Rescue Knives vs. Belt

[Etherealicer]

Go Beagle!!!

To everyone: What you see is what you get... that is pretty much my whole serrated blade collection.

The widened of the Spyderco blade and bluntness if the tip is exactly what helps it get under a seat belt safely, without injuring the patient.

If there is ever any doubt about that, give a try cutting away the shrink wrap from a 24 or 40-pack of plastic water bottles.

Good idea for a test...
I'm not worried about the injury part, more about maneuvering the blade into a position where it actually cuts. A wider blade needs more room to operate.
I'm also guessing that different blades need different techniques. E.g. with those pointy hawkbills you probably use the tip to puncture the clothing, then cut towards you, that has the potential to make unsupported cutting easier.

Thanks, Ether!

Injury is to be worried about in a rescue blade. The flat sheep's foot blade actually helps maneuver the blade safely between the person and the seatbelt. You the twist your wrist, lifting the blade away from the person and so it bites into the belt at each serration, and pull.

We would never use a hawk bill blade for rescue. That would puncture the clothes for sure, but also the patient. And pulking towards yourself with that tip in the clothes could easily rake your patient apart...Hawkbills are actually great for cutting vegetables and large chunks of meat without it rolling out from under the blade. Not advisable in a rescue.Not easily controlled in emergency environment. Cutting clothes off would be done with emergency shears.

I agree on that, a hawkbill is a terrible idea, but a slimmer blade (Vic Rescue) might have better maneuverability. Also the wide tip of the Spyderco rescue will make it harder to get under the cloth. That is just theory, its possible that in reality there is not much of a difference. Same goes for the curvature, hard to tell for me if straight or positive/negative edge is better offers any advantage.
But, my schedule has cleared up a bit, so I will be testing soonish.

[eamo]

But, my schedule has cleared up a bit, so I will be testing soonish.

  looking forward to it Ether

[ThundahBeagle]

Yes, Ether, I would agree that your testing has been thorough to date. You should be able to push a rescue blade straight into the shrink wrap in a slow stabbing motion with no ill effect to the bottle behind it, and then pivot the blade to cut the shrink wrap and not the bottle

[Etherealicer]

To everyone: What you see is what you get... that is pretty much my whole serrated blade collection.

Oh my... I do have one more... its kinda embarrassing that I forgot, I mean I even modded it.

[ChopperCharles]

I'm curious how the Ruike LD-43 rescue knife works. I have one and love it, but I must admit I've not tested the serrated blade on a seatbelt.

Charles.