Knife location?

[Uncle Pug]

What location do you use for your knife and why?

What location do you eschew and why?

[NetDoc]

The fixed bladed cutting tool sits on my right inner calf. A folding lock-bladed cutting tool fits on my right BC strap. A hinged bi-bladed cutting tool sits in my BC pocket... We don't use knives while diving :tease:

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by NetDoc
The fixed bladed cutting tool sits on my right inner calf. A folding lock-bladed cutting tool fits on my right BC strap. A hinged bi-bladed cutting tool sits in my BC pocket... We don't use knives while diving :tease:

So let me get this straight:::

You've got a hatchet on your leg,
A folding pruning saw on your arm,
And hedge trimmers in your pocket???

But WHY?

:p

[NetDoc]

in that many agencies try to portray knives as NOT being weapons. Since all knives CAN be weapons, there is one agency that prefers you to use the term "cutting tool" instead. I do use a 6" fixed blade, a 4" lock back and a pair of shears... Of course they have no problems with the word "shears" or "scissors", but we like to extend the joke anyway...

[Dee]

I have a small 3" blade knife mounted to my inflator hose and carry a pair of shears in a pocket.

[SpyderTek]

I'm strapping a 6" mexican auto retract Stilleto hidden in my boot and my high school fencing Epee' on my hip ;)

never know when you may be challenged to a daul by an obnoxious narwhale!

hehehe

Spydertek

disclaimer: I really only have a small little diving knife on outseide of right shin.

[Rick Murchison]

If I carry my pig-sticker, that one goes on my left inner calf. Otherwise I carry a small blunt tip on my harness belt behind my accessory pouch, and I always carry heavy duty scissors on my belt. On my travel BC the scissors go in a pocket and the small blunt-tip knife goes on the right shoulder strap at chest level.
Rick

[Uncle Pug]

That's the question....
Or at least a part of it....

Why that location???

And is there a location that you eschew.... the word means "avoid".... and of course.... why

[SpyderTek]

Well, I tried strapping my dive knife to a lot of different places and practicing blind removal and replacing.

And Since I am a righty and ease / comfortablility in this excersise on the outside of my right leg (down buy my ankle) proved to be the best choice.

I do not at this time have the redundancy of shears in my BC, Although I plan to.

I do find however, that getting at the pockets of my BC (Dacor velcro pockets) isnt always allt hat eaasy with glvoes on.

ST

[Liquid]

Remember, that in diving the knife is not a weapon, but an esential tool that may save your life. Therefore here are a Few rules regarding placing knives-

-Do not put them somewhere they may entangle with enviormental things (fish lines, kelp, etc.) like the outer leg.

-Make sure the knife is located in a spot easily and quickly reached by both hands (in case one hand get's entangled, you can quickly release it with the other).

-If you think it may be a problem to find such a place, do not be shy to use 2 knives!

-Personay I have a small double edged knife on my right BC strap which is easily accesible with both my hands and scisors+"Z" knife, each in a pocket.

There are many kinds of knives- in fact every tek diver usualy dives with at least three different knives- A " standard" knife that may also be used as a hammer a screw diver and many more things, A pair of scisors of a special kind which I can't recall the english name for (the kind that cuts metal easily) and a special kind of knife called "Z" knife, becouse of it's shape and is used to cut lines.

[NetDoc]

Large fixed blade, inside calf... my "multipurpose" tool. heavy enough to use as a pry bar, hammer etc, and yet out of tangles way. BTW, I NEVER use my blades as a screwdriver... never had a need for a screwdriver in the suds either.

Small lock back on right shoulder harness... I use this one mostly, it's the knife I carry all day. A closed knife is quite nice while I am retrieving it from close to my body, hoses et al. It is VERY easy to get to, but still out of the way.

Shears in pocket... never had to use them yet, but I might. In pocket means out of way.

DO NOT like knife on my belt... it sticks into my stomach... OUCH!!!
Do NOT like knife on outside calf... hangs up on and even seems to attract fishing line.
DO NOT like having only one option to cut with. Redundancy is good. Redundancy is good. Also I'm a tool freak (see thread on URT -Use the Right Tool).

[DivingGal]

What?
small knife (serrated blade) located on my inflator hose set-up, sea snips located on other bcd strap.

Why?
I can always reach my bcd straps. I figure should I ever get entangled -- the possibility of bending over or reaching down might be prevented by the englement.

[Green_Manelishi]

medium sized fixed blade (with partially serrated edge)
on waist-strap (left) of BP harness.

medium sized folder with fully-serrated edge next to it (I know
from personal experience it will saw through metal)

[Rick Murchison]

Hmmm... the insistance that a knife is "not a weapon" is interesting. I can think of more than a few flounder who might disagree... unless of course a speargun is a "fish gathering tool" rather than a weapon. :-)
---------------
I do not carry a knife in any position that is likely to be an entanglement hazard, or in a place where I cannot deploy it without screwing up my buoyancy/position in the water - outside the calf, *the* position to carry a knife ala "Sea Hunt" (and a position I still see with regularity, especially among brand new and very old divers) is one.
Rick

[Ari]

A small BD knife, with a 3" blade and a line cutter, placed on the left side of the BC harness, in a way that a right guy like myself, can easily access it. The handle is pointing down, again for ease of reach.

The knife is locking into its holster, so hopfully it will not fall out.

Next in my purchase list is a pair of shears.

Ari :)

[Ber Rabbit]

I carry my small, "screwdriver nose" knife handle down on my left BC strap. My "pig sticker" goes inside left calf when I wear it.

Why? The strap on the BC hangs free with a d-ring on the end of it. The d-ring keeps the zip ties I used to secure the knife from sliding off the strap. Since the strap hangs free I can access it with both hands easily. The "pig sticker" goes inside the leg to keep from getting entangled plus it's the only place on my little body where I can put a big knife!

Have been lucky so far, have never had to use either knife for anything other than the cookout after the dive and hope to keep it that way!

Ber :bunny:

[Stone]

* Three inch blunt-tip upside-down on inflator hose (always)
* Pig Sticker inside left calf (only when spearfishing)
* EMT shears in pocket (after realizing the copious monofilament that entagled me once was attached to an equal amount of SS leader)

[Bob]

I attach my BC knife in the cummerbun adjustment holes in my Ranger. They are perfect for this. The knife is mounted on the left side handle down. I only have to move my arm and it's in my hand, don't even have to look. When hunting, a stilletto on my left forearm. To reach my knife, I only have to move my arm to have it in hand. Don't have to stop, look, or reach down to get my knife, it's that simple. Shears in my left hand BC pocket. :tree:Bob

[Lost Yooper]

As you might guess, I carry a small knife (3") on my waist strap. Why? It's accessible with both hands. Doesn't pose a significant entanglement hazzard and can be untangled easily with either hand.

I also carry EMT shears clipped off to one of my bungies in my drysuit pocket. Why in the pocket? To keep them out of the way and eliminate any clutter on my harness.

Mike

[CGoheen]

- Three inch blunt-tip upside-down on inflator hose (always)
- Titantium blunt tip Pig Sticker inside left calf (always)

The Three inch has been used to cut string/line. Haven't found a pig yet when diving.

[SunshineFish]

:confused: What is a "pig sticker"? Does it go "oink"?

[Stone]

I don't know the etymology of "Pig Sticker", but it usually denotes a long sharp knife or bayonet.

[Ontario Diver]

I keep my K.N.I.F.E. (Keenly Notched Implement For Entaglement) strapped to the inner calf (right) with the blade forward for right hand access. It is an Ocean Master (not Ti) so it doesn't fit well on my BC. (But it fits my hand when I wear 5mm gloves - not like those tiny Remoras :D )

Shears on my BC strap.

[miked]

I usually carry two:
A knife (blunt tip, 3.5"blade) on the inside of my left calf, and EMT shears, inverted, on the right shoulder strap of the BC.
The reason for those tools and their placement: variety of cutting options, and accessability.
Mike

[100days-a-year]

Left waist is a Remora,right waist is a small line cutter or shears in a pocket .On my harness is which of the 2 that's not on my right waist .Don't like anything on legs due to entanglement hazard(actually had to cut a guy out of mono with leg mount)Don't like the idea of pulling on my hoses either.

[CGoheen]

I think Stone answered it best. I guess I should have used a better term. Thanks Stone. Guess we won't talk about my Ham Radio.:)

[monster]

Folded knife, on my BC, attached to the waist straps. Makes it easy to reach in any situation.

[reefraff]

SS 3" blunt nosed double edge: mounted in a locking sheath on left shoulder under web cushion. Great for prying and digging, nearly impossible to maintain a decent edge on, however.

TI 3" folding lockback single edge: mounted clipped on right shoulder under web cushion. Really lethal edge that won't rust but not strong enough for anything but cutting with. The folding action is a concern with gloves on.

EMT shears: in a pocket. Best yet for monofilament and gets more use than the other two combined.

All are accessible with either hand. I'm not completely happy with either the SS or the TI blade, but each has features that I really like. I'd love to find something that combines the best features of both so I can reduce the clutter.

Finally, my 30 year old Mike Nelson BFK with the screaming orange handle usually sits in my dive bag. Been known to strap it to my leg for show.

[Scottri]

Inside left leg. I'm right handed so it's easier to reach the inside of my left leg. I also have a small backup knife on my computer hose. I don't like knives on the outside of the leg since it is easier to get it tangled up in fishing line, nets or kelp.


Scott

[dc4bs]

I keep the long pointy one on the right calf because no matter where else I put it, it just isn't comfortable or just doesn't fit well.

It's on rubber straps with "breakaway" clips so 1 hard yank and it comes off. I figure if I lose it, I'm just passing it on to another diver anyway (found it on the bottom myself...).

If I'm diving the drysuit, it has a knife shieth built into the right upper leg.

I have a new 3 inch blunt tip I just recently attached to the back of the console.

I'm looking into getting a pair of EMT shears or equivalent for a pocket.

[cooper]

uncle pug

I carry the uk blue tang on the inside of my left calf.

And a tusa bc knife attached to my spg line. It's not a blunt tip, because a blunt was not available here in Korea. Never use it but it is always there.

The knives are tools.

Blunt tip is best.

PS: Keep the questions coming so we al can learn.

[Walter]

Better late than never, but I wonder, Cooper.......

"Blunt tip is best."

Why?

[GreyWarrior]

A 3" lockback centered on waist and shears on the back of my console. I can reach either with either hand.

[Charlie99]

For best streamlining, less drag, less clutter I have shears in my right BC pocket, a lockback knife in my left BC pocket. Both are on small lanyards, clipped off to a bungee in the pocket. The lanyards go onto my wrist before the knife/shears get unclipped from the bungee.

I can access either one, with either hand, with eyes closed. While it may take a few more seconds than if I had it on a BC strap, waist strap, or calf, I prefer the cleaner less cluttered config of having them in my pocket.

In a true entanglement case, it is best to have your buddy cut your free and vice versa.

My most common use of shears is to cut loose and dispose of fish line that has been left on the reef.

[deep_ocean]

Just one 6" blade on my left inner calf - easy to reach with both hands, but even easier with teh right ;-). Inner calf as opposed to teh outer - to avoid entaglement and improve streamline.

I thing having a small backup is a good idea - will probably get a small blunt tip to put on the inflator hose - in sight and accessible with both hands.

safe diving.

deep_ocean

[blackice]

As yet I don't have a knife or scissors.

But that said I would consider carrying a pair of scissors in the future.

I've seen people with knives and they never seem to use them, or they want to cut the local traps, which is not right as you muck up the local way of doing things.

You may think you are helping fish but the local fishermen then get pissed with divers.

I think it's best to leave only bubbles, break nothing touch nothing.

A knife or scissors should be for emergency situations only - right?

[LADiver]

I carry a 3" blade on BC strap and a folding 4" in BC pocket.

I am thinking about a pair of shears after reading an article on safe diving, which mentioned you can use shears with one hand
and they can cut thru metal.

Thanks for the info I will have to rethink my setup.

[docmartin]

i got a pair of scissors in a sheath attached to the webbing of my harness between the left waist d-ring and the crotch strap.

[Cudabait]

Been diving over 40 years. Have had about four occaisions to cut underwater, more on the surface. i.e. rope, boat lines. taught tangles, etc. One guy I cut out was tangled in mono and steel leader wire. Stainless snips did that job. I believe you should wear what you need for the dive at hand. If you're going to do some work, then take the right tools. If you're going to be following a divemaster around in 100' vis, then a 3" job on the inflator hose is super. I dive and spearfish a lot in the Gulf of Mexico. I use a 3" on inflator hose, 4" Blue Tand on L. inner calf and stainless snips in poucch which goes on BCD cross strap. Different strokes for different folks.

Dive safe, Cudabait

[nyresq]

It looks cool on the calf, but if your caught up and you can't bend over and reach it your Sea Hunt special ain't gonna do much good 3 feet away from your hands. But looks way cool.

I have a small 3" UK knife I wear strapped to the inside of my left forearm, a 3 inch blunt tip cheapo strapped to my right shoulder strap, and shears in my BC pocket. Some times I also have a 4" that I wear on the top of my right thigh.

Two quick drills to try out.Think worst case scenario and try to reach different parts of your body with out moving too much (the more you move the worse it gets). If you can't reach it with out bending your leg to 90 degrees and crouching over then its a bad location.
For the next one put a piece of tape over the blade edge to protect yourself and your gear. Seriously, you'll slice yourself if you don't.
Now close your eyes and take out your knife, now put it back without opening your eyes, and without sticking yourself or your suit. Not so easy huh?

Well, when you think about it, chances are if you get caught in something you'll probably disturb everything around you while getting out of it. You might have to save you azz in a blackwater silt out situation. And if its that bad, and getting worse, drop the knife and get out while the gettins good, a knife can be replaced. Even a $120 super Titanium knife ain't worth your life. That's why you carry more than one knife... also why I don't spend more than $25 on any knife, most I've used have been in the $15-$20 range. Cut the line and try to get it back in the holster 2 or 3 times, but after that if you need your hands to get out, just drop it before you stick yourself in the hand or through your dry suit

Been diving for 12 years and had to cut myself out several times (during PSD rescue and recoveries) in blackwater and also have helped others while rec diving. I try to steer around monofilament on wrecks but sometimes its alot easier to just hack it to pieces.
The new spider wire stuff fishermen are using now is really tough stuff. Its much easier to cut with emt shears or good line cutters.

[GP]

Wenoka squeeze lock knife on my harness belt left side. It's easy to get to and stays out of the way. Also, I carry shears clipped off to a bungee loop in the left drysuit bellows pocket.

[drbill]

My preferred knife location? In my storage locker at home. Haven't dived with a knife in several decades (although I own a few). In my teens and twenties I thought I could fend off a great white shark with the old "Jim Bowie" dive knife I carried. Now I just carry a Sea Snips to cut the fishing line I occasionally encounter in the kelp forest.

Dr. Bill

[budgy]

I carry a large knife stapped to my left calf and a trauma shears in a sheath clipped on my bcd near my right hip. The shears are better for cutting line and cut 1/2" rope easily. The knife is better as a hammer or pry bar and is good for opening scallops and razor clams.:D

[El Orans]

on my right inner calf.
I am currently considering carrying a pair of scissors in my BC.

[gsxr1997]

remember that in this politically correct world a dive knife is now a cutting tool and an Ar15 is a homeland defense tool.

[El Orans]

gsxr1997 once bubbled...
... politically correct world ...

What politically correct world :confused:

[coberry7]

I carry a small Akona blunt tip w/tank banger on my left BC strap and a Server foldout on my right strap. THe akona is very easy to draw, but the Server is pretty difficult.

I avoid placing anything on my legs because when I do wear a weight belt, I wouldn't want it to get hung up on my knife. Also, it would be hard to reach if I was severely hung up.

[Fireguy274]

I have a 5 inch knife mounted on the side of my BC and a small back up knife on the hose to my computer it sits right at my left shoulder mounted upside down. I only have these in case of being cought up in fishing line or lobster pot lines which there is a ton of where i dive....

[Akula]

Blunt tip blade with seration and a line cutter on one side, edge on the other. That one goes on the inner calf, too much kelp where I dive.

Small blade in a pocket or mounted on the inflater hose of the BC.

Eventually I plan on picking up some shears to carry as well. Would be better than a line cutter since you can cut someone out of their gear or wet suit if you had to with those. (Underwater or on the beach).

[JHAM]

I carry a knife on the inside of my calf. A small backup knife in a pouch mounted to my cumberband, and a line cutter fasceted to by BC shoulder strap.

The reason the the backup is incase I cant get to my primary knife. The line cutter is in a convenient location but it is a little tough to deploy. It tends to bind in it's keeper. I can over come this if I use both hands to deploy it. I have no problem deploying either knife with only one (either) hand.

I put the primary knife on the inside of the leg as I figure it is less likely to snag on things. I however, have broke one sheath when it got caught on a swim platform when I jmped in once. I haven't tried to relocate it as I still haven't found a better place for it. Now I'm just careful of it when I jump. I find it best to lead with the foot it is attached to. This make certain it is well clear of what I'm jumping from.

[nwdiver2]

Where: right BC shoulder strap, can be reached with either hand.
What: Gerber river guide cutting tool
Why: this is the best entanglement tool I have found, has blunt tip, serrated back and large line hook. It is made for use in the water and the sheath can be mounted upside down without losing the tool.
Extra: I will carry shears in a pocket if wreck diving.

[bottom_sucker]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...
What location do you use for your knife and why?
I carry blunt-nosed 'cutting tool' on inner calf left leg so it is out of the way and can be reached by right hand most easily.

What location do you eschew and why?
I no longer carry blunt-nosed 'cutting tool' on inner thigh left leg since it 'eschewed' my crotch! :wacko:

[kchfamly]

I use a mid size blunt knife with line cutter on my left bc shoulder strap facing down and a fold out with line cutter in my cumberbund pouch. This was I can access a knife with either hand. Wreck diving in florida has its perils. mainly invisible fishing line that can entangle so having one accessible by either hand is a good thing. On the calf is a long ways away if your upper body is entangled and it is a tangle hazard down there anyways.

John

[JHAM]

bottom_sucker once bubbled...

I no longer carry blunt-nosed 'cutting tool' on inner thigh left leg since it 'eschewed' my crotch! :wacko:

How did that happen, or don't I want to know?????

I shudder thinking about it. Yikes!

[dsgobie]

I keep a 4" fixed blad on my inner calf.
Because I've always had one there and it works for me.

I have a 3" Cutting tool on my waist.
Because I like to have back up.

And I have a pair of EMT shears in my thigh pocket.
Because I need them once and didn't have them.

[bottom_sucker]

................................................no thing happened. I just like to be able to reuse Uncle Pug's "eschew" in a sideways manner.
:) :)


JHAM once bubbled...


How did that happen, or don't I want to know?????

I shudder thinking about it. Yikes! :

[crazed_dolphin]

Inside of calf...less drag and less like to snag on something.

[jrg]

docmartin once bubbled...
i got a pair of scissors in a sheath attached to the webbing of my harness between the left waist d-ring and the crotch strap.

I guess I eschew attaching knives & scissors near my crotch. It's just this weird phobia I have.

[O2BBubbleFree]

I know this is an ancient thread, but I'm fairly new here, and reading throught these posts I've seen a lot of people put a knife on the left shoulder strap or directly on their inflator hose. Seems like a bad idea to me. I'd hate to cut a hose sheathing my knife in low-vis.

I have one on my left thigh (inside) and one on my right shoulder strap. Plan to add shears.

[gfisher4792]

I know this is an ancient thread, but I'm fairly new here, and reading throught these posts I've seen a lot of people put a knife on the left shoulder strap or directly on their inflator hose. Seems like a bad idea to me. I'd hate to cut a hose sheathing my knife in low-vis.

I have one on my left thigh (inside) and one on my right shoulder strap. Plan to add shears.

Don't worry about it; I actually applaud your efforts to do a search rather than just throw out a new thread on repeated subjects.. :yelclap: