features for EDC for a cop ?

[SVanderkolff]

I have been asked by one of my customers to design a fixed blade EDC for him. He is a big city cop and would like something he can carry every day both on duty and off. Are any maker also members of your cities finest. Some of the things I am wondering about, blade thickness, grind, hardness, handle material, blade length, overall length, lanyard hole, gut hook (i hope not). I also figure this might get to be an interesting discussion. Knife design by committee.
Thanks
Steve

[Ray Rogers]

I was a cop once, long ago, in a county far, far away..... wait a minute! I'm starting to sound like Luke Skywalker here...

Anyway, a lot would depend on the laws where he lives and the policies of his department. Hasn't he given you any input on what he wants aside from a fixed blade? I mean, we don't know if he's looking for utility (which is probably the case) or for a back up weapon. He'll probably need to conceal it, especially off duty, so maybe a neck knife is the way to go. Before this discussion gets too deep I think we should be given some kind of direction.....


P.S.

Definitely, no gut hook!

[SVanderkolff]

First off I have to say I do not think he is an experienced knife person. Having said that what he has pointed me to were a couple of fairly small 7 - 8" chisel ground cord wrapped "trying to look mean" knives. One of the things I had hoped to get out of this discussion was enough knowledge to point him in the right direction either with me or with another maker.
Thanks
Steve

[Ray Rogers]

Well, with the possible exception of SWAT teams, most police use knives much the same way as the rest of us do. The magazines love to tell us about rescue knives cutting seat belts but any sharp knife can do that. Kinda makes seat belts sound dangerous, doesn't it?

Anyway, police have to obey the same laws that the rest of us deal with. So, that probably means a short blade around 3", certainly not more than 4". I'd go with stout because it might be more likely to get used to pry than an average knife. It could be a tanto but that's not very PC and a drop point would be at least as useful if not more so.

Cord wrapping is nice but if you don't do that then an ergonomic Micarta handle would be just as good for most things. Most likely, the handle should be fairly flat because I'm GUESSING he's gonna need to conceal this thing. A big city cop probably will not be allowed to carry a fixed blade on his duty belt. This leaves us with a neck knife or a boot knife.

Doesn't sound to me like you really want to do this knife so you might direct him to Bud Nealy or tell him to buy a magazine and look around until he has a better idea of what he wants ....

[SVanderkolff]

Ray
I already directed him to look elsewhere but it got my interest up a bit so thought I would give a try to designing one even if I don't make it. Then realised I had no idea of the specs or other considerations.
Thanks for the input.
STeve

[Robert Washburn]

Imade the 2 motorcycle cops here boot knives.They clip in the top of there boots and only extendout about 1.5 in.The length s are only 6.5 inches,52100 steel and g10 scales.I also made leather sheaths after trying kydex which wasn`t comfortable to there legs. Thanks RLW

[Colin KC]

I think that for RTA's a consideration should be the state of mind of the "accidentee" in that if even a cop were to whip out a knife to cut a seatbelt free, the rescuee may be more than a little concerned But with a diagonal cutout on the sheath (& a method of release from the belt, velcro? press stud?) using it as a guthook type blade might be better, of course this would mean kydex prolly.

Quite a thick blade might be preferable (for use as a pry bar ) & a heavy, shaped butt end for smashing glass?

Would a rounded, blunt tip be preferable, in case of having to cut clothing away (another use for the "cutout" maybe?)


Just some thoughts