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Monthly Archives: June 2013
Combative Edge Knives M1 Fixed Blade
I saw this new fixed blade on the Blade Show table at Combative Edge Knives. Rob Walker told me that is a prototype for their newest knife, tentatively called the M1 Fixed Blade. This is a hard-use knife made from Bohler-Uddeholm N690Co blade steel, HRC 58-60. N690Co is a high carbon stainless steel which is reported to have excellent edge holding abilities and superior corrosion resistance. The N690 will be DLC coated. G-10 composite scales will be snugged down with titanium hardware. A kydex sheath will be standard. Randall
How to Destroy a Police Agency
If you have not been following the dismal events at the Lakeland, FL Police Department, you should. The bra-shaking incident, alleged falsification of official documents, a destructive on-going sex scandal, and the loss of confidence by 10th Circuit State Attorney Jerry Hill have made for a public relations train-wreck for this police agency. Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack was even caught admitting that the department sometimes plays “cat and mouse” with the news media over public records requests, a statement which prompted the Lakeland Ledger to delve further into that issue. Today, it was disclosed that the sex scandal involving 10 officers and a civilian crime analyst had burgeoned to … Continue reading
Schrade SCHF14 Fixed Blade Knife
This striking knife from Schrade (Taylor Brands) is their SCHF14. When I saw it at Blade Show, I joked to the rep that SCHF must stand for, I dunno, “Sh*t Can Hit the Fan?” His face told me he was not amused. Yeah, but I was. One of my first SWAT knives was a Navy Mk3 knife that weighed at lease 14 ounces with its plastic sheath. It was a beast and guys quickly shed it from their belts for more manageable cutters. I think the trend toward smaller blades has continued and this Schrade SCHF14 looked like one I would hang from some tactical nylon. The thing I really … Continue reading
Yesterday
Yesterday, my shift responded to what was dispatched as an attempted kidnapping. A small boy was in the restroom of a supermarket when a male grabbed the boy and made a lewd comment. The boy fled the restroom. Because no one in the store was immediately notified and police were told about the incident over 30 minutes later, the suspect was long gone. Yesterday, when I got home at 2300, I heard about the little girl abducted in Jacksonville. We found out this morning that Cherish Lilly Perrywinkle was murdered by sexual offender Donald James Smith. Heartbreaking. Yesterday’s events reminded me why I was a protective, paranoid parent when my … Continue reading
Posted in Street
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Surviving to Twenty-Five Part Three
I have spent uncounted hours over the decades, consoling and counseling co-workers with marital troubles. Why did people come to me? Because I am very happily into Year Nine of my third marriage. Although it’s none of your goddamn business, I have unfortunately suffered through some of the worst divorce drama that any of my three different lawyers said they had yet encountered. Yay, I win a prize. The demands of our work place can induce all manner of strife in our wedded relations. Shift work, Type A attitudes (yes, us), temptations, and general disillusionment with society can drive a wedge between a cop and his or her spouse. Once, … Continue reading
Zero Motorcycles 2013 Electric Police Models
Zero Motorcycles of Santa Cruz, CA has introduced police-specific 2013 electric motorcycles for street and on/off road patrol uses. This follows two years of testing with local California law enforcement agencies and the London, England police. I don’t know why I think these electric motorcycles are cool, but I do. I got to train on some of our big Kawasaki KZ1000’s back in the day, but I’m not a rider and I was never able to go to police motorcycle operator’s school. Something about not having sidecars for the dog. Still… Electric cars for policemen are not currently on my wish list. When a neighboring jurisdiction got Prius’s for their homicide … Continue reading
Posted in Street, Technology
Tagged police technology
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An Officer Down
Twenty years ago today, I responded to locate a missing police officer in a neighboring town. He went to a possible prowler call, but was no longer answering his radio. I knew the young man. I had backed him up frequently since his agency had only one officer on duty during the Midnight watch. We shared some arrests, a bit of chewing tobacco, and some laughs in a few short years. My K9 partner found the missing officer within minutes of our arrival, but he had been shot by the suspect and had already bled to death. I was in shock. But I did my job. I tracked south and … Continue reading
Colonial Knives Tat Cutter–TSA Compliant?
At the Blade Show 2013, I had a chance to trade ideas with Steve Paolantonio, the owner of the Colonial Knife Company. There was a banner at the back of the booth proclaiming: “Colonial Knives Tat Cutter–TSA Compliant.” Or words to that effect. I was curious, since I had just flown in sans sharp objects. Mr. Paolantonio showed me the little rescue hook. He said the marketing of the cutter was purely by accident. Paolantonio said he loves the outdoors and is a rock climber. To save on weight, he disassembled a Colonial Rescue Hook Auto Tool and hung the steel cutting portion on some ball chain around his neck … Continue reading
Mission Knives CSP
Who better to show prototypes for the Mission Knives CSP (Chance Sanders Professional) than Chance Sanders himself. Chance is a former DOE SWAT/Marine Corps guy that now specializes in urban and wilderness survival training. He has joined with Mission knives to produce the CSP. In designing the knife, Chance said he wanted a strong all around blade for either the city dweller or outdoorsman who wants utility and fighting potential in their knife. The CSP is made from A2 tool steel that is hardened to 58 on the Rockwell C scale, then black oxide coated. Contoured G-10 scales are bolted on. The blade length is 5″. A MOLLE-compatible Kydex sheath … Continue reading
Ontario Knife Company Wyvern Crash Axe
A Wyvern is a two-legged winged mythical beast resembling a dragon. Wings and claws seem especially appropriate for this U.S.A.F.-inspired tool. New for 2013 is a military grade axe from the Ontario Knife Company called the Wyvern Crash Axe. Robb Cass, OKS’s Director of Special Projects, told me that U.S.A.F. Pararescue Jumpers wanted an aircraft breaching and rescue tool for their load-out. OKC came up with this variation on their SPAX axe that has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. Okay, we get the curved axe face for cutting. On the backside of that is a pick for punching holes. Once an aircraft skin is pierced, the other end … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, SWAT
Tagged Blade Show 2013, OKC Wyvern Crash Axe, Ontario Knife Company, Ontario SPAX
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Fox Knives FX-599 Ultimate Karambit
I love karambits. Their extreme CQB capabilities are powerful when wielded with a knowing hand and mind. In a clench, karambits’ fight stopping potential is off the charts. I have a problem, though. Most karambits don’t fit my hand. I have small to medium mitts. I loved the Emerson Combat Karambit I carried for a while, but in the end it was too large in the handle for me. I met the frenetic Lad Mandiola, Development Manager for TheUltimateKnife.com, hucking his wares at the Fox Knives booth Blade Show 2013 booth. He was on fire–snapping open his orange karambit trainer and talking at 1.6093 kilometers in a sixtieth of an … Continue reading
Posted in Knives
Tagged Blade Show 2013, Ernest Emerson, Fox FX-599, Fox Knives, karambit knife, Lad Mandiola, The Ultimate Knife
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BladeArt.com Sells Black Site’s Carbon Fiber Chopsticks!
Who doesn’t need a chopstick that can withstand 500 degree Fahrenheit temps and about 1.8 million PSI of tensile stresses? We are talkin’ about eating Pho in the most dangerous places, safely! I saw these in BladeArt.com‘s showcase. Black Site‘s weapons-grade chopsticks come with a baked-on food safe proprietary coating. They are made from 100% solid carbon fiber that is Made and CNC Machined in the USA. The Hybrid are Black Site’s round cross-section chopsticks that measure 9″ long and taper from 0.3″ to 0.1″ for the last 4.5″ of the stick. These are $75.00. Fancy quadrangle (square at the large end) chopsticks are The MIB, which retail for $125.00. … Continue reading
Posted in Florida Companies, Humor, Misc.
Tagged Black Site, Blade Show 2013, BladeArt.com
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Kramer Custom Knives
I met Eric Kramer in his Kramer Custom Knives booth at Blade Show 2013 and immediately I liked him. He is, ahem, a younger guy and active duty U.S. Coast Guard. Sometimes, I don’t just want to see a knife, I want to see what is in the mind of the man who makes it. In Eric, I found a thoughtful tactician as a knife maker. Eric high-hollow grinds beefy 3/16th” S35VN blade stock into shape. The premium S35VN has a small amount (.5%) of niobium, which gives the stainless steel much-increased toughness and edge holding abilities over S30V, current darling of the knife making world. Textured G10 handle scales … Continue reading
Trip to the 2013 Blade Show
For the last day and a half, I got to leave my DNA and fingerprints on an evidence room’s inventory of tactical knives at the 2013 Blade Show. For a knife enthusiast, this is a much more enjoyable time than SHOT Show, where the edged tools’ manufacturers and makers get lost in the retail maelstrom. The fun here was more in focus. I saw wayyy more knives than I could write about, but I think I picked out some interesting ones and hammered the shutter button on them. Please be patient and I will get the articles scribed as soon as I can. Below is a prototype I was able … Continue reading