Harpy slot question: What's a Shackle?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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I asked on the SC forum what the slot was for in the Harpy handles. Someone posted a well documented answer that it was because they wanted it to have a vent to dry faster and also to be able to open shackles. (Some sort of boat thing.)

My, so far, unanswered question is:
What is this shackle that the knife is supposed to be able to open?

Seriously, it's one of my favorite knives and I just really want to know what a shackle is and what it's for.

I'm totally curious so you can give me the long answer...
What the phucking hell is a shackle?
 
A shackle is a "U" shaped connection with a "bolt" through the open end. The bolt has threads only on the end and a shoulder with a flat sticking out on the other. You use the flat to turn the bolt. The slot fits over this flat and you can use the knife as a wrench to turn the bolt. It is used to temporally attach a line/cable eye to a fitting.
 
Properly it is not a shackle wrench but a shackle KEY .Sailors must learn to differentiate between a shackle key and a church key.
 
The shackle "keys" I have, are on my "sailors knives".
They are folders with various handy picks and other goodies
that sailors have been using ever since the early pocket knives.

Walt
 
Interesting. I guess we just don't have many sea-faring vessels in Colorado.;)

Perhaps it'll work as a bottle opener.:D
 
I find that the slot gives added grip to the stainless handle--the finger tips of my index and middle fingers seem to naturally fit into the slot. That makes quite a difference when my hands are wet while using this knife. Nonetheless, I would rather have holes drilled into the sides (ala Tom Mayo) instead of the "shackle key" slot.
 
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