Knife advice for a demanding work environment

Cypress said:
The 810 is Ceracoted, so I figure it may prevent most corrosion. A lot of the pleasure I derive form my knives comes from maintaining them. I wouldn't bat an eye bringing my 810 on the ocean as long as I packed my Prolink lube, sharpening kit, and a strop. The benefits of the steel far outweigh the minimal nightly maintenance required.

But that's just like, my opinion man :)
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I totally get it and it's all about giving options and opinions.

Does the OP want something that needs such maintenance or an H-1 which you can just forget about?

No doubt both the BM 810 (I have the black Cerakote myself) and Spyderco GB are cutting machines. I think the OP should get one eventually and see for himself the pros and cons over time.
 
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Well jdwithawave is right, the 550 is a great blade. I'd also say a cold steel recon 1 with a tanto blade would work well. They're tough, strong, cheap, and the black coating should help with rust, if not you could always get it duracoated
 
why duracoat when you can get Cerakote! Cerakote out performs duracoat in every way possible.
 
I think the Lionspy from spyderco. You can lock blade basically making it a fixed blade. The Elmax steel on the lionspy is crazy tough and stays sharp long time. It's a big beefy knife but is easy to carry.
 
My dad was a merchant marine and he carried a pair of Buck 110's over the course of his career. I have one of them, it's beat to hell but there isn't any real corrosion. He carried it as far south as Argentina, kept it protected in the leather belt pouch that came with them. Most stainless knives are pretty corrosion resistant and if you take a moment to wipe them after use there shouldn't be a problem.
 
I would not pry with any folder, they are not meant for that.. if you need to break ice and pry open hatches, carry a small prybar. You are seriously handicapped by not being able to carry a fixed blade as most will cover your needs. But with folders, there is the right tool for the right job. If you prying and breaking is needed as priority for safety, you really need to have the right tool.. I'd go with the Spyderco Pacific Salt SE and a prybar of some sort (seriously). I'd think they would make tools specifically for sailors if there is a law you can't have a fixed blade.
 
I don't know how it'd handle corrosion, but I like the large Cold Steel Voyager as a tough/working/beater knife. I gave mine away because it was just a touch small for my giant hands but I still have the XL. :D
 
I carried a Buck 110 most of my 30 years in the Navy. AS an ABS, guess that's like deck force, you should have a good marlinspike.

OT
 
You mentioned working around salt water.
As I assume corrosion is a factor:

-MISSION titanium folder.
-Spyderco H1 folder.
-BOYE Cobalt folder.
 
If prying and chipping ice is a large part of your work I will highly suggest one of those 3 or 4" "pocket" or key-chain Ti pry bar. Cheap, light weight, rides on your keychain or disappears in your carpenters pocket, and its 1000x more suited to prying than any knife.

Edit: now that I read page 2 I just have to say I agree 100% with Hawk45 (a fellow buckey so he must be right)! There are several sources for different sizes of Ti pry bars for EDC and even the smallest key-chain size one would be better than a folding knife to "pry open hatches" and there's no worrie of striking the tip and/or cutting yourself or others or cuttable objects while breaking ice.
 
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Hi Henry,

I too work on a ship, but on the science staff side rather than as ship's crew.
Although I like nice knives, I decided a stainless replaceable blade was in order. But it couldn't be crap.
Also having to satisfy a 3" rule here at home, I bought a Ka-bar Phat Bob. Because it was in fact slightly OVER 3", I tuned down the spine at the tip and it became a perfect rigging knife shape. The blade is hollow ground a bit thin for abuse, but it takes a good edge. I cut ethernet and electrical cables with it regularly and it only takes a quick swipe to unroll the edge from that kind of mistreatment. 440C is what it is. I keep it nice and sharp, and it goes through spectra crane line like butter. The deck chief was impressed. I've tuned it up a bit, but it's worked well and can be replaced if it goes for a swim.

BTW, the coast guard reg is bunk. A modern folder is just as threatening as a fixed blade of any practical sort, and folders are much harder to use in cold, wet emergencies when you REALLY need them, IMO.

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I would suggest the salt series from spyderco (serrated) for tearing through stuff quick, as well as a ZT 0301ST Blem for abuse.
 
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