This topic came up in another thread (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1413.msg13622#msg13622), so I thought I'd start a knife thread here in the gear section...
I re-started carrying a knife about 5 years ago, and always have a small one on hand. Just before Christmas, West had their brand riggers knives (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/245471/377%20710/0/knife/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/20/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=knife&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=20&Ns=0&keyword=knife&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5004&subdeptNum=7&classNum=227) on sale for 50% off ($10), so I picked one of those up. Blunt tip, serrated edge, but just a knife blade, no marlinspike or anything else.
I've got one of the ubiquitous riggers knives - by Davis (http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C118%7C119%7C312086&id=78649), the really common one you sea - it works, but it is not really a quality product, IMO.
Some day I'm going to spring for the Myerchin (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/31609/377%20710/0/knife/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=knife&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=10&Ns=0&keyword=knife&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5004&subdeptNum=7&classNum=227) or Wichard (http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C118%7C119%7C312086&id=78696), both of which are high quality and of good design: have a blunt tipped blade with just enough belly to work well for cutting small line, serrated at the back if you need to saw your way throgh bigger stuff, along with a 'spike and a shackle tool, too..
On my belt at all times is a Leatherman Wave. I even wear it when I'm out wade fishing. I think not a day goes by I don't use that tool in some way. Careful of the serrated blade- it can slice a huge hunk of finger off so fast you won't feel it ::)
In the cockpit when we are out and about resides a Buck rigging knife, with spike and sheepsfoot blade. If I'm sailing in a bathing suit I don't have the Wave on me, so I put the Buck in a pocket with a lanyard clipped on.
Actually, unless I'm undressed and in bed I ALWAYS have a knife on my person. I'd feel totally naked without one and in fact, the few times I've flown I was quite uncomfortable not having one- I use them so often.
Then in the rigging bag lives another stainless rigging knife with spike and shackle key
And in the tool box is another.
Laura almost always has her Victorinox (Swiss army knife) on a lanyard on her person unless she's only wearing a bathing suit. When she was out single handed, it better have been on her person at all times. I believe hers is the "traveler" but I'm not certain. It's a smaller one, but not tiny. If we aren't on the boat she usualy carries the army knife in her purse. But here lately, since she started working at ACE she doesn't- because they issued her a folding razor knife she has to carry.
Hint- DON'T mess with the women working at ACE Hardware- they ALL carry razor knives
I carry a Swiss Army Knife at all times if I've got a pocket. On board, we also have several of those Davis rigging knives, and I got a stainless West knife for Christmas a year or two ago. The only thing I don't like about it is the absence of Marlinspike, but it does have a serrated edge (vs the Davis's with straight edges).
Sailing with two small children who are often tethered, I would not be caught dead aboard without a knife within hand's reach. If something catastrophic happens and she goes down quick, I don't want to have to rely on my ability to open a snap shackle under load.
I consider knives on board pieced of survival equipment more important than something like an EPIRB. A knife can keep you alive; an EPIRB may just help them find the body.
Kurt wrote;
QuoteSome day I'm going to spring for the Myerchin
My dad bought me one and I love it. I do admit to being afraid to loose it over the side so I mainly use it for tasks rather then carrying it.
What I have carried this trip has been the Leatherman 301. It is a great little knife with a combo blade and a good one handed opening.
I carry a Leatherman Surge multitool and a Boye's Rigging Knife.
The Surge is a larger model of their pocket tool line and is one of the first to have a decent set of scissors as well as modular blades for the saw. The serrated blade is viciously sharp, so you do have to be careful with it. Even though the blades are stainless, they seem to hold an edge fairly well.
The Boye's knives are nice because they don't rust—ever. They hold a pretty decent edge and have a nice marlinspike that also works as a shackle key. The back of the blade sticks out of the handle enough that you can use it as a deck fill wrench on most slotted deck filler caps.
I have a Boye's knife. The tip of the marlinspike broke off trying to open up some 3-strand for splicing. No help from the company getting it resolved.
I always have a Gerber Urban Companion on me (I bought 8 At a time so that they could sit in a drawer as they got lost poverboard etc and I wold not care that they are becoming scarce, for a while, anyway)
(http://www.shop4gerber.co.uk/urbancomp.gif4?bg=cebc8f)
Incredibly comfortable and sure in the hand for such a small and slimline knife, I still find that it works much better with the lanyard that it has a hole to allow for. Just because it means I can use it and not drop it overboard when wearing sailing gloves or such.
I love the partially serrated edge. Have gotten tons of use out of the Friskars scissors that it cleverly also uses as a rope tool and fid. (You thread some fishing line through the hole in the end of the handles to make a captive loop tool)
I have never understood why the use of knives without points made the leap from the British Navy trying to prevent riots and mutiny to the consumer yachty market. It's utterly stupid traditionlism for its own sake. I use the point on my knife on a dozen jobs around the boat per week, easily.
My wife carries a Raven's Claw emergency knife lanyarded onto her PFD. It is a scary looking serrated thing with a sickle edge that runs up the INSIDE curve of the blade. It claims it will cut two bits of stainless rigging cable before dying if called on to do so... It certainly goes through Spectra rope and such without any hassle at all. Problem for me is that it is virtually useless for anything else, very specialised tool....The way Margaret puts it though. I have the strength to make my knife work hard enough in a survival situation that I can use a regular knife and get al its bennefits the rest of the time...She opted to carry the dedicated survival tool that lets her have that extra leverage etc...and she just goes down below or to the cockpit to grab one of the normal knives when there is routine job to do.
Sasha
The knives without sharp points are good if you're trying to cut ropes, harnesses or seatbelts that are up close against a person... I used on regularly when I worked in EMS... The rigging knives I have are split about half with sharp points and half without... most are serrated... which seems to be a necessity with the high tech lines on some boats.
I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned opting for Spyderco knives as their yacht carry-round blade.
Drft, If I was working at cutting stuff off from next to the skin on someone, and could not be assured of being able to do it safely with the knife I posted a pic of) I would just use the scissors on it!
Alex.
I've got a Myerchin. It has a great combo blade (half serrated, half straight), that's also got a slit cut in it, so it can be opened one-handed. And it's got a marlinspike.
I carry it with me whenever I'm on the boat. I also keep a cheap stainless rigger's knive (West Marine, perhaps) in one of the pockets of my tool bag.
The Myerchin also has a red LED that's supposed to come in handy for night work--but I've never needed to use it.
FWIW, this knife was a gift; I probably wouldn't have paid that much for a knife on my own. But it IS a piece of emergency equipment and, as somebody said, "how much is a human life worth?"
--Joe
Alex -
I had a Limited Edition Spyderco that was actually the knife that got me carrying a knife again. :) It was a 3" blade with a Micarta handle that sold for $100, but I paid half price through a friend (dealer) because he was going out of business. It was really nice, but just disappeared one day after about 2 years - I dunno if it walked off in someones pocket, or if it fell off of me, or what... Anyway, it was a great product, and I wish I still had it. Last I looked, Spyderco didn't have a riggers tool. If they do, I would give it *serious* consideration.
After that I bought a CRKT KISS - basically a low profile tanto-bladed money clip, half-serrated edge. After a couple years in my environment :) , the clip broke. I haven't yet contacted the manufacturer about it.
Right now for a day-to-day carry, I am using one of my old fav's - a small Gerber. Over the years, with hunting knives and multi-tools, I've found Gerber to produce a solid product.
But I still miss my lil Spyderco. :D
I don't know if this is permitted under posting rules but I'd like to put in a plug for my knives.
I've been making knives, basic using knives, for thirty years. I make mostly kitchen knives but also camping, fillet and rigging knives. The latter are better designed, with hand shaped hardwood handles, and better quality steel than wichard and myerchin. Not quite as good as Boye knives but much cheaper- and I always reply and put right problems.
You can see pictures and read more information at my website, google 'stonesoupknives'.
I've been carrying a Spyderco Delica for 20 years. On the boat and in the truck is a collection of all sorts... from Leatherman to Gerber for all sorts of tasks. The two three day packs in the truck have a Kabar in one and a Gerber in the other. There are rigging knives and kitchen knives and and.... I guess its safe to say I have a collection for any task.
Interesting thread even if many of the brand names are unknown to me.
Re: knifes with serrated or partly s. edges.... how do you sharpen them?
We carry all kinds of knifes on the boat. I rarely carry them in pockets, since I am not a fan of hving heavy stuff in my clothes (if wearing light clothes i.e.)
Instead there's a cheap but good carpenter's knife (Of the town of Mora in SWE, comes 2-3 different brands, sprouting from the original amnufacturer since 100+ years) within reach from mostly anywhere on/in the boat.
In fact I am starting to consider this practice, since we are about to enter waters where one might have to consider being boarde by erh, unfriendly individuals.... being stabbed with my own knife wwould be a humiliating way of leaving this planet ??? ::) :o
Might have to come up with a pocket or something that could be worn even when in shorts or swim-trunks.
any ideas out there?
Magnus, were you thinking of something like this? ;D
(http://www.suspense-movies.com/stars/tarzan-jane/Jane3.jpg)
Nice knife Tim. Wonder where he got that one?
Took awhile to notice it ;) Eh
HEHE, that's a serious knife and a seriouxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Anyway, I'd think even Crocodile Dundee would have approved that kinda knife ;D ;D
Most others would at least approve the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX if you know what I mean.
@Tim, yeah, I guess I would have to do some sewing to make similar outfit for erhhh, us ;D :o ;D
I've been thinking about the perfect boat knife....
IMHO it would:
have a blade 50/50 serrated and edged
have a shackle key
have a marlin spike
have a bottle opener
not rust
be a folder with good clip so I can clip it on my shorts, or in a pocket
look really sexy
float
Can anyone add to my fantasy???
I figured out everything but the floating....I cant find a handle material that will float enough to lift the titanium and talonite! ::)
btw, custom knives are better. Except when you loose them!
JWalker - could you improvise the nifty auto inflate for keys to work for your knife?
I've always enjoyed carrying a Case deck knife. It has a marlin spike on it and a straight blade. seems to keep an edge longer and is easier to sharpen
Leroy:
I've thought about it.....but they will only life a few ounces, and I dunno how long the sodium bicarbonate would last in daily useage.
plus then you would have a large dongle hanging off.
I've thought about cork for handles....but havent really been able to find the lifting properties.....I would think I could epoxy the cork once I have it shaped without loosing much buoyancy.
I need to find some dense cork to play with!
I keep a Davis rigging knife attached to a belt or ring on my jacket with a 2 foot lanyard. It has a straight blunt nose blade, a shackle key, and a spike. It's cheap, but very functional.
I've had to put up with a large dongle hanging off with me all my life :D ;D The cork might work, or maybe a hollow handle?
Quote from: JWalker on November 28, 2010, 11:25:00 PM
I've been thinking about the perfect boat knife....
IMHO it would:
have a blade 50/50 serrated and edged
have a shackle key
have a marlin spike
have a bottle opener
not rust
be a folder with good clip so I can clip it on my shorts, or in a pocket
look really sexy
float
Can anyone add to my fantasy???
I figured out everything but the floating....I cant find a handle material that will float enough to lift the titanium and talonite! ::)
btw, custom knives are better. Except when you loose them!
Carbon fiber and helium? ;D
Don't know how to make my knife float but I did make it's lanyard from 1/4" elastic so it's short but will still reach above my head. It's short enough that I can stuff it in the bottom of the case under my knife. I sharpen it with a mill file and give it a lick on the stone. Cuts rope quite well that way.
But how do you do impregnate the CF with the helium??
???
I carry a variety of knives on the boat, but the ones that get used are my case with marlin spike and the Opinal Inox (stainless steel) purchased in France. Does anyone know where to buy these stateside? I prefer the Opinal knives above all others even if they require constant attention for the conventional steel models. They are cheap, hold an edge, and have simple effective locking mecanisms.
Quote from: phil416 on May 26, 2011, 09:56:12 AM
I carry a variety of knives on the boat, but the ones that get used are my case with marlin spike and the Opinal Inox (stainless steel) purchased in France. Does anyone know where to buy these stateside? I prefer the Opinal knives above all others even if they require constant attention for the conventional steel models. They are cheap, hold an edge, and have simple effective locking mecanisms.
http://www.opiknife.com/
Sadly have sold my beloved boat but continue to read this wonderful website.
Oded
Quote from: oded kishony on May 26, 2011, 10:58:26 AM
Quote from: phil416 on May 26, 2011, 09:56:12 AM
I carry a variety of knives on the boat, but the ones that get used are my case with marlin spike and the Opinal Inox (stainless steel) purchased in France. Does anyone know where to buy these stateside? I prefer the Opinal knives above all others even if they require constant attention for the conventional steel models. They are cheap, hold an edge, and have simple effective locking mecanisms.
http://www.opiknife.com/
Sadly have sold my beloved boat but continue to read this wonderful website.
Oded
I am very glad you do Oded. You will always be welcome, and your input be valued here.
Fair Winds,
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on January 28, 2008, 05:01:36 PM
... most are serrated... which seems to be a necessity with the high tech lines on some boats.
Nah, they just need to be
sharp :). Most people don't know what "sharp" is in a knife.
Was perusing the tables at the boater-to-boater flea market our sail club hosted last weekend, and there was a sailor trying to cut a shackle off a piece of line. He sawed away and sawed away and sawed away. "Here," I said, holding out my (closed) pocket knife, "try this. But
be careful: It's
exceedingly sharp." Went through that line like a hot... well, knife... thru butter. "That
is sharp!" someone exclaimed. "Told ya," I replied, and retrieved it before someone decided to test just how sharp it was on a body part.
Btw: In my book, that knife was ready for a touch-up ;)
Quote from: Oldrig on January 28, 2008, 08:40:26 PM
I've got a Myerchin. It has a great combo blade (half serrated, half straight), ...
I'm not a fan of combo blades. There's not enough serrated length to really use them to saw effectively, and the serrated part interferes with the plain edge being effective.
Quote from: rorik on November 28, 2010, 11:43:37 AM
I've been carrying a Spyderco Delica for 20 years.
A Delica 3 (IIRC) is in my every day carry rotation. That is a very good knife. One of my favourite blade steels.
I think Spyderco is missing the boat. Take a Delica 3, blunt the tip, add a marlingspike and a shackle key and you'd have a
great pocket-able rigger's knife, IMO.
Somebody, I don't recall who, atm, just came out with a new folding rigger's knife that looked like it had promise. I'm going to have to try to remember where I saw that. The number of times I could've used a marlingspike...
Jim
Thank you oded; What a great site. I will be buying several. I cannot recomend these handy little knives too highly. If you give one a try you will not be disapointed. Fair Winds Phil
Quote from: SEMIJim on May 26, 2011, 07:51:42 PM
Nah, they just need to be sharp :). Most people don't know what "sharp" is in a knife.
Was perusing the tables at the boater-to-boater flea market our sail club hosted last weekend, and there was a sailor trying to cut a shackle off a piece of line. He sawed away and sawed away and sawed away. "Here," I said, holding out my (closed) pocket knife, "try this. But be careful: It's exceedingly sharp." Went through that line like a hot... well, knife... thru butter. "That is sharp!" someone exclaimed. "Told ya," I replied, and retrieved it before someone decided to test just how sharp it was on a body part.
Btw: In my book, that knife was ready for a touch-up ;)
Funny. I get a little ocd about knife sharpening. I think I got it from being in the Army, sharpening my bayonet & combat blades until they'd lost about a half inch in width... there wasn't much else to relieve stress sometimes.
At any rate, I get on a sharpening kick, and sharpen every knife I've got at routine intervals. Nothing more unpredictable than a dull knife. I've been a little disappointed in my Spydercos about their edge-holding ability (then non-serrated ones).
:D
As a woodworker, I understand about sharp, and SHARP ( planes and chisels ya know).
I carry a Leatherman Wave on my person pretty much always. The blade isn't the greatest for holding an edge, but the rest of the tool makes that bearable.. I find little use for the serrated blade though.
I also keep a 30+ year old Buck rigging knife (sheepsfoot blade and spike) really handy aboard. THAT old knife will keep an edge. Sadly Buck is having knives made in China now so I'm sure the "used to be" legendary quality is no longer the same.
Quote from: SEMIJim on May 26, 2011, 07:51:42 PM
Quote from: Oldrig on January 28, 2008, 08:40:26 PM
I've got a Myerchin. It has a great combo blade (half serrated, half straight), ...
I'm not a fan of combo blades. There's not enough serrated length to really use them to saw effectively, and the serrated part interferes with the plain edge being effective.
Jim,
I've still got my Myerchin, but after 2 seasons of using it, I'm beginning to agree with your assessment of combo blades, especially on small folding knives. Yes, it will cut through most line but, no, there isn't very much serrated length.
--Joe