Re: [Paddlewise] PFD knife or hook?

On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 6:26 PM, Amy Richter Blakeley <ar334_at_cornell.edu>wrote:

>
>
> Any thoughts, experience or perspective would be helpful.  Thanks!
>
>
> I've always just bought a relatively cheap stainless steel folding knife
(from Big 5 or similar) and tied it to my PFD with a lanyard and put it into
a pocket.  It eventually rusts after a couple of years and then I go buy
another one. At $9.95 or so I can have one on every PFD.

What I'd *like* to have is one of those super-expensive Spyderco knives that
never rust but I'm pretty sure that if I bought one it would go over the
side and I'd be out about $100.

If you mostly paddle in fresh water your choices are much easier since even
the cheapies will last a long time with only exposure to fresh water. You
can give 'em a shot of WD40 now and then too. But for salt water, and
especially if you are in active water and wet all the time, rust will attack
just about any stainless except for the stuff they make the $100 knives out
of.

I prefer somewhat rounded tips but I'm not a fan of the "hook" blades. I am
somewhat ambivalent about the serrated blades, too. The serrations do cut
through line and rope quickly but they make other tasks (carving anything,
for instance) difficult. And the blades are so short that when they have a
combination edge you get the worst of both worlds.

But, at least for me, I much prefer folders even though they can be more
clumsy to open (I've learned to do it single-handed over the years). I don't
mind a lock on the blade when it's unfolded but I don't want one which has
to be unlocked to open. A switchblade would be nice. :P

Otherwise, not in a kayak, I carry both a Victorinox Champ *and* a
belt-mounted multi-tool. And usually a small LED flashlight in my pocket.
I'm pretty sure they'd both rust quickly in a salt environment kayak though.

I should add that I've never actually had to use a knife in an emergency
situation in a kayak before so  I'm certainly no expert on this stuff.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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