Ready to strike at a moment’s notice. When a paratrooper is stuck on a static line, every millisecond counts. That’s the high-stakes situation that inspired the Taco Viper, an Assisted Opening knife that springs to action in the blink of an eye.

Antonio Rodriguez designed the Taco Viper based on his first-hand experience as a soldier in the 82nd Airborne, modeling it after jumpmaster and other knives carried throughout the division’s history. It puts the heavy-duty cutting capabilities of those blades into a tactical folding knife that’s suitable for everyday carry. Held securely in place by a sturdy liner lock, the long blade features extended Veff Serrations that give the knife its signature rope-cutting ability. An optional sheath and coiled tether keep the knife secure in the windy cabin of a plane during jump operations, while the deep-carry clip ensures a comfortable pocket fit for everyday carry.

Rodriguez named the knife as a callback to his unit, which began referring to itself as Taco Viper after a tongue-in-cheek comment about the snakes that would seek out leftovers from “Taco Tuesday” dinners in Afghanistan. While the unit no longer bears that name, Rodriguez made sure it would live on in the Taco Viper knife.