Sailing knife as a present ?

sarabande

sarabande

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New materials and designs have made the old Capt Curry lockspike a possibly less effective knife. What would people recommend of the new makes, please ?

The spec includes:-

an all in one tool, not a sheath with 3 or 4 separate items
good safety features
bright colour
able to be fastened to a lanyard or carabinier
definitely non-rusting
 
For modern ropework you are better off with a stanley or a scalpel and a cutting board. And a hot knife.
For emergency use, a small diver's knife.

I have a couple of cheap and cheerful stainless multi-tools, a pair of pliers with a fold-out knife.
Brilliant because they are cheap enough to leave them where they might be needed, lent to people etc.
One lives in my racing dinghy. People borrow it, it finds its way home in the end. So far anyway!

For a more upmarket gift, I'd like one of those stainless adjustable spanners please!
 
sarabande said:
New materials and designs have made the old Capt Curry lockspike a possibly less effective knife. What would people recommend of the new makes, please ?

The spec includes:-

an all in one tool, not a sheath with 3 or 4 separate items
good safety features
bright colour
able to be fastened to a lanyard or carabinier
definitely non-rusting
Click to expand...

Google will find you ST's test of 23 knives ... not sure how old the article is though

But this is a knife!

 
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I've got a Gerber EZ Out Rescue Knife in my lifejacket and have put a lanyard through the hole in the blade. Very sharp and very good however the pin does show signs of rust (stained my old boyancy aid, but it had been dunked a fair few times) now I make sure it's dry if I get the jacket wet.

Not a multi tool but I would have another for sure.
 
There was a rather extended conversation about this very subject on one of the Facebook sailing groups recently.

They never really reached a recommendation for a worthwhile design or brand of knife except that (1) make sure it’s legal in the countries you are in (not all are), (2) make sure it’s not a blade that locks out (legality thing again), (3) be very careful if you are buying for a minor (and make sure they only carry it when sailing…) and (4) from the point of view of someone who makes things using different metals, I’d prefer a knife with a blade that isn’t stainless steel please.

Stainless needs to be polished to a shine not to rust (otherwise the grooves start the crevice corrosion) and also doesn’t hold an edge as long as other types of steel.

There’s loads to choose from out there: Happy Christmas and enjoy your shopping!
 
awol said:
Giving of knives is tempting fate - the severance of the friendship is the alleged result but can be avoided by a token payment. Old wives tale? - but then itmust have started for a reason.
Click to expand...
I was always told that I must pay for any knife; even if the payment was only a penny! Mum and Dad wouldn't let us take a knife as a gift unless we gave them a penny. Yes, it's superstition, and I don't believe a word of it!
 
The Gerber knives seen to me to be much sharper than a Stanley. They'll cut our halyards with a single stroke in mid air.

My only issue is they area way too sharp to even show the crew... They always want to put fingers near the blade...

As to the superstition, I always thought the same. In this case Sarabande send to be wanting to receive one though. Perhaps superstition doesn't care in reverse.
 
having lost many treasured knives over the years given as gifts, I have learned that the "main" knife needs to be on a lanyard. I also carry a couple of inexpensive small folding knife/multitools. I keep one in a pocket of each jacket, pair of trousers etc. If they get lost it isnt the end of the world, but having an extra knife at work or sailing is invaluable, especially when someone close by wants one quickly. As a pocket spare I recommend this thing, around a tenner, not a proper multitool, but it has a surprisingly good screwdriver, and most importantly, a fantastic bottle opener. Blade is only a couple of inches long too, so it does not look like a weapon. If you wanted to keep it onboard and pristine, it comes with a waterproof plastic case. I also like that it looks like some kind of cuttlefish in silhouette!

IMG_20171212_170100 by mark punksteel, on Flickr

IMG_20171212_170112 by mark punksteel, on Flickr
 
There are some multi-tools of the 'stainless pliers with fold out knife and other bits' flavour in Homebase at the moment from about £6.
 
sarabande said:
New materials and designs have made the old Capt Curry lockspike a possibly less effective knife. What would people recommend of the new makes, please ?

The spec includes:-

an all in one tool, not a sheath with 3 or 4 separate items
good safety features
bright colour
able to be fastened to a lanyard or carabinier
definitely non-rusting
Click to expand...

Can't think of one that meets all points, but I always carry this one when sailing (plus 2 other different types):

https://eezycut.com/

Safe
super sharp.
coloured.
Many methods to attach to person.
s/s blade with spare blade included.
 
Wichard not a multi tool, single very sharp stainless serrated blade with shackle key and a marlin spike, soft grips and fluorescent had mine for the best part of 20 years.
 
The “Skipper” Swiss Army knife is pricey but would make an excellent present. The main blade will cut through any rope with no effort at all. I’ve used one on the boat for a few years now - they don’t rust.
 
I have found the humble kitchen knife available here in markets in Galicia e xcellent at cutting.Not being stainless they are easy to sharpen and cheap enough to have several about......probably noticed as they have a point,good for cleaning nails.
 
Sailingsaves said:
I'd like the Ibberson Off Shore Knife.

https://www.fridayfox.co.uk/Ibberson-Off-Shore-Knife?osCsid=72dbeau8ipishjj1k9mvvt71q1

But too expensive for me.

The skipper does look nice and I have found all Swiss Army Knives excellent.
The same one here at almost half price (one website is not a sailing website ! )
https://www.force4.co.uk/victorinox...V77_tCh0dpQB-EAQYBSABEgJjfvD_BwE#.WjAYGFVl_IU

https://shootingmart.co.uk/victorin...=0d73574b29da294bee8e201402bf97a9&fo_s=gplauk
Click to expand...

A bit off the wall, but how do you sharpen a serrated edged knife? I'm happy sharpening a straight edge, but I can't for the life of me see how you sharpen a serrated edge.
 
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