I was gifted a pocket knife which I generally just use for opening packages but I'm perplexed by this hook-like structure on the bottom. It's obviously designed to serve a function but I'm at a loss for what it is. It looks like it has a small blade tucked away in the crevice but I have no idea why.
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Youre pretty close, its referred to as a seat belt stripper.
People realize the 2 aspects that kill in post vehiculsr collision deaths (car on fire, car pushed into river, car on the precipice of a cliff, etc) is the victims inability to get the seat belt off (either due to broken or unreachable components), and unable to exit vehicle (broken door locks, pressure from water, stuff piled on, etc). So, a pocket knife that can quickly access cutting yourself free of your seatbelt & breaking a window open for escape can (and has) save many lives
Got lucky and found clearance knives at Walmart for like $2 with the seat belt cutter and a predominant window smasher spike. I bought all they had to put in our cars and pass out to friends/ family. Some of the best money I've ever spent.
Never heard anyone call it a stripper. Looking at product descriptions on cabelas or even the one OP has all say belt cutter, seat belt cutter, or strap cutter
Well, not saying its wrong, but ive 90% of the time heard it called a seatbelt stripper. Its kinda like how a weed-eater & weed-wacker are the same thing, just a different name based off different regions.
There's one more example for "different names but same things", but its a bit more...sensitive...
Yikes! If you know anything about knives, this looks like a "gas station" knife. I don't even think it's worth money to cut packages with...there is just so much better bang for your buck.
Canada sells milk in bags, people have a milk jug, think what Americans make cool aid in. They cut a corner off the bag and put the whole bag in their milk jug.
They use to be here in the states as well, least here in Michigan. And for a while school milk came in little plastic bags you had to stab with a straw.
Oh I know this one. In Canada, milk comes in bags rather than cartons or bottles. They out the bag in like a jug thing(?) And cut the top corner of the bag.
Yes that’s what it’s for. Also help someone else who is trapped. Not sure why everyone is being so weird about this I feel like it wouldn’t be that obvious if you’ve never had someone tell you.
Yes, it's a great safety tool, but don't forget that this feature is also useful for opening packages. Especially boxes that have plastic straps around them, but also for cutting the cardboard/tape.
One good feature with this tool is that you will never run the risk of cutting too deep as you can accidentally do if you ram the blade into the box.
The last nifty feature is that it's very hard to cut yourself with this feature.
Seat belt cutter. I have used this as a "gut hook" on more than a few deer as well.
The idea is to be able to cut tensioned material like cloth, leather, straps, or strings.
Think of how a nice pare of scissor will glide through paper when positioned correctly.
The blade is inset so you cant just cut yourself but it is available in an emergency situation such as a car crash and you might not have the wherewithal or dexterity to open the knife.
The indentation that you are pointing to is a strap cutter for seat belts. The point on that end is for breaking glass (to get out of a car). It’s a really nice knife and is meant to get out of a crashed car. I have one in my vehicle.
Also for string, it’s a safety cutter feature, it’s also for places where you have to cut stuff secured with plastic string they put around stuff on pallets. there’s razor knives with that feature
I’m seeing tons of comments saying this is a seatbelt cutter with a window breaker but these are also standard features on warehouse box cutters. Both the “hook” the nub are designed to cut packing tape without cutting too deep and damaging the product inside
Ditto, except a different brand/slightly different look, and the only tool style knife ive ever cut myself with.(clarified tool style knife since ive had a small cut with a kitchen knife before).
Being that its on an actual knife I have more faith but yeah usually they are super dull. Can still be used as a safety box cutter with less risk of cutting the user and the product in the package too
Yeah, as someone that has used them at my job for the majority of my adult life, I'm well aware of what they can and can't do. The one that OP posted with the fixed blade is by far the least effective at cutting anything.
This is only my most recent one, but the one that uses the actually sharp razor is the only one I would ever use to cut twine. Not even those straps on boxes/pallets because they are usually so thick.
Hopefully those that think it's great for seat belts never rely on it, or it's at least non emergency enough they have time to actually open the blade.
Its so odd that people see a utility knife like this and think they're adding a notch in the manufacturing process for seat belts. Because we all know that we buy utility knifes to keep in the car just for happenstance that a seat belt needs to be cut, and not for another simple explanation. Theres a lesson in human psychology somewhere here.
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