Sailor's knives

[Snipe 1]

I went to sea for ten years and the marlinspike was never used for rope work. Although not traditional, a good multitool will be of more value than a sailor's knife. You don't need a huge multitool with dozens of gadgets, but one with the basics (a metal file is a useful feature). For a knife itself, I would want one of the Spyderco Salt knives with the sheepsfoot blade.

 

[mnblade]

I've seen some rather nice Buck 315 rigging knives lately at auction. I believe they were made by Camillus.

Good, solid, robust, sharp knives.

I had one exactly like it (probably a Camillus) when I was at sea back in the early seventies. Flawless performance.

I think this is great advice.

-- Mark

 

[neeman]

I have one of those Meyerchins, model BW300P. Hardly the best in the market. Blade wobble when open, positively sloppy closed, won't even stay closed. It has a pocket clip thats useless because the blade opens freely about 1/4" in the closed position exposing the tip and part of the blade. No way I would put it in my pocket. You have to be very careful opening the spike as it works on the same spring as the blade. Pull the spike open and the blade swings out of the handle. Did I mention the lock mechanism? There is a clevis on the end of the handle that you push up and towards the blade to unlock it. Its very easy to actually get your finger under the cutting edge when closing the knife. Keep your fingers clear and don't slip when closing the blade or you will get a nasty cut.

Best bet is find a nice older Camillus on Ebay, there is always 1 or 2 up for sale.

Good to know

thanks

 

[BLACKHAWK41]

Every true sailors dream, to sail on a Tall Ship! Congratulations to your niece. A true tall ships sailor would have a fixed straight sheeps foot blade knife with a seperate marlin spike in a leather pouch, IMHO. Myerchin sells just such a rig for just under $100. They have several grip materials, but the one with rosewood would be traditional. If you go with this knife and get it from some other vendor, be aware that they may have a nylon sheath not leather. The leather sheath is a newer offering. These seem to still be made in Japan, unlike their current folding knives that apparently are made in China. Country of origin seems to be lacking. The Chinese made knives do not have finger notches on the back of the blade, nor do they have the Myerchin whale symbol on the blade. The folders have a pocket clip, the ones made in Japan do not.
Bill

 

[Will Power]

Your niece is a very lucky young woman, I'm sure she will relish the chance of being onboard a Tall Ship.

Few years ago I was on a ferry on the North Sea between Sweden&Britain, a Tall Ships race was going on in the waters outside Göteborg. An unforgettable sight, a line of Tall Ships from across Europe (and elsewhere probably) different colour sails on a bright but windy day, superb!

One more suggestion, Rough Rider makes a nice enough Marlin knife in stainless with variety of scales: bone, delrin. You can get them in White Bone and have them scrimshawed for personal touch. These are by no means cheap quality knives, worth a look.

 

[freezergeezer]

I haven't done any tall ship sailing myself, but almost every crew I've seen in port around tall ships had a fixed blade & a marlin spike, as Blackhawk 41 says. Probably much easier & practical in wet, cold conditions.

I own a Myerchin P300. Not a tool I'd choose for sailing, were any other marlin spike knife available. The locks are imprecise & of thin section, and I believe the blade is too short to always be useful, even on the sort of boats I'm used to crewing.

Personally I'd avoid a serrated or part serrated blade as well, as I haven't yet been in a situation where the serrations were more useful than having the general purpose plain edge.

 

[fast14riot]

I know this is an old thread, but just thought I should add my thoughts on this. I sailed aboard the T.S. Californian as a bosuns mate/watch captain. She is a magnificent ship, fast, sleek, maneuverable. I race (modern) sail boats semi professionally and worked as a rigger for years. I have owned a Myerchin and it was nowhere near as bad as the previous posters descrbed. I had the "light knife" which actually was handy. It was a secondary knife for me and saw lots of use. Lock up was solid and worked well. It was a serial numbered knife, don't know if they still are or not.

I currently carry a custom fixed blade rigging knife and custom spike, and typically a TL-29 as a back up. I lost my myerchin overboard two years ago, otherwise I would still be using it as a back up. I assume by now the young lady has left port, but a folding sike knife should not be the only knife one carries aboard ship. Too often are the spike and knife needed at the same time. I would get her a 6-7" Drew pattern spike for general use, but if she is going to be doing much rigging, a larger and smaller one are also needed. They don't know it, but Snap-On makes a great little spike, its their scratch awl. I made a larger fid from the tine of a deer antler, works great on heavy three strand.

Oh, and never rely on just a pocket clip when aboard. Always tether tools and valuables.


-Xander

 

[Will Power]

Interesting contribution, thanks Xander

I suppose most ship's knives are rather short lived due to the constant danger of loss overboard!

 

[Daft Slice 1986]

If you want the best, go with AG Russell seamaster. I posted a thread inquiring about this a while ago, and the AG seamaster was the best I could find. The frame lock is fantastic, and titanium does not rust what-so-ever.

 

[Pete1977]

Is she crew or a student? did she make her first voyage yet? what knife did she end up with?

locally the Spirit of Massachusetts, the Harvey Gamage and the Westward, 3 school ships, tie up during the summers in Gloucester. All of the crew/instructors carry fixed blade sheepsfoot knives and separate marline spikes in a sheath, occasionally linemans pliers as well. I don't think that the students carry knives, or have never seen it, unless they have pocket knives...

I know that this is the traditional forum, but the most traditional folding rigging knife I would suggest for actual work (and emergencies) is a Myerchin, and if it were me I would go with one of Spyderco's rescue knives (for their one hand opening capabilities) and a multi-tool....there is a time and a place for nostalgia...100 feet up in the rigging isn't it....

 

[knarfeng]

BillyM has not logged in for over a month. I have left a visitor message suggesting he come back and re-visit this thread if he comes back on line.

 

[richard thurman]

I am excited to hear my 15yo niece has earned a three summer scholarship to sail a tallship! I knew she was cool but hell yea! My sister's lil girl is an adventurer!
I NEED to buy her the best knives for her journeys. A Vic Farmer for sure but I need advice on a HIGH quality but reasonably priced Sailor's knife with a Marlin spike and Sheepsfoot blade. Do I just get the common UK Navy knife?

what about a marlin spike knife American made??

 

[screened porch]

I've got the Buck (Camillus) 315 and an HM Slater from Sheffield.
Slater's got sheepfoot, spike, and can/bottle-opener. It looks like Slater still makes the pocket rigging knife as well as a sheath combo of a fixed blade and a separate marlinespike.

And congratulations to your daughter.

 

[screened porch]

BillyM has not logged in for over a month. I have left a visitor message suggesting he come back and re-visit this thread if he comes back on line.

That's alert and thoughtful of you. Hope he turns up with an update.

 

[neeman]

BillyM has not logged in for over a month. I have left a visitor message suggesting he come back and re-visit this thread if he comes back on line.

Frank,

Nice.
And at a certain point the thread itself takes over and we get to hear some very solid information from folk

 

[puukkoman]

In the event that he does come back and check, I hope that he reads this:

Most of the sailors with whom I've discussed this issue (more than a few) have recommended that the knife and marlinspike NOT be on the same tool. It's much better to use both the knife and the spike when they are separate tools. A good fixed blade knife, and a sheath with a pouch for a separate spike, is really the combo that works best.

 

[rinos]

In the event that he does come back and check, I hope that he reads this:

Most of the sailors with whom I've discussed this issue (more than a few) have recommended that the knife and marlinspike NOT be on the same tool. It's much better to use both the knife and the spike when they are separate tools. A good fixed blade knife, and a sheath with a pouch for a separate spike, is really the combo that works best.

my setup for sailing boat(new replacement for lost old one,knife,pliers,marlin spike)-but must admit i usually have Victorinox Spirit on board

 

[screened porch]

my setup for sailing boat(new replacement for lost old one,knife,pliers,marlin spike)-but must admit i usually have Victorinox Spirit on board

I like that setup.
My guess is OP isn't coming back, but I've enjoyed the discussion and pix.