Knives, rescue devices featured at AUSA
By Matthew Cox
Posted: 10/08/07 18:35
AUSA 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sometimes the sharpest soldier innovations are the simplest.
Here at the Association of the United States Army 2007 Annual Meeting and Exposition, knife makers continue to evolve 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 emergency scenarios.
Benchmade featured its new ERT. It’s not really a knife as much at is a tool designed specifically for escaping crash situations. Instead of a blade, the ERT features a folding strap-cutter hook designed to cut seatbelts and other restraints. It has a push-button LED light and a spring-loaded, window-breaker punch.
You just press the butt-end of the ERT’s window punch against a window or windshield and the special plunger activates 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 comes with yellow or black handles and sells for about $40.
Benchmade also features its LFK folding knife at AUSA. The innovative design allows this folding 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 Company unveiled a special new attachment for its Spax aircrew survival and breeching 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 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 also unveiled its XM3 automatic folder. The new knife features a 3 3/8” 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 3-1/2 inch partially serrated 420 stainless steel blade, a folding strap-cutter hook and a built-in window breaking stud. It costs about $65 knives.
Gerber also featured its new 06 automatic knife. The robust folder features a 3-1/2 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.
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