The life-cycle of a diving knife

[TacticalReviews]

As a 'knife enthusiast' I've noticed that typically the dive knife is a relatively inexpensive item (compared to other knives).

This appears to be largely due to the diving knife being almost a consumable. It seems many are simply lost, or suffer from corrosion.

I also suspect, unlike other knives, diving knives are rarely collected or displayed, and when bought will be used. A simple, utilitarian, tool.

So in this price range where you are not too fussed if you lose the knife, you may not be too bothered about maintenance as when it corrodes or blunts, you might just buy a new one.

I'm wondering what the general attitude is towards the dive knife and if the typical diver will ever sharpen theirs and how long these blades generally live before being replaced?

What is the life-cycle of your dive knife? Do you care for it? Do you sharpen it?

 

[Pedro Burrito]

I have a dive knife. I never use it. I used to carry it with me on every dive in the 70's. I cherished my dive knife. I sharpened it until I could dry shave my arm. I kept it clean and rinsed it after every day of diving. Until ...

I was diving off of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on a dive boat on a trip sponsored by my dive shop. My buddy and I separated from the rest of the group on a drift dive because we were experienced divers and the rest of the group was an instructor and many Open Water students. The conditions were rough. We surfaced away from the boat and the captain had to first find us and then pick us up. He was not pleased with us.

The captain was a former US Navy Master Diver. A real Master Diver. He yelled and swore at us for a few minutes but allowed us to prepare for the second dive. By the way, no real surface interval, no safety stops, no BCDs, no SMBs and no SPGs were used then. He calmed down long enough to ask me for my knife because he wanted to cut some line to tie to me and a buoy so that he could find us after the second dive. He cut the line with my knife and almost had a stroke because my knife was so sharp. He spent a few minutes bashing my knife against the cutting board while screaming at me that you should never, ever take a sharp knife under water with you because you can cut yourself easily and not feel it until you bled out. He might have said more but who listens to someone who is screaming at you and destroying your prized possessions?

I have never been able to get a good edge on that knife.

I carry two cutting devices with me on every dive, a trilobyte and a set of trauma shears.

 

[eelpout]

Unless the diver is a spear fisherman, the days of the "dive Knife" has evolved away from one being strapped to your leg. Today most recreational/ techinical divers carry a cutting tool. It could be anything from a small knife with a serrated egde to a plastic designed cutter with replaceable blades that are used mostly for cutting line or webbing. I personally carry two cutting tools, one on my wrist computer strap and one on my waistband (small sharp knife) . I do check how sharp that knife is and I sharpen it on a stone when it needs sharpening. I teach my students to maintain their cutting tools by rinsing, drying and inspecting for rust, sharpness, etc. I am a big fan of this cutter , trilobite Eezycut - Diving, fishing, and emergency cutting tool. That is what I have on my computer strap. I also have Tekna small knife attached to my goodman handle on my canister light.

 

[chrisch]

No dive knife, never use one. Keep away from divers with a leg mounted dagger as well. There are many new more effective cutting tools if you need to carry one. A knife is useless in mono netting which is probably the most likely hazard in the real world. A knife is useful topside and a serrated stainless blade is best. Keep it in the kit bag and replace every 30 years or so.

 

[Stoo]

I keep mine handy for cutting kielbasa for lunch and opening beer bottles when my hands are wet or really cold. I use a zip knife and shears in the water. I used them a lot diving in Roatan, removing yards and yards of fishing line and hooks from the reef.

 

[Storker]

My main knife is a real multi-tool, used for lots of stuff including spearing bottom-dwelling fish. I try to keep it reasonably sharp, but it's difficult. The different types of use dulls the edge, and the steel doesn't hold an edge particularly well. IME good edge steels aren't as resistant towards corrosion, while the steels that can tolerate the aggressive salt water environment can't hold an edge. So I live with those compromises.

And sooner or later you'll lose it. So I don't see any reason for buying an expensive knife. Sturdy, simple, affordable and with as few bells and whistles as possible. And a fastening system that isn't too easy to release accidentally. If it has that plus a sharp point, a smooth edge, a good serrated edge and a line cutter groove, I'm happy. This is the one I'm using:

 

[WarrenZ]

I have swapped from a squeeze lock medium size knife to two trilobites (one on each computers wrist straps) and a set of shears attached to my wet notes in my pocket.

 

[dberry]

Any opinions on blunt tip vs. pointy? Are you more likely to need a tool to pry or puncture? And a sturdy steel pommel for hammering.

 

[WarrenZ]

Depends of you are going after rock scallops or not. I had blunt for prying but only the small one 4" blade so only so much leverage that gives.

 

[Storker]

A blunt tip won't puncture your DS or your BCD. OTOH, you can't stab flounders with it. Your choice.