RE: [Paddlewise] Ceramic Knives

From: Joseph Pylka <jpylka_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 11:24:48 -0500
> From: <Blankibr_at_aol.com>
> I have tried several knives for kayaking but all rust.  Has anyone 
seriously 
> looked into ceramic knives?  
>  
	I have a couple of ceramic chef knives that I use at home in the kitchen
and they're fantastic!  Not only for retaining their sharpness but also
because they don't introduce off-flavors into the food (e.g. Fe ions...). 
I may take a small one in a camping kitchen kit or as a pocket knife (Boker
makes one) but I would not seriously consider it for a rescue situation. 
It is a more fragile blade than metal.  Their accompanying instructions
warn against using these knives for frozen foods or for bones, for example. 
	I don't do that much around saltwater, but I have been carrying a
stainless steel Gerber River knife for over 15 years with no rusting -- and
I don't expend a great deal of care on it.  Mostly it gets used for peanut
butter, whose oil might help prevent rust,  and for cutting monofilament
off branches before critters get entangled...

	I also carry a seatbelt cutter I found in a rescue equipment store.  It
has a large slit with a pointed portion and a blade near its end; somewhat
like an envelope slitter only bigger.  It has a big fingerhole for pulling
and it will cut a 1/2 inch rope.  The point will dig into a sprayskirt so
it can be slit open.   Something like this might be a good alternative...

Joe P.
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Received on Thu Dec 16 2004 - 08:25:10 PST

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