something new - rescue swick

[trailmix]

howdy folks. received a package today from spyderco that i thought some of you might be interested in. contained within was a few test pieces of the rescue swick. i designed this knife for swiftwater rescue use, where it will mostly be used for "pull cuts". test pieces are s30v with a straight edge, whereas if it makes it to production, it will be h1 and serrated.

sorry for the crappy pics, it's the best i can do. i will try to get some better ones soon, as well as some action shots.

what'cha think?

[nomaded]

Wow. Quite a beauty.

[death-bringah]

It's official: I want 1!

Seriously, it's gorgeous...but, I'm surprised to learn that Spyderco doesn't grind serrations on prototypes. Still, if there were 2 edge-types available, I'd have to get TWO!

Either way, it looks great, and also looks like it would WORK great. Nice WORK, and thank-you for the long-awaited pix!

my thanx...d

[trailmix]

thanks. i can't wait to use it a bit. it cuts webbing and rope very easily and keeps my hand in a great position.

i agree about the serrated edge. my test pieces are hand ground, so maybe that was a deciding factor. but i believe the crazy sharp edge will give me good service while testing.

[death-bringah]

...I wonder if Spyderco will also produce special "Upside-Down Sharpmaker Rods" to go with it?

my thanx...d

[spydutch]

Very great

So the real thing will be serrated H1? I want one for sure.

However, since we're not allowed to carry neckknives over here I would very much like a sheath for (as deep as possible) pocket carry. And maybe Micarta on the handle like the VG 10 SPOT?

Very unusual but great design

[The Deacon]

Perhaps it's just the early hour here and lack of caffine, but I'm having a really hard time visualizing any situation, "rescuematic" or otherwise, where a knife with the sharp edge on top would be useful.

[Gerard Breuker]

Trailmix,
Nice design which I think will work well for its intended purpose.

Spydutch,
Why are we not allowed to carry neckknives? I don't know of any law against it.

[Piet.S]

However, since we're not allowed to carry neckknives over here

Never heard that before Spydutch, just as legal as any other knife.

[thom lambert]

Perhaps it's just the early hour here and lack of caffine, but I'm having a really hard time visualizing any situation, "rescuematic" or otherwise, where a knife with the sharp edge on top would be useful.

Deacon,
The most essential uses of a whitewater rescue knife involve cutting fibrous material - clothing, rope, webbing - away from a victim's body. Rafters and open boaters especially can become trapped under a boat with rope or webbing around an arm or leg. Getting them out quickly, without cutting them in the process is critical.

With most rescue knives, you have to use the knife "upside down" to cut with the sharp edge away from the victim's skin. The beauty of this design is that the edge is oriented "correctly" for those situations, while still offering a great grip. Ironically, the new Pikal would be useful that way as well.

I don't see it being safer or more effective than a "hook" style cutter, but I would have to test it out to see.

Rescue knives are incredibly misunderstood by most paddlers - becoming more of a liability than a resource. Lots of paddlers carry them, few of them understand their correct uses, and even fewer (I would guess less than 1%) have done any "real" testing, or practice with them.

Thom

[Mike Sastre]

Looks like an excellent design, even better in the serrated H1. Curved blade gives you more bite per cut. Having the edge on top lets you cut pulling towards you, which is a much stronger motion, while remaining better balanced. Picture yourself balanced on a riverbank rock, cutting with a forward motion, and then the tension release when the rope or webbing parts - your momentum is then forward, possibly pitching you in the river. Seen it happen. If clothing needs to be quickly removed (broken limb, etc.), it's very easy to put spine against victim and "zip" it open. These have been my primary reasons for advocating the Merlin (now Tasman Salt) for swiftwater rescue all these years. Somebody definitely had their thinking cap on!!!

Trailmix,

Seems like I should know you, given my time spent in your AO with the Slalom team and TARS. Contact me, please.

[sal]

Hi Trailmix,

Nice pics. Sorry 'bout "no teeth". It was more of a time thing. The knives were finished. Making a new serration wheel for an experimental model is not practcial. We would do these by hand and those with the skill, are very busy right now. We cut a wheel for the 82nd testers because we were further along in the development of the model.

I wanted to get them to you. Sharpen with a coarse diamond and you'll get more "bite". We can add teeth at a later time if the "form" proves effective and we can plan the time. I've also got a few more here.

We find in testing that "glitches" are there and improvement usually possible. That is how a design evolves. Once we're convinced it works and there's a market to support the design, we'll cut a purpose wheel for the teeth in that model. That's when we'll start cuting H-1.

Thanx Mike, always appreciate your input.

We could always put a "hook" on the tip end and eliminate the point, but Mike says the point is useful in a rescue that's got someone pinned by the rafct. Pressure must be reduced. The point is used to put a small hole in a raft instead of a large cut. Pressure can be reduced as needed and the repair to the raft is simple.

It's a "work in progress" to serve a needed function. The only rules are "always make it better".

Thanx for the opportunity to play.

Spydutch,

I think you'd be ok there. More than likely it would be fastened to a vest. It's short and single edged.

You always ask good Questions Deacon. Good questions promote learning for all.

sal

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Continual refinement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind

[RLR]

Very functional - it's like the cousin to the swick, and I'll need that one too! The ability to "rock" the cut, off a leg, raft, pack, etc... is VERY useful. This knife is specialized, but many sports will benefit from it: rafting, skydiving, climbing. And then there is the working market: fishermn, fire/rescue, ER's...

Awesome job...

[spydutch]

Trailmix,
Nice design which I think will work well for its intended purpose.

Spydutch,
Why are we not allowed to carry neckknives? I don't know of any law against it.

IIRC, I read somewhere back, Wouter said something like that.

I must have misunderstood him then

[trailmix]

thanks for the feedback mike and thom, you both have pm's.

and a huge thanks to sal for helping this along. that was my guess about the serrations and that's certainly okay, you sent them razor sharp.

rlr, yes it is specialized, however many users can benefit. i know my grandmother would have loved this for gathering vegetables out of her garden.

[thom lambert]

Sal,
I would leave the point on: it can be useful and it is easy enough to blunt if a user is uncomfortable with it. The sharp tip actually makes it easier to get in between a person and their clothing. It is also useful for starting cuts in the middle of fabric in case it is difficult to get to the edge.

Thom

[trailmix]

i concur thom, keep'em pointy

[Mike Sastre]

Then there's always splinter removal - points very useful.

[Blades]

Looks good Kevin!! Congratulations!!


Blades

[deeker]

Great design, congratulations. Good work on getting this far in the design stage!

I would be most interested in seeing the final product. Seems like something that could fit into/onto my Ready Pack.