Now the purpose of me asking this question is not to get into a form of debate, although any suggestions on a knife would definitely benefit from having reasons for being the knife of choice. Really, all I want to get is ideas on dive knives. I realize you'd probably be okay to take any knife with you, as long as you clean it and oil and sharpen and do all that. But that's not what I'm really looking for. I'd like to hear of knives that are made with materials that are not affected by salt water. Thanks for the suggestions and ideas.
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Best Dive Knife
- Thread starter buds007
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I've got an Underwater Kinetics Blue Tang dive knife that has served me well for a number of years. Blade is 440 stainless, sharpens and holds an edge well. Best part about this knife, the handle is "take down". You can completely dissemble the knife for cleaning. They also make a titanium version.
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I'm looking for a few maintenance diving knife.
Most of my ordinary knives, are a pain, even with propper maintenence, they require me to check them once in a while.
Spyderco with it's new H-2 seems a win(salt models -and others to come- maybe already released), but I didn't tried myself when diving, so I can't tell you for sure how good it is!
Most of my ordinary knives, are a pain, even with propper maintenence, they require me to check them once in a while.
Spyderco with it's new H-2 seems a win(salt models -and others to come- maybe already released), but I didn't tried myself when diving, so I can't tell you for sure how good it is!
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I got a buddy of mine who dives alot a UKE blue tang in titanium, he says it's great. Normally I'd take that with a grain of salt but he's the type that'd tell you straight up if it was a piece of trash, so I figure it's a good endorsement. I have heard that the titanium blue tangs don't hold an edge well at all, but for zero maintenence the only thing that's competitive is H-1
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CRKT ABC Operator's Model. Hands Down.
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I'm not a diver but Spyderco just released the Caspian and Caspian2; designed for diving.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=288
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=289
I like H1 rust proof steel, I like the finger hole knives from Spyderco in general.
The sheath is reversable so you can use it anywhere; even up side down.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=288
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=289
I like H1 rust proof steel, I like the finger hole knives from Spyderco in general.
The sheath is reversable so you can use it anywhere; even up side down.
I still think my service-issued U.S.Navy Mark III dive knife is the best for diving. But I really have never used anything else, so it's hard to say. Mine was made by the Ontario Knife Company and issued to me in 1975. It's still a dependable workhorse both in and out of the water. I've used it for everything from a cutting tool to a pry bar and hammer, and it's never failed me, yet.
Semper Fi!
Semper Fi!
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My brother had/has an Ocean Master titanium knife. I remember it being really cool, but it never saw any real honest-to-goodness use, so I can't vouch for edge retention, or really any performance issues. I liked the way the knife could be very easily and quickly disassembled for cleaning and rinsing. I think my brother's knife was from an earlier alloy, not the Beta II. At this point it's about 9 or 10 years old.
I do spearfishing and I have used, broken, bent and lost a few of those so called diving knives... They are mostly crappy. They stainless steel they are made of don't hold an edge at all. I used to clean up my fish as soon as I hit the beach (I don't have a boat) but the diving knives don't work well enough. I usually get changed, go back to the car, get a folder (Spyderco) and clean the fish with that.
The one I have now is one made my OMER (italian brand I guess) but I bent it baddly when I tried to drive it through the skull of a fish (don't ask me about the name... it is a tough fish!). The toughest one so far has been those made by Aitor... that is... Aitor Delfin and Aitor Tiburón. The problem is that they are way too thick.
Mikel
The one I have now is one made my OMER (italian brand I guess) but I bent it baddly when I tried to drive it through the skull of a fish (don't ask me about the name... it is a tough fish!). The toughest one so far has been those made by Aitor... that is... Aitor Delfin and Aitor Tiburón. The problem is that they are way too thick.
Mikel
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SOG Seal pup elite hands down. you can get them with the kydex sheath and they are sharp as a razor out of a box, but you could litterally use them as kitchen knives and they don't rust.
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Was your Spyderco folder -- the one you used to clean fish -- the Catcherman??
Or just an Endura or something?God, I'd hate to have to clean an Endura -- especially a pinned model -- after cleaning a fish with it.
Come to think of it, was/is the Catcherman made with screw-together construction?
I used to have a Tekna Boot Knife in stainless steel, and it was a stout, sturdy knife. Didn't take a real sharp edge (it was VERY thick) but still was a good knife to have strapped on in the surf. Unfortunately, the surf is what caused me to lose it. I probably will never get a replacement for it.
Used to have one of those too. Lost it diving
Unfortunately Tekna is long out of business and those knives are no more unless you find a used one somewhere like ebay.I got a Spyderco Tasman Salt, H1 steel, last spring(07) because Spyderco said the steel does not rust.
During that summer while visiting with family out east on Long Island I went to the beach, brought a bucket of salt water back to the house, dropped the knife in it and left it there for 3 days. I have never washed or cleaned the knife. There is no rust.
This is a no maintenance knife.
I am going to get one of the new Spyderco fixed bade knives to carry when I surf fish.
During that summer while visiting with family out east on Long Island I went to the beach, brought a bucket of salt water back to the house, dropped the knife in it and left it there for 3 days. I have never washed or cleaned the knife. There is no rust.
This is a no maintenance knife.
I am going to get one of the new Spyderco fixed bade knives to carry when I surf fish.
I've been using an Atomic titanium blunt tip. NO it's not the sharpest tool in the shed, I have really large hands and the handle is a little on the small side for me when I'm wearing gloves. But being made of Titanium absolutely no problems with corrosion. no complaints.
My son uses a Blue Reef Deluxe 5" Titanium Knife with a point, his came in pretty dull, I sharpened it and I like his handle better than mine. They both are real sturdy and seem more than up to cutting fishing line and what have you. (or finishing off fish when we get around to speerfishing.) but Titanium wouldn't be my choice for cleaning fish.
Leisurepro has a good selection, and pretty good prices. I tried to shop around but most dive shops carried only one or two knives. after traveling to 5 dive shops over two states and handling maybe 3 different brands of knives, I just ordered a couple of the net.
My son uses a Blue Reef Deluxe 5" Titanium Knife with a point, his came in pretty dull, I sharpened it and I like his handle better than mine. They both are real sturdy and seem more than up to cutting fishing line and what have you. (or finishing off fish when we get around to speerfishing.) but Titanium wouldn't be my choice for cleaning fish.
Leisurepro has a good selection, and pretty good prices. I tried to shop around but most dive shops carried only one or two knives. after traveling to 5 dive shops over two states and handling maybe 3 different brands of knives, I just ordered a couple of the net.
I only dive in fresh water these days , so cant comment on salt water applications . I would go with either a Spyderco salt , and /or a Boker Rescom on a gear keeper recoil reel ( attached to the BC ) . Fish line is one of the more commonly cut items in freshwater . A pair of EMT shears might not be half bad . I think the Caspian salt might be a very good idea , Sal puts a lot of thought into his stuff .
Chris
Chris
Chris
Chris
If you are looking for something new titanium has to be the best option if you can afford it the Mission MPK is an excellent choice. If you are not looking to spend big bucks the Royal Navy titanium knife is a good knife.
Mission mpk
Royal Navy titanium knife
why not go old school. Unfortunately you do have clean and oil these after use but it’s worth the effort.
Mission mpk
Royal Navy titanium knife
why not go old school. Unfortunately you do have clean and oil these after use but it’s worth the effort.
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If you go steel Marine Tuff Cloth makes a huge difference in corrosion resistance.
Also, thoroughly rinsing drying the knife & sheath asap after the dive. Leaving a steel knife in its sheath un-unrised is basically a rust incubator.
I would really assess what kind of diving you do and how frequently you do it to determine what kind of knife to get.
Sight-seeing, spearfishing, tech-diving? Twice a year or twice a day?
If you really dive all the time or just plain dig the cool factor then maybe it's worth investing in a Ti knife but it's not absolutely necessary.
I've carried all sorts of knives when diving and for the vast majority of my u/w cutting tasks I would have been best served by a pair of EMT Shears or a dedicated line-cutter. http://www.omsdive.com/cuttool.html
That's because the vast majority of my cutting tasks have involved cutting line of some sort. Not puncturing things or prying things. I want to pop the line quick and move on. Line cutters rock that way.
The tiny remainder of my cutting does involve puncturing...Fish. A pointed knife when spearfishing does come in handy but less than I would have guessed over the years.
IMO folders are super handy dive knives. I always have an EKI CQC-7 which covers the puncturing tasks, is easy to carry and is surprisingly corrosion resistant.
I can carry the line cutter and the folder on my BCD instead of my calf which is way more convenient to access. This carry position becomes more than simply convenient if diving in enclosed spaces, caves/wrecks.
As for all the prying style dive knives? I actually have never had to pry but if I thought I was going to do some prying (light salvage) then I would bring a pry bar instead of a knife pretending to be a pry bar.
Also, thoroughly rinsing drying the knife & sheath asap after the dive. Leaving a steel knife in its sheath un-unrised is basically a rust incubator.
I would really assess what kind of diving you do and how frequently you do it to determine what kind of knife to get.
Sight-seeing, spearfishing, tech-diving? Twice a year or twice a day?
If you really dive all the time or just plain dig the cool factor then maybe it's worth investing in a Ti knife but it's not absolutely necessary.
I've carried all sorts of knives when diving and for the vast majority of my u/w cutting tasks I would have been best served by a pair of EMT Shears or a dedicated line-cutter. http://www.omsdive.com/cuttool.html
That's because the vast majority of my cutting tasks have involved cutting line of some sort. Not puncturing things or prying things. I want to pop the line quick and move on. Line cutters rock that way.
The tiny remainder of my cutting does involve puncturing...Fish. A pointed knife when spearfishing does come in handy but less than I would have guessed over the years.
IMO folders are super handy dive knives. I always have an EKI CQC-7 which covers the puncturing tasks, is easy to carry and is surprisingly corrosion resistant.
I can carry the line cutter and the folder on my BCD instead of my calf which is way more convenient to access. This carry position becomes more than simply convenient if diving in enclosed spaces, caves/wrecks.
As for all the prying style dive knives? I actually have never had to pry but if I thought I was going to do some prying (light salvage) then I would bring a pry bar instead of a knife pretending to be a pry bar.