Dive Knife Suggestion

[Whitehorn]

Looking to buy a new dive knife.. under $200ish.. But it doesn't have to be the most expensive..

Just want some suggestions..

Also who dive's with a plain blade? No serations or saw teeth?

Thanks.

 

[yam]

Try this thread .... here.

Search feature works nicely, using terms such as dive, divers, diving.

 

[T.K.C.]

I know it is a folder, but it makes an excellent dive knife: a Spyderco Pacific Salt, Atlantic, Salt, or Salt 1. Read this: (it is from TazKristi of Spyderco: "Here's a couple of real-world examples...

There is a writer for Sea Kayak magazine who received samples of the Salt Series for an article he was writing. He admitted that he was very skeptical of any company's claims of a guarantee (we guarantee the Salt Series knives will NOT rust). His office sits on a pier near Seattle, so he promptly took a couple of mason jars down to the pier, filled them with sea water, put the knives in and sealed the jars. He tried for a couple of months to get those knives to rust. I believe he is in fact still trying, we hear from him every so often and he is continually amazed that he can't make them rust.

Also, the Salt Series knives are used heavily by an account of mine that supplies deap sea divers (working on off shore oil rigs in the Gulf). The divers love the Salt Series knives so much, they won't dive with anything else anymore. I receive pictures from them about once a month and it's been very interesting to hear their experiences. These divers are in some of the toughest environments under water and they don't have much time for maintenance, so they really have come to depend on the performance of the Salt Series.

I hope this info helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Kristi"
__________________

 

[xsrdx]

My scuba fixed blade is an old Gerber Patriot, PE. I also carry a full size Spyderco Rescue on my BC. If I ever lose or destroy it, I will probably replace it with a serrated Salt.

I prefer my scuba fixed blade large and pointy, many divers on this forum do not. It does require one to exercise a bit more care when using it u/w.

If I were buying a fixed blade dive knife today, it would be a Boker Orca.

The sheath is a huge part of the dive knife system, so whatever you buy, make sure the sheath is suitable for use u/w with respect to secure retention, one handed operation, and multiple attachment options.

 

[brainus]

Get the Atlantic Salt. You won't regret it.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

If you want a FB, and not a folder, go with the Benchmade River Rescue in H1, or their new X15 steel. I've got a River Rescue in 440C, and it is a performer, but if you're doing salt water diving, then go for the H1 etc. If you can get a Salt, get that IN ADDITION to the River Rescue. You'll still be well under the 200 limit.

 

[Whitehorn]

Awesome suggestions.. One question, how difficult is it to open a folding knife with neoprene dive gloves?

 

[STR]

I have one of the Gerber river knives that is a great little fixed blade. I know some guys use them for diving as well as kayaking. I'd suggest one of those. They come with a great little sheath that easily attatches to the straps of packs, life vests (PFDs) or scuba gear. I've never once regretted getting the one with the flat end for prying. They make both a pointed and flat but the flat seems more verstatile to me.

Here is a pic of the one I have. http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product/gerber/gerbdes/RiverKnives.htm

STR

 

[Mike Painter]

It is fairly rare to have need of a knife as a knife rather than as a pry bar and I've never had a need for a knife where a cheap pair of EMT shears was not a better choice.
I would not spend a lot on one although I can tell you the approximate location of an expensive knife in a near by lake. It's in about 200 feet of water most years. I've got a mask in the same lake that is in about 180 feet in a drought year and probably over 300 normally.

 

[spyder10]

buy a frost swedish army knife in ss and grind the tip flat


ps get the orange sheath cuz its easy to see


NOOOO do not get a pair of emt shears!!!!!!! they cant cut anything bigger than monofilimint, they are useless on ropes. get a knife and just loop the rope, line, w/e and cut it that way

 

[dwatts67]

When I was hardhat diving for the corps of engineers, we used big chief bait knives with a long lanyard caribiner clipped to my harness. I got a round file to grind out a semicircular area to make it easier to open and then used the file to flatten the tip and make a nice "toothy" edge. Not pretty, but all the commercial divers I worked with used them. Cost= about 6 bucks a copy.
cheers,
--Dave

 

[500jefferyDK]

Get a large fixed blade with some serration on the blade for cutting rope.
Folder schmolder:jerkit: forget about it:thumbdn:
Something like the Camillus Becker Knife and Tool - TacTool would work fine.
Most time you will use the knife for prying and other jobs where a tip is useless.
Price is $66.95 :thumbup:
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1004

Cheers,

André
Commercial deep sea Master Diver

 

[TAH]

Andre,

It must be tough driving to work.

Seriously, I know a lot of divers who carry a large fixed blade knife like you recommended and a Spyderco Delica SE as a back-up. Now that the Salt 1 is available, the Delica may soon be replaced.

Best,
Tom

 

[ml100]

If I were buying a fixed blade dive knife today, it would be a Boker Orca.

.

I have the Boker Orca and I just thought about throwing it in the trash can.
The sheath is a bad joke (guess it was designed by Batman), and the blade is the worst I ever used.
That´s the one knife I regret buying.

 

[xsrdx]

I have the Boker Orca and i just thought about throwing it in the trash can.
The sheath is a bad joke (guess it was disgned by Batman), and the blade is the worst I ever used.
That´s the one knife I regret buying.

Yikes - tell us how you really feel?

Hope I don't lose my Patriot since now I'm back to square one! Appreciate the comments though, you may have saved me some aggravation.

I can appreciate the suggestions regarding blunt tips and disposable knives for diving, I just disagree. Commercial, recreational and Tech divers all have different requirements and concerns.

I always have a serrated folder, EMT shears, and a fixed blade, at various attachment points, available. Each has a different application, and I wouldn't think of getting in the water without all of them.

 

[xsrdx]

Awesome suggestions.. One question, how difficult is it to open a folding knife with neoprene dive gloves?

I wear thin (tropical/3mm) gloves all the time, and opening my Rescue is fairly simple. For cold water, drysuit or hardhat diving, opening a folder could be tough, although the Rescue and Salt are about as good as it gets in that respect.