Anyone have a Myerchin knife?

C

Carl64

Joined
Apr 3, 2005
Messages
1,830
Folder or fixed.

It's nice to see a one-handed knife with a marlin spike. Their website lists some of them as 440c. Are they hardened well, do parts fit together, etc?
 
I have tried the marlin spike model at knifeshows, my feeling is that they are higher priced then they should be, and the opening tension is really high. I ended up not getting one, it didn't seem practical (i'm not a sailor).
 
I don't really need a sailing knife either, it just seemed cool. I was actually wondering about how hard they are to open, as they don't appear to have a lock. I might end up getting one of their little fixed blades:
http://www.myerchin.com/A566P THE SHARK.html

It doesn't specify the steel. I hope it's not 420. :barf:
 
Gave one to my terrific brother-in-law last Christmas. A white micarta, A300, folder. It is large, heavy and robust. The micarta was inlaid precisely. The lock was solid for the blade and the marlin spike. The bale, cleverly, releases the lock for both. It is an impressive piece. I thought the blade was thick and strong enough to baton rope.

I felt the need to clean up the rough inside edges of the handle, where the blade rests. They had not been as polished as I like. Obvious, but minor and easily corrected flaw.

The blade was very sharp and needed nothing. I had asked the vendor to pick out a good one because I had wanted a show piece that didn't break the nest egg. The white micarta Offshore folder is somewhat rare. However, it does show up on the bay.

He lives on a lake and tows the clan around behind his boat via a synthetic rope. The rope had a tight knot so I figured he could use this knife. He later told me that he was unable to open the knot with the marlin spike. My sister, his wife, told me that he takes it with him everywhere.

http://www.myerchin.com/A300.html

Otherwise, if money is of no object, I find this titanium, ats-34, framelock sailor's knife attractive: http://www.agrussell.com/knives/pro...ves/folding_knives/a_g_russell_seamaster.html

Best,

oregon
 
I own a Myerchin marlin spike and have seen one of their fixed blades, they are good.

I believe their folders are not designed to be one hand openers, the slot in the blade looks like it could be used as a shackle key though probably not designed for that either, notice that some of their fixed blades have the slot also.

I own and use several rigging knives and spikes, my favorite is a Captain Currey with skeletonized spike, mostly because it is so light and flat. Camillus makes some fine models, I have seen some from Ibbersson that looked very nice:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.asp...s.aspx&Cat=boat&w=0&CategoryName=Tools - Boat

http://www.camillusknives.com/camillus/index.shtml (check the link: Traditional Pocket, Camping and Boating)

http://www.eggintongroup.co.uk/ibberson.htm

Luis
 
oregon said:
Gave one to my terrific brother-in-law last Christmas. A white micarta, A300, folder. It is large, heavy and robust. The micarta was inlaid precisely. The lock was solid for the blade and the marlin spike. The bale, cleverly, releases the lock for both. It is an impressive piece. I thought the blade was thick and strong enough to baton rope.

I felt the need to clean up the rough inside edges of the handle, where the blade rests. They had not been as polished as I like. Obvious, but minor and easily corrected flaw.

The blade was very sharp and needed nothing. I had asked the vendor to pick out a good one because I had wanted a show piece that didn't break the nest egg. The white micarta Offshore folder is somewhat rare. However, it does show up on the bay.

He lives on a lake and tows the clan around behind his boat via a synthetic rope. The rope had a tight knot so I figured he could use this knife. He later told me that he was unable to open the knot with the marlin spike. My sister, his wife, told me that he takes it with him everywhere.

http://www.myerchin.com/A300.html

Otherwise, if money is of no object, I find this titanium, ats-34, framelock sailor's knife attractive: http://www.agrussell.com/knives/pro...ves/folding_knives/a_g_russell_seamaster.html

Best,

oregon
Click to expand...

Hey Oregon
When I bought my white mircata folder (same model?) probably 12-15 years ago, I was told (from the dealer I bought it from) that not many were imported. I like the knife alot, but use my Buck rigging knife when I'm splicing lines. I saw that Ti model from AG Russell, and it looks great, but I could NOT justify the $$$!! Maybe 1day...
 
The AG Russell Seamaster might be a candidate knife for the Pass-around forum.

I've only seen pics. Never handled one. Don't know that I would buy one even if money starts running up hill. :D Still, it looks very ship shape and its made of all the right stuff.

Best,

Oregon
 
I'm holding mine right now. Not a sailor myself, but I do a bit of decorative knotwork, and a folding knife with a marlinespike is the most convenient tool for the job.

In total, I have three sailors' knives: the Myerchin, a British navy knife from 1951, and a Victorinox Helmsman; the Myerchin's last on my list by preference. The fit and finish are fine (nothing to blow away a knife person, but nothing to complain about, either), and the blade's perfectly functional. It's stamped "440 STAINLESS, so I assume it's 440a. It has a cutout in the blade (actually a shackle key), but it's definitely not a one-hander. I can wrestle it open with my thumb, but only very awkwardly (and probably not very safely). The big problem I have with the knife is the fact that the large bail interferes with the use of the marlinespike. While it's possible to work around it, most grips are awkward and significantly decrease the usable length of the spike.

Removing the bail also isn't an option, because it doubles as the lock release.

All in all, my Myerchin is a very pretty, well-made knife that's outclassed by cheaper tools that're better designed. I strongly suggest the Helmsman, though, or waiting for the Spyderco sailors' knife (which is hopefully still on the menu).
 
Carl64 said:
Folder or fixed.

It's nice to see a one-handed knife with a marlin spike. Their website lists some of them as 440c. Are they hardened well, do parts fit together, etc?
Click to expand...

I have the same folder everyone is talking about. In a word I would describe it as "Robust" The lock on the blade is gritty. The marlin spike lock is smooth, (you figure that one out) Others mentioned the sharp corners. This is true. If you are a person who customizes his folders this is the knife for you. You can round over all the sharp edges, scrimshaw the white micarta scales. It's heavy. (Think sog tomcat,the double bolster one), I liked the blade shape, that is the reason I bought it. Flat ground sheepsfoot kinda blade. There is a little arc to the edge. Mine holds an edge very well. The lock uses the shackle to unlock the blade or you can lift the folded marlin spike to unlock the blade. alternately you can lift the folded blade to unlock the marlin spike. The shackle lock is kind of dodgy, (Thin sheet metal)

I would prefer if they just made a locking folder with the nice blade shape, (for non-mariners like me) I don't have much use for a marlin spike. So it's just dead weight for me. I do like the whale etch on the blade!
 
Try www.boyeknives.com His pocket knives are rust proof (cobalt and titanium) have a marlin spike and key, and open with one hand. David Boye has been around water all his life and has been perfecting this design for many years. I have an earlier model in 440C, and the ergonomics, edge, edgeholding are superb.
 
brownshoe said:
Try www.boyeknives.com His pocket knives are rust proof (cobalt and titanium) have a marlin spike and key, and open with one hand. David Boye has been around water all his life and has been perfecting this design for many years. I have an earlier model in 440C, and the ergonomics, edge, edgeholding are superb.
Click to expand...

Brownshoe
I never saw that model before. How heavy duty is the marlin spike? It looks a little light in its construction and mounting...no?
PS: I hate how the blade of the Myerchin hits one of the cross-pins and flattens the edge at that point. maybe it's just me...
 
FLH said:
PS: I hate how the blade of the Myerchin hits one of the cross-pins and flattens the edge at that point. maybe it's just me...
Click to expand...

I guess I won't be buying one unless I see it in person and this has been fixed. It's not just you, that's crummy design and I wouldn't buy it.
 
I've got the fixed blade shown here.. http://www.myerchin.com/B001.html Fit and finish are fine, but I'm not a connoisseur by any means. It feels very good in the hand, and has worked well when I've used it on polyester (dacron) rope putting ratlines together. The spike is excellent. I also have the Camillus marlin spike folder, and I much prefer using the separate spike on the Myerchin. (I know you aren't looking for a sailing knife, but for those that are, a quibble: When you're on the water, you want lanyards tied to everything, because if you drop something, it's gone. The shackle key on the Myerchin spike works great, but not as well when you tie a lanyard through it. A separate lanyard hole would be a nice touch.)

I've handled the folding version, and it is quite large. Something I would only want to carry in a sheath anyway... so why not get the fixed blade? :)
 
I've got an earier version of the knife in steel w/o the marlin spike. Boye is a fine designer and craftsman, and I'd trust his construction. I've also dealt with him and his shop employee and they are good people and would refund your money if you didn't like what you received. They reground a fixed blade with a wicked chip for free even though the chip was my fault. Better service than you'd get from spyderco.
 
if anyone cares, I'll let you know what I think of the Boys rigger after some use as I just received mine. I know the blade will cut well ,but I"m unsure of how strong the Marlin Spike is. Also, just to clearify pertaining to the Myerchin, the blade doesn't hit a "cross pin" so mush as it is a brass pin put there to act as a blade stop...still not the hot set-up me thinks...JMHO

PS: I also have (for many years) the Camillus folder with locking marlin spike...very heavy duty design and has worked well for me. Looking forward to trying out the Boye rigger now
 
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