Benchmade_Triage_ Tactical Tech & gear with_safety_ Tactical tech & gear cutter__161.50

take the shot; so that really leaves a lot of Camenzind, International Sales Manager, Columbia River and Tool (CRKT). times when a knife may be the primary AG. “Here at Victorinox, we “Also, a knife is handy for daily tasks. weapon over a gun. can also be produce multipurpose pocket tools, and We are continuing to look at and offer used in a non-lethal fashion by keeping the reason a police officer or soldier car- innovative knives and tools that an officer a folding knife closed and using it as an ries is to have a multitude of useful instru- would carry for their function, durability impact weapon, hitting bone or pressure ments reduced down to a size which and quality at an affordable price.” Look sharp! points to disable an assailant. enables carry…in a pocket or belt pouch. Folding knives small enough to carry A number companies today are in the Although we do have a variety of pocket all day every day are becoming more and A practical guide to tactical knives business of making knives, either in gen- knives which we consider to be most more popular. “Right now, the trend is eral or specifically for law enforcement appropriate for the use in armies, police tactical folders that can also be used as By Keith W. Strandberg applications. Law Enforcement Technology or any other official entity, in reality even ‘every day carry’ (EDC) knives,” says has talked to the experts to find out what the smallest little knife of our Classic KnifeCenter.com’s Morgan. “This means the trends are in knives, and then pre- Series, a 58mm mini pocket knife, which that they’re not overly huge, not overly knife is one of the primary that show that pared a guide of some of the best prod- very often is used as a key hanger, found heavy, nor do they have unnecessary bells tools that a law enforcement within 21 feet, an ucts on the market today. its way even to the U.S. Marine Corps.” or whistles. Their main features include officer carries. Not only can assailant can cover that A trend towards increased usability a strong blade design, durable lock, ergo- it be used as a weapon in amount of ground before Trends has been going on for years now, with nomic handle, and the safety of knowing Aclose quarters or crowded areas, where an officer can unholster his firearm Police officers are busy people often manufacturers looking at what police your fingers won’t run onto the blade discharging a firearm is impossible, a and make the shot,” says Nick Morgan, doing several things at the same time, officers do every day and meeting those during use. knife can also be indispensable for those product specialist at KnifeCenter.com. so one-hand opening is a big issue for needs. “It’s always good for an officer “Another trend currently going on CRKT M16 SF little tasks that you just can’t do “So for close quarters combat, a knife is knives. “A general request from armies to have a backup to their gun on the in our industry, not necessarily the law with your hands. a very good tool, as long as it can quickly and law enforcement is one-hand off-chance their gun fails, or they have enforcement community, is new steels,” “There have been be deployed. If an officer is unsure of the opening for the large knife blade and a to engage in hand to hand combat,” he continues. “It seems like over the past many studies done backdrop behind his target, he will not locking device for the same,” says Paul says Lindsey Phelps, Sales Manager, two years, manufacturers have come out

CKRT Boker Plus CFR Infidel Benchmade 710 Benchmade Adamas Benchmade AFO Guardian Tactical Patron Benchmade Griptilian Otanashi noh Ken Sebenza

acts as a standard knife due to Knifecenter.com’s Nick Morgan graphics, $410 for a regular Benchmade Adamas A robust Guardian Tactical Patron forward and a very useful blade deep in the pocket with the Purchase guides the full cutting edge and blade offers his candid thoughts on Large model and $350 for a tactical folder with a nice thin Guardian Tactical knives are shape. $234.95 almarknives.com deep carry pocket clip. Tons of tip. $132.95 boker.de.us the best available knives: regular small. The famous Chris blade. Comes with the same built solid. They have great variations in the series. CRKT M16 SF PR, specified by Fox NERO Nighthawk Not many Reeve Sebenza by which all nylon sheath as the Infidel. Also ergonomics and top quality $200 dpxgear.com the military for tactical use. Boker Plus Cop Tool: Microtech Halo V comes with a people know about this but it’s other folding knives are judged. available as an AUTO ($216.75) materials as well. $110 crkt.com Developed and field tested Kydex carry sheath, intimidat- a very cool looking blade and Police3 Long, slender $485 chrisreeve.com or fixed blade ($140.25). $395 guardiantacticalusa.com by Roy Huntington, a police ing with a super-fast AUTO a very nice tactical design. A with reach and a nicely textured CKRT Otanashi noh Ken PR, devel- $170 benchmade.com officer with more than 20 mechanism. Benchmade Infidel Another Emerson CQC-8 Variety of prices small finger guard but a nice handle with a strong lockback oped by martial arts trainer and years of experience, the Cop $585 microtechknives.com famous knife for its overall qual- Benchmade AFO Variety of prices based on variation. You can thumb ramp. design. Great ratio of length to knife designer James Williams, Tool can be used as a lever, ity and ease of use. Comes and variations on this model, really choose any Emerson $213.95 foxknivesusa.com weight. $159.95 spyderco.com is designed to be unobtrusive Microtech Combat Troodon an chisel, belt cutter, scraping with a nice double edge blade which is military issue to some knife since they’re just simple as an EDC knife. $150 crkt.com all-around top notch knife. Pohl Force Bravo One Survival Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 The most tool, or as a multifunctional and nylon sheath. lucky troops. tactical designs built strong as Also available in a smaller, non Both the folders and fixed popular production knife on the Boker Plus CFR (Combat First knife. The bead blasted blade $412.25 benchmade.com $221 benchmade.com hell. I like the Patriot in particu- “Combat” version for $331. blades are built for military market right now. It’s the sec- Responder): Designated for is made of high performance lar. $258.95 emersonknives.com $438 microtechknives.com Benchmade 710 A great Benchmade Griptilian a great use, but I like this model as it’s ond iteration of the design with troop members serving as 440C stainless steel. For grip McHenry & Williams design knife, been around for a while. Al Mar SERE 2000 This is the a very similar design to most a near perfect handle and blade paramedics and emergency with gloves or wet hands, Microtech Socom A lightweight, with reach, speed, and a very It’s a durable, functional design small mini model but it’s also of their folders but at half the shape. Very lightweight, strong, personnel, designed to master Boker uses textured G-10 for large, capable manual folder nice slender profile that car- that many people feel is one of available in an AUTO and large price. $195 pohlforceusa.com and uses great materials. any task, providing an uncom- the handle, which eliminates built to Microtech quality. ries well because it’s so light- Benchmade’s best designs and version with a 3.6-inch blade. Made in the USA for a good $330/340 DPx HEST/F A lot of nice design promising rescue knife. In an any danger of slipping. won’t break the bank. Great handle on this knife to price, nothing not to like here. weight. $165.75 benchmade.com elements and features. It’s solid emergency, it can be used near $85.95 boker.de.us Chris Reeve Sebenza for most $110.50 benchmade.com prevent your fingers slipping $121.95/$134.95 spyderco.com feeling, lightweight, and buries the body without risk, and also large models with inlays or

8 Law Enforcement Technology January 2015 www.officer.com www.officer.com January 2015 Law Enforcement Technology 9 Tactical tech & gear Tactical tech & gear

Emerson Patriot Fox NERO Nighthawk DPx HEST F with more new steels than we what kind of lock or who makes it, a folder is not as strong as a off buying it yourself. This way, you can get a knife that fits your ever had before and that’s going fixed blade,” he says. “Also, when you pull out a fixed blade, it’s hand and fits your daily life, on and off duty. to continue. Blade steel is always a ready to go. You don’t have to worry about folding it open and “My advice would be to not buy the cheapest thing you can balance between hardness (ability making sure it’s locked up tight, you unsheathe and go. find but to splurge a little,” says KnifeCenter.com’s Morgan. “This to hold an edge without becoming “The reason I think a folder is the way to go is just sheer con- might be a tool you have to count on for your life so you don’t do brittle) and corrosion resistance. venience,” he says. “Officers’ utility belts are pretty full already so yourself any favors saving $20 to ultimately have a knife that will They’re trying to find the perfect carrying a fixed blade on the belt is generally a no-go, and carry- fail you when needed. I always recommend doing a little research balance between the two, but each ing one around the neck might be too difficult to get to in a pinch and finding a knife that has good reviews. We have reviews avail- Gerber 06 AUTO I think this slightly slimmer design. shape. It’s highly collect- cutting task or law enforcement since most duty officers wear bullet-resistant vests. You can carry able on most items and we don’t alter them in any way—they’re might be a duty issue piece gerbergear.com ible and highly functional. officer is different. So there’s no a folder almost anywhere on your person and nobody will know customer’s honest opinions, good or bad. for some as well but it’s not $76.95 kershawknives.com wonder steel yet, just a lot of high you have it. They’re generally lighter as well since you don’t have “I also think it’s very important that the knife be lightweight Recon 1 Strongest cheap; USA-made Gerber end steels that are making knives to factor a sheath into that weight.” and comfortable in your hand,” he says. “People make the case a tested lock on the market, And finally Zero Tolerance, “built quality with great steel that more expensive.” lot for concealed carry handguns that if you go too big or if you with an ultra grippy handle, like a tank” and “overbuilt” reminds you of how Gerber Sheath or no sheath? makes this a great tactical are terms that describe just can’t shoot it as good as you want to, you’ll just leave it at got to be so big in the begin- folder. AUS-8 steel isn’t the their knives well. It’s the Choosing a knife For fixed blades, a good sheath is of the utmost importance. home. I feel it’s the same way with knives. If it’s a big, bulky or ning, making quality tools for best but it can easily be USA-made, tactical knife divi- Here are some important things to More than 95 percent of the time the knife is sheathed, so having isn’t comfortable to use, you’re just not going to carry it.” ■ our armed forces. resharpened in the field by sion of KAI, which includes consider when choosing a knife: something that doesn’t rattle, is comfortable, and durable is the $151.95 gerbergear.com most users. and Shun Blade thickness biggest thing for me when picking a fixed blade. Gerber Propel Assisted Opener $73.95 coldsteel.com Cutlery. Everything is heavy You don’t want the knife to Keith W. Strandberg is an American freelance writer and award-winning ($114.95/$119.95) or the AUTO duty and tactically designed, screenwriter/producer of feature films living in Switzerland. He was a Kershaw Blur A very fast break when you need it most. Final advice ($134.95/$149.95) same thing most come with a nicer former contributing editor for LET more than a decade ago and is happy to assisted-opening knife Also, a thicker blade allows for Some departments supply knives to their officers, but the bot- as the 06 model with nice Carbon Fiber version of the be back writing for the magazine. with a thin handle and some minor prying, but this is tom line is that if you want the perfect knife for you, you’re better quality and steel, just in a knives for collectors but also very nice recurve blade never recommended. for end users. Carbon fiber Ergonomics not only looks great but its ultra-durable, making it a Your knife has to fit your hand HONOR your FINEST great handle material. well so it cannot be removed from it during a fight. You’ll want to ZT0562 My new favorite knife, with SOLID BRONZE use a comfortable knife a lot more with a Rick Hinderer design, QUALITY has the best available materi- than one that has hot spots (cre- als at a price that won’t break ates pain in spots of your hand) or your bank. I think it’s just a is too big and bulky. darn great knife at a great deal Durability and it’s great to be made in Here material is everything. the USA. The blade opens so You pay directly for the quality smoothly and the ergonomics of the materials more so than in are spectacular. In my mind as other industries so you really “get close to a perfect knife as you what you pay for”. can get. $240 ztknives.com Tolerance ZT0566 The 566 is a smaller, The knife must be made well. assisted opening version of It’s easy to tell the difference the 560 model. The 566 is just between a $40 knife and a $200 a little more comfortable in knife—the blade will be better the hand and I think the size is centered between the handle, the right for most people. $168 ztknives.com grind on the edge will be better, the amount of play (when the ZT0350 The 350 is a smaller blade of a folder wiggles side to version of the 300 series side or up and down when it’s Squeeze the single action trigger of the new Kel-Tec™ CMR-30 once, and you’ll be amazed at the low recoil folders, which were Zero locked open) is less. Tolerance’s first ever knives. accuracy from a rifle so compact and lightweight. Put a full 30 round, .22 magnum mag It’s got a wide, beefy blade Folder or fixed blade? in the bullseye and, well, your old favorite will be just that. See the new CMR-30 and you can pry with and is a everything Kel-Tec™ in Shot Show Booth 16741 and law enforcement Booth 7502. great knife for use with KnifeCenter.com’s Morgan thinks KelTecWeapons.com www.libertyartworks.com 888-411-7744 gloves. For those with larger that folding knives are more Proudly Made in the U.S.A appropriate for law enforcement Story continues on page 12 use. “A fixed blade knife has the Circle 3 on Reader Service Card strength going for it and no matter Circle 4 on Reader Service Card

10 Law Enforcement Technology January 2015 www.officer.com www.officer.com January 2015 Law Enforcement Technology 11 Tactical tech & gear Gerber Propel Assisted Opener A word on multitools Gerber 06 Auto “A multi-tool is really an invaluable tool once you carry and use one,” says KnifeCenter.com’s Morgan. “It’s like having a small tool box in your pocket— [and] really has a lot of life-saving features. Most, if not all, have a saw which is more of Zero Tolerance 0350 an outdoor survival tool, but the pliers are great for untying knots and tinkering with other tools (guns, flashlights, gear belts, batons, handcuffs, etc.). Officers encoun- hands though, a 300/301/302 Zero Tolerance’s folder is best. $148 ztknives.com ter all different kinds of issues each and And finally, in the budget category. A knife that is built super well and is about every day and a multi-tool helps them a cheap as you want to go on a folder. Coming in at around $30 is the Ontario Rat be as prepared as possible.” Model 1. It’s also available in an assisted opening version with G10 handles for Look for a multi-tool that has the tools a better grip with faster opening. ontarioknife.com ■ you’re looking for. No one tool has Editor's Note: All prices MSRP. everything—weigh the options against your needs. 1 Keith W. Strandberg is an American freelance writer and award-winning screenwriter/produce living in Switzerland. Here are five worth looking into:

1. MUT—$159.85-$169.85

2. Victorinox SwissTool—$77.95-$129.99

3. Victorinox Swiss Army Rescue Tool—$102.00

4. SOG PowerAssist—$79.95-$85.95

5. Gerber Bullrush Multi Tool—$49.95 2

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12 Law Enforcement Technology January 2015 www.officer.com