How to Buy a Rigging Knife for Sailing
Rigging knives help sailors work with lines and other rigging. Every sailor needs a knife, but not all knives fit all sailors.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Decide between a fixed blade and folding blade.
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2
Make sure the knife is made of high-quality stainless steel.
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3
Choose a knife with a marlin spike. Some lower-priced knives might not have a spike, but they're usefulness is limited as a result.
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4
Consider a locking-blade option if you're buying a folding blade knife. A blade that doesn't lock in place is dangerous.
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5
Select a rigging knife with a shackle breaker.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You should expect a quality rigging knife to come with a sheath.
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Comments
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onewebfoot
Aug 23, 2008
If we consolidate the combined counsel above with some additional articles (easily available on the Web), the following components must be present for a rigging knife to be considered complete, without being excessive. These few criteria for a folding rigging (sea/marine/yachtsmen) knife are as follows: -- Blade characteristics: Single-handed locking blade of quality steel, perhaps half-serrated, and definitely not pointed on its tip -- Marlinspike: Locking, stout, and dedicated marlinspike (not a marlinspike that doubles as a ruler nor as a shackle breaker nor as a leather punch) -- Shacklebreaker: The shackebreaker must NOT be a component of the blade nor of the marlinspike (both should be closed in shacklebreaking mode, should they not?). The key may or may not be a component of the handle, presuming the knife is folding. -- Bottle opener: A bottle opener can be integrate -
onewebfoot
Aug 23, 2008
If we consolidate the combined counsel above with some additional articles (easily available on the Web), the following components must be present for a rigging knife to be considered complete, without being excessive. These few criteria for a folding rigging (sea/marine/yachtsmen) knife are as follows: -- Blade characteristics: Single-handed locking blade of quality steel, perhaps half-serrated, and definitely not pointed on its tip -- Marlinspike: Locking, stout, and dedicated marlinspike (not a marlinspike that doubles as a ruler nor as a shackle breaker nor as a leather punch) -- Shacklebreaker: The shackebreaker must NOT be a component of the blade nor of the marlinspike (both should be closed in shacklebreaking mode, should they not?). The key may or may not be a component of the handle, presuming the knife is folding. -- Bottle opener: A bottle opener can be integrate
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gdavis
May 07, 2007
Folding vs. straight: Folding is compact, but harder to open. If you keep "one hand for the ship and one for yourself," a folder might be problematic. A knife you can whip out with one hand in an emergency could save your life. Go with a straight knife if you can afford it and have enough room. On the other hand, folders have a marlin spike that is integrated into the handle--very handy, and it does not get lost (unless you loose the knife!). I personally carry a straight knife with marlin spike attached to my harness (its a Myerchin B001 offshore system), and a leatherman in my pocket. It works great!
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gdavis
May 07, 2007
Folding vs. straight: Folding is compact, but harder to open. If you keep "one hand for the ship and one for yourself," a folder might be problematic. A knife you can whip out with one hand in an emergency could save your life. Go with a straight knife if you can afford it and have enough room. On the other hand, folders have a marlin spike that is integrated into the handle--very handy, and it does not get lost (unless you loose the knife!). I personally carry a straight knife with marlin spike attached to my harness (its a Myerchin B001 offshore system), and a leatherman in my pocket. It works great!
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Jun 30, 2006
Also, you may want to choose a knife without a point, since knife points are generally unnecessary for sailing/rigging and can be dangerous on a rolling vessel or in the air. Bread-knife style round-ended knives are much better.
