The LMF knife (LMF II ASEK, Aircrew Survival Egress Knife), or the “Pilot’s Knife“, is the best friend of any military rank that is required to pilot an aircraft or ride in one. Made by Gerber, the knife is designed to be used in the case of emergencies. The knife has the ability to break acrylic glass, which is used for aircraft cockpit windows, and cut through aluminum used in aircraft.  Such a knife would be ideal in the case of an aircraft accident. The blade is also sharp enough to cut through seatbelt webbing.

Included with the LMF knife is a crushed diamond sharpener, although the sharpener is rarely needed. A retired SEAL described his experience with the knife during his time in Iraq: “It (the blade) needed hardly any maintenance, and stayed sharp without having to take time out of my day to sharpen it.” He also said that he would “hate to be on E&E without my LMF 2.”

The knife also comes with a parachute cutter, pictured here.

The LMF knife has an electrically-insulated rubber handle, which provides safety when working with anything electrical. Army SFC Dillard Johnson has had firsthand experience with this feature. When penned down in an abandoned building by insurgent gunfire in Iraq, he came under a heavy night attack after bright lights were used to illuminate his position. With his Gerber LMF knife, Johnson was able to sever a pair of 220-volt power cords without being shocked, disabling the lights. Under the veil of darkness, Johnson and a comrade were able to wait for reinforcements
before exiting the building unharmed.

The handle’s relatively dense glass-filled nylon core allows the handle to be used as a hammer. The retired SEAL mentioned before has told the story of how a sniper team in Iraq made use of the knife. The team used the knife to knock a hole through a solid brick wall to create a shooting lane to the intended target. While the job took a while to complete, using both ends of the weapon, minor damage to the blade incurred that was quickly fixed by the sharpener on the blade’s sheath.

You may be not need a tool to get yourself out of a military aircraft, but the Gerber LMF knife provides enough utility to be used for any cutting situation.

Check out all the amazing reviews it’s received at Amazon.

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team.