A farming implement has been redesigned to assist EMTs working in close quarters.
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A karambit is a traditional curved knife from Southeast Asia, originally developed for farming and planting tasks. It is held in the manner of a hammer, but with the blade curving forwards from the bottom, like an elephant’s tusk. A finger ring up top keeps the knife securely in hand.
Image: Mod_Michael
In recent years EMTs and other first responders have taken to carrying folding karambits. When working in close quarters—imagine trying to extract a person from the collapsed interior of a crushed car—the configuration of the short, curved blade provides leverage from a cramped position. The knife makes it easier, in these tight situations, to saw through a seatbelt or cut clothing away to reveal a wound.
But in speaking to first responders, veteran knife designer Joe Caswell learned about the pain points of the karambit. Users had two issues: One was that deploying the blade in close quarters was often difficult. Two was that putting the blade away was also difficult, even unsafe; one’s fingers are directly in the way of the blade’s edge.
Caswell incorporated this feedback to design his Provoke First Responder knife for manufacturer CRKT.
The deployment mechanism is clever, space-saving and elegant. “The blade is designed to be deployed from a clenched fist,” Caswell explains. Additionally, “Your fingers are never exposed to the rotational path of the blade.” Here’s how it works:
The butt end of the knife also features a glassbreaker:
Here’s Caswell himself explaining the design:
Not including the fasteners, the knife is made of five parts. Caswell has trademarked the knife’s action as Kinematic™.
The Provoke First Responder runs $225.
Source: core77