In search of the cheap, no nonsense . . .

S

Smash05

Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
1,794
This post is going to ramble, sorry.

Lately, I find myself not in search of the super steel, the high end. Rather I find myself in search of the simple, the functionally elegant, the hardcore, dare I say, the disposable. Why?
I have taken up sailing as a hobby, and along with hiking and camping I have found myself in a dilemma. Do I really get something out of 154cm or S30V on a boat, a place where my knife could just as easily end up in the drink, as it does performing an essential task. As much as I have yearned and desired an H1 or other rust proof blade, I find myself going to my SAK, wanting to pick up a Byrd Rescue, tucking a Camillus Demo knife into my pockets. Why? Well first, my SAK does not rust, wear it in and out of salt water, no problem. Second, maybe just a tad over protective of me, I worry about losing a knife these days that I cannot afford to replace. I would not be heartbroken if my para-milie was resigned to rest in the briney deep, but I would rather not part with that 100 bucks of machinery. However, if my 20 dollar SAK Farmer hits bottom, well I can go buy another in a blink. Same of a Byrd, or even my Native. So the simple, the functionally elegant - those are the knives I am turning my eyes towards. Where I could carry an Aqua Salt or a Benchmade H2O, I think my MORA SWAK will be there instead. A Byrd Rescue or Wings will probably find a spot, and the SAK will be there as well. It's not that I'm not into the High End, its that perhaps I don't always need or want it.
 
Last edited:
You can get a spyderco salt 1 for about the same price as that native. I use one while boating/fishing and wouldn't trade it. I have used others and they rust in a few hours if not cleaned. With the salt 1 I can forget about it when I get home and I'm worn out.
 
Go with a SS Mora...great performance at a "so what if I lose it" price.

Better yet, for the low $, get two and keep one packed on the boat
as a backup when/if you send the 1st one into the deep.

I've found the SS Clipper to be a great knife, and with colors like these
it'd be hard to lose UNLESS you dropped it overboard. :)
http://ragweedforge.com/860f.jpg

JMH
 
Attach the knife to a lanyard.
Attach the lanyard to your belt.
Make sure the lanyard is long enough to use the knife without disconnecting the lanyard from your belt.

Your choice of knives has just expanded!
 
neeman said:
Attach the knife to a lanyard.
Attach the lanyard to your belt.
Make sure the lanyard is long enough to use the knife without disconnecting the lanyard from your belt.

Your choice of knives has just expanded!
Click to expand...
To be honest, the last thing I want is an open or fixed blade knife dangling by a lanyard if I drop it. I may save the knife at the expense of a laceration or two. It seems like a good idea, but things can get rough on the bow of a 20ft sailboat. I may still get a salt, but the idea of a cheap alternative still feels good.
 
flashlife said:
Go with a SS Mora...great performance at a "so what if I lose it" price.

Better yet, for the low $, get two and keep one packed on the boat
as a backup when/if you send the 1st one into the deep.

I've found the SS Clipper to be a great knife, and with colors like these
it'd be hard to lose UNLESS you dropped it overboard. :)
http://ragweedforge.com/860f.jpg

JMH
Click to expand...
I already have a dayglo clipper in the trunk of the car, and the Green SWAK to check out the line. It will probably end up in my sea bag at some point as a backup fixed blade. They are tough to beat for value, and as far as I am concerned, a Mora should be a part of everyone's kit.
 
Smash05 said:
As much as I have yearned and desired an H1 or other rust proof blade, I find myself going to my SAK, wanting to pick up a Byrd Rescue, tucking a Camillus Demo knife into my pockets. Why? Well first, my SAK does not rust, wear it in and out of salt water, no problem. Second, maybe just a tad over protective of me, I worry about losing a knife these days that I cannot afford to replace.
Click to expand...

Careful .... this was one of the reasons I began carrying a SAK again after long carrying an Endura (admittedly, the Endura's hardly a high-end knife - except in my meager collection). At any rate, I soon learned that the thin sharp blade on a SAK or good traditional slipjoint cuts the things I need cut better than the thick blade on a modern "tactical" folder. These days I mostly carry a Case peanut.
 
Smash05 said:
To be honest, the last thing I want is an open or fixed blade knife dangling by a lanyard if I drop it. I may save the knife at the expense of a laceration or two. It seems like a good idea, but things can get rough on the bow of a 20ft sailboat. I may still get a salt, but the idea of a cheap alternative still feels good.
Click to expand...

Been sailing plenty too, out of City Island up the Mass Coast.
Gets choppy.

What are you cutting on the bow of a twenty footer in heavy waters?
One hand holding on, and one hand to cut?
Sounds like you are in difficulty.

I personally like to know I am not going to lose my work knife in a difficult situation; hence I use a lanyard.

All professional sailing knives I have seen come with a shackle for a lanyard.

Is the Salt serrated for cutting rope?

Check out Myerchin (US Coastguard issue) , they are not that expensive.
http://www.myerchin.com/Rigging Knives .html (very slow link)
 
Last edited:
I am sure you would be fine with the byrd line. But I second what was mentioned earlier. Spyderco's H1 series is very reasonable priced and can be bought for about $50 or so. One of the folding H1 knives with a lanyard sounds great. That way you dont have to worry about losing it and it will be closed until you decide to use it.
 
Why not try a Buck 110. You can buy them all day long at wally world for $25-30. It takes a lot to make those blades rust. It is a little bit heavy, but carried great on a belt.



John
 
Note:
I am inland, with freshwater.
Lakes, rivers, of all sizes including white river rafting.
Add catfish farming, guiding folks on rivers for fishing, shooting rapids.
Large bodies of water see hard use with rope, fish and all sorts of other chores.
We had sail boats, and some are big!

Same knives have been used in saltwater.

1. British Knife, not sure of the exact name, still this is the one with a marlin spike and lambsfoot blade, with a shackle.

2. SAK Solo, The big red nylon handle with a hole for lanyard. Reminds one of a Slimline trapper.

3. Old Hickory . From Paring to Steak, to Butcher sizes, and these do all sorts of chores.
Drill a hole for lanyard, and make a sheath from plastic milk cartons.
The small paring knives will fit into some toothbrush holders.

4. Rapela's, from 4" and up.
Darn things just work, and using a Rapela pull through "V" keeps these up.
Lose the knife, one has a back up sheath, the way we see it anyway.

These knives are not expensive, still proven.
Some see only "food duty", others see "work duty" and some, just get used for whatever a knife is used for.

The Old Hickory's, just get wiped down and smeared with Lard.
Most of the time , just a coarse or medium grit stone, be it DMT or Norton to sharpen.
 
I must say that my Spyderco Salt has impressed me thoroughly this summer. I've been dunking it repeatedly in the ocean while surf fishing, casting, and seining (as well as swimming) and I haven't rinsed it even once. I've also worn it into the pool at least 3 times a week (high chlorine levels), and kept it soaked for hours at a time while kayaking. I was skeptical upon hearing about the H1, so I specifically haven't washed, rinsed or so much as opened it to let it dry.

This H1 just seems...rust proof. Hands-down my choice when on the water now.
 
Smash05 said:
This post is going to ramble, sorry.

Lately, I find myself not in search of the super steel, the high end. Rather I find myself in search of the simple, the functionally elegant, the hardcore, dare I say, the disposable. Why?
I have taken up sailing as a hobby, and along with hiking and camping I have found myself in a dilemma. Do I really get something out of 154cm or S30V on a boat, a place where my knife could just as easily end up in the drink, as it does performing an essential task. As much as I have yearned and desired an H1 or other rust proof blade, I find myself going to my SAK, wanting to pick up a Byrd Rescue, tucking a Camillus Demo knife into my pockets. Why? Well first, my SAK does not rust, wear it in and out of salt water, no problem. Second, maybe just a tad over protective of me, I worry about losing a knife these days that I cannot afford to replace. I would not be heartbroken if my para-milie was resigned to rest in the briney deep, but I would rather not part with that 100 bucks of machinery. However, if my 20 dollar SAK Farmer hits bottom, well I can go buy another in a blink. Same of a Byrd, or even my Native. So the simple, the functionally elegant - those are the knives I am turning my eyes towards. Where I could carry an Aqua Salt or a Benchmade H2O, I think my MORA SWAK will be there instead. A Byrd Rescue or Wings will probably find a spot, and the SAK will be there as well. It's not that I'm not into the High End, its that perhaps I don't always need or want it.
Click to expand...

So it sounds like you are looking for low dollar, decent performing folding knives. And it sounds like, in addition to your SAK, you might like a one hand opening knife with a clip.

Add the KaBar Doziers to your list of choices. I see them for under $20 online. 3" AUS8 blades.

The KaBar Large Dozier is a bit more, but has a 3 1/2" blade, again AUS8.

Also add the Byrd knives. Good value there.
 
neeman said:
What are you cutting on the bow of a twenty footer in heavy waters?
One hand holding on, and one hand to cut?
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I was wondering as well...

Certainly not the time I would want to be trying to open any folder , let alone a slippy like a SAK ( and I love my slippies ) .. a small fixed blade would sound logical.

:confused:
 
Spyderco H1 will not rust. Period.

For a boat, that's the way I'd go.
 
Hultafors has started making what they call "safety knife", with the safety being it has a dull point.
http://www.hultafors.at/Document/ViewDoc.asp?TreeID=3351&news=true
otherwise it is like a normal Hultafors knife.

Hey you guys and girls, how about any of these small fancy neck knives? or an Eichhorn gravity knife. They were made for cutting ropes and stuff in the first place.

I guess my choice would either be the british army clasp knife with marlin spike, quite a hard core user, or an Eichhorn LL80 or "rescue something" or some average neck knife.

I know fancy flick knives and self openers or autos might be verboten for normal use. I guess though that a sail boat in a big storm can be covered by some kind of "get out of jail, free card". If a LL80 auto, verboten in half Europe, is the best tool for the job then I would get one and just keep it on the boat, out of sight, just in case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top