With Grant's prior blessing, I'll post this in the hopes that it may be of some help to other members. Cutting seatbelts is a discussion that comes up rather frequently at the Police Academy here in my state and there is absolutely no limit to what those "rookies" are carrying to accomplish that task. They have all the latest gadgets.Recently, and as a result of this forum, myself and some other instructors began sharing stories about seatbelts we'd cut before and what worked and what did not. This turned into an un-scientific series of tests that led back to a technique that we had all used in one form or another because it simply works, everytime. In our profession reliability is more important than anything...think firearms, tazers, knives etc etc etc.There has been much discussion here and show and tell of "rescue tools' and all sorts of v-cutters and what-nots to cut seatbelts. Our collective opinion through field experience was that cutting a seatbelt in a junkyard was considerably different than cutting a seatbelt supporting a live human, in a mangled vehicle that is on fire or flooding or whatever. Everyone agreed that the "rescue rings" were not the best instrument, for several reasons. BTW this is not meant to offend those who love the "rings" I think they're cool too, this is just offered to you as another option.We found that the good ol' half plain, half serrated, well sharpened folder really came into it's own here and as Grant stated in another thread, served dual purposes while not unnecissarilly taking up valuable real estate in one's pocket or on one's belt. The technique is as follows.Open your folder and turn your hand palm up so your blade is facing you and the back of the blade is toward the victim. Locate the lap portion of the seatbelt, to the left of the buckle on the driver's side and to the right of the buckle on the passenger side. Make your cut here, this way the seatbelt will come free of the b-pillar area of the car (this is the upright post behind the front door seam) and you shouldn't have to mess with the buckle since after impact it is most likely inertia locked. Start with the forward, plain edge of your blade and cut upward through the seatbelt, dragging it through to the back serrations. If that doesn't completely sever the seatbelt simply make another motion pulling the blade back toward you, this time through the serrations first and this will certainly complete the cut and sever the seatbelt for you. It's basically a two stroke sawing motion going forward first then backward. If done properly this will minimize any blade exposure to yourself or the victim.Before closing, I would like to say that while the thought of extracating someone from a vehicle is certainly noble, unless there are exigent circumstances such as those mentioned above, it is often better to simply stabilize the patient's head and neck and wait for rescue personell to arrive. This way you don't inadvertantly excascerbate a head or cervical injury and possibly put yourself in a position of liability for simply being a good samaritan.Once again, my intention was not to offend anyone who swears by "rescue rings' and if I did, I sincerely apologize. I simply wanted to offer you another "club" in your bag in the hopes that it helps. With that said I hope none of you ever have to use it but if you should, at least you'll have options if all you have is a half and half folder. For the record, I do own some of the "ring tools" but do not carry them, nor does my girlfriend who is an ambulance based 16 year ALS Paramedic. Just food for thought my friends, thanks for listening and my best to all.Respectfully;Stew and K9 partner Ajo...