Rescue knivesNot just for rescue workers, the rescue knife gives all of us the extra break we’ll need when things go terribly wrong. Rescue knives have been developed for modern emergencies, with capabilities that go far beyond hacking and slashing and prying.

In other days the usual emergency would have been being trapped in bad weather, in which case a stout knife built shelter, shaved tinder, and even sparked a fire to get you through. Today it’s more likely that you’ll swerve to miss a deer and wake up in the ditch or pond where nobody will find you for a long while. Whether you’re in the car trying to get out or outside trying to help, you need specialized tools.

Rescue knives cut seat belts and shoulder harnesses to get you out quickly when latches jam. If you’ve been injured and only have the use of one arm or hand, rescue knives open with a flick of the thumb and lock in working position. If the windows won’t drop and the door won’t open and the car’s filling up with water, a quick strike with the rescue knife’s window breaker stud quickly clears the exit. Wire cutters clear tangles and saw blades remove what the knife can’t cut.

A Few of Our Favorites

An excellent choice for pocket, belt or purse, the Swiss Army Rescue Knife covers all these situations and more in a compact pocket knife build.

The Colt Fire Fighter Tailwind fits the needs of those who use a utility or pocket knife daily but want the extra features of a rescue tool in a pocket clip folder style.

For professional use the Gerber Hinderer is a full sized rescue blade with extra tools and a special bit to fit the valves of oxygen tanks.

See All of Our Rescue Knife Reviews Below


Rescue

Cold Steel SRK Survival Knife | Navy Seal Search & Rescue, Fixed Black Blade w/ Concealex Sheath

Years ago, any hunter looking for a good field knife expected something this good. Today, the Cold Steel Search and Rescue...
JT Hats
1 min read

Boker Cop Survival Tool Kit | Tactical Serrated Cord Cutter, 440C Plus

The ideas behind this unusual and very practical urban tool resemble a knife design from Becker Knife & Tool, now a...
JT Hats
1 min read

Benchmade Barrage Assisted Opening Knife | Locking Valox Handle, Warren Osborne 580

The Benchmade Barrage adds powerful spring-assisted opening to the already solid construction of Benchmade’s Axis-lock knives. The Valox grip also has...
JT Hats
57 sec read

Myerchin Dive Knife A500 | Offshore Safety Coast Guard & Marine Professional Rigging Blade

Myerchin’s Model A500 Offshore Knife developed in response to requests from Coast Guard sailors and divers in southern California. These professionals...
JT Hats
1 min read

Smith & Wesson Liner Lock Knife, Combo Edge SWMP5LS | MAGIC Assisted Opening Automatic M & P

The biggest attraction of the Smith & Wesson SWMP5LS Liner lock knife isn’t the upgraded design. What makes this five-inch (folded...
JT Hats
1 min read

Cold Steel Tanto Knife Master | San Mai VG-1 Steel, Glass Punch Breaker

The smallest knife in Cold Steel’s tanto series, the Master Tanto with a six-inch blade of VG-1 San Mai III high...
JT Hats
1 min read

AMPCO Fireman’s Emergency Pick Axe, Nonflammable | Fire Proof Safety Tools

Since I don’t spend much of my time in high rise buildings, I don’t see many firemen’s axes — though in...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Smith & Wesson Tactical Folder Tanto Knife | Scooped Black SWMP2BS

With one of Smith & Wesson’s easiest assisted opening systems, the S&W Military Police M.A.G.I.C. Scooped Tanto offers both tactical and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Gerber Tactical High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife | Prodigy Military Combo Edge, Black

The Gerber Prodigy scales down the design of Jeff Freeman’s tactical fixed blade, the LMF II. Still a large knife by...
JT Hats
52 sec read

Smith & Wesson Tanto Plain Edge Blade | Military Survival Knife, Black

Smith & Wesson’s Military Police Magic Assisted Tanto shows good quality in an American-sponsored imported design. The Taiwanese makers of the...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Boker Reality Rescue Knife by Jim Wagner | Includes Seat Belt Cutter, Gut Hook, Glass Punch

Jim Wagner’s Reality Based Rescue Knife, manufactured by Boker of Germany, drastically revises the design of the usual rescue blade. The...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Smith & Wesson Survival Military Knife | Bowie Sawtooth Special Ops SW3G M9

Smith & Wesson’s updated version of the Ontario Knife Company M9 Bayonet, the SW3G Special Ops M-9 includes the essential features...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Kershaw Whirlwind Folder Knife by Ken Onion | Sandvik Combo Edge Blade

This plain and simple folder from Kershaw Ken Onion doesn’t have any gimmicks or flash but works reliably. The Whirlwind’s 3.5-inch...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Benchmade Tanto Folding Knife | Search & Rescue Blade | Heckler & Koch, Mike Snody

Heckler and Koch, manufacturers of top quality sidearms for military and police forces, put their brand on this collaboration from knife...
JT Hats
53 sec read

Mtech Liner Lock G10 Knife | Emergency Folding Clip Blade

One of the very economical foreign knives inspired by American designs, the Mtech Liner Lock G-10 looks better than the usual...
Ken
50 sec read

Spyderco Assist Rescue Knife | Stainless Steel Combo Edge, Carbide Tip, Survival Whistle

There are a lot of rescue knives out there. There are some with all the bells and whistles – oxygen tank...
Ken
1 min read

Spyderco Rescue Knife | 79mm or 93mm | Serrated Edge Stainless Steel Blade

Spyderco’s Rescue 93mm knife is great, if you’ve got hands big enough to match the 4 5/8-inch handle. For those with...
Ken
50 sec read

Colt Firefighter Red Tailwind Rescue Folding Knife

Custom knife creator Fred Carter adds his personal touch to the latest in the lineup of Colt rescue knives: the Colt...
Ken
51 sec read

Harley Davidson Sheriff Rescue Pocket Knife | United Cutlery

Know any Harley fans that work for the government in public service positions? This might just make a great gift. And...
Ken
45 sec read

Victorinox Swiss Army Rescue Tool | Yellow Multi-Tool Knife

Any knife that receives the prestigious “Knife Of the Year” award from the IWA exhibition should be more than worthy of...
Ken
49 sec read

Gerber Hinderer Rescue Knife | Firefighter Blade | #22-41534

Designed by fire fighter and knife expert Rick Hinderer, this is a well thought-out knife with essential rescue features built-in. For...
Ken
33 sec read