A Sailing Necessity

[FourPoints]

Most of my life since I entered the boy scouts as a kid I have carried a pocket knife of some sort, but when I started a business that required me to get (cell) tower climbing and rescue climbing certified (and insured), and then climb those towers from time to time, I started carrying a little larger knife that was not floating around with my keys or pocket change, but instead either clipped to my pocket when on the ground, or if I was in a climbing harness, clipped inside the chest strap so it couldn't get snagged. It was also always accessable, and openable with a single hand.

Since I haven't been up on a cell tower in roughly 4 years (sold the business), I don't carry as large of a knife anymore (my current knife blade is the width of my hand), but I still carry a folding knife clipped to my pocket 90% of the time, and often also a rigging knife in a cargo pocket of my shorts when on someone else's boat. If I am tethered to something, it's a safe bet I have a knife somewhere on my person that can cut that tether in an emergency.

 

[Ross]

The second question--just for fun, honest--is whether a sheather knife is statistically more likely to save me or stab me. Speaking for myself alone, perhaps I'm safer with the knife I keep a the helm.

A sailors knife doesn't need and shouldn't have a pointy blade.

 

[FourPoints]

A sailors knife doesn't need and shouldn't have a pointy blade.

nor should a dive knife. coincidence?

 

[DannyS]

A sailors knife doesn't need and shouldn't have a pointy blade.

Agreed Ross, this is my knife. It's actually a river-runners knife for rafters so they don't pop their rafts. The cool thing about it is the sheath. It's spring loaded so a one handed squeeze of the sheath unclips the knife and the knife jumps into your hand. It's very slick and, there's a bottle opener!

 

[zeehag]

i hqve a 3 in one kinda sailor knife---has a shackle wrench, blunt ended knife and a marling spike included. i need to add one to my sospenders harness/pfd.

 

[Captnkev25]

I've carried a knife on my person since I was a kid. I know their importance and usefulness first hand. This is the one I use primarily on the boat. The groove is a shackle key and the knife is made from H1 steel which is a stainless steel that is precipitation-hardened and contains nitrogen instead of carbon, which cannot rust. It also has a "sheepsfoot" blade and is fully serrated.

 

[Deadhead]

I always wear a k-bar rigging knife with both a folding round point blade & a locking marlin spike. It is attached to a belt loop with a carabiner & a 3' lanyard. My GF thinks I am totally anal because I wear it at all times when underway. (I have the black handle model Kabar Rigging Knife [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] #1121B[/FONT])

http://merchant.auctivacommerce.com/s4539/ProductImages.aspx?ProductId=1811944

 

[LuzSD]

i hqve a 3 in one kinda sailor knife---has a shackle wrench, blunt ended knife and a marling spike included. i need to add one to my sospenders harness/pfd.

Exactly the kind I bought all my friends, this is a nice, simple, useful one.
Got a great deal at Hamilton Marine, love ours! http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/bro...spike-shack-key-yachtsman-138000/4,11999.html

 

[thinwater]

A sailors knife doesn't need and shouldn't have a pointy blade.

A. Of course. This, from some site on sailing traditions: "
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The present-day sailor’s knife has no point, and probably is of this shape, not only that it may be used as a screwdriver, but in order to conform to the ancient laws already quoted, so that the practice of stabbing became a matter of difficulty. In sailing ships, even to-day, I myself have personally seen a man have the point of his knife broken off by the Mate, and a few years ago it was an almost invariable rule that knives with points were barred. A knife with no point was also less liable to damage a sail when cutting the ‘stops.’"[/FONT]

B. OK. slice a finger. You understood my point!

 

[dkdoyle]

Yes - i put it int the zipper compartment of my life vest that I wear every time I go out.

 

[BobM]

Myerchin

As a present I bought myself a beautiful wood handled Myerchin folder with a marlin spike a few years ago. It is still beautiful. It weighs about TWICE my leatherman knock off so I still carry that because the pliers are used more often than the knife.

 

[Tim R.]

Most of the time and always when I wear a tether. I also made my own tethers that have a quick release that I strung a row of large 1 inch beads on so I could release by feel.