Dive Knife?

H

hd2k_va

Joined
Dec 27, 2001
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108
Can you guys help me out with a recommendation?

My wife needs a dive knife. I'm looking for a fixed bladed knife, blade about 3" long, with a decent Kydex or Concealex sheath. Preferrable steel is a good 420, or 440A. Straight edge, not serrated. A gut hook would be a plus since it's so useful for cutting string and fishing line. It has to have a handle. You can't grab skeletonized neck knives with a 7mm neoprene glove!
 
A GB5327 GERBER Expedition 2?
Gerber cliams it's for river/rafting, but seems ok for diving and the handle appeaars to be extremely grippy.

A KS1008 Kershaw Sea Hunter can also be nice, it has a gut hook but the blade is half serrated :O

NsB
 
Just a pic of the Kershaw Sea Hunters.

Ryan
ks-1008.jpg
 
"You can't grab skeletonized neck knives with a 7mm neoprene glove!"

I certainly would not be wearing it around my neck while diving. The knife should be mounted on the waist strap close to the center so it can be accesed with either hand. Wearing the knife on your leg is not a good idea either.

I wouldn't get a regular dive shop knife. Most of them are made of very poor steel and are very hard to resparpen. I've been using a fixed blade CRKT Kasper lately, and it makes a great dive knife. The sheath is perfect for diving, and the steel is fairly stain resistant. Plus, it is very inexpensive. If you want to spend a little more, you could get a titanium knife from Mission knives.



TheBadGuy: While ScubaPro does make the best regulators on the planet, I really hate their dive knives. (Their Jet Fins and Framless Masks are great too.) I work and teach at the local dive shop on occasion, and every ScubaPro dive knife that I've seen is very dull and crudely ground. They are also very expensive, usually around $50.00. That's way to much for a knife of that quality.
 
If you're adapting the CRKT kasper FB for dive purposes, I'd strongly suggest you to remove the bead blasting. My CRKT KFF rusted during a very humid camping trip, even if it's AUS 6 steel.
Tell you the truth, for a dive knife you're really either stuck with 420/440A/AUS6 or Titanium and or non-steel alloys (perhaps like Talonite).
 
Actually, the CRKT Kasper has held up very well despite the finish. After many long exposures to fresh and salt water, it only has 2 minor rust spots that could be easily removed.
 
Wow, what kind of corrosion protection did you use??? Marine Tuf-Cloth?

My P/K Companion was getting rust spots from IWB carry, so I sanded down the flat parts of the blade (but not the bevels). Mine is two-toned right now, and the easily rusted parts under the handle are protected.

I also cord-wrapped mine, since I have too much time on my hands. Now it looks pretty cool and handles well, though the original grips were also excellent.

I'm going to make a custom sheath for my cordwrapped version, since the original sheath doesn't work without the original grips.

I am going to buy a plain-edged version, and send it off to BodyCote, then cordwrap it. It should look really cool :)
 
Yeah... most definately I'd get it BodyCoted if I'm going to use mine as a dive knife.
 
Although it does have a few serrations (near the handle), and the blade is longer than 3 inches (4.75), the SOG Seal Pup might still be a good choice, as it is made out of AUS-6 steel, and comes in a pretty decent kydex sheath.
 
Even a simple carbon steel blade can be used for diving if the user is diligent about wiping it down after use. The knife does not rust IN the water, but OUT of the water when it is expose to oxygen.
 
Thanks for the help.

I ordered a the blunt Kershaw Sea Hunter for her, and 2 Calypso Jr.s and a Bill Moran Featherweight for myself! Couldn't resist.
 
I think theoretically, the blade will rust down in the water, since there *is* oxygen down there, just not in such abundant supply.

Iron left down in the water will rust, but the duration of a typical non-fatal dive isn't usually long enough for it to be apparent.

I wonder if there is micro-rusting at the blade edge? Might have to do some experiments with dipping blades in sea water for short periods and testing the cutting ability.
 
Originally posted by martin j
Even a simple carbon steel blade can be used for diving if the user is diligent about wiping it down after use. The knife does not rust IN the water, but OUT of the water when it is expose to oxygen.
Click to expand...

If that was true, you would never see rusted ship wreckage. A knife will corrode when exposed to salt water(there's oxygen in the water).

A for a dive knife the Randall #16 would be nice.
http://www.randallknives.com/saltwater.asp

That new SOG knife looks nice.
http://www.1sks.com/store/sog-scuba-demo.html
 
While those are really nice knives, you need something with no more than a 4 inch blade. Anything else just gets in the way and is hard to mount. The main use for a knife underwater is for cutting fishing line or when laying guidelines so, a huge knife is not needed. If you need to hammer and pry underwater, carry a hammer and chisel.
 
Originally posted by ElectricZombie
While those are really nice knives, you need something with no more than a 4 inch blade. Anything else just gets in the way and is hard to mount. The main use for a knife underwater is for cutting fishing line or when laying guidelines so, a huge knife is not needed. If you need to hammer and pry underwater, carry a hammer and chisel.
Click to expand...

I'm more concerned about attacks by snapping turtles(lakes) and sharks & barracudas(ocean)! :D Just kidding...
 
I always use this joke on my students:

Q: What is a dive knife for?

A: Stabbing your buddy when you see a shark!
 
Originally posted by AlphalphaPB
Iron left down in the water will rust, but the duration of a typical non-fatal dive isn't usually long enough for it to be apparent.
Click to expand...

Very good point K Williams but please see the post above yours- AlphalphaPB's point is even better :)

Do you plan to stay down for as long as that ship?:rolleyes:
Hang around the docks here in Long Beach sometime, you'll be amazed at how "stupid" some of these dockworkers and longshoremen are, using their carbon steel blades for years.......
Martin
 
It's not a fixed blade, but I highly recommend a zytel Spyderco Rescue Jr as a marine/scuba folder - attach it to your BC and it should handle anything your EMT shears cannot.

For a fixed blade, the SOG Seal Pup was mentioned, although I HATE the SOG sheaths as they make it difficult to release the knife.

The nice thing about dedicated dive knives is usually the sheath, as the knives are often second rate.

Since a fixed blade is often a prybar U/W, the blunt point can be handy, but my Dive "EDC" is an old Gerber Patriot in 440A with a nice pointy bowie style blade.

The Kershaw knives look like a good choice.

BTW, for what it's worth, sea water will rust nearly ANYTHING that you can sharpen - even 440A/AUS6 if you don't rinse it quickly. I clean and pre-treat with BreakFree CLP prior to a trip, rinse with freshwater asap, and it usually cleans up nicely with a touch of steel wool and some CLP upon return.
 
Q: What is a dive knife for?

A: Stabbing your buddy when you see a shark
Click to expand...

Reminds me of the bear encounter - buddies encounter enraged Griz, buddy one notices buddy two securing his shoelaces, and asks "Why are you stopping to fix your shoes? You can't outrun a Grizzly!

Buddy two says, "I don't have to be faster than the bear. I just have to be faster than you...":eek:
 
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