On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 09:41:55 -0500, Jeff Morris
wrote:


Strange - the ability to hold a good edge is pretty high on my list.

I'm not sure about floating - I would think that a knife dropped
overboard underway would be lost even if it floats. If you tend to drop
tools at the dock you should use cheap tools. Perhaps if you didn't
carry it in your mouth? Most floating knives are "survival" knives,
not well suited for rigging work.

My newest knife doesn't have a locking shackle key - I thought that
would be a problem, but you only need to apply force in one direction.
I like the non-locking because its easier to fold. Some knives have a
hole in the blade as a shackle key - this seems handy but rather dangerous.

Another issue is non-ferrous, although there are only a few that can
hold a good edge and not affect a compass.

I've ended up having a variety of knives - a quality pocket carry, a
large rigging knife that usually stays by the companionway, several
cheap serrated blades stashed in the chain locker and cockpit rope
locker, etc. I'm still looking for a good knife for curring away fouled
fishing gear from the props and rudder.

Well, as long as we're quibbling, I prefer a sheath knife. When your
nuts are caught in the mainsheet, it's no time to be fishing around in
your pocket for a clasp knife and then trying to get it open.. I have
three or four decent clasp knives I use a lot, but when the docklines
come off, the sheath knife goes on. The sheath also carries a
marlinspike with a shackle key and a pair of needlenose pliers. I've
had it for 20 years.

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