The Knife Thread

[SaltyMonkey]

Bit of a push, but nothing on-topic from the search online...

My marlinspike and Currey knife came in handy for performing routine maintenance work, but outside of one semi-emergency I never had used it much.

Curious if anyone has had to use their knife during a harrowing sea experience. And secondary, what people are carrying.

[SVNeko]

Really, don't even carry a marlinspike anymore. Leatherman does everything I need it to.

[River Cruiser]

When I worked for a living I always carried a Buck, used mostly to scrap gasket surfaces, strip & cut wire. It suffered a lot of abuse but held up well I still have it in my tool bag on the boat. I've thought about buying ceramic blade knives for the galley because I've read they hold a edge very well, but the ones I have still work well.

[captain58sailin]

For a lot of day to day work, I use the Sheffield knife with the replaceable blades. For line work a serrated edge cuts well. I like something that isn't too bulky in the pocket.

[Bash]

I use a Myerchin folding rigging knife, but my Leatherman Skeletool actually gets more business these days.

No harrowing experiences to report.

[nagrom snoyl]

A french opinel no, 7 quick rub of a stone and shes sharp as a razor

[Tim R.]

I carry a leatherman. For jobs where I need to cut something substantial I use a Cutco hunting knife. Good for cutting away lobster pot warp quickly.

[over40pirate]

When I was cruising full time, I carried a Buck, marlinspike knife. I used the marlinspike many times. Mainly for getting tight knots apart (had some that without the spike, they would still be together!) and splicing 3 strand, when I didn't have a fid handy.
I could never understand, why places, sell, and, people buy, "rigging knives"
that don't have a spike.
I was waiting for Leatherman, to make a knife with a decent spike.

[glenn.225]

nagrom snoyl have to agree with you on the Opinel. My dad has carried one for twenty years or more, I have never seen him without it. (not the same one he has worn out a couple)

At work I always carry a Gerber SS muilti tool, but it's issued. On the boat I use a Gorhman Yachtsman with Marlinspike/shackle tool, it a very nicely balanced knife and tool comes in handy for lots of uses.

[Tim R.]

Originally Posted by over40pirate

When I was cruising full time, I carried a Buck, marlinspike knife. I used the marlinspike many times. Mainly for getting tight knots apart (had some that without the spike, they would still be together!) and splicing 3 strand, when I didn't have a fid handy.
I could never understand, why places, sell, and, people buy, "rigging knives"
that don't have a spike.
I was waiting for Leatherman, to make a knife with a decent spike.

SOG makes a multitool for West Marine that has a marlinspike but only has a 1 year warranty. Of course my marlinspike broke just after 1 year.

[ranger58sb]

Swiss Army Knife and a Leatherman, especially useful for quick screwdriver+pliers repairs. Been wearing the SAK since approx '83, Leatherman since approx '92.

A "tactical" SOG fixed-blade knife (http://www.sogknives.com/tactical/kn...-serrated.html) with both straight and serrated edges and with a wrist band usueful for "quick" (a relative term) clearing of underwater fowling.

No especially harrowing sea experiences. Yet. Sorry. Wait... no I'm not

-Chris

[sww914]

I love this knife. Most recent emergency- I was dropping the anchor and a piece of small line got stuck in the anchor chain. I wasn't strong enough to hold the boat with one hand in the wind for long. I was able to whip out the knife and deploy the blade one handed and cut the little line before it and whatever it was tied to went through the anchor roller.
It's a SOG Flash I

[Mike OReilly]

SOG multitool is strapped to my hip all the time. So many little jobs get done with it on a daily basis that I can't imagine being without some sort of multi. The ol' marlin spike is in the chart table, but rarely gets used.

I've been thinking of carrying a simple straight blade for emergencies. I can't imagine trying to fish out the cutting blade on my SOG with one hand caught in a winch-jam, or while being dragged under by an unruly sheet. So far I've avoided any line-related disasters, but I'd like to hear what others carry.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

SOG multitool is strapped to my hip all the time. So many little jobs get done with it on a daily basis that I can't imagine being without some sort of multi. The ol' marlin spike is in the chart table, but rarely gets used.

I've been thinking of carrying a simple straight blade for emergencies. I can't imagine trying to fish out the cutting blade on my SOG with one hand caught in a winch-jam, or while being dragged under by an unruly sheet. So far I've avoided any line-related disasters, but I'd like to hear what others carry.

I edited my last to include a link...

Another I carry sometimes is a Benchmade flip-folder, which is relatively easy to open once handed -- and it self-locks.

-Chris

[David_Old_Jersey]

No Harrowing stories ..........have never carried one on my person when on boats........but always have a bread knife "ready to go" (drilled hole in the handle with a hand leash / loop) - over the decades has been deployed a few times, but not in any real emergency even though sometimes for clearing a fouled prop!

I also have a divers knife kept handy - I like it mainly because it clicks in and out of it's sheaf with a button that works with cold hands / gloves........but I don't recall ever having used it in a great hurry.