Re: [Paddlewise] Nice Knife, I think.

I have stainless EMT sheers I got from a diving supply place online.
They were inexpensive and have lasted years.

I keep knives and multi tools in my bail out bag, in my day hatch, and  
with my packed gear.
I believe in redundancy. I believe in redundancy.

I've never been a fan of big blades lash-tabbed to my PFD, even with  
blunt tips.

The most frequent applications of my Wiffer training has been sprained  
ankles
and people who've sliced the bejeezus out of themselves using blades  
too big, too small, or too dull
for the task at hand.

The EMT sheers I have will cut fishhooks, too. Something I've had to  
do for people a bit too careless with their casting or trolling rigs.

When I used to help hay in hilly dairy farm country, a local told me  
there were two things a tractor will do:
1: help you plant or cut a few extra acres on the steeps, and
2: roll over and kill you.

I think the same thing about the allure of knives as 'essential gear'.

They are gear, alright.  And can and will save your life or spread  
peanut butter on a bagel.
But they are are a whole lot less essential and a whole lot capable of  
damage than people think.

The Gerber River Runner Shorty I once had was horribly dull, very  
difficult to sharpen or hold an edge,
and it's saw toothed side, while I'm sure it would saw wood or cut  
most fishing line/net snarls,
seemed better suited for de-thumbing someone trying to put cheddar on  
an apple.....

-Will
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