the blade edge) over to execute a pull cut. Interesting and very innovative!! Congrats!

[Saint-Just]

White water is undoubtedly an ideal application, and possibly the best place to field test the knife. But I can see a market in Rock climbing, Caving... every sport that at one point or another involves ropes and/or webbing and that can create an emergency situation.
The one possible exception might be sailing because of the sharp point: whilst it may be beneficial to release the pressure of a raft by puncturing it on a river, I would find it a little more questionable in the middle of the Atlantic. Add to that our safety jackets are huge and cumbersome when inflated... However, a small variation like Dialex's would allow Spyderco to offer outstanding emergency knives
I also would like to know what type of thinking is going into the sheath, to make it versatile, easy to draw from without risking to drop the knife. Sal?

[trailmix]

thanks guys.

certainly, there can be other applications for a pull cut specific knife. my mother wants one for harvesting tomatoes.

the point is not for deflating a raft, it's for starting the edge to cut out the bottom. this is not possible with a blunt tipped hawksbill blade because there is no way to get the cut started. it also works well for cutting off clothes. all ya have to do is place your index finger on the side of the point, run your hand under the clothing, pull your finger into the hole and pull. try that with a hook or blunt tip, i dare ya.

i still have several sheath guys working on a solid, but accessible solution. first attempts weren't quite what i was looking for.

my intention is to stay away from any scales. looking to have as low of a price point as possible. it is a rescue knife afterall.

[Saint-Just]

No contradiction there Kevin:
Of course the knife would have a great number of uses. I was trying to look at it from a marketing point to give that knife an even better chance of hitting the shelves (I shouldn't worry if Sal is on deck)
As for the blunt point, I was seeing it as a variation for sailors, not a replacement for the initial design. The equivalent of PE and SE, depending on use.
And for the deflation, I was merely following Sal's comment on 12/10/2005:

"We could always put a "hook" on the tip end and eliminate the point, but Mike says the point is useful in a rescue that's got someone pinned by the rafct. Pressure must be reduced. The point is used to put a small hole in a raft instead of a large cut. Pressure can be reduced as needed and the repair to the raft is simple."

[trailmix]

i got ya. not trying to be argumentative, just trying to justify another use for a fairly controversial aspect of this design. i can honestly say that the thought of how much repair a boat may need when i am through with it never crosses my mind during a rescue. i will bite the darn thing in half if i have to to get to someone.

the point variation as an option has always been in the discussion. one of the test pieces has already been "blunted" for r&D. recreational paddlers, sailors, etc may be better suited without the sharp point; options are always good. emerson's sark and p-sark come to mind. it's the same "search and rescue knife" but one is pointy.

and thanks for the feedback and interest. i certainly appreciate it.

[peacefuljeffrey]

Isn't such a pointed knife undesirable in white water? I thought that not only is there the risk of puncturing a raft accidentally, there is also the risk of self-stabbing (or just stabbing) due to the dynamic nature of the environment.

I'm no fan of blunt-tipped knives -- in fact I rather don't care for them -- but I recognize that they have their place. And of course, so do pointed tips. I wonder if the solution might be to carry two knives in this environment, one stabby, one blunt. Perhaps there is no one-knife cure-all in this case.

-Jeffrey

[psimonl]

IIRC, I read somewhere back, Wouter said something like that.

I must have misunderstood him then :o :o

Just a question guys:

Do you ever get together or do you just meet here?!?

Simon

[trailmix]

ah yes, jeffrey, that is to the heart of the pointy problem. i think it comes down to a matter of perspective. rescues are dynamic, rough, and well, dangerous. 3:00 in the morning, you're half asleep and cutting off a car roof an inch from someone's head with a hydraulic cutter capable of about 40,000 lbs of pressure. of course, it's raining, the car crash has poured fuel and oil all over the ground, and it's just a regular tuesday night. perspective. as has been stated, this knife is not designed for the first year raft guide.

and i carry at least 2 knives. everywhere. everyone should.

[peacefuljeffrey]

and i carry at least 2 knives. everywhere. everyone should.

Whew! Glad I at least have that covered.

I don't have anything that can muster 40,000psi, though.


-Jeffrey