Just slightly off topic but...

[ellis4538]

I know this may be slightly off topic but...

Was watching one of the other SS on OC and they were talking about ways/tools to break out car windows and cut seat belts.  They mentioned a tool that "was available at any hardware store" but I can't seem to find one anywhere.  One of the knife dealers at the local GS's has a $12 knife that includes these features but I am a firm believer in YGWYPF.  Any suggestions?

Richard

PS:  Have check the web also.

[jaybet]

I don't know a tool that does both, but a spring loaded center punch will take out any car window that's not laminated (windshield is laminated). The tail end of a metal utility knife might be pointy enough to use on car windows...never tried it.

[fightingquaker13]

This got covered (kind of) in the every day blade thread in the last two or three pages. Start there. Sledge and Haz had a couple of good suggestions, high end and low end. The center punch also works on windows. Of course so does a a good philips head. Still, I tend to think Haz had it right, if its not your go to knife, but just something for the car.
FQ13

[BAC]

I bought some Smith & Wesson knives for Christmas last year that had a window punch (not spring loaded) and a seat belt cutter.  They live in our glove compartments and cost less than $20 each.  Well-made, too.

[Dakotaranger]

There are some one ebay.  I'd check lapolicegear.com chiefsupply.com  quartermaster.com and any number of LEO supply websites

[Sponsor]

[Texas_Bryan]

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/knives_coptool.asp

I think the generic name for them is a 'Cop Tool'.  This what your looking for?

[ellis4538]

Thanx fq...I new I had seen it before but couldn't remember where.

Richard

PS  The Ground Zero looked good but can't for the H.ll of me figure out the conversion rate to calculate the cost!!!!!   LOL

[kmitch200]

Spring loaded center punch or nearby fist sized rock and the knife you have in your pocket will do the job.

I've never understood the need for a dedicated "seat belt cutter" and side car windows aren't THAT tough to break.
Once you get beyond the flex built into the car window moulding/gasket, they shatter. All seat belts have releases and they are almost ALL in the same place.

In 31.5 years of work I cut exactly one seat belt. All others I used the belt release. The only reason I cut that one was because I didn't want to get beneath the bleeding pile of meat that was a human several minutes ago. Also just to see how easy it was. Answer: VERY EASY.

[tombogan03884]

Mitch, the idea behind the belt cutter is that you may be hanging up side down, and lets face it, if you just flipped your ride  falling on your own knife would really be the frosting on the cake. 

No BS, True story. When I was in the Marines some guy coming back to base rolled his car, he wound up hanging upside down for quite a while before help arrived, when the firemen, cops, and paramedics started thrashing around, they found out a rattlesnake had crawled into the warm car, it got scared and bit the poor SOB who had been uninjured till then, just stuck. 

[kmitch200]

Mitch, the idea behind the belt cutter is that you may be hanging up side down, and lets face it, if you just flipped your ride  falling on your own knife would really be the frosting on the cake. 

If you are conscious enough and able to move around enough to get to your seatbelt cutter, why not just hit the release button?
Per Tom's point, pun intended, remember gravity is always working.

No BS, True story. When I was in the Marines some guy coming back to base rolled his car, he wound up hanging upside down for quite a while before help arrived, when the firemen, cops, and paramedics started thrashing around, they found out a rattlesnake had crawled into the warm car, it got scared and bit the poor SOB who had been uninjured till then, just stuck. 

That's pretty funny! Sucks to be him!

As a side note, what usually 'traps people in cars' is NOT the seat belt.
It's usually their legs crushed under the dash or their feet mangled in amongst the brake/clutch pedals.
(Brake/clutch pedals are VERY strong resisting pushing in the normal fashion. Using side pressure they can be bent rather easily.)