Dive Knives

M

M.Link

Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
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First of all, I don't dive. I do however spend lots of time in my boat, in rivers, lakes, bays, and the Pacific. I have always thought diving knives were cool. What is the best diving knife out there?

Pictures are much appreciated!
 
Original Tekna dive knife. Ocean Edge. I still carry one from the early 80's. Fundamental and worry free. One of the best handles for parawrap too if youj're into that. Sharpens well too.

Extremely versatile sheath...unique.
 
There's no such thing as a "best dive knife". It depends entirely on whether you mean skin dive or scuba,
fresh or saltwater, and mostly where and what kind of diving is involved. You can get away with 3-4 inch
blades in warm waters with 100ft viz and no gloves, but in cold waters with low visibility and 1/4 " neoprene
gloves on it becomes an entirely different matter. For what you describe any stainless knife will do. If you're a SW fisherman you may want to consider an H-1 steel knife. Obviously no leather sheaths or handles on fixed blades, rubber/synthetic all the way. I've seen far more rusted out folders on boats than fixed blades, mostly do to the ease of forgetting to wash them compared to fixed blades once put away after use. Plus the deep spaces that SW may get into. With fixed blades avoid those with guards. Probably the cheapest solution for your purposes may be a SOG seal pup variant in kydex.
 
Anything Titanium from Mission Knives will outlast the owner. I used the Tekna knife when I dove because there wasn't much available in that size back in the late 70's early 80's.
 
I use the Spyderco Pacific Salt H1- never had use for a fixed blade yet. "Best" is very subjective though.
 
precisionshootist said:
Best diver?

I would definitely go with a Randall Made Model 16 Diver. The Rolex of dive knives.
Click to expand...

Especially, if you hunt down one in a pancake sheath. ;)

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M.Link said:
First of all, I don't dive. I do however spend lots of time in my boat, in rivers, lakes, bays, and the Pacific. I have always thought diving knives were cool. What is the best diving knife out there?

Pictures are much appreciated!
Click to expand...

I am a scuba instructor, commercial hard hat diver. I started in the USN. Many divers use the Queen "BIG Chief" , aluminum handle, S/S blade. I use a Spyderco Pacific Salt but wore out 2 Spydercos "sheepsfoot" style. I have the Rock salt for the heavy cutting on the boat. I highly recommend any of the Spyderco's, they use good steel and rusting really isn't an issue.

I have a Randall model 16 similar to my Navy Ka-Bar, but 10 times more rugged. I admit it doesn't get wet much.
 
The Randall 16 is a collectible and reflects the many decades old approach to knives and saltwater.
The Vietnam era MACV-SOG Naval Advisory Detachment Scuba/Demo knives had not just a
leather sheath but a leather handle as well. Dive knives like these are "historical" compared to the
present all synthetic handle/sheath construction, corrosion resistant, and even Titanium (like from Mission)
knives of today. Historical dive knives may have been "best" back then but today are only "best" in collector value.
 
....billet 420....

Steel junkies: How does a titanium blade compare with one of, say, 420 or any of the 440x's, for sharpness and edge retention? How about strength of the point?
 
Spyderco H1 salt series is the best bang for the $. Price right, superb performance, & no corosion at all.
 
Wow! I like that Randall! Just added that one to my wants list lol. I found a Tekna, local for $75, might have to go get it, I like the look of them, a lot. I had a SOG SCUBA/DEMO, wish I never let it go.
 
G-Sakai makes a few fixed blades in H-1 that would be excellent boat knives. I like them a lot, they've got synthetic handles and sheaths and aren't too expensive (about $75 for the Sabiknife 1, which is around the size of an ESEE-3, but with a longer handle).

new-sabi-11.jpg
 
Not really a dive knife . However it did go diving with out me one time . A boat/rigging knife for sure . This is the Myerchin Off Shore . 440C blade, Micarta handle. Spike is 303 SS and gets a little rust
 
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Since you really did give a price I suggest puma knives boatman or seamaster(I think) . Interesting pieces and from quality makers that have been making blades since the late 1700's.
 
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