thedrifter
10-29-07, 07:06 AM
On the cutting edge
Troops could soon sport new combat knives
By Matthew Cox - mcox@militarytimes.com
Posted : November 05, 2007
Sometimes the sharpest troop innovations are the simplest.
At the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., knife makers demonstrated how they continually hone their craft to meet the needs of soldiers in combat. In addition to new knives, the major blade companies at the show were all sporting devices designed to help soldiers rescue themselves and comrades from emergencies.
Benchmade featured its new ERT-1. It’s not really a knife as much as it is a tool designed for escaping from crashed vehicles and aircraft. Instead of a blade, the ERT-1 features a folding strap-cutter hook designed to cut seat belts and other restraints. It has a push-button LED and a spring-loaded, window-breaker punch.
Pressing the butt-end of the ERT-1’s window punch against a window or windshield causes the special plunger to activate the punch. The result is shattered glass every time, said Josh Harrell, of Benchmade, who demonstrated the device on a piece of auto window glass wrapped in clear tape.
“The huge advantage of the mechanism is you don’t have to swing it,” he said. “If you are in a vehicle, you may be injured, and you may not be able to swing.”
The ERT-1 comes with yellow or black handles and sells for about $40.
Benchmade also showed off its LFK folding knife. The innovative design allows the knife to have a longer blade than its handle. It does so by incorporating a special arm that encases the tip of the blade when folded. The arm automatically folds up into the handle when the 5-inch 440C stainless steel blade is extended. The LFK comes in either a satin or blackened finished blade and costs about $110.
Ontario Knife Co. unveiled a special new attachment for its Spax aircrew survival and breaching tool.
The Spax offers aircrews and soldiers a compact ax that can be used to chop out of a downed aircraft or hack through wooden doors or window frames. The Army recently adopted the Spax to issue to soldiers through the Rapid Fielding Initiative.
The new “hoe” attachment slides onto the spiked portion of the Spax, giving it additional prying and digging capability.
The attachment locks down with an Allen screw and special wrench.
The Spax costs about $68; the new attachment takes the price up to about $100. The attachment comes with a pouch that can mount on the Spax sheath or onto other soldier gear.
Ontario representative Sue Green was also happy to demonstrate the company’s Strap Cutter, slicing with ease through an all-leather combat boot. The handy little device was also recently included in the Army’s RFI list.
Another Ontario product on display at AUSA was the XM3 automatic folder. It features a 3æ-inch C690 stainless steel blade that’s blackened to reduce glare and corrosion.
It comes in drop point and tanto style blades. It has an aircraft aluminum handle and a safety to ensure it stays locked open. It retails to military personnel for about $100.
Gerber recently unveiled its Combat Lifesaver folding knife. It has a 3½-inch partially serrated 420 stainless steel blade, a folding strap-cutter hook and a built-in window breaking stud. It costs about $65.
Gerber featured its new 06 automatic knife as well. The robust folder features a 3½-inch S30V blade in either drop point or tanto point style. It’s coated to resist corrosion and is partially serrated. The anodized aluminum handle features finger grooves for sure grip.
It costs about $110 for military unit buys and $150 for individual purchases.
Ellie
Troops could soon sport new combat knives
By Matthew Cox - mcox@militarytimes.com
Posted : November 05, 2007
Sometimes the sharpest troop innovations are the simplest.
At the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., knife makers demonstrated how they continually hone their craft to meet the needs of soldiers in combat. In addition to new knives, the major blade companies at the show were all sporting devices designed to help soldiers rescue themselves and comrades from emergencies.
Benchmade featured its new ERT-1. It’s not really a knife as much as it is a tool designed for escaping from crashed vehicles and aircraft. Instead of a blade, the ERT-1 features a folding strap-cutter hook designed to cut seat belts and other restraints. It has a push-button LED and a spring-loaded, window-breaker punch.
Pressing the butt-end of the ERT-1’s window punch against a window or windshield causes the special plunger to activate the punch. The result is shattered glass every time, said Josh Harrell, of Benchmade, who demonstrated the device on a piece of auto window glass wrapped in clear tape.
“The huge advantage of the mechanism is you don’t have to swing it,” he said. “If you are in a vehicle, you may be injured, and you may not be able to swing.”
The ERT-1 comes with yellow or black handles and sells for about $40.
Benchmade also showed off its LFK folding knife. The innovative design allows the knife to have a longer blade than its handle. It does so by incorporating a special arm that encases the tip of the blade when folded. The arm automatically folds up into the handle when the 5-inch 440C stainless steel blade is extended. The LFK comes in either a satin or blackened finished blade and costs about $110.
Ontario Knife Co. unveiled a special new attachment for its Spax aircrew survival and breaching tool.
The Spax offers aircrews and soldiers a compact ax that can be used to chop out of a downed aircraft or hack through wooden doors or window frames. The Army recently adopted the Spax to issue to soldiers through the Rapid Fielding Initiative.
The new “hoe” attachment slides onto the spiked portion of the Spax, giving it additional prying and digging capability.
The attachment locks down with an Allen screw and special wrench.
The Spax costs about $68; the new attachment takes the price up to about $100. The attachment comes with a pouch that can mount on the Spax sheath or onto other soldier gear.
Ontario representative Sue Green was also happy to demonstrate the company’s Strap Cutter, slicing with ease through an all-leather combat boot. The handy little device was also recently included in the Army’s RFI list.
Another Ontario product on display at AUSA was the XM3 automatic folder. It features a 3æ-inch C690 stainless steel blade that’s blackened to reduce glare and corrosion.
It comes in drop point and tanto style blades. It has an aircraft aluminum handle and a safety to ensure it stays locked open. It retails to military personnel for about $100.
Gerber recently unveiled its Combat Lifesaver folding knife. It has a 3½-inch partially serrated 420 stainless steel blade, a folding strap-cutter hook and a built-in window breaking stud. It costs about $65.
Gerber featured its new 06 automatic knife as well. The robust folder features a 3½-inch S30V blade in either drop point or tanto point style. It’s coated to resist corrosion and is partially serrated. The anodized aluminum handle features finger grooves for sure grip.
It costs about $110 for military unit buys and $150 for individual purchases.
Ellie