How bout a slick sailing knife???

F

fartcutter

Joined
Sep 17, 2000
Messages
24
Greetings fellow fartcutters:

I was at Westmarine today and took a look at their sailing knives.

I'd like to get one but was not too impressed with the selection. There was a camillis (sp) and myerico (sp).

I'd like the traditional setup with one blade for cutting rope and also that pick like thing to undo knots.

Appreciate any input.

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"Fartcutter has mastered the silent but deadly maneuver." Tactical Farting Institute
 
My pride and joy :the A001 Offshore System

Myerchin also has a solid line of double locking folders -the picklike thing is a marlinspike. Victorinox has the skipper and mariner -check www.victorinox.com under sport tools:water. -lots of extras if only want blade and spike though . . .

AG Russell has a sailing knife that looks really nice.

I used a serrated camillus for several years in the coast guard until I got issued a myerchin folder, no problems, and no heartbreak if you lose it overboard.


[This message has been edited by Sender (edited 11-05-2000).]
 
Thanks for the reply.

I do like your fixed blade set. It looks pretty nice. The only thing I didn't care about the ones I handled is that they were pretty rough on the opening and closing.

The AG Russell knife looks pretty nice too. I prefer a non-serrated blade.

Guess I'm too damn critical.

Laters,

FC

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"Fartcutter has mastered the silent but deadly maneuver." Tactical Farting Institute
 
Welcome to the forum, fartcutters !
It is nice to see more sailors at BF.
For several years I use aboard Victorinox "Skipper". IMHO spike of Victorinox "Skipper" (or "Mariner") better than tradition and "Mariner" better than "Skipper" because has not superfluous tools (for example - absolutely unuseful pliers). Main drawback of these knives (or tools) is impossibility to open main blade (and spike - if you need to do it) by one hand.
Unfortunately, I have not found yet my "ideal" sailing knife. I have not had possibility to hold sailing knives sort of Myerchin line, that's why conception of Buck "CrossLock Yachtsman" now is looked nice to me despite on spike absence (it is possible to "file down" a "multitooled" blade making spike and loose warranty
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).
Some time ago in one of Russian magazine I saw picture of a knife equipped with spike, droppointed and plainedged blade with thumbstud for one-hand opening, and funny colored (as far as I remember - pink dotted) handle. Unfortunately - no comments.
Also in March 1999 issue of "Classic Boat" magazine I saw picture and short comment of the "Currey Lockspike Bosun" knife made in Sheffield, England.
Maybe somebody has more comments of these knives ?
Regards,
MIKLE
P.S.: Last summer aboard I kept "SpyderWrench" (in no salt condition) as utility / multipurpose knife / tool: first results and impression are not bad. I used it for one-hand shackles turning of during sails changing on our old-stile-rigged boat. "SpyderWrench" was proved to be more comfortable than tradition shackle-key, especially working near to a deck and especially when shackles was turned on by hands of my captain
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.
 
I've been using the Myerchin B300, the heavy-duty folder. It's definitely a solid knife, no doubt about it. There are just two main problems:

1. it's heavy (9oz).

2. if you press against the blade spine too
hard while using the marlingspike, it
can cause the edge to chip on the brass
spacer.

All that said, it's a good worker, and the metal at the edge has impressed me so far.

I'd be willing to find mine another home, considering my Sebenzas have relegated it to a dust collector...
 
Go up to the top left of the screen, click on "STORE", check into the Camillus section, and eyeball the Camillus CAM-695 Marlinspike, or the CAM-697 US Navy Marlinspike knife.

Plain edged with the marlinspike for splicing line, and a ring that you can attach a line to.... just so it doesn't end up in Davy Jones Locker. (Why the Monkees would like one of these knives is beyond me, but whatever). Good price too.
 
A sailing knife is, presumably, going to cut a lot of rope. That's why most of them are serrated. You also have to unravel a lot of knots in wet rope. That's what the marlin spike is for.

I have a Myerchin folder. The knife cuts rope very fast, and the spike has come in handy at times even when very far from water.
 
While marlinspikes are certainly handy for undoing non-bowline knots, it's the sadly lost art (almost) of splicing that marlinspikes exist for. This use is restricted to twisted three strand line found on older traditional wooden boats like my schooner. As most fiberglass boats use double braid, a fid (hollow spike) is used instead.
 
Seattlight,
In general you are right. Tool you mentioned could be seen at www.briontoss.com (site is advised by rturpin).
But two years ago I managed to splice parallel-core rope and steel cable (making halyard for our boat) with spike of Victorinox "Skipper".
Regards,
MIKLE
 
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