Best Law Enforcement knife?

[eldiablojoe]

Wow, there have been so many great suggestions! Thank you for the insights! I really like a bunch of these knives! The rescue series looks great, the classic Endura is great, I even really like the Paramilitary 2. I mulled WrdWrght's thoughts on the Assist also. While "Protect and Serve" is a very noble, Caduceus-like ideal, the reality is much less "servant" and much more "survival" in the part of the world in which I am employed.

I was really grooving on that Embassy for about a minute also, until I realized I was getting carried away. I tend to do that already with flashlights, and Oakley sunglasses, don't need yet another thing to spend too much money on.

In the end, I just fired off my order for a Native FRN black on black with a combination blade, thank you BearFacedKiller. It meets all but one of the items on my wish list, and the item it is missing is the least important (Emerson Opener) in the scheme of my needs.

Thank you again for all your insights and contributions. I apologize, Zyhla, for being so defensive in my reply to you. I appreciate you felt free to be candid and honest in your opinion. After all, that was what I was asking.

[Surfingringo]

Well there you go. All's well that ends well. Sounds like you made a very sound choice to me. I've been thinking about nabbing one of those myself. Enjoy.

[zhyla]

Thank you again for all your insights and contributions. I apologize, Zyhla, for being so defensive in my reply to you. I appreciate you felt free to be candid and honest in your opinion. After all, that was what I was asking.

No worries. Most people here tend to be very polite and it isn't uncommon that I say what others are avoiding to come right out and say.

The Native is a solid choice, though the tip is particularly weak. Mind that 21' rule.

[eldiablojoe]

Thank you. And I believe the conventional 21' rule is being contemplated and articulated to stretch out to 35', last I heard.

[bearfacedkiller]

Hope you like it. It is easy to give suggestions when people give detailed criteria. You narrowed it down to just a few knives and picked a great one. Enjoy!

[Divo]

Hmm
You already made your choice?
Coldsteel Recon is maybe also a knife you like (plenty of sizes and shapes and combo's)
Very strong lock and lock is on top.

[ManixFan]

I just picked up my first SE knife tonight which was a G10 Police 3 SE. This thing is unbelievable! It is FFG VG-10 with a SE scalloped into one side. I don't think I touched a sharper knife in my life. I actually got what I can only describe as a "phantom cut" just lightly touching the edge with my thumb. There was that slight lingering sharp pain of a papercut but oh so much finer. There was absolutely NO BLOOD AT ALL??!! I can't even see a visible cut on the pad of my thumb yet when I pull the skin with my forefinger I felt the slight sting of my sweat in the non-visible cut. I think that I'm going to take a look at it under a lighted jewelers magnifier to see if I can see anything.

If anybody knows what the effective total bevel angle for this model would be I'd be very interested in knowing. If you sharpen on the Sharpmaker with the 15 degree side would this make it effectively 7.5 DPS or is there some reduction for the angle of the FFG itself that you would be adding in to find the effective total angle or then again should you be sharpening on the 20 angle so as not to get too fine an edge for apex stability and what about a microbevel? I think I'm going to have to do a bit of research on this one to see if it is even worth trying to put a microbevel (20 d) over the one sided serrated bevel.

But holy crap is this thing ever sharp! Also, in a way that a PE can't match in total cutting surface length as well as angle of attack of the sharpened serration where it meets the media that you are cutting.

If you can get to a B&M store to check it out ......I would highly recommend this one. I have quite a few Spyderco's (approaching 30 now) but this is my first SE and I will definitely be getting the Pacific Salt Black SE when that finally drops - which may also be an excellent choice for you if you can wait maybe a year (just a guess but Sal has indicated that something like this is in the works).

Otherwise, for a great all rounder - I would seriously get the new (hopefully released within the next 6 mos) redesigned Brown G10 ZDP Stretch. Check out the thread on that one.....Deacon can give you the best advice on whether he thinks that might suit your needs since Sal sent him the final prototype model to play with for a while. Also the handle is a bit longer than on the current model Stretch - which would be ideal for gloved usage in LE - it also has a deeper choil which would help secure it better in a gloved hand)

You might also want to consider getting a couple of the models that have been proposed, i.e, more than one Spyderco. Maybe a SE Pacific Salt or Salt 1 along with a PE version Police 3 or the SE Police 3 with a smaller PE?

Lots of excellent choices from Spyderco. You really can't go wrong - if you choose something that isn't quite ideal for what you need on the job....it will be ideal for something else in your life.

But for a supreme all-rounder I would go for a Stretch......if you can wait I'd definitely get the new one that is just around the corner because it will definitely be better for gloved usage.


Edit:
I had read your post earlier and didn't know that you had made your choice while I was typing this recommendation :o

But once you've bought one Spyderco, I am sure that you'll most likely buy many more down the road if you can get to a B&M to handle a bunch of what was suggested, I'm sure that you'll find others that you'll want to pick up later. I have a Native 5 (G10 S110V 2013 Forum Knife) as well as the CF S110V Native 5 Sprint on the way - so I know the ergo's really are incredible for that sized knife and perhaps the FRN version would be more suitable in any case for work in the field. You made an excellent choice.....and I'm sure you'll be back to make another excellent choice in the future :D Don't let yourself miss out on the Brown G10 ZDP Sprint Stretch though when it drops......you will definitely regret missing that one - especially now that you've got the heads up on it.

[Skidoosh]

I'm not an LEO, nor do I pretend to be one. I read the blog modern service weapons from time to time, I think it has some very good advice and this article might be helpful to you.
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=8148

[eldiablojoe]

ManixFan, those are all very good points, and interesting info about the sharpening angles. I agree, there are many great blades, I want them all, hahaha!

Skidoosh, your article link is very true. I am far more likely to cut evidence or sealing tape and seat belts or cut flex cuffs or evidence seals than using the knife in a last-ditch defense posture. However, I am looking for one that will handle both. I do not disagree, I carried an Endura combination for many years. It was almost perfect. I'm just looking to see if there is something a little more perfect.

[ManixFan]

I read that last link that was and was surprised when the fixed blade option was mentioned - I didn't even think of that for LEO use since I would think that it would take up too much space. But then I thought of the Street Beat.....and the name of the knife itself suggests the usage it excels in. A 3.5 inch strong VG-10 fixed blade with a very ergonomic handle as well as a very deep tactical finger choil. Perhaps also worthy of future consideration?

Anyways good luck on your choices....again, as you suggested you want them all.....so do I
But the reality of financial constraints kick in.....but if you ARE carrying every day - you DO have an excuse for multiple purchases (as if any Spyderco fan needs an excuse for a new knife :D )

But having 3 or 4 and the option of rotating and carrying 2 of the 3 or 4 duty knives you have - depending on what you're up to that week is always a good option too.

[ManixFan]

Also, if you are into flashlights but don't see yourself as relying on them as a club. I have both a Fenix RC-40 as well as the Nitecore TM-26. The Fenix would make a VERY effective club but is heavy and awkward to carry for long (it comes with a sling for that purpose :D ).

But the TM-26 is the most compact powerhouse of a light I've ever run into 3500 or 3800 lumens (new version - I also have more than my share of flashlights ) a little hefty but very solid and small and can take a beating. I'd hate to have that 3500/3800 lumen strobe going off in my face or get hit with it either - talk about an effective blackjack/sap! Youtube it along with the term torture test and you'll see a guy (I think from Russia or Eastern Europe) tossing it and kicking it along an ice road and dropping it lens first down into deep puddles.

I know....off topic but perhaps another helpful tool in staying safe.

[LDphifty]

i imagine in your line of work blades are often misused, abused and/or lost. just the nature of the job. If you end up wanting a "sacrificial" blade that wont cost much to replace, check out the Ontario Rat1 and Utilitac. great beaters. from what you described, you'd probably like the Utilitac tanto w/ a combo edge. if it could talk it would say "go ahead, abuse me". and if it breaks... well its only $25.

[spyderHS08]

Joe, when you get that native. Find yourself a nice heavy duty (not too larger) zip tie and put it through the opening hole with end or large part of the tie on the spine of the blade and pull it tight, clip off the excess. You now have a makeshift emerson opener :) Google some pics to see what I'm talking about. Oh and welcome to the forums, Hope you stick around once you get bitten by The spyder! Enjoy your native and take care.

Edit- okay I'll make it simple for you lol here's a good tutorial of exactly what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=deskto ... OiGkvdwlhs" target="_blank

[wrdwrght]

...the reality is much less "servant" and much more "survival" in the part of the world in which I am employed.

I assumed you were in the US. Are you not?

[eldiablojoe]

Manix, you are right, there are many excuses I can make for buying new blades. A fixed blade is not an attractive option for me because I'm pretty medium in height- not tall enough for it to not look like the size of an arm on me, hahaha!

As for the lights, I'm pretty happy with what I got. Like I mentioned above, I have a few. My pride thrower right now is a Malkoff HoundDog 2 with 1100 Lum OTF. I also have one of Gene's EDC's enroute with a low-low/low/medium for reading driver's licenses and looking for misplaced stuff in my car at night. (write enough reports, you tend to drop your paperclips and pens once in a while). I'm not too interested in going into the mega-lumens because, quite frankly, even that hound dog is too much for clearing houses. The light interior paint schemes in most buildings gives a lot of bounce-back glare. I just stick with my SF 6P for that purpose, about 250 lum with the drop-in.

LDphifty, You make excellent points. I know guys that are super happy with throwaway lights/knives, etc. I have always been a "Pay for quality once, take care of it, and you'll have a great tool your whole life" kind of guy.

wrdwrght, Yes, I am in Los Estados Unidos. However, my work area is among the poorest and most violent sections of one of the top 3 largest cities in the country.

SpyderH508, that's a great idea!!!!!! I am totally going to do that!!

[Chuxter31]

I presume you're already a sworn officer somewhere. I am a retired police officer in Southern California with 27 years on. I worked patrol most of my career (by choice) and retired as the senior training officer. In all my years on patrol I have never heard of anyone using a knife as an offensive or defensive weapon. I carried a serrated Endura because of the serrated blade and the knife was very lightweight. God knows we already carry enough weight on our Sam Browns and vest. Anyway, I carried my knife for two important reasons; first...if I had to cut a seat belt to extract someone trapped in a car and two, to use for CSI purposes (back when I first joined the PD sworn officer's did their own CSI which eventually switched to civilian non sworn CSI officers). After a while we became a healthier lot and instead of donuts switched to bagels. That Endura came in very handy for slicing bagels.... just saying...Needless to say, maybe I was lucky, but I never had to use my knife for anything other than on a bagel.

Anyway.. choose what ever knife you like and feel comfortable with.

[endgame]

Assist and street beat would be my top to choices.the assist can do so much needed for pice work..the street beat is made for leo's also.for self defence the civilian or yojimbo2 would be my list.

[Studey]

Glad you found a knife to suit you!

[Fresh Eddie Fresh]

As for the lights, I'm pretty happy with what I got. Like I mentioned above, I have a few. My pride thrower right now is a Malkoff HoundDog 2 with 1100 Lum OTF. I also have one of Gene's EDC's enroute with a low-low/low/medium for reading driver's licenses and looking for misplaced stuff in my car at night. (write enough reports, you tend to drop your paperclips and pens once in a while). I'm not too interested in going into the mega-lumens because, quite frankly, even that hound dog is too much for clearing houses. The light interior paint schemes in most buildings gives a lot of bounce-back glare. I just stick with my SF 6P for that purpose, about 250 lum with the drop-in.

I am a huge SF/Malkoff fan as well. If you are getting 1100 lumens on high, I think you have the Hound Dog 3. The first version was the XPG, then the XML came out, and the newest is the XML2. If you are getting glare, you might really like the Warm or HCRI variants of his drop-ins.

I bought two of the multi-level MDCs when they first came out and the PWM gave me headaches.. I like the SHO as a battery vampire.

Sorry to go off topic and talk flashlights, but you made a good choice with the Native. It is a good sized utility knife. I had an FRN one that had some up and down movement when open, so I switched to the Native 5 and love them to death. The Para2 is a great knife, too. Definitely worth hunting down.

[eldiablojoe]

**** you guys and **** this place!!!! I am now *still* drooling for more Spydercos. I almost pulled the trigger on the KW Worker sprint run, if only the blade were black.

I am really wiping my chin over the bayou shooter Emerson. Finding one is a bit of a hunt. I still really like the salts/rescues for their utilities too. :confused: :eek: Arghhhh!!! :eek: :confused:

FreshEddieFresh, My Malkoff is def a HoundDog2 XM-L, Neutral. I configured it for two 18650's cells. It is 1000 OTF, 900+ sustained. I'm sorry, I mixed up the stats with the Cool which is 1100 OTF. I JUST shipped it back to Gene last week to get the body reamed out for a slightly increased inner diameter. The cells are really hard to get out. While he's got it there, I asked him to hold onto it and not ship it back until the EDC li-ion HA 's are ready so I can combine shipping :)