Posted on 03/14/2012 7:02:14 PM PDT by marktwain
Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Quick thinking and a one-hand opening knife saved a construction worker recently, as posted by “Seth” on BladeForums.com. Below is his post (edited for readability)
“I work in construction, mostly in copper fabrication and seamless gutters, but also a bit of everything. Last Friday, I was helping a co-worker do some roofing, We were installing Permaclad sheets, a very typical roof setup here, galvanized 26 guage steel sheets with a U-panel design. The roof was somewhat steep, but it was dry and we had decent traction. The sheets were 18 feet long x 3 feet wide.I was about 14 feet up from the edge, marking out screw lines, when someone on the other side of the house sprayed water over the roof. Nobody will admit to it, but a wet Permaclad sheet can be like ice.
This house was built backing a gully, and from the front of the house, only 10 feet to the roof. On the back of the house where I was, it is about 35 feet drop to the ground. I started to slip, couldn’t get up to the ridgecap, and nothing behind me to stop me.
Luckily, I remembered my 551 Grip (Benchmade Griptilian one-hand opening folder), yanked it out of my pocket, flicked it open and I slammed it as hard as I could into the (steel) sheet. The blade went through right to the thumb stud, and it held my weight. I spent about 2 minutes trying to remember how to breathe (well, maybe 20 seconds, but it seemed like forever) and my heart was beating like mad. When I looked behind me, I only had about 4 feet of panel before a long fall.
Thank God for having a good knife in my pocket. My only other tool was a 18v cordless drill for driving home, no harness, stupidly, as usually it becomes more of a nuisance due to lack of anchoring points on the roof. All I kept thinking was, ‘thank God for a strong knife.’”
If you have a story of a life saved by a knife, please share it with us at Knife Rights. Carry a Knife – Save a Life is a Knife Rights inititive to emphasize the value of carrying a knife every day for those unexpected instances when it can literally mean the difference between life and death.
About: Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org
Read more at Ammoland.com: http://www.ammoland.com/2012/03/14/carry-a-knife-save-a-life/#ixzz1p99mURDL
TNX
Made a really nice hardwood dibble I use in my garden & orchard. hee hee hee
After trading in my long belt knife for a different sidearm, I have been looking for the right replacement. My buck is too deep in the pockets to reach in the car. Leatherman is on opposite hip, but not terribly convenient for emergency use.
I do keep a straight blade in the console for the whole seat belt thing.
Tried a Smith and Wesson folder. Disappointing. Blade got loose easily, and needed two different sized hex keys to tighten it.
I would feel most comfortable going back to the belt knife, but others might question why I feel the need for so much adornment, when I am not in the woods, at any rate.
I would give a lot for a true Bali-song again (it was lifted), but the knife laws regarding them are subject to interpretation... IMO, it was the most useful blade I have ever had - the steel on that cut the hasp to pieces when it flipped in the way on closing, held an edge, heavy enough to use for striking (unlike almost every other butterfly I have owned or tried out), punctured anything and stayed sharp...
Somehow I think I just decided what knife I want to carry again - if only I can find one.
I think I have thrown all Leatherman tools in the trash. I have replaced with mon-communist company equipment like Gerber.
P38, I remember them well from my army days:) I used to carry one all the time in the field when I was camping back in the day. Don't do much camping now but if I did, I would surely round up a P38 to keep on hand. One of the most useful things the service ever invented.
I picked up a Kukri blade a few years ago from Atlanta Cutlery for around 35 bucks. Nice, practical knife, steel is 1/4” thick. They carry the same kukri knives as issued to the Gurkha regiments.
I liked the design so much after playing with it for a while, that I picked up a sawback kukri machete this spring; it’s much more efficient than my old standard machete.
Thanks for tip.
Knife CKRT M16
Knife, small hidden (other)
Gerber multitool
Flashlight Nebo Redline
Keychain LED
Lighter
P38
Short length of line
Large bobby pin
Paper clip
Spare cell phone battery
1911 .45
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.