How do I choose the right dive knife?

[zvaught]

I am just getting into diving and am wondering which dive knife to choose. I was thinking about the Cold Steel SRK. It has a 6in AUS 8A stainless steel--black powdercoated teflon--blade ending in a clip point with a thickness of 3/16in at the top of the blade. The handle is made of deeply checkered kraton non-slip grip. It comes with a Securex sheath that can be mounted pretty much anywhere on your person.
Would this knife be a good option, and what would you recommend?

Thanks for the help,
Zack

[QatarDiver]

Any idea what you would use a knife for? If you define what you want it for you can see if the specification fits. The reverse of that is to see what the specification can be used for, sounds like the 'Cold Steel SRK' would be ideal for posing and bragging in the bar.....

[Cave Diver]

Any idea what you would use a knife for? If you define what you want it for you can see if the specification fits. The reverse of that is to see what the specification can be used for, sounds like the 'Cold Steel SRK' would be ideal for posing and bragging in the bar.....

I agree with this. Details on where you dive will have an effect on what knife may be best suited for you.

Example, diving in kelp forest or on wrecks where entanglement from netting is an issue, you don't want some big knife strapped to your leg. Smaller knife that attaches to BC would be more streamlined. If there is potential for entanglement with steel cable, maybe a good pair of EMT shears. Maybe even more than one type of cutting device would be useful.

[klauricella]

Thats a good knife if you do alot of diving off charter boats. When people start getting annoying you just pull that out and start talking to it, shuts people up real quick.

[kjvander]

I usually surf ebay and stuff like that for dive knives....someone told me some good advice awhile ago. buy cheaper knives and carry them. That way if you are diving and happen to drop or lose the knife...you aren't tempted to go try to get it. But then again...that is just my outlook on things and why i have a stack of $5 knives that i got on ebay at home....haven't lost one yet..but you never know.

[jl5619718]

In my opinion the reasons Seals carry this knife are not the same reasons a recreational diver would carry a knife.

The dive knife is a tool not a weapon. So a blunt tip for prying or emergency screwdriver is important. A line cutter is essential but the blade doesn't have to be huge to be effective when cutting kelp.

All the above describes my current dive knife. However, I do bring my old huge dive knife on every dive trip I take. Primarily to cut food, coconuts, or hack my way through the jungle.

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

I'm also looking for my first dive knife. I however know what I will use it for. I will use it primarily to cut fishing line or any other entanglement I might come across with a possibility for future use during spear fishing. I hope to dive wrecks off the gulf coast and would like to find a knife suitable to my needs.

Any pointers?

[ItsBruce]

I am astounded by how astute the responses to the OP have been.

I really like the idea of shears. They cut kelp, line and netting well.
I really like cheap. There is no sense in dying trying to retrieve a dropped knife. However, with an expensive one, you will be more tempted to try to retrieve it.

Right now, I carry a shears and a cut-off serrated steak knife. The blade is cut to 1-1/2 inches, square across the blade and the corners are rounded. I bought a stack of them at the corner hardware store for $5. If it rusts, I just toss it. It cuts remarkably well. In a test, a single pull of 1-1/2 inches cut most of the way through a high pressure hose.

As far as big sharp knives, I was recently on a dive boat where a family was doing its final OW dive for its certification. Make that most of the family. The father had to sit it out because the prior evening, he sliced his hand while demonstrating how to remove his knife from the sheath mounted on his BCD.

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Maybe it's just me buy why would you not just tie a lanyard to your knife so you didn't drop it?

[james croft]

You might consider buying more than one knife depending on the type of diving you will be doing. I have a blunt tip thick bladed knife when diving in rocky areas where I do a lot of prying and a stilletto point knife for spearfishing and dispatching wounded fish. Over the years I guess I have accumulated over a dozen dive knives and I grab what is best for the diving I will be doing at the moment. One knife will not fit all occasions. I also agree that it is not worth getting hurt going after a dive knife. Second hand knives are a good bargain and you should not attach a good knife on your weight belt so you would be reluctant to ditch the belt if you needed to.

[BKP]

EMT shears covers 90% of entrapment issues...

If you're scavanging, prying, artifact hunting, or cutting bait, an inexpensive blunted, or tanto stainless as a supplement to the shears will do fine...

If you're fighting off Spectre underwater, a 12 inch titanium Bowie would be cool...

[Chugwhump]

Maybe it's just me buy why would you not just tie a lanyard to your knife so you didn't drop it?


EMT shears covers 90% of entrapment issues...

If you're scavanging, prying, artifact hunting, or cutting bait, an inexpensive blunted, or tanto stainless as a supplement to the shears will do fine...

If you're fighting off Spectre underwater, a 12 inch titanium Bowie would be cool...



oooooo

[medic2927]

I tend to agree with the type of tool being matched to the type of diving. Blunt tip for general reef/wreck diving where you might be doing some prying and a pointed tip for spearfishing. I also carry a set of EMT shears on every dive that is attached to my BC. IMHO, I think it is a good idea to carry a cutting tool of some sort on the upper part of the body as well as the lower part.

[JohnsIsland]

I also carry shears 100% of the time, in addition to a knife. The only situation where shears won't help if you are being chased by a shark. Shears won't help in a shark attack, only the knife (preferably pointed tip) will ensure my dive buddy is swimming slower than I am.

Jeff








Yes, I am joking. I think carrying shears 100% of the time is a smart idea.

[medic2927]

Shears won't help in a shark attack, only the knife (preferably pointed tip) will ensure my dive buddy is swimming slower than I am.

Jeff


:rofl3:

[Dr Wu]

Buy any knife you won’t be upset at loosing.

Then buy a bunch of EMT shears at a deep discount.

Put the knife at your waist, place a pair or two of the shears in convenient locations and then do every thing you can to avoid using them.

And don’t try to cut kelp. Just break it like spaghetti.

[walke121]

Buy cheap knives. When they rust throw em out and get new ones.

[Manphibian]

I agree with the above statements, you may want to carry several different tools for different purposes. shears are good for some things and knives for others, remember its not about looking badass, it's about functionallity. It is my experience in the military that there is no such thing as a "SEAL" knife or a "Recon" knife, most of us who use knives in the military pick out and purchase knives that are specifically designed for the type of use you will most likely encounter, so think about it, choose wisely, and get your moneys worth. When dispatching a big ass struggling fish, it may be in your best interest to avoid the likelyhood of getting sliced by a knife on a foul thrust, this can be easily remedied with the use of a kill spike or a device similar to an ice pick. Whatever your decision, i would definatley agree with Lazer's statement that a lanyard is a good idea. Good luck to you all.
Happy hunting!

"Those who prefer security over liberty deserve neither" -Benjamin Franklin-

[ToPpS]

One "knife" that comes up on a few threads is the Fog cutter knife. Supposed to be the best of all worlds.....

http://www.xsscuba.com/graphics/knives/kn100.jpg

[fnfalman]

And for heaven's sake, get a good knife made from real knife companies instead of the junkers that are passed as dive knives in the typical dive shops. Those things couldn't cut butter much less monofilament lines, cords, fish nettings, etc.

Benchmade and Spyderco make excellent dive knives in both fixed blade and folding blade configurations.

[Bob DBF]

[QUOTE=kjvander;4815227]I usually surf ebay and stuff like that for dive knives....someone told me some good advice awhile ago. buy cheaper knives and carry them. That way if you are diving and happen to drop or lose the knife...you aren't tempted to go try to get it. QUOTE]

For hevens sake don't get it, how do you think I come by mine. The problem I have is finding a sheath that fits properly. Just found a Fogcutter last dive trip, anyone have an empty sheath?

[SurDo2]

Green River knife. Should work for just about everything.

[mudhole]

EMT shears covers 90% of entrapment issues...
If you're scavanging, prying, artifact hunting, or cutting bait, an inexpensive blunted, or tanto stainless as a supplement to the shears will do fine...
If you're fighting off Spectre underwater, a 12 inch titanium Bowie would be cool...

The knife is a tool. Emt shear is a tool. "Magic" steel knives, two feet long are tools. What is needed is defining what job you want a tool for. . . Swimming around your swimming pool and some underwater parks, you don't need a cutting tool. Swimming around an area with fishermen using nylon line, an EMT shear or small knife, you're prepared.

Now if you're diving around boats with 1/4 inch rope, your needs change, your cutting needs have to include cutting that rope, and fishing line. If fishermen in your area are fishing with steel leaders for musky or barracuda, shears and small knives won't cut it.:D Wire cutters that will cut steel leader should be carried. Bigger boats, mean bigger ropes for anchors, or tieing to docks, need bigger cutting tools. If the rope is too big for the jaws of shears, or the knife blade is smooth and too short to saw through the ropes of the boat your in, you're not prepared. Look at the boats in your diving area, and if they're using 1/2 or 3/4 or 1 inch rope. . . get a small piece and see if your cutting tool can handle it.

I've used the small Scubapro knife. . . good steel, serrated blade, very versatile. Kershaw makes several very good dive knives, one has a single cutting edge, legal most places, and a double edge dagger with point, good for finishing off fish, but illegal to travel through some states. Kershaw is a small company, and if you can't find them locally, there are always ebay dealers, to find them and to buy at a good price.

Listen to or ignore anyone's brand recommendations. . . look into diving conditions in your area and choose equipment for your diving. If there are no boats around, check into what the fishermen are using, steel leaders are tough to cut with ordinary knives, but not every place uses them. Boats and anchor ropes are in most areas, and finding anchor ropes tangled around trees in our lakes, or around wrecks is common, you don't want to swim into a rope thicker than your equipment can handle. Many anchors have a short length of chain. . . but I've never seen the chain anywhere but flat on the bottom.

If you need to look like Rambo and have a military web gear, then by all means buy a Rambo dive knife. They were developed for the movie by a friend of mine. Shortly after the movie, An "Operator" ordered one. . . a few months later, he ordered a replacement. . . The working saw blade wouldn't come out, and it was lost. Don't buy too much, and don't buy too little.

[fnfalman]

If you need to look like Rambo and have a military web gear, then by all means buy a Rambo dive knife. They were developed for the movie by a friend of mine. Shortly after the movie, An "Operator" ordered one. . . a few months later, he ordered a replacement. . . The working saw blade wouldn't come out, and it was lost. Don't buy too much, and don't buy too little.

Which one were you buddied with? Jimmy Lile Senior with the Rambo I and Rambo II or whatshisname that made the Rambo III knife?

The Jimmy Lile Senior Rambo knives sure were pretty but definitely not too functional. The sawteeth don't saw anything and gets stuck rather badly. Even the blade is too thin for a bowie knife. Can't really hack through squat either, but the edge was razor sharp though.

[mudhole]

I met Jimmy Lile at a gun show, and discussed what steel, and handle material for a diving knife. . . he wasn't a diver, but frequently was called out to recover drowning victims. His "Rambo" knife was made as a Movie prop, and I was seeing it before the movie came out. Lile told me if I wanted a special purpose knife, I should make my own. With his, and other knife makers, I learned how to make working knives.

[RonFrank]

I can count the number of times I have used knives/shears while diving on ONE hand...actually with one finger. Yes, ONE time I had to cut a buddy out of a nasty line mess.

What tools would have worked for this situation... anything one could reach. So knife, shear, or any number of zip type thingy doodles.

My thought on a dive knife... small, cheap, blunt tip.

I saw a LOT of divers in CA with big ol honking knives mounted on their calves. My thought, totally pointless.

I have a nice fixed blade knife that I have attached to the waist belt of my Stiletto. I have a few sets of medical shears also. Nice to have, but not all that necessary.

I dove a large amount of kelp last summer, and never needed a knife...

[stinggirl]

Make sure it cuts!:rofl3:

[fnfalman]

I can count the number of times I have used knives/shears while diving on ONE hand...actually with one finger. Yes, ONE time I had to cut a buddy out of a nasty line mess.
Out of the 80-or so dives I made last year in SoCal, I used my shears three times to cut leftover fishing lines. No they didn't entangled me, but I figured I'd do a public service & cut those lines up at several places.

I tried to use my Spyderco folding knife to cut the monofilament knife and while it worked, the shears was a lot less hassle. Snip, snip, and be on my way.

[Puffer Fish]

I can count the number of times I have used knives/shears while diving on ONE hand...actually with one finger. Yes, ONE time I had to cut a buddy out of a nasty line mess.

What tools would have worked for this situation... anything one could reach. So knife, shear, or any number of zip type thingy doodles.

My thought on a dive knife... small, cheap, blunt tip.

I saw a LOT of divers in CA with big ol honking knives mounted on their calves. My thought, totally pointless.

I have a nice fixed blade knife that I have attached to the waist belt of my Stiletto. I have a few sets of medical shears also. Nice to have, but not all that necessary.

I dove a large amount of kelp last summer, and never needed a knife...

Interesting... just goes to show that different diving may require different tools.. I use a knife around 20 to 30 dives a year. I carry shears also, but only rarely use them.

Prmarily, for two reasons:

1. Cutting line, as we dive where people fish, there is a lot of line to get entangled or hooked on.

2. For stabbing flounder...first you take a nice picture of them, and then invite them home to dinner:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/garinj/flounder1-2.jpg

Stabbing fish requires a pointed stiff blade.. cutting line just requires a sharp one.. so I have several knives, depending on the dive...

[mrfixitchapman]

And those flounders are faster than they look. But I left one of them with a nasty nick in the tail.


DC

[a-cut-above]

I am astounded by how astute the responses to the OP have been.

I really like the idea of shears. They cut kelp, line and netting well.
I really like cheap. There is no sense in dying trying to retrieve a dropped knife. However, with an expensive one, you will be more tempted to try to retrieve it.

Right now, I carry a shears and a cut-off serrated steak knife. The blade is cut to 1-1/2 inches, square across the blade and the corners are rounded. I bought a stack of them at the corner hardware store for $5. If it rusts, I just toss it. It cuts remarkably well. In a test, a single pull of 1-1/2 inches cut most of the way through a high pressure hose.
....

How do you carry your modified steak knife?