Let's See Some Water Knives

PayetteRucker said:
...knives that are water specific, for the most part it's a marketing gimmick.

...If you can't manufacture and market a sheath to go with your 100+ dollar knife that will hold up to whitewater use, then what's the point?
Click to expand...


:confused: You lost me there.

Are you saying that knives that are made with handles and sheaths that can withstand complete prolonged submersion without any bad effects, Blades that can be carried in salt water without rusting, with edges and tips designed to cut and dig through or around things like rocks and coral, with light weight easy to carry swimmer freindly designs are ...."just a gimmick"???

...And that no one should buy a $100 knife unless they have the knowledge, tools, matterial, skills, and resources to make their own highly functional waterproof sheaths???

...Or are you saying that you expect that EVERY knife should come from the factory with a diving sheath???
 
PayetteRucker said:
I don't have any (more) knives that are water specific, for the most part it's a marketing gimmick.
Click to expand...

Someone should tell Sal Glesser that his R&D money for the Salt series was a waste. :D Sorry, but I'm here to tell you that those knives work as advertised. They truly are saltwater resistant. Heck, they're practically saltwater invulnerable.
 
I have used Spyderco Salt knives commercial fishing and can say that there is no "gimmick" behind the marketing. That environment is harsher than 99% of knife using environments encountered by most people.

edit:
That said, I carry a Byrd Pelican PE right now commercial fishing. I have a half serrated stainless mora on the boat as well. I keep a serrated dodo in my pocket for emergencies.
 
Last edited:
Another one.
IMG_4897.jpg


Spyderco Caspian Salt.
 
BryFry said:
:confused: You lost me there.

Are you saying that knives that are made with handles and sheaths that can withstand complete prolonged submersion without any bad effects, Blades that can be carried in salt water without rusting, with edges and tips designed to cut and dig through or around things like rocks and coral, with light weight easy to carry swimmer freindly designs are ...."just a gimmick"???

...And that no one should buy a $100 knife unless they have the knowledge, tools, matterial, skills, and resources to make their own highly functional waterproof sheaths???

...Or are you saying that you expect that EVERY knife should come from the factory with a diving sheath???
Click to expand...

not at all. I'm saying my experience with water specific knives is that they're no more suited for water use than any other blade. I used a 1095 knife in salt water for a year, and as long as I wiped it off on a beach towel at the end of the day and stuck it in a dry leather sheath I never had an issue with rust. Plus, the sheaths specifically designed for blade retention in harsh currents, that are supposed to stay retained on a PFD, well... that's pretty much luck of the draw.
 
Guyon said:
Someone should tell Sal Glesser that his R&D money for the Salt series was a waste. :D Sorry, but I'm here to tell you that those knives work as advertised. They truly are saltwater resistant. Heck, they're practically saltwater invulnerable.
Click to expand...

Resistance to rust aside, how does the blade steel perform compared to a 7 dollar CRKT MUK? Because my experience is as long as you keep your high carbon blade oiled and dry, you aren't going to have much issues with warding off the orange devil... I have no doubt these things are resistant to salt water. It's just not huge on the things I'd look for in a water knife. My main concerns would still be 1. retention, 2. steel quality, and 3. blade design.
 
The only PFD knife I have used extensively is the Benchmade H2O mentioned above (see original post and picture). Sheath retention is excellent and is aided by an extra locking mechanism. With almost any kydex sheath, you can tighten up retention by heating and compressing slightly, but I have not needed to do so. The blade steel is X15 T.N., and the H2O has the distinction one of the sharpest knives out of the box I've ever owned (think hundreds of knives). It maintains an edge quite well, though you do need something like the Spyderco Sharpmaker to touch up serrations.

For a PFD knife, I like the blunt-ended design since I'd be less apt to stab myself or others in an emergency. I normally don't care for half-serrated blades, but given that one function may be to cut rope or line, I welcome the serrations in this particular model. The serrations are also handy for cutting through fish spines. X15 T.N. isn't nearly as well known as H1, but it is a good steel in my experience. Granted, I've not used it in saltwater, but I've had no issues with rust in freshwater environs. I get it wet every outing in the kayak. I've never wiped or dried it off after paddling. It shows no signs of rust whatsoever.

Given everything above, I don't think I've been had. The same is true with my H1 Spydercos, which I have used in saltwater.

Here's the Benchmade company line on the steel...
This French steel was developed for the aircraft industry for jet ball bearings, as well as the medical industry for scalpels. It has the ability to resist rust in the worst of conditions while maintaining ample edge retention. The capability behind this steel is in the way it is manufactured, resulting in the finest steel for use in harsh environments such as salt water. The edge on an X15 T.N blade is easier to maintain.
Click to expand...
 
Joben said:
BryFry, hey it may be a cheapy, but i really like the design and sheath. Heck i wouldn't mind having something like that. Do you know what it's called?
Click to expand...

United Elite Forces Tactical knife.

Seen them in older Smokey Mt Knives catalogs.
 
PayetteRucker said:
not at all. I'm saying my experience with water specific knives is that they're no more suited for water use than any other blade. I used a 1095 knife in salt water for a year, and as long as I wiped it off on a beach towel at the end of the day and stuck it in a dry leather sheath I never had an issue with rust.
Click to expand...

Ok, I gotta ask ...how do you keep your leather sheath dry when your swimming under water all day?

And how do you carry a normal knife in a normal sheath when all you are wearing is a pair of swim trunks?

I guess I'd say that I have plenty of knives and sheaths that I would not be comfortable using as water knives, but that's just me I guess. :) Most of my knives do not have water resistant sheaths that will also allow the water to drain out. Also many knives have wood, leather, and other non-water-freindly materrial handles that could also allow water to seep into them and rust under the handle where you can't see or get to to clean. Same with some folding knives.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top