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The everyday carry knife world is loaded with knives designed for an endless array of specialized tasks. This is both good and slightly confusing for some, as those of us who aren’t seasoned knife collectors or hard users probably don’t have a good understanding for what makes knives different from one another. That’s okay. Some of these overly specialized knives aren’t for these people, anyway. These are knives designed for a highly specialized use case for a very specific kind of person, so that they can have the best tool possible for the job. And the job we’re talking about today is emergency rescue and what knives are best for the job – specifically for someone who needs to consider daily carrying a pocket knife that can handle such high stakes.
Key Takeaways
- The Best Overall EDC Rescue Knife is the Benchmade Tactical Triage.
- The Boker Magnum Compact Rescue Knife is the Best Budget EDC Rescue Knife.
- The Best Automatic EDC Rescue Knife is the Microtech Combat Troodon Rescue OTF.
- The EDC Rescue Knife with the Best Ergonomics is the Spyderco Rescue Assist.
- The Best EDC Rescue Knife For Police is the CRKT M16 Law Enforcement Knife.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Benchmade 917SBK Tactical Triage AXIS Lock Knife Black G-10
- Best Budget: Boker Magnum Compact Rescue Liner Lock Knife
- Best Automatic: Microtech Combat Troodon Frag HS Rescue OTF Automatic Knife Black
- Best Ergonomics: Spyderco Rescue Assist I Black FRN Folding Knife
- Best EDC: CRKT Carson M16-14ZLEK Tanto Law Enforcement Knife
Best Overall: Benchmade 917SBK Tactical Triage AXIS Lock Knife Black G-10 (3.4" Black Serr)
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The Benchmade 917SBK Tactical Triage is a very popular knife in the Police/Military portion of the knife industry because it does everything a good rescue knife needs to do, and it does it in a very compact and easy-to-use form factor. The Triage has a built-in glass breaker on the bottom of the handle for quick access, which is a requirement in many people's opinions. Just above the glass breaker there’s a flip-out seatbelt cutter with a thumb stud, for easy access during emergencies. A seatbelt cutter is often required for police on their duty carry knives. Most other knives will have a seatbelt cutter, integrated into the blade itself.
The Triage does it in a unique way that is infinitely more useful and allows the blade to be used for other cutting tasks. The blade is also partially serrated, is made of CPM S30V steel, and has a sharp pointy tip. This is also why the knife is called Tactical Triage because the other variant of the knife features a blunt tip that is usually safer to use during an emergency situation when you don’t want to accidentally stab somebody else or into something that you don’t want to cut by accident.
However, I picked this version because the pointy tip is more useful for a broader range of EDC tasks as well as for tactical purposes like the name implies, making this knife much better suited for EDC and fire use, in my opinion. However, if you prefer, you can always go with that option. Overall, I picked the Benchmade Tactical Triage as the best overall EDC rescue knife for a lot of reasons, mainly that it is a lot more useful in everyday circumstances and also has great functionality for emergency situations.
Best Budget: Boker Magnum Compact Rescue Liner Lock Knife
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If you are looking for a great budget rescue knife for you to have with you as part of your everyday carry loadout, the Boker Magnum Compact Rescue knife is my top recommendation. The Boker Compact Rescue Knife is like the name suggests, a very small and rugged knife that is more than capable of handling some really tough situations. The handle has a built-in seatbelt cutter notch that allows you to use the knife to cut seatbelts and other webbing safely without worrying about accidentally cutting someone else (or yourself).
The blade is short, partially serrated, and perfect for slicing and cutting through tough materials, or really anything else you might need to break free of in an emergency. However, the blade steel isn’t the greatest, as you’d expect from a sub-$30 knife. But if you are planning on keeping this knife in the car, or plan to have it as a backup and pairing it with another knife with better steel, then this would be perfect. Overall, the Boker Compact Rescue Knife is perfect for those who want a powerful knife for those high-risk situations and at a good price.
Best Automatic: Microtech Combat Troodon Frag HS Rescue OTF Automatic Knife Black
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The Microtech Combat Troodon Rescue was designed for police, military, and fire personnel to have a premium one-handed operating EDC rescue knife that can cover all the bases, from basic EDC cutting tasks to the hardest rescue scenarios possible. OTF action allows the user to operate the knife one-handed via the thumb slide, which is a huge benefit when it comes to high-stakes situations. The blade deploys quickly and powerfully, revealing a fully serrated man-cutting edge, blunt, integrated seatbelt cutter. The handle features a glass-break rugged pocket clip.
Combat truly has made the most premium materials. The Microtech is known for incredible build quality. The overall size of the combat tone is pretty large, and for most people I think this would be off-putting; but for those who work in these high-risk jobs like police, fire, and military, this is a tool that is built to last and not to fail. That is exactly what Microtech did with Combat Troodon Rescue. After a lot of research, I’ve chosen the combat throw on the best automatic EDC rescue knife, but it is also probably the most premium rescue knife on the market, making this a top choice for anybody who has a little bit of extra money to drop on a premium tool.
Best Ergonomics: Spyderco Rescue Assist I Black FRN Folding Knife
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Spyderco Rescue Assist One is a fantastic option for an EDC rescue knife. It was designed by both firefighters in Sweden and Spyderco to make a great rescue knife for firefighters, paramedics, and all other emergency personnel. However, I think the Rescue Assist One is better suited for fire and paramedics than it is for police and military. The blunt tip and serrated blade make this a better option for those who need to cut more webbing, seatbelts, clothing, and other tough materials without cutting into other people. Rescue knives built for police and military often require blades that are better suited to piercing tactical purposes while balancing Rescue functionality.
The thing that I like the most about the Rescue Assist One is the ergonomics. It feels great in the hand. It has finger grooves that match up with my hand perfectly, and the way that the back of the handle curves into my palm makes the knife extremely comfortable. The thumb hole also has a great thumb ramp with jimping, allowing my hand to have a firm grip on the knife at all times. The handle scales are also very grippy and allow the knife to stay in your hand even in slippery situations. And the wire pocket clip keeps the weight down and also is reversible for left-handed use.
The biggest drawback of this knife is the lockback mechanism. When I think of rescue knives, I think of knives that are one-handed operating only. You can open the rescue assist one-handed via the thumb hole. But it does often require two-handed operation to close the knife safely, which could be a problem for some situations. Overall, if you’re looking for a very ergonomic, comfortable, and safe knife to have on you at all times, just in case of emergency, then this is the best option out there.
Best EDC: CRKT Carson M16-14ZLEK Tanto Law Enforcement Knife
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The CRKT Carson M16 is my top choice for an EDC rescue knife specifically for police and military personnel. The Tonto blade keeps a lot of the functionality that you might want for a tactical knife while still retaining good functionality for emergency situations. The flipper tab has a unique design that integrates a seatbelt cutter into its underside. It protrudes from the back of the handle, which allows the small cutting blade to be fully functional while the main blade is closed. This is a unique integrated suit cutter into a knife that I have not seen anybody else try, and it’s quite intriguing to me; however, I do think that there are some downsides to it. Mainly cutting yourself or something else on accident when the knife is closed: it’s not a huge risk, but it is possible. Although this is a risk, it’s also a big upside because you can cut seatbelts without actually opening the blade of the knife, allowing you to slide it across the seatbelt safely without cutting anybody.
M-16 deployment action comes in either fully manual or assisted, for those who prefer an assisted action. This is a great choice, as CRKT has very good knives with assisted actions. They’re all very reliable. The back of the handle has a built-in glass breaker, which is perfect for law enforcement. The military often requires this use. The overall size and weight of the knife are on the high end, as the weight is over 6 ounces, which makes this knife decently heavy. The knife is fairly thin, which means that you won’t feel it as too heavy in your pocket. The weight does make the knife extremely robust, so there are some things to think about there. But overall, I’ve chosen the CRKT Carson M-16 as the best police and military EDC rescue knife because it’s still used as a tactical defense weapon as well as a very reliable and effective EDC rescue tool.
How To Choose The Best Overall EDC Rescue Knife
Choosing the best EDC rescue knife comes down to a few things, mainly personal preference and your intended use case. If you are looking for an EDC rescue knife that can double as a rugged cutting tool that can handle everything you need on a daily basis plus the added rescue functionality, there’s some really good options out there. Or if you’re looking for a high-end, highly specialized tool that is made to do a very specific purpose, then you should probably look into the higher end models on this list like the Microtech Combat Troodon or the Benchmade Tactical Triage. Overall, the choice comes down to what you can afford and how much specialization you need your tools to have.
Why Trust Us
I’ve had the opportunity to work behind the scenes for many EDC knife brands and distributors during the past four years. I’ve carried, tested, handled, and purchased many knives from basically every brand on the market. I have extensive experience in EDC pocket knives especially, since that is what I carry mainly on a day-to-day basis. I’ve distilled my personal experience and preferences down into a solid list of many great budget EDC knives that I would trust day in and day out. I will never recommend any knife that I haven't either personally carried or have some form of hands-on experience with.
Final Thoughts
My personal preferences may vary from yours, but I do believe that this list is a great starting point for anyone looking to buy an EDC rescue knife. The important thing to remember is that buying a great rescue knife should be motivated by your personal needs. It really doesn't need to be too much more complicated than that. Just find a knife that fits in your budget range and appeals to your lifestyle and try it out. It really is hard to buy a bad knife in today’s market. There are so many good options out there, from so many great knife makers.
FAQ’s
Question: What is the best EDC rescue knife?
Answer: In my personal opinion, the Benchmade Tactical Triage is the best EDC Rescue knife out there. It has great build materials, amazing warranty, and a fantastic design that is great for general purpose use, as well as highly specialized rescue functionality.
Question: What rescue knife is best for EDC?
Answer: Simply put, the best rescue knife for EDC is the one that you have with you. So if you decide to buy one for yourself, make sure that it is something that you are willing to carry with you everywhere you go. So unless you’re okay with it, I’d try to find something slim and decently lightweight so that it never feels like it’s weighing you down.
Question: Is it smart to carry a rescue knife every day?
Answer: If you work as a police officer, firefighter, or EMT or are in the military, then yes, it is very smart to carry a rescue knife daily. If you are just an average joe like me, then no. It doesn’t make much sense for me to everyday carry a knife with such specialized features. I might consider keeping one in the car with you, but other than that, these knives are intended for those who save lives on a daily basis.
Question: Are rescue knives only for the outdoors?
Answer: No, not all rescue scenarios happen outdoors. As is the case with most of these knives, they are suited well for confined spaces, such as inside crumpled-up cars during the aftermath of a bad car accident. These knives do not make great survival knives for outdoor use like a solid fixed blade would.
