Spyderco Forums

Hi folks, Xmas is on the way and I want to get my brother who is just starting a new career as a firefighter. I own /love many spydercos myself and am slowly getting my younger brother to notice this brand--he's not really a hard core knife guy like us but he knows quality. He actually noticed my full serrated TENACIOUS in my pocket at our 4th of July bbq and asked to have it...sure. anyway, back on track.....what would be the best spyderco for hard use as a firefighter? I'm leaning towards the serrated tasman salt H-1.....thanx in advace

Assist Salt?

Or maybe the Autonomy.

I would think one of the rescue knives, maybe the Assist or a Pacific Salt would be good choices.

If you really wanted to splurge an Autonomy would be great for a first responder too.

The Meat man wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:02 am

Assist Salt.

This is the only answer for Fire/EMS.

I prefer the VG-10, but either would work. It has the best of all worlds for any sort of high stress task in close proximity to soft tissue.
It also has a glass breaker, just incase.

I normally recommend a Caribbean to everyone, but not for Fire/EMS. Their tool needs are very specific.

Rescue, Saver Salt, Pacific.

I used a Native for wildland firefighting where weight was more of a concern than "hard use". The discontinued Never Summer/National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Native seems like an obvious option and can be found on eBay...

https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/C41NSSRD5/1008

My niece, a civil engineer, trained as a firefighter while at GE and is now a volunteer firefighter in her town. She loves her VG10 Assist. I regret not giving her the Salt version. VG10 is no slouch, but H1 has the harder teeth and cares not about the wet.

Definitely a serrated Caribbean, sheepsfoot or leaf blade!

Serrated Endura to cut seatbelts?

DLT has the vg-10 Rescue Assist for just $75. I leep this one in my center console - seat belt cutter, glassbreaker, etc.

https://www.dlttrading.com/spyderco-rescue-assist-black

Serrated Rescue 3 or serrated Assist.

sal

A serrated Native Salt.

Assist

I really want to recommend the H1 version but they might prefer the cobra hood that only goes with the VG10

Assist. I gave my father in law (a career firefighter) one. It was designed by a firefighter, with their applications in mind.

Get him a byrd rescue 2 as a backup.

I would be all for the Assist Salt if it were strictly a duty knife, but, if you want to get him one that he can use off duty as well I would get him one with some sort of a point. That is were the Rescue 3 will shine, or go to the Atlantic Salt or Caribbean if you want a rust proof knife.

get a se caribbean sheepsfoot and rit dye it red. that would be awesome for a firefighter.

I'm a firefighter and my most frequently carried Spyderco is a Pacific Salt, FWIW
It's thin, light in pocket, impervious to rust, easy to sharpen, tough, has a strong tip, easy to use ambidextrous with or without gloves, and not too expensive if I lose or destroy it while on duty.

Cycletroll wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 19, 2019 4:47 pm

I'm a firefighter and my most frequently carried Spyderco is a Pacific Salt, FWIW
It's thin, light in pocket, impervious to rust, easy to sharpen, tough, has a strong tip, easy to use ambidextrous with or without gloves, and not too expensive if I lose or destroy it while on duty.

I too am a firefighter, and I agree with this. (Pac salt serrated)

The assist is certainly a nice purpose built knife, and if you think he wants something to put in his turnout gear to use only on emergencies, then maybe the assist is the best choice.

If however he would prefer something to carry on his uniform instead, then definitely go with something like the Pac salt serrated. Or maybe wartstein's serrated endela. I will say that everything gets wet on this job... Everything. Which is why a salt knife is so handy. But vg10 and stainless liners haven't caused me any issues yet.

I'd be cautious about any of the suggestions that include liner locks, compression locks, and even the cbbl. When your working hard, knives can open. I've cut myself before on a liner lock knife that opened in my turnout coat. I've since switched to a knife that locks in the closed position to put in my turnout coat. But the assist may have a strong enough closing bias to work in that role. I've never personally handled one. I used to like knives that had all the things the assist did like the glass breaker and belt cutter, but I realized I don't use those functions. (Honestly I rarely use the knife on a scene) Firefighters have every tool in the world between the truck and their turnouts.

No disrespect to any one else who commented, but definitely don't go with a Caribbean. I do like those knives a lot, but it has a very weak detent compared to some other compression lock knives (pm2, para 3), and will be much more likely to open up in his pocket while he's working. (Mine opened up in my jeans pocket and I wasn't doing very much when it did)

I do think your all around best choice is the Pac salt. Did I mention it has a wider spydi hole to work better with gloves than say the endura, endela etc... It has lots of positives for this type of work, and is the cheapest of all of them.

Also, look into the channelock rescue series of tools. They make a great multi purpose tool for firefighters. One tool the size of large pliers and it has cable cutters, pry bar, gas shutoff, and spanner wrench etc. That's a tool that will get used a lot, then you can get him the byrd rescue to go with it and you'll have spent under $100 total