I have my truck with me just about everywhere I go and have everything else covered except a knife or maybe an ax. I cary a 3.5" black class Benchmaid folder on me at all times but I need something to keep in the truck or my BOB that stays in the truck most of the time. What would be the best for things like protection, survival or a pry bar if needed, Was thinking of something like a Tops 7" fixed blade. I'm into practical not tacticool crap. I have other things thats better for protection so it would be mostly used as a tool but if SHTF you never know.
Sidearms & Scatterguns looking for edged weapon/tool to cary in truck or BOB
- Thread starter GrantB
- Start date
Go with the Tops.
I have a 16" piece of 3/4" re-bar in my truck. One end wrapped in duct tape, the other ground to a sharp point. Could work as a tool for several things, including smashing someones face if need be. Cost me nothing, and doesn't fall into the tacticool category. Pretty practical imo.
Take a look at the Stanley Fubar tool. You can get it at lowes/home depot for a modest price and you can modify it if you aren't happy with some of it's features. It will definitely work as a pry bar and for other practical purposes but can still be used as a weapon if needed. A video on howto modify it can be found here Stanley Fubar modified
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Just be careful. I used to keep a prybar style short machete in my vehicle for emergencies...disappeared at some point...probably some 18 year old at the oil change place found it while vacuuming...
Perhaps look into a surplus entrenching tool. Quite an effective weapon as I understand it and a usefull tool as well.
Cold Steel shovel, and a Fubar. The little shovel is a really good tool, chops brush well and digs well too. Even scrapes ice from under a car in a jam.
I carry a SOG tomahawk, tri-fold shovel, and a Becker Bk-2. Should cover most problems.... Heck the Becker is basically a sharpened pry bar.....
This knife would not let you down....
"Pararescue LighT" PJLT, combat search and rescue knife donation
"Pararescue LighT" PJLT, combat search and rescue knife donation
I have a Fiskars brush hook, Fiskars hatchet, and an Erickkson 510 mora in my vehicle. The total for all of these is less that $50.00. I use all three regularly, and I wouldn't care if I lost one or all of them. I would, however, replace them. I have been preaching the value of the moras for years. Save your high end knives to carry or hunt with. You can buy moras by the bucket (litterally).
A knife with a 1/4 in. thick blade with at total length of ~13-14" is a cumbersome tool to lug around. It doesn't chop that well, it doesn't cut that well, and while it looks like a pry bar it will break. Steel tempered to 58-60 Rockwell is not meant to pry. It will eventually break. That said keep in mind I'm not a Tops fan.
Chip
A knife with a 1/4 in. thick blade with at total length of ~13-14" is a cumbersome tool to lug around. It doesn't chop that well, it doesn't cut that well, and while it looks like a pry bar it will break. Steel tempered to 58-60 Rockwell is not meant to pry. It will eventually break. That said keep in mind I'm not a Tops fan.
Chip
I've been reading up on the ESEE 5 after handling it at BLADE yesterday. Seems like the exact knife/tool you're looking for.
I got to play around with a Ontario RD7 and a RAT7, and they are both awesome knives, especially for what you're thinking. They're simple, got a good bit of heft to them, and are razor sharp. Not too expensive either. Both do come in 9" and 10.25" models if you want bigger.
I like a Fiskars hatchet and small ax.......the lightweight job similar in size to a Hudson Bay pack ax. Also a second vote for a Cold Steel shovel. Last.......a crowbar sized that is around 30" to 36". Sharpen the straight end, then repaint it. All of these are handy for what they are designed to do, or extracting people from wrecks, or clearing fallen trees pinning you in after a storm on a country road. Low cost, and you can get them anywhere. TOOLS, not weapons, but they make very effective weapons if needed. If you end up in front of a jury, you won't be looked at as a volatile person, looking for trouble.
Take a look at an AK-47 bayonet. You might be surprised by the steel and versatility of the knife.
benchmade tomahawk, if you need any motivation for using a tomahawk, watch "The Patriot".
Are you looking more for a weapon or utilitarian device? Also are you saying you already have an axe? Or is it that you are considering an axe or a fixed blade? If it is the later, understand when you need a real 36" (double bit) axe, there is no substitute. If your talking about using a rock / limb to pound on the spine of a fixed blade and do the (light) work of a hatchet - OK, yeah - that can work, but that opens up a discussion on knife manufacturing / steel / edges / and angles.
if your talking about things that are utilitarian but can be used as protection - step back a minute and think about the most likely needs of a utilitarian item. Then consider that some things are more appropriate for a vehicle and not a BOB. Example: a length of chain and a coulple of good shackles are exceptionally handy items, in a pinch you could use it to defend yourself, but what is practical to carry in a vehicle would be dead weight in a BOB.
When your thinking about the utilitarian use - let's be honest here for a second, if you're considering a utilitarian item, that could double as a defensive weapon - for most of us, the odds are far greater that we will use it in utilitarian capacity; not to mention that if one needs a defensive weapon - they really should carry the appropriate tool. Also recognize that some utilitarian tools 'can' do several things - but not well. Some examples (vehicle oriented):
e-tool - will it dig? Sure, but painfully slow. It isn't even close to what a real shovel can accomplish in a 15 minute period. That said, for digging / clearing / breaking up rock, ice / bashing things - I love a mattock Shop Kobalt 5-lb Hardwood-Handle Steel Cutter Mattock at Lowes.com.
hacksaw - eventually you could cut through cable / chain / fence - but it isn't the same as a large set of bolt cucutters
Knife v Axe
Highlift Jack vs winch
In my rig I carry several things to access and move things, digging is less of a focus.
IMHO - The most practical utilitarian object that can be used as a weapon for either a vehicle or a BOB in this thread was that Stanley Halligan(esk) type tool.
if your talking about things that are utilitarian but can be used as protection - step back a minute and think about the most likely needs of a utilitarian item. Then consider that some things are more appropriate for a vehicle and not a BOB. Example: a length of chain and a coulple of good shackles are exceptionally handy items, in a pinch you could use it to defend yourself, but what is practical to carry in a vehicle would be dead weight in a BOB.
When your thinking about the utilitarian use - let's be honest here for a second, if you're considering a utilitarian item, that could double as a defensive weapon - for most of us, the odds are far greater that we will use it in utilitarian capacity; not to mention that if one needs a defensive weapon - they really should carry the appropriate tool. Also recognize that some utilitarian tools 'can' do several things - but not well. Some examples (vehicle oriented):
e-tool - will it dig? Sure, but painfully slow. It isn't even close to what a real shovel can accomplish in a 15 minute period. That said, for digging / clearing / breaking up rock, ice / bashing things - I love a mattock Shop Kobalt 5-lb Hardwood-Handle Steel Cutter Mattock at Lowes.com.
hacksaw - eventually you could cut through cable / chain / fence - but it isn't the same as a large set of bolt cucutters
Knife v Axe
Highlift Jack vs winch
In my rig I carry several things to access and move things, digging is less of a focus.
IMHO - The most practical utilitarian object that can be used as a weapon for either a vehicle or a BOB in this thread was that Stanley Halligan(esk) type tool.
Becker Bk2, surplus German folding shovel/pick and a 11" Gerber camp hatchet. The shovel would be my choice if I could only carry one of these tools.
not even a question, one of these
Medieval Viking double-bladed axe
Medieval Viking double-bladed axe
Get a Tramontina machete and a Mora from amazon, should be able to pick up both for 25 or so with their free shipping. If something happens to the machete you're out 5-10 bucks. I bought several at once, gave one away to a friend, use one for gardening all the time. The ones with the plastic handle are cheaper, just wrap it with tennis racquet tape and it'll be a lot more comfortable to use.
Gerber LMF2. Big tough combat knife. I got one from Ceylon for less than a hundred bucks. There is one on sale now from Helen Keller for $70.
Or you can pack one of these...
<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/derekeparker/media/IMGP0130.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z362/derekeparker/IMGP0130.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMGP0130.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/user/derekeparker/media/IMGP0130.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z362/derekeparker/IMGP0130.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMGP0130.jpg"/></a>
Check out the "Stanley Fatmax Utility Bar". Sounds like what you are looking for. Can be picked up at Lowe's for under $30. I have one in each vehicle.
Eddie
Eddie
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Check out this knife I just bought from Miller Bros. Knives: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-miller-bros-m5-knife-pic-heavy-thoughts.html
Seriously heavy duty, pry, chop, hammer thru other steel. Check out their website for other stuff they make. Miller Bros. Blades Tactical Knives and Swords Custom Made in stock and ready to use
Seriously heavy duty, pry, chop, hammer thru other steel. Check out their website for other stuff they make. Miller Bros. Blades Tactical Knives and Swords Custom Made in stock and ready to use
I keep an RMJ Jenny Wren in the vehicle. Have a Kestrel Feather but the JW is just a simpler choice for me.
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