Polak187,

While I can't speak for the person that had them in the shoes, I do carry a hacksaw blade in my USK/Office Kit. For me, this is primarily to avoid having to use the serrated blades on the knives. Yes, in a pinch, it can be done, but for the small amount of space taken up by a good hacksaw blade, and the ability to perform better cutting, why bother with the knives? Obviously, what works well for me may not work well for others...

The particular brand will make all the difference in the world, I WILL NOT carry one of the old style blades that snaps if you look at it wrong or happen to twist the blade while using it. The Lenox bi-metal brand of blades has a great set of teeth that have been welded (by laser?) to a flexible metal backing. These blades can be literally twisted and tied into a simple knot and when released will simply spring back to their normal shape.

The blades have holes at each end and a frame could be "mcgyvered" out of other materials (split rings on ends of blade, with paracord loops to hold or tie off onto a quick framework). The blades will cut most steels and other normally encountered materials that one would want to cut.

As far as putting them in my shoes, I reckon that I'd need to remove the heel of my shoes / boots and coil the blade up and replace the bottom of the heel. It would require some forethought and careful handiwork, but would be a great place to carry a spare hacksaw blade....just not to the increasingly more common PC restricted environments.. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

HTH

Happy holidays,
Comanche7