Small dive knife question.

[Finless]

If you use a small dive knife do you keep it on a lanyard?

[Woz]

I have mine on my wrist and tuck the handle under some bungee (the bungee of the computer). Stops it from being accidentally lost.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Woz

I have mine on my wrist and tuck the handle under some bungee (the bungee of the computer). Stops it from being accidentally lost.

If you use the knife is it attached by a lanyard in case you drop it (more likely with a small fiddly knife?).

To my mind a small knife is there as a backup in case of entanglement where reaching your main knife is not possible? I can't really think of any other reason for having a small (6 or 7 inch) knife?

I think the ideal small knife would have no point on the blade, one serrated edge, one straight edge and a hook for net cutting?

I couldn't figure if a fold away attachment for getting stones out of sea horses hooves was necessary?

Perhaps an angled clip might be useful so that the knife may be clipped to the chest webbing but the blade still be in a head to toe orientation?

[Finless]

Maybe a point is needed? If you need to cut a thickish rope then maybe stabbing the rope and only having to cut from the inside outwards might be beneficial?

I suppose there is no perfect knife design.

[Woz]

I've got 3-4 knives on me:

1. line cutter on the VR3 (for cutting blob string when it all goes horribly wrong)
2. knife on my wait band (small chisel point)
3. Beaver cheap shitty knife on the torch (my "use it alot to kill urchins" knife)
4. Greenriver commie knife on my stage (big and ugly and will cut through anything)

[peach]

[quote=Woz;1062046]I've got 3-4 knives on me:

1. line cutter on the VR3 (for cutting blob string when it all goes horribly wrong)
2. knife on my wait band (small chisel point)
3. Beaver cheap shitty knife on the torch (my "use it alot to kill urchins" knife)
4. Greenriver commie knife on my stage (big and ugly and will cut through anything)[/QUOTE]

I'll second this, not so fashionable, style of dive knife. I have returned to using a big old 70's action man style blade ever since spending ages trying to cut through trawl rope caught round the boat prop. Skipper dropped down an old Posieden serrated knife - looked as though it came straight from the set of Rambo - but did the job in about 20 seconds!

I have a small BCD knife which I don't lanyard, plus trauma shears.

PH

[Finless]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying to figure out the best design for a small backup knife.

As far as I am concerned (from when I used to dive) the ideal backup knife would be hose mounted (easy to see and reach) and, as a result of its positioning, wouldn't have a point on it.

I have never liked any knife of mine to be mounted around my waist.

I have even toyed with the idea (in the past) of developing a reel with a light in one end of the handle and a net cutter in the other.

I just want to get rich quickly but I suspect dive equipment is not the way.

[Naomi S]

I have trauma shears and a tiny little knife that looks like a kitchen knife cut in half! I got it through the post and l thought that looks a bit rubbish! Look it's not even shar..... oops! Dunno about oph webbing but it defo cuts thumbs!

Also managed to nearly cut a whole finger off at the weekend with a buddies rambo style titanium job, trying to cut dsmb line ! Doh I do wonder if I'm a bit too speshal for this diving business sometimes.

[peach]

I think a BCD knife should have:

1 - serrated edge one side, but large serrations as the small ones just clog easily in use and/or lose their edge very quickly.

2 Have a blunt pointed tip - like a marlin spike on the old style knotters/net menders knife. The point would have to be slightly blunt however as I think there is a big potential for piercing suits, hoses, BCDs etc. where these things are mounted.

3 sharp edge on remaining side. Line cutter notch is not much use on a small knife, IMO, and there is much more risk of losing the knife when pulling back to use the line cutter. Simply bunch the net/line and cut that way. Beeter still, use a proper line cutter or use shears - much, much better

4 simple but effective locking mechanism is essential for safe stowing and retrieval of the knife.

Cheers!

[wilbo]

nope. its kept in its own little sheath on my waistband. It is held in that sheath by friction.