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Gerber Hinderer Rescue Knife"Loaded with features"Special Price $64.00 The Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife was designed by knife-maker/firefighter Rick Hinderer. By combining his expertise in knife design along with his hands-on experience in the fire service, Hinderer has developed a very popular tool. You will find from reading my review that the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife provides a full package of features in a compact pocket knife.
Here is my size-up: Size-up Pros: In addition to the extra weight (5.6 oz), there are a couple of things that are readily noticeable when I grip the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife. First of all is the design of the handle. The contoured shape seems to fit naturally in my hand. It is a very comfortable grip and the textured exterior helps to prevent slipping. Although the Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife comes loaded with firefighter features, the most obvious one is that of safety. An important safety feature incorporated into the knife is that both the blade and seatbelt/clothing cutter have blunt edges to prevent accidental cutting of the patient. Also, the liner lock fits snuggly against the blade to help avoid accidental closure. Another positive note is that there are two thumstuds located on the blade, which makes it user friendly for either right or left-handed firefighters. One of the best things that I like about the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife is the lock release. Located on the side of the handle, this safety release button is easy to find and operate (slide). This was especially true even when I tested it while wearing fire department gloves. When it comes to extra features, this firefighter pocketknife has quite a few. One of the most impressive is the window punch.
Although there are some window punches that are completely useless (they don't work)the Gerber Hinderer is a different story. As you can see from the picture,this bad boy made quick work of busting the test window.
During the testing process, I found that cutting through the seatbelt was very smooth and quick. Once the initial cut was made, the rest was a breeze. I was very pleased with the performance of the seatbelt cutter. Note: Just remember to keep the belt tight when you are cutting. The other added feature of the Gerber Hinderer is the built-in oxygen tank wrench. This is very handy to have as it is already part of the knife. However, I did find one possible drawback and it is a minor one so I do not consider it as a con. When using the oxygen wrench, the valve of the O2 tank comes into contact with the blade on the knife. This could be a problem when force is used to open the valve as it could damage the blade. The solution to this is to open the blade prior to using the wrench. Just be careful not to cut yourself while opening or closing the valve.
In addition, it would seem that if the thumbstuds were located further down the blade (towards the middle of the knife) that they would offer better leverage for opening. Another observation is that the seatbelt/clothing cutter fits snugly on the side of the handle, which proves to be both good and bad. Although the close fit keeps the cutter out of the way until you need it, it also makes it hard to open. Because the cutter is flush with the side of the handle there is not much of a protrusion to grip. Using my fingernail proved to be the quickest way to extend it. Needless to say, trying to open the seatbelt cutter while wearing gloves was next to impossible. I tested the seatbelt/clothing cutter feature of the Gerber Hinderer rescue knife on an old washcloth and found that it did a good job cutting through the seam. However, it was necessary to apply tension on opposite ends of the cloth. This was especially true in order to cut the length of the material.
Blade: Material: 440A Stainless Steel Design: Drop point Edge: Serrated Length: 3.5" Weight: 5.6 ounces Handle: Material: Zytel Length: 5.1” Color: Red Pocket clip: Metal Safety: Liner lock Manufacturer: Gerber Country: Taiwan Item #: G01534
Open with one hand: Yes Open with gloves: Yes Open with one hand wearing gloves: No Close with one hand: Yes Close with one hand wearing gloves: Yes
Blade: Extra thick. Has “Gerber” written on it Handle: Textured, red Seatbelt/clothing cutter Window punch Oxygen tank wrench Lanyard hole Liner lock release button
Price range: $60.99 - $90.00 Average price: $77.10 (does not include shipping) Click Here to Buy Now $64.00
The built-in features of seatbelt/clothing cutter, window punch and O2 wrench are handy to have all in one tool. As far as a heavy-duty pocketknife is concerned, I feel as if the Gerber Hinderer Rescue knife fits the bill. It is easy to see from the extra thick blade and the reinforced steel handle that this is a tough knife. One added benefit of purchasing the Gerber Hinderer is that it comes with a small 9-piece tool kit and carrying pouch. Keeping the above size-up in mind, I think the individual’s needs should be the determining factor when deciding on whether to buy this knife.
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