Big Knife on BC?

[runway1]

I like a larger knife. I have a UK knife, 10" overall, but I don't like the leg strap attachment. It's hard to keep secure and much less accessible.

Any tips on how to keep a bigger blade attached to the BC area? I'm thinking of tie-wraps on the sheath or something like that. Thanks!

[Spearo]

Try a smaller knife, less weight,less drag and better for your diving.

[Kangy]

What in the world are you ever going to use a 10" knife for?
A knife is a tool and any reasonable job you would need it for IMO 10" is dramatically overkill. Any entanglement you get yourself into a smaller blunt knife or z-knife style would be much better than trying to hack away monofilament line or similar wrapped around your arm, hose, or b.c. with a rambo knife.

[runway1]

Relax, it's not that big (I have to say that a lot ;)). It's a typical 5" blade with an overall length of 10"

Try prying up a giant scallop with a dinky BC blade!

[fisheater]

I tiewrapped mine, upside down, on the right shoulder of my Zeagle Brigade.

Accessible to both hands and easy to avoid (and cure) entanglements.

[Scuba-Jay]

Id go for a smaller knife and maybe some utility clippers.... that covers every angle!

[fishb0y]

Ya know what... go ahead and dive with that big knife. Knives are weapons and the bigger the knife, the more man you are. Throughout history, who used small knives? Thieves and women. What profession is known for using shears? That's right, hairdressers (Barbers use clippers).

So if you wanna attach a 5" blade to your BC, go ahead. Heck, go find yourself an old USD Seahawk with an overall length of 13". Might be tough to keep on a BC, but hey, thats the cost of a manly piece of steel. Enjoy the big knife and don't let any of those "it's a tool" pansies talk you out of it.

[NARCOSISOFTHERIVER]

You can also tell them that your tool is bigger than theirs! Cheers.

[Jim Lapenta]

How could it be unsecure and inaccessible tied to your leg? Tighten up the straps man! I'd personally say the hell with it and just carry a katana strapped all the way down the leg and on the weight belt. Screw that little knife. Any shark comes at me he'd be getting 42 inches of cold folded steel!

[scorpenesub]

I have a 6" knife strapped to my leg and another smaller blunt tip in my BC pocket. On most occasions, I use the blunt-tip. The big knife however comes in handy when doing reef clean-ups, especially in cutting the heavy nets dropped by trawlers and boats.

[RoatanMan]

I have several knives that I use depending upon the dive.

I have a BK&T TacTool (Google that), it is a pry bar, I also use a 2.5' Titanium Crowbar when the need arises.

No tool is of any use unless you can deploy it, and even more important~ re-sheathe it without fuss or cutting yourself or your gear.

I affix them so that they are within my mask's potential field of view.


Try not to place them so the add to your snag-abilty. Leg strap mounts are the worst.

[KOMPRESSOR]

What in the world are you ever going to use a 10" knife for?
A knife is a tool and any reasonable job you would need it for IMO 10" is dramatically overkill. Any entanglement you get yourself into a smaller blunt knife or z-knife style would be much better than trying to hack away monofilament line or similar wrapped around your arm, hose, or b.c. with a rambo knife.


You haven't watched enough James Bond movies man! :D:D:D



EDIT: Added a picture of my BIG hunting knife, and a fish I got with it.

[C Chris]

Ya know what... go ahead and dive with that big knife. Knives are weapons and the bigger the knife, the more man you are. Throughout history, who used small knives? Thieves and women. What profession is known for using shears? That's right, hairdressers (Barbers use clippers).

So if you wanna attach a 5" blade to your BC, go ahead. Heck, go find yourself an old USD Seahawk with an overall length of 13". Might be tough to keep on a BC, but hey, thats the cost of a manly piece of steel. Enjoy the big knife and don't let any of those "it's a tool" pansies talk you out of it.

:rofl3::rofl3: Like I said fishb0y, you, I, and Nemrod were cut out of the same piece of kevlar - chris

[oldschool]

I recently bought a Wenoka EZ Lock blunt tip. It's approx 8 1/2" including the sheath. I mounted it inverted to the right should strap buckle on my Sherwood Avid BC. I drilled two small holes through the belt loop on the back of the sheath and two corresponding holes through the buckle of the BC. I mounted it using stainless steel bolts and nuts and used a drop of lock tight on each. It was a bit tricky getting the bolts through the holes on the sheath (not much room) but a apir of large tweezers did the trick. There is a belt loop also at the end of the sheath. I used a couple of zip ties and secured it to another small buckle on the shoulder strap. This knife's hand grip is fairly flat so it lays (lies?) very close to the strap but does not interfere with the operation of the buckle. To release the knife from the sheath simply involves pushing in on a latch. Very easy to pull out but still very secure to prevent loss and the sheath does not budge.

[Nemrod]

Ya know what... go ahead and dive with that big knife. Knives are weapons and the bigger the knife, the more man you are. Throughout history, who used small knives? Thieves and women. What profession is known for using shears? That's right, hairdressers (Barbers use clippers).

So if you wanna attach a 5" blade to your BC, go ahead. Heck, go find yourself an old USD Seahawk with an overall length of 13". Might be tough to keep on a BC, but hey, thats the cost of a manly piece of steel. Enjoy the big knife and don't let any of those "it's a tool" pansies talk you out of it.

Ditto, and I too have found large knives useful. No, not to kill sharks but for cutting, prying and as an achor. A large knife is a weapon but it is also a useful tool. People who carry the little knives, that is fine, I can certainly appreciate the logic. I also agree the scissors are a good addition for the diver who wants everything but for me, I will just take a good knife--a sharp and pointy one please. I like the old all stainless Tekna for general use and the SeaHawk for heavy duty and the Vulcan for coolness. I also have a larger type Wenoka push lock. While I have sometimes carried them strapped to my leg (inner calf) or upper outside thigh, however, I mostly for as long as I can remember either carried them on my weight belt left side or on the left side waist belt of my backpack harness.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/JRWJR/DSCF0283.jpg

Tekna, ScubaPro Stiletto, SeHawk and then (newly aquired) Vulcan with cool sheath.

I don't have large collections of equipment like many do, everything I have get's used or has been used heavily but I have a number not shown above like the old Grisbe knife from USD.

N

[fishb0y]

I love my ol' Vulcan, the only problem is the 'cheap' plastic sheath that was used for it. I ended up getting an old bayonet sheath for it when I took it diving.

[dkatchalov]

:rofl3:
How could it be unsecure and inaccessible tied to your leg? Tighten up the straps man! I'd personally say the hell with it and just carry a katana strapped all the way down the leg and on the weight belt. Screw that little knife. Any shark comes at me he'd be getting 42 inches of cold folded steel!

:rofl3::rofl3:

[Spimon]

Enjoy the big knife and don't let any of those "it's a tool" pansies talk you out of it.

Exactly! More/bigger knives = less weights :D

[Nemrod]

Every pound in your knife is a pound off your weight belt. The bigger the better. N

[dkatchalov]

So how many knives will I need to take 12 pounds off my belt?! :11:

[fishb0y]

Sorry, but a more macho question would be, how much lift do I need for my knives.

Let's see, we have the DIR divers, Dork Divers... how about the Frogmen Divers. The only entrance criteria is that you have a knife larger that 10" and non split fins. If you are gonna whine that your fins are too stiff, then you need to do a couple of squats to fix the problem... (snorkel optional).

[Mauser]

I carry a small knife because I want a knife that I can lose and not feel too bad about it. And I dive with splits.:mooner:

[buddhasummer]

What about a sharp spoon?

[digndeep400]

hey don't feel bad ,i carry a MK-10

[Spimon]

So how many knives will I need to take 12 pounds off my belt?! :11:

Just one...

http://www.keepsmilingfoam.com.au/_content/photo%20gallery/Advertising%20Props/Large%20Knife.jpg

[Doc Ed]

that takes the cake! :P

[james croft]

I carry EMT shears, but I don't depend on them. I have had 3-4 of them break when using them as the rivet will fail due to rust. I have never had my SeaHawk fail me. If you want my SeHawk you will have to pry it from my cold dead fingers.

[digndeep400]

yes just 1,i can only sale one kidney you know :D

[spacemanspiff1974]

One of the things that I find most useful about a bp/w is that a dive machete can easily be placed between the plate and the wing. This frees up you leg and waist straps for multiple bang sticks.

[digndeep400]

so true:rofl3::rofl3::rofl3::rofl3::rofl3:

[runway1]

Just one...

http://www.keepsmilingfoam.com.au/_content/photo%20gallery/Advertising%20Props/Large%20Knife.jpg

That's great! As a hoby, along with diving, I make custom knifes and a collector as well .........I just love that prop!

[Hagan34]

Exactly! More/bigger knives = less weights :D


some how i read this as.....

I dont need the biggest knive..... it just has to be bigger then my dive buddies......

need something you dont have, just take it. those lil tooth picks some dive with wouldnt go through a 3 mm suite :eyebrow:



























:popcorn:

[NJ Wreckster]

I haven't dove for a couple of years and most of my equipment is dated. however, up here in the northeast, where we wear thick gloves, it is best to have a large-handled knife. And a couple of backup knives. You can get used ones cheap. Have a shears for monofiliment.

First, if you see netting over a wreck, stay the heck away from it. It will come over and around you as if it is alive. Why a large, razor sharp knife? Well, just try cutting netting with a small knife.

Why more than one knife? If you are tangled up in netting, you have a problem. Fighting off the panic, you are more likely than not to drop the knife and will be happy to have a backup or two. Also, knives placed in different locations, i.e., wrist console, outer right thigh, BC strap, gives you better access if in a tight spot.

Why anyone would buy an expensive titanium knife is beyond me. Steel knives are heavier, which is good, and much cheaper. You're gonna loose it sooner or later. I keep mine well oiled and razor sharp. I sharpen and hone them before every dive, whether they need it or not--it's a personal thing.

[mig_diver]

I strap my samurai sword between my bc and tank. Easy to get to that way and it doesn't get in the way of my throwing stars attached to my bc straps. I have heard ninjas love scuba diving so it is something I would rather have and not need rather than need and not have ;)

Haha but in all seriousness, I do have quite a large knife that I strap to my leg. I got it when I just started diving and was having a "mines bigger than yours" competition with my brother and dad. I slightly regret buying such a big knife now and wish I got one of those small titanium ones that I can attach to my bc. I think I'll grab a small one when I can afford it.

[mig_diver]

... and then I'll have two knives and I'll be A REAL MAN. If only someone could design a reg that could allow me to carry a third knife in my mouth RAMBO STYLE!!!

[NJ Wreckster]

I would like to try to put to rest this notion that a big knife is only for divers with inferiority complexes abut their manhood. Somewhere along the way thiis myth about large knives came into being. Probably from the DIR divers, who dive caves and adhere to a different overall philosophy, which meets their particular needs.

I mentioned in an earlier entry that I am a northeast wreck diver. I don't dive warm water or caves and know little or nothing about that particular type of diving. I suspect that since most divers are vacation divers diving in warm water, they do not feel the need for a big knife since they are not wearing gloves. Same for cave divers. And that's fine.

However, if you must wear gloves to protect against the cold and rusty projections, etc. as cold water wreck divers do, a large knife and at least one backup plus a shears is a necessity. We generally carry a pry bar, a 2-3 lb. hammer and a chisel. But, if you need to cut yourself loose from netting that somehow found its way around your ankle while you were busy, you need a serious, very sharp knife with a decent size handle. Not only would a little baby knife be frustrating, you're already dead.

Now then, if you are on a dive in the islands and you want to impress someone, pull out that brand new expensive titanium, light weight, unsharpenable, ugly-ass dive knife. The captain will, of course, recognize that you are a vacation twice a year diver with too much money to burn. Pull out a decent size, used-looking, steel knife (and maybe a sharpening stone for effect) and the captain will say, "Ah, now there is a guy who obviously dives cold water, knows what the f he's doing. I don't have to keep an eye on him."

What if something stupid happens and you get the guide line caught and you are near the end of your downtime. Are you gonna have time to open that penknife assuming you can even get to it?

Years ago, I got my ankle caught in heavy twine we were using as an upline. I was a new diver. I lucked out as I was able to get loose with the help of my buddy who just happened to look over. I will never forget the feeling of panic I had to overcome. I could never have cut that rope with a small knife, which I probably would have dropped. More recently, I was on a dive with a fellow diver who related the story of how only a week earlier he saw a paniced, distressed diver slashing away at eighth inch line that had wrapped around his ankles. The other diver started cutting the stuck diver out and found himself becoming entangled. They finally got free. The point being that maybe a small knife will cut eighth inch line as well as a large knife but what about say a dozen or more eighth inch cords wrapped around your ankle. Me thinks I'll take the big knife over a small one any day thank you very much.

[Dolin]

Actually I would stand on the opinion that for cutting non metallic line, the size of the blade would not be as important as how sharp it is and its ability to hold that edge. of course I dive Southeast Florida weekly where water temp is always 80 degrees, vis is unlimited, and the boat picks you up when you surface. so there is not a big problem with entanglement

[carobinsoniv]

A humorous story for you. When I took my OW class in 1980, our instructor mentioned three pieces of safety equipment - a snorkel, a BC, and a knife. About 7 years ago, our group was gearing up for a night dive in Pennekamp State Park. A woman with another group asked me why I had a knife and I told her for safety. When asked from what, I told her from fishing line or nets. She then questioned why/disputed that there would be fishing line in a "no-fishing" park. Before I could respond, our captain started yelling at a nearby boat that was fishing in the park. Even after that, she still didn't get it.

To answer the original question, you can zip tie it upside down on your right shoulder strap. You could put it on your left strap if it does not interfer with your inflator hose. Or your can attach it to your BC belt - DIR style.

[NJ Wreckster]

Where to attach the knife?

I attach my largest knife, a 10" Wenoka, to the outside of my right thigh with two loops of surgical tubing. I can't see it but it is right there when I want it and has never caught on anything. Sometimes, I have a hammer attached to my left thigh with surgical tubing but hanging from my harness waist belt via brass eyehook and ring. I do not incorporate drysuit hip/thigh pockets, which would interfere with a knife or other gear.

I have a medium sized UK Remora attached to my right shoulder harness strap with zip ties in an upside down position. I have my surgical shears attached to my left shoulder harness strap with zip ties, also faced down. Both the UK Remora or shears can be accessed by pulling downward.

I have another medium sized EZ-Lock knife attached to my console, which is itself attached to my right forearm with two loops of surgical tubing. The same knife was attached to a different console I used to use, which contained the depth guage/compass/bottom timer attached to pressure guage instead of on forearm. The knife being near the compass can effect the compass readings but since I am usually on a wreck, compass readings are haywire anyway. If I need the compass, which is really rare, I can just remove the knife and stick it on the other side of my forearm inside the surgical tubing or in my goody bag.

If you think this is overkill, I have seen experienced wreck divers with large knives on the outside of both thighs or with large knives on both the right and left shoulder harness straps. Cheap, used, quality retro steel knives abound on Ebay because a misinformed public demands small titatium knives.

Incidentally, I have modified the shears by drilling out the center rivet and replacing it with a stainless steel screw and nut. The original rivet will rust and can snap, rendering the shears worthless when, inevitably, you need it most.

The worst place to put a knife, in my humble opinion, is on the inside of the calf. Although you undoubtedly will impress the babes with the Seahunt look, you will eventually kick the knife free having it flop around your ankle--major entanglement hazard. Also, this inaccessible location can cause muscle pull or cramp due to unusual contorsionist maneauvers trying to reach the knife underwater.

None of my knives come to a point as I do not engage in hunting although some divers here do carry pointed knives for hunting.

[runway1]

A woman with another group asked me why I had a knife and I told her for safety. When asked from what, I told her from fishing line or nets. She then questioned why/disputed that there would be fishing line in a "no-fishing" park.

As I hobby, I collect and make custom knives. I don't leave home without one and find I'm reaching for it quite often.



If you think this is overkill, I have seen experienced wreck divers with large knives on the outside of both thighs or with large knives on both the right and left shoulder harness straps. Cheap, used, quality retro steel knives abound on Ebay because a misinformed public demands small titatium knives.

The worst place to put a knife, in my humble opinion, is on the inside of the calf.....

Agree 100%. Thanks for the other input as well.

[ucfdiver]

Probably from the DIR divers, who dive caves and adhere to a different overall philosophy, which meets their particular needs.
DIR extends past cave diving, I don't know much about it, but I do know that from watching the 2004 DIR dvd.

[seaviper]

I carry a Zeagle knife and shears in a side pocket for backup (attached to a lanyard).

My primary knife is a USN Mk3 Mod 0 dive knife (6" blade, 420 stainless) on the BC.
It streamlines nicely. Also, I can get a good grip on it with gloves.

The old USN knife makes an excellent tank banger, can cut a variety of materials, and is actually big enough to be useful. And it's not that big. Also, it has a tried and true locking sheath with snaps. Been diving 12 years and haven't lost it yet.

:coffee: