Dive Knife - how not to lose

[John N]

OK, so I don't want to pull out my knife when it's really needed and fumble it, watching it sink into the depths while I'm still entangled.

I'm thinking of attaching it to the holster with some thin cord. There's a hole in the end of the knife for that.

An arms length of cord seems sensible - any shorter and it will restrict the use of the knife. Any longer seems pointless.

The knife will be attached either to the strap around the chest of a BCD or harness (upside down), or on the waiststrap.

The question is is there a better way to do it?

If not, what is the best way to keep the cord from floating around and possible tangling around other equipment?

Any thoughts welcome.

[Mark Griffith]

I use the elasticated coil string about 2mm thick.extends to about 4ft and retracts to 6-8 inch.
hth
cheers
seadweller

[Wacker]

get a proper man size knife withe a proper size handle that you can hold in your thick winter gloves then you dont need the poofy bits of string

[Mark Chase]

I used a coiled lanyard thing which worked well. With numb hands i have droped my knife on several ocasions. I quite like the retractable ones but I just know it will jam on the day i need it most.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Allan Carr]

I use the same as Mark for teh same reasons. Since I've now got a fancy titanium knife (albeit bought dirt cheap from Beaver's rummage bin at the dive show), I don't really want to lose that.

[duncan1958]

I have seen the coiled lead off an old telephone used to good effect.

[Angleseyskipper]

Originally Posted by duncan1958

I have seen the coiled lead off an old telephone used to good effect.

if your gonna go down this road then don't tie any knifes with these on to your lower limbs.
seen these fall out get well caught in wreckage with ya good self firmly attached to the thing.
not to mention the punctured rib tube when one fell out of its holster on its "bungy" while the diver was trailing his leg in the water while steaming along
still at least it was a handy bit of kit to strangle him with after.

[hyweldavies]

OP's question (paraphrased) - how not to lose your knife when you are in a funk and actually need the thing.

Same question occured to me on the one and only occasion I needed my knife to kill some sharks with. Or it might have been to cut my buddy free from a load of fish hooks and line when caught up on the surface -can't quite remember which it was. Not a problem and job done quite easily, but wearing gloves I only just had hold of the thing and could very easily have dropped it. My solution was to drill a hole in the handle and tie in an elastic wrist loop. If there's ever a next time, I can slip my wrist through before drawing it from its scabbard. I'm a bit skeptical on a long string to the scabbard as I feel that might be a snagging hazzard in itself and you could get into a real pickle; especially as you're only going to take it out when there's loads of other string around.

Not seen what others do, but can't see any snags with my solution, but not tried it out in anger, nor even in a practise yet. Knife lives on the belt, as does a scissors with a net cutter in pocket.

Hywel

[Wacker]

If you must the wrist loop lanyard sounds the best option to me.

[dave archer]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

I used a coiled lanyard thing which worked well.

Why the past tense Mark, rebreathers don't stop entanglement last I heard?

I also use coiled lanyards, kevlar type rather than string, on both knife (BC strap) and shears (BC belt). Wrapping lanyard around knife/shears handle to take in any slack helps avoid getting it caught on anything.

Dave.