Fred Dyson – Dyson's Starboard View – Messing About in Boats
A sailor may need a knife at any moment of the day or night. He may need to cut an anchor line or a tie-up line to keep the vessel from peril. A fisherman may have to cut himself free of a net or crab pot.
A towline may have to be cut to prevent a sinking tow from pulling the tow-boat down. A block might jam, lines need to be shortened or spliced, and peanut butter needs to be spread. A good knife is the sailor's most faithful companion. It will be close to hand in the head, in the galley, or in his bunk.
The large folding knife in the center of the above photo was supplied in WWII Navy life rafts. The folding sailor's knife in the lower right corner of the photo is traditional with a straight cutting edge for cutting lines and a marlinspike to aid in splicing. It also has a device for turning clevis pins. I think these knives are largely obsolete because most lines on boats are now braided.
I am convinced that sailors and particularly commercial fishermen should consider a fixed blade knife because situations arise at sea when there is not time to open a folded knife, or one arm is injured or entangled.
Some folding knives have a device to allow one-hand opening and they may suffice (note the excellent Spydero folding knife at the bottom of the photo). I advise being very familiar with your knife and carrying it where you can get at it easily with either hand.
I am very impressed with the modern serrated blade knife when it comes to cutting anything fibrous like a line (''rope'' to you landlubbers). I saw the fixed blade Spydero (upper left of the photo) slice clean chunks off a hanging 3/4-inch manila line every time the salesman swung it. I bought it on the spot. These knives can be sharpened, and Alaska Knife at Benson and Arctic will do it for you. Be careful, because many of the new knives that hold a good edge are brittle if bent. Large knives may impress Rambo fans but are of no value for the working sailor.
The second knife down on the left in the photo has a handy serrated blade and is often carried taped to the suspenders of rain gear by commercial fishermen. The hokey looking knife on the top right is the Swedish Mora fishermen's knife. These last two knives are very inexpensive. I buy them a dozen or two at a time for $6 each or less. The Swedish knife has a laminated blade that is very strong and holds an excellent edge. It passes my test of stripping 150 fathoms of gear (nets) without re-sharpening. I have yet to see if it will skin a moose without honing the blade. It is distributed in America by Frost.
These practical knives never get stolen by Rambo types and never impress landlubbers, but they work. I gave one to the skipper of a Bering Sea dragger, and he said that he had only seen them used by old-time seamen who acted like they knew a great secret.
Pick your own knife to serve YOUR needs and then take care of it. Dull knives are dangerous and will let you down some rainy night when a scow is riding up your anchor line. If you don't know how to sharpen your knife, go by Alaska Knife and they will do it for you. They will also show you a selection of knives that significantly add to next year's Christmas wish list.
