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When I was flying in the back of T-38's as a flight test engineer, we had a
canopy breaker tool that was about 7 inches long and weighed about 3 pounds.  
It was affixed with a heavy duty broom clip to the side of the cockpit.  It
looked like a 1 inch diameter solid steel rod with a stubby 2-inch blade on
the end.  Imagine a hefty knife with a round handle and a short, very stubby
blade.  

Five inches of the length was the handle.  You grabbed it in one hand and put
your other hand on the butt end to help you shove it thru the canopy.  The
blade was very stubby, and we were cautioned to have the blade facing us.  If
you had the blade facing away, a glancing blow would deflect the tool into
your helmet.

I don't know how well they worked, they never let us practice on a canopy
(Well, duh!).  I can say, though, that adrenaline would have to be a major
factor in its usability...

- Rob Wolf
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