- Joined
- Feb 14, 2005
- Messages
- 1,060
I bought this Marbles Fly Fishing Knife with Dry Storage Compartment, to see if it would work as a little portable knot working tool.
Consisting of stainless steel and plastic construction, the front handle is engraved with a fly fisherman casting a line and a fish for some handle artwork, a clip point knife blade, scissors, straight pin/punch, hook disgorger/file/scaler, orange colored plastic composition storage compartment to hold hooks, sinkers, matches and other small items, stainless back handle with 3" ruler(1/8" increments), and a lanyard attachment point.
Although it looks like a nifty little multi purpose tool, good quality in execution is lacking. The scissors cut paper, but failed to cut twisted nylon line(a single paracord inner strand), instead binding up in between the scissors in repeated attempts to cut the string. The scissors are wobbly on the pivot pin and cannot be tightened up since it's not a screw. I finally just used the knife blade to cut the string, and although the blade cut, it definately needs a proper sharpening to improve the edge it came with.
I thought the pin/punch might make a suitable mini-marlinspike, and it may work with loosening up a knot or tightening cord in a knot. But, I believe it will bend with any excess force, and I'm not sure how well it's actually anchored into the tool.
The storage compartment has enough room to be used as described in the product description, and I think I could store a good bit of coiled 0.9mm string inside, but the lid retention is not very secure. A tiny raised bit of plastic is all there is to keep it closed by friction, and it just does not work well to keep the lid closed. I would have to use a rubber band or velcro strip around the tool to feel sure it would stay closed. I'll have to see if a strong tiny magnet or two might work to help keep the lid closed...
The hook disgorger/file/scaler may function, but is also has some play in the open position, and the backspring on it seems a bit weak compared to the other implements. There's a file on one side and it feels like it may have enough 'bite' to work, but I'd rather use a good sharpening stone/diamond file instead, if I needed to sharpen up a fishing hook. The product description also says 'scaler', and I guess the flat side of the hook/file will work for that. The lanyard attachment point looks suitable for a strand of paracord to fit for a neck/wrist lanyard or fob, or used with split ring or small swivel clip/snap hook.
The product is a neat idea, with older versions from different manufacturers being collectible, and I've read they were made and worked better than the modern version. It looked cool when I first saw it and felt decent with a nice weight when I finally held it in hand, but performance and function in the finished item just doesn't get there. I've seen them listed on different sites to come with either a small carabiner or a clip-on compass with retractable fish stringer, but mine just came in a box without anything extra. Overall it's an inexpensive tool, and at around +/- $12, you get what you pay for in this instance, with an imported item(China). I will still try to get some use of it and make it work for my intended purposes...
Pros:
~Low cost
~Features
~Size/weight
Cons:
~Scissors with wobble/play, fail on cutting string
~Weak latch on storage compartment
~Play/weak backspring on hook disgorger/file/scaler
Consisting of stainless steel and plastic construction, the front handle is engraved with a fly fisherman casting a line and a fish for some handle artwork, a clip point knife blade, scissors, straight pin/punch, hook disgorger/file/scaler, orange colored plastic composition storage compartment to hold hooks, sinkers, matches and other small items, stainless back handle with 3" ruler(1/8" increments), and a lanyard attachment point.
Although it looks like a nifty little multi purpose tool, good quality in execution is lacking. The scissors cut paper, but failed to cut twisted nylon line(a single paracord inner strand), instead binding up in between the scissors in repeated attempts to cut the string. The scissors are wobbly on the pivot pin and cannot be tightened up since it's not a screw. I finally just used the knife blade to cut the string, and although the blade cut, it definately needs a proper sharpening to improve the edge it came with.
I thought the pin/punch might make a suitable mini-marlinspike, and it may work with loosening up a knot or tightening cord in a knot. But, I believe it will bend with any excess force, and I'm not sure how well it's actually anchored into the tool.
The storage compartment has enough room to be used as described in the product description, and I think I could store a good bit of coiled 0.9mm string inside, but the lid retention is not very secure. A tiny raised bit of plastic is all there is to keep it closed by friction, and it just does not work well to keep the lid closed. I would have to use a rubber band or velcro strip around the tool to feel sure it would stay closed. I'll have to see if a strong tiny magnet or two might work to help keep the lid closed...
The hook disgorger/file/scaler may function, but is also has some play in the open position, and the backspring on it seems a bit weak compared to the other implements. There's a file on one side and it feels like it may have enough 'bite' to work, but I'd rather use a good sharpening stone/diamond file instead, if I needed to sharpen up a fishing hook. The product description also says 'scaler', and I guess the flat side of the hook/file will work for that. The lanyard attachment point looks suitable for a strand of paracord to fit for a neck/wrist lanyard or fob, or used with split ring or small swivel clip/snap hook.
The product is a neat idea, with older versions from different manufacturers being collectible, and I've read they were made and worked better than the modern version. It looked cool when I first saw it and felt decent with a nice weight when I finally held it in hand, but performance and function in the finished item just doesn't get there. I've seen them listed on different sites to come with either a small carabiner or a clip-on compass with retractable fish stringer, but mine just came in a box without anything extra. Overall it's an inexpensive tool, and at around +/- $12, you get what you pay for in this instance, with an imported item(China). I will still try to get some use of it and make it work for my intended purposes...
Pros:
~Low cost
~Features
~Size/weight
Cons:
~Scissors with wobble/play, fail on cutting string
~Weak latch on storage compartment
~Play/weak backspring on hook disgorger/file/scaler
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