My son is getting a canoe: Recommendation for a good canoeing knife?

I have a canoe and my paddling knife is a stainless Mora Clipper.
 
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When you need a knife in the water, you need it right now. It's no time to be trying to get your hand into a wet pocket for a folder that's going to have to be opened to be used. Go with a Mora. Even the crappy plastic sheaths have pretty good retention, and that could be improved with a little boiling water and a Dremel. If you want leather and a keeper strap, Blade Matrix sells a generic 4" sheath that works fine with the Craftsman series for about $3.50.

While I'm at it, make sure his PDF is quick release and easily broken in a pinch. I've left a couple at the bottom of rivers tangled up in submerged limbs and roots.
 
I'm another Mora user while canoeing. I keep a Mora 2000 in a dry bag so it's always ready and put in on my belt when I hit the water. This sheath seems to be much better than the run of the mill Mora sheaths, but some of the newer ones look pretty good, especially for the money.
 
REAL DANGER WARNING: I've spent a lot of time on Illinois' Mackinaw river at low and high levels. At times it's full of brush and trees. Getting pinned in one of these so-called "Sieves" can be certain death. Unless you've been there, you really can't believe how little water it takes to pin you.

STAY FAR AWAY FROM BRUSH AND TREE LIMBS IN ANY MOVING WATER!!!

YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THIS.
 
Spyderco Aqua Salt SE...

Waterproof, indestructible, cut through cordage in no time. Comes with a good sheath too...
 
shelbysguns said:
CRKT:
MUK- You'll need to get a Kydex made. There is a maker of the forum here with them in stock. If you like the looks of this one drop me a VM I'll find u a link. I'm taking mine with me to the gulf. You just can't beat the price!
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It's on it's way to you right now! Enjoy!




To the OP...

1. I suggest a fixed blade knife, so that he doesn't have to worry about opening it, just using it to do the job he needs done.


2. Stainless or an Exotic Alloy like Spyderco puts in their Salt knives would be good, less to maintain.

I have a Spyderco Aqua Salt on loan from a friend, and it is really great. Made with the exotic alloy H1, it will not rust. And it also comes in a high visibility yellow handle, and un-serrated edge, if you prefer.
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3. You might also consider a knife without a point, so that he does not stab himself. There are probably many opinions on this, but you will find many dive knives without points, for safety and other uses.

Spyderco makes the Caspian Salt. This is is the blunt one, they also make a pointed one.
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And Hultafors makes a knife with a dull point... (top one)
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4. And finally, I will justify the type of work I do (making sheaths for knives that already have sheaths)... If you really like a knife, and the sheath that it came with does not suit your purposes, then a custom sheath can really make that knife packable and useful again. And let's face it, the unfortunate truth is that a great many stock sheaths are not super great, adequate maybe, for some tasks, but not always what you are looking for.

For example, I have a knife by one of my favorite manufacturers, and it came with an adequate sheath for most things, but I wanted to carry it inverted (upside down) in a shoulder harness, and the sheath was just not up to that.... So, I made a new sheath, and now I really get to enjoy that knife.



Just my .02 cents....


Best,
Marion
 
+1 on KEITHCARTER's warning!
Getting pinned is serious stuff. For a canoe knife in a lake, pretty much any knife will do, but if you are going down river where you don't no exactly whats ahead, be prepared to limb trees. some carry a hatchet, some carry a big knife, some depend on other people; the first time it happened to me I was just glad my head was above water. I was an avid and frequent all season, all weather canoer at the time. I learned to have a floatation device with me that day too. Complacency kills. Sure hope nobody was drinking downstream from me that time, for sure.
Anyway, since you put length limits, consider checking out the "Meyerchin" line of rigging knives, if for no other reason than they are designed for marine use, in real working conditions. Good all rounder knife, too. most come with a fid or marlingspike, usefull when canoeing also.
 
I'd go with one of the Spyderco Salts. I got to handle an Aqua Salt at the dealer's. It was really impressive-think grip security of a Spyderco Military, only thicker and with bi-directional FRN (If you've never handled a Mili, that's "a lot" :) ) Despite being sold for MSRP, it was gone pretty quick.

Something you might want to take care of is to get a "floater" lanyard fob. Attach a piece of foam or something to a fob so the knife floats.
 
I looked at the Spyderco Salts and they are right on the edge of what I'm willing to spend. This is for a 15 year old: the chance of losing or misplacing the knife is probably pretty high. $35 to replace a knife isn't so bad, getting up to the $75 for the Salts or $100 for the Benchmade H2O is getting up there.

I definitely want to get him a fixed blade knife.

I'm not a big fan of Moro's, don't know why, just aren't. But their prices do give me pause: get a decent inexpensive knife, have a sheath made for it (anyone know of a good Moro knife sheath maker? :) ), and he'd be pretty set. Lose the knife, no big deal, just order another $20 knife and drive on, he won't lose the sheath (probably).

Thanks for the ideas, I appreciate it.

And I especially appreciate the warnings about running water and limbs etc.

Thanks,

Al
 
You can pick up a SOG Field Pup (4" blade AUS8) for $30. I think this would make a good canoeing knife. Its rubber handle is easy to grip even when wet. SOG does a nice job with their fixed blade knives.
 
I bought this a few days ago on the bay for next to nothing, as I needed a fixed blade for kayaking.

I am not usully one for serrations, but as I intend to use this for kayaking, I want serrations. I am only going to use the knife, if I get tangled in something and need to untangle myself PDQ.

The serrations are a bit apart and very sharp. It zips though line and rope. Serrations are easy to sharpen too (unlike some).

The MeyerCo is small, so you can always keep it on you. Rather a small knife handy, than a big knife packed in the bottom of a drybag.

Tip is blunt, as I do not want to inadvertently puncture anything, that does not need puncturing.

Blade is held very well, while still very easy to get out, when you need it ASAP.

Further more, the knife is very cheap, while still relatively well made, so if I drop it in the water, I can just get another one.

Good luck find a knife for your son. Hope this helps.


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EDIT: Pic.
 
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Caspian Salt with blunt tip. It is what is on my vest kayaking. It will cut cordage quick and you won't stab yourself. Plus you can hold onto it in rushing water while you're trying not to drown cutting yourself loose.
 
I added a piece of bicycle innertube {I love blade forums for tips like these} over the opening of my Mora Clipper. Im not worried about the knife slipping out.The clipper sheath can be clipped on a belt, pocket, waist band... Its really handy. The knife cuts better than any knife Ive ever owned. I think it cost eleven dollars.
 
I think it depends on the type of water he will be paddling. Canoe tripping and whitewater will have different uses. I think you need a knife attached to your PFD that is both secure, and easy to access, with at least partial serrations. That knife is for safety. Serrations to cut line, or cut plastic hull material. I have a Gerber River Shorty for this purpose. Blunt tip for safety, serrations for cutting rope, and a plain edge for general use. It is secure to the PFD, and is a quick draw downward pull- so if you are pinned, or need to cut a rope in a hurry, you can reach up and draw the knife in an instant.

Then.....when you are off the river, you need to process some wood for a fire, prepare a meal, maybe make a tent peg. So I would get a good fixed blade. Ideally, a Swiss Army knife or multitool for utility to compliment the arsenal.
 
Bladescout, I just ordered three of those Meyerco canoe knives - at $5 each, it's a bargain, when he loses one (not if), no big loss.

Thanks,

Al

Ha! Did I call it or did I call it!!! First time he took out his knife while canoeing, he lost his Meyerco canoe knife. It was during the June 18 Flint River Cleanup (pics coming when I get a copy) and he went with an inexperienced canoer; they rolled the canoe at least four times during the cleanup and during one of them, he lost both his knife and his Dewalt work gloves. At $15, the work gloves cost more than the knife.

Oh well, we still have two others we can use.

Thanks,

Al
 
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