Quality Rigging Knife?

Vanguard41xx

Vanguard41xx

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Dec 29, 2010
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I'm looking for a gift for a friend, he loves boating. He doesn't have a quality knife, so I thought it would be nice to purchase him one. He prefers USA made....must have a marlin spike....Anyone know of a knife that meets this criteria? Thanks!
 
A.G. Russell sells the Seamaster, but it's made in Italy. Myerchin and SOG also offer them, but they're not made in USA either.
 
I purchased a very fine, elegantly simple black handled--some kind of synthetic or a rubber--Buck folding rigging knife with a locking marlin spike for use when I was doing a lot of wreck diving. This was about 10 years ago and it is still one of my favorite ones. The sheepsfoot style blade is marked Buck 315. Very solid.

I have been diving for over 50 years and have a lot of dive knives and others designed for use on the water and the Buck is the best topside knife I have used. I am sure there are some out there.
 
Camillus makes a rigging knife, but I can't say if they are made in USA or not. Give it a search.
 
Jayknives.com Has a Buck 315 for sale just like the one I have. Check it out. I think they called it the yachtsman
 
My brother, a captain for many a year now, had just about every brand of rigger's knife made. With the Myerchin it's a love/hate thing. I checked it out and see what he hates about it... the lock release. I guess they had no other way to do it, but it does not lend itself to easy closing. I've since given him my partially serrated Boker Trance and he loved it's size and shape but switched to a Spyderco H1-steel knife..but I forget which one. He now carries a small marlin spike on a separate key chain that he hangs off a carabiner for when he needs it. According to him, it's the best setup he's ever had.
 
Meyerchin! They do have a funky lock, but with a little practice it is not bad at all. I believe one of the reasons it is set up that way is because the lock can be opened or closed by pulling on the knife while it is teathered to you. They also make fixed blades. Check them out. If you call with questions, a human being will talk to you and explain any points you wish to inquire about.
 
Bumppo said:
Meyerchin! They do have a funky lock, but with a little practice it is not bad at all. I believe one of the reasons it is set up that way is because the lock can be opened or closed by pulling on the knife while it is teathered to you. They also make fixed blades. Check them out. If you call with questions, a human being will talk to you and explain any points you wish to inquire about.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but I specifically said USA made. They are Japanese, I believe.
 
The Boye knives are made in Dolan Springs Arizona. The blades are available with a leaf or wharncliff blade ( with or without serrations). The glass fiber reinforced injection molded handle is available in blue, black, or yellow. The Titanium marlinspike is an option. The best feature of the knife is its Stellite (dendritic Cobalt) blade which has tremendous wear resistance at a low Rockwell C hardness due to the presence of copious Chrome and Cobalt carbides. There is virtually no steel in the blade. It is about half Chrome and half Cobalt. The dendrites formed when the casting cools turn the micro edge into a buzz saw. The corrosion resistance is off the charts. The D ring bail allows the knife to be securely attached to the operator. The web site explains the options and the pricing.
 
In my experience Marlin spikes should be left off the knife. Firstly because it lets you use the spike much more easily, and secondly because it lets you use a better knife that doesn't have a typically poor steel with a typically clumsy opening method. Granted my uses involve cold wet muddy hands and fresh water rope work, which is different than sailing where you'd be more likely to just want something compact to have on you while on deck. Myerchin does sell their spike separately though, and its pretty nice!


That said, if there were ever a knife to compete with a separate knife and spike combo it would be the Boye knives! Those seem so very well thought out. Heck its the same designer that gave Spyderco the idea to divot their lockbars, gotta love out of the box thinking!
 
Davis Boye has been making excellent knives for many years, I have a Dendric steel folder with an eagle wing cast into it as the thumb opening detail that I picked up when he was still in Davenport, CA and I love it!

Just a few things, Myerchin has moved their plant from Japan to China. The recent interruption in their supply was due to that shift. They claim to be using German steel now, for what that's worth.

The new "Camillus" is also a Chinese operation, however Colonial is still making the Mil Spec 1757 folder with a marlin spike and 'jiggered' brown plastic handle in Warren, RI. These knives meet the same military specifications as the old Camillus and from what I can tell holding them side by side it is a comparable knife. The spike is a little more pointy, that's my only observation.

From what I've come to learn, fixed blade knives seem to be preferred by those on larger vessels, as well as maritime professionals, while folders are more convenient on smaller sailing vessels. On my website I've found a market for dual fixed-blade and marlin-spike sheaths.

When working on the deck of the 19th century scow schooner, which I volunteer on, I like a separate spike to deal with the (what seems like) miles of line. However, I can understand how a smaller boat sailor might not want the hassle of a full belt rig, multiple tools and lanyards &tc that can snag on stuff, and would feel more comfortable with a folder in his (or her) pocket that has a spike on it to deal with the unexpected stubborn knot. It's better to have something on you than a fancy rig in the cabin.

BTW, old Camillus and Ka-Bar knives do pop up on ebay from time to time, expect to pay $60-$80 for one in good shape, and around $120+ for a Case.

I hope you find something your friend will use for many years.

--jack
 
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