Buying a knife for my teen aged son

I'd like to change my earlier recommendation.

I hadn't realized that Boye's knives had become available at such a low price! Check out the Boye Boat Knife at http://www.boyeknives.com/. It looks like a solid design and it is absolutely rust-proof evevn in salt water. They have an excellent reputation.

--Bob Q
 
Whoa! Thanx for all the replies.

The Boye cobalt sounds like it would be user friendly in a salty environment. I didn't think that Swiss Army made the Helmsmen, My son really likes that one and the Buck Crosslock yachtsman. He also likes the hawkbill designs alot.

When I think of it he might very well be a future member of bladeforums. :D
 
Start him off right, especially for use around saltwater get him the folder that was designed for it, a Mayo TnT.
 
Originally posted by MelancholyMutt
Having an unauthorized knife is a good way of getting booted from an academy.

I wish him the best of luck.
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How is having a knife unauthorized.... and where in my post did I say he was taking any of those to the academy...
 
I think the best knife for a sailor (I mean as in sailboats, not the Navy) is one of the Boye BDC folders Boye Knives which were made specifically for the task by one of the best knifemakers around. Read about them on the site, as well as the review by Practical Sailor which rates Boye's knives above similar offerings by Spyderco, Benchmade, and Myerchin. These are also much more "socailly acceptable" than a SEAL knife or the like.

Now, of course, a TnT (custom version) would be great, but that's a lot of $$$, assuming you can find one. I mean, I want one so bad I can taste it, but I'm not sure I'd give one to my teenage son just yet.

Just my .02, but I can tell you, standard stell comes with a compromise -- performance or rust reisitance, and the two are not complimentary, so for marine use BDC or talonite/stellite (which are all variatons on Cobalt) is the way to go.

PS, where does your son sail?
 
Another vote for the BM River Rafter. Mine is non-serrated and 440C.
 
I recomend a multitool, because of all the versatility that it give to you.

Serrated blade
Plain edge
Screew driver
Philips driver
pilers
saw
etc....

But you need to fine one that resist the salt watter condition...

You need to find something like the leatherman wave or the Victorinox Helmsman.

Imagine if your son needs to survive in an island or something like that he need something that give him more than a blade...

It is only my standpoint.

roloss_valdes
From Monterrey N.L. México
 
Myerchin makes some great rigging knives wich unfortunately don´t come with a shackle key.

I don´t sail but do work with cord and rope, I like my Captain Currey Lockspike Bosun (from the UK) not expensive, all stainless steel, flat and light with marlin spike and shackle slot.

Wichard from France has a nice selection of rigging knives, haven´t used them but I have a marlinspike/shackle key combination from them and it´s excellent.

The Camillus models are classic and good, strong and rather heavy, with locking spike and either plain edge (which I prefer) or partially serrated blade, unfortunately no shackle key.

The Victorinox models are fine, though I don´t like the shape of their spike.

For the shackle key I feel a shackle slot in the handle or a fixed separate key is better than a sloted blade because of the chance of closing on your fingers during use.

A traditional rigging knife such as the British army can be nice, but usually the marlin spike doesn´t lock and I believe some old ones are not stainless.

As with everything there are some cheap rigging knives from the orient, they may look good in a picture but quality and steel are bad, make sure you get a decent brand.
 
Originally posted by Professor
...though one might consider something coated around saltwater. Benchmade would actually be my first choice in that department, and a BM550 Griptilian would be a heck of a place to start.

Professor.
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I'd say a 551 or a 556... (I like drop-point alot more)
 
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