Boat knife project

[deltablade]

After reading a blog from a friend doing the grand loop in his cabin cruiser, (down Mississippi River across the Gulf coast then across Florida up the east coast up St Lawrence and back down Mississippi) I decided I needed a boat knife when I go out in my boat. Nuts, huh? Needs to be handy, sturdy, and cut rope.

Serrations have a reputation for being good at rope cutting, and many cheap butcher knives are serrated and available. So I cut down a Henkels Eversharp 8" serrated slicer into boat knife size and shape, and think it may work fine. Need to drill a hole in the handle and add a lanyard. Then make a sheath with a pocket for a marlin spike.

The serrations will work well getting weeds out of my duck boat prop as well.

May try this with a bread knife which has different type of serrations as well...see which cuts rope better.

The nice thing about this project is the knife on the auctions is cheap, so if I lose it overboard, no worries.

.

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

Very interesting.

 

[deltablade]

tested cutting on seat belt material...cut right thru no problem, will round up some rope tomorrow

 

[HeavyHanded]

Looks great! It needs a marlinspike or fid to go in a pouch on the sheath.

 

[deltablade]

I have a marlin spike on the way. I wasnt aware of the fid, tho am intrigued reading about them. Might be fun to rehandle one of these knives in osage orange, and make a companion osage fid, all tucked into a leather sheath

 

[deltablade]

The marlin spike arrived, and i have made my first fid from an oak dowel. Should I harnen the tip with fire? Osage dowel is on the way for an osage fid. The lower knife is another repurposed kitchen knife, a bread knife with Henkels Germany stainless on the blade. I like the bread type serrations as they will be easier to sharpen. The bottom knife tang was definately harder than the top knife as I was drilling the lanyard holes in the handles.
Went to Home Depot for some 1" rope to check cutting performance, and they dont stock it here anymore. So will look for some tomorrow.
Next step will be kydex sheath.

here is before pix of Henkels German stainless bread knife, the one on the bottom in the other photos

fid with stain and first coat of Watco

 

[Eli Chaps]

The other day I came across a YouTube channel and he has a video where he sharpens an EverSharp. Uses a power tool but might be something in there that helps.

Pretty sure this is the right one but apologize if not (right channel, just maybe not right vid).

 

[deltablade]

For those in the know, will a 3/4" thick fid be suitable for working on rope up to 3/4 "? or should I get a thicker dowel ? Seems to me after making one from 3/4" that a 1" will work better.

 

[deltablade]

my first try at kydex sheath...still needs work yet package is quite functional

 

[Eli Chaps]

Very cool!

 

[deltablade]

here is another with tip modified into drop point. I am practicing on the kydex sheaths, much needed practice too.

 

[deltablade]

Got several ready to go, tho still need to add fid holders, and finish sheath for white handled Dexter. The bread knives, esp the scalloped edges, seem to work quicker on the sisal rope, followed by the serrated edge type. The partial serrations worked fine, just not as smoothly or quickly as the bread blades. The pointy serrations on the S&W knife (second from right) tended to grab the sisal rather than cut, so I would rate it at the bottom of the list for rope cutters. My preference is the scalloped edge, which cuts quickly, and can be resharpened with a diamond rod, whereas the fine serrations cut just as well, yet dont think I could resharpen, so would be disposable.

 

[deltablade]

getting the sheath finished for the whie handled Dexter...a Florida Keys and Islands type boat knife

 

[deltablade]

I wonder why the traditional boat knives are 4-5" blades. The 7 and 8 inchers would be great for cutting and fish work. I guess ease of carry. tho I recently saw some sketches of civil war union sailors carrying what looked to be 7-8" blade knife on their belts. any ideas?

 

[sickpuppy1]

Repelling boarders