Gerber Hinderer Rescue Knife

Rescue Knives
Rescue knives are the unsung heroes of the knife world. With all the buzz surrounding tactical, EDC and survival knives I feel like the rescue blades often go unnoticed. This is somewhat unfortunate as one of these knives could very well save your life one day, or the life of someone you love.

The Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife was designed by knife-maker/firefighter Rick Hinderer.

By combining his expertise in knife design along with his hands-on experience in the fire service, Hinderer has developed a very popular tool.

"This knife is designed by firefighter Rick Hinderer for the working Firefighter, EMT or Medic. It has a serrated stainless steel blade, a window punch and a foldaway seat belt cutter. But what tempted me, and what gets used the most, is the built in oxygen tank wrench. It is a deceptively simple slot in the handle, but it has time and again come in handy switching out portable oxygen tanks while on scene. No more sending someone running back to the rig because someone on C-shift forgot to replace the oxygen wrench back in the bag! The over-sized thumb studs make it workable even with bunker gloves on and it comes with a 9-piece kit of screw bits." -Jesse Hinds , 2012, CoolTools





✔Webbing

✔ Nylon Rope

✔Aluminum Can

✔Seat Belt

✔Radiator Hose

✔PVC Pipe

✔Rubber
The saw tooth design on the cutting edge of the blade passed with flying colors on the above materials.









Here is my size-up:

Size-up

Pros: In addition to the extra weight (5.6 oz), there are a couple of things that are readily noticeable when I grip the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife and seat belt cutter.

First of all is the design of the handle. The contoured shape of the Hinderer knife seems to fit naturally in my hand. It is a very comfortable grip and the textured exterior helps to prevent slipping.

Although this knife comes loaded with firefighter features, the most obvious one is that of safety.

An important safety feature incorporated into this Gerber folding knife is that both the blade and seatbelt cutter have blunt edges to prevent accidental cutting of the patient.

Also, the liner lock fits snuggly against the blade to help avoid accidental closure.

Another positive note is that there are two thumstuds located on the blade, which makes it user friendly for either right or left-handed firefighters.

One of the best things that I like about the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife is the lock release. Located on the side of the handle, this safety release button is easy to find and operate (slide).

This was especially true even when I tested it while wearing fire department gloves.

When it comes to extra features, the Hinderer rescue has quite a few. One of the most impressive is the window punch.









Although there are some window punches that are completely useless (they don't work)the Gerber rescue knife is a different story.

As you can see from the picture,this bad boy made quick work of busting the test window.
I think the main reason for the ease of operation is that the point of the window punch is very narrow and extremely hard. It took only a minimum of force to shatter the glass.

The seat belt cutter

is another feature that is found on the Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife. During the testing process, I found that cutting through the seat belt was very smooth and quick. Once the initial cut was made, the rest was a breeze. I was very pleased with the performance of the seatbelt cutter.


Note: Just remember to keep the belt tight when you are cutting.

The other added feature of the Gerber rescue knife is the built-in oxygen wrench. This is very handy to have as it is already part of the knife.

However, I did find one possible drawback and it is a minor one, so I do not consider it as a con.

When using the oxygen wrench, the valve of the O2 tank comes into contact with the blade on the knife. This could be a problem when force is used to open the valve as it could damage the blade.

The solution to this is to open the Gerber blade prior to using the wrench. Just be careful not to cut yourself while opening or closing the valve.

Cons: Although both thumbstuds are textured, I found that they do not stick out far enough to offer one-handed opening while wearing gloves.

In addition, it would seem that if the thumbstuds were located further down the blade (towards the middle of the knife) that they would offer better leverage for opening.

Another observation is that the seatbelt/clothing cutter fits snugly on the side of the handle, which proves to be both good and bad.

Although the close fit keeps the cutter out of the way until you need it, it also makes it hard to open. Because the cutter is flush with the side of the handle there is not much of a protrusion to grip.

Using my fingernail proved to be the quickest way to extend it. Needless to say, trying to open the seatbelt cutter while wearing gloves was next to impossible.

I tested the seat belt cutter feature of the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife on an old washcloth and found that it did a good job cutting through the seam.

However, it was necessary to apply tension on opposite ends of the cloth. This was especially true in order to cut the length of the material.



Operability

Open with one hand: Yes
Open with gloves: Yes
Open with one hand wearing gloves: No
Close with one hand: Yes
Close with one hand wearing gloves: Yes

Features

Blade: Extra thick. Has “Gerber” written on it
Handle: Textured, red
Seatbelt/clothing cutter
Window punch
Oxygen tank wrench
Lanyard hole
Liner lock release button


Comments

The built-in features of seatbelt/clothing cutter, window punch and O2 wrench are handy to have all in one tool. As far as a heavy-duty pocketknife is concerned, I feel as if the Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife fits the bill.

It is easy to see from the extra thick blade and the reinforced steel handle that this is a tough knife.

One added benefit of purchasing the Gerber Hinderer is that it comes with a small 9-piece tool kit and carrying pouch.

Keeping the above size-up in mind, I think the individual’s needs should be the determining factor when deciding on whether to buy this knife.


Article Taken from firefighter411.com

Tips on What to look for when Selecting the Right Rescue Knife?

Rescue knives aren’t always the sexiest blades, but you can’t deny their functionality. Often characterized by blunt tips and including extras like seat belt cutters and glass breakers, these are the tool of choice for first responders and prepared individuals.


BIG
Most rescue knives are on the heavy side because they are typically heavily built and carry extra tools.That said, you want something comfortable and easy to carry because it won’t do you any good if you routinely leave the knife at home. Find a knife with a good pocket clip and high quality, ergonomic handle.


SERRATED
A) stay sharp and B) and good for cutting clothing, rope and and woven materials. You want a blunt tip to avoid stabbing people when you are trying to cut them free and remove shoes and clothing in the event they have suffered serious injuries.


BLADE STEEL
Look for a knife that has a good blade hearty blade steel like 440C, AUS8 or 154cm. You want something that wont’ chip easily and holds a decent edge.


HANDLE- Bright Color Yellow/Orange
Visibility is important, especially in high stress scenarios or where you might be in the middle of an emergency.


EXTRA FUNCTION- seatbelt cutters and glass breakers