What traditional marling spike knife

[fast14riot]

Hey everyone, I am looking for a traditional style folding marling spike knife. I currently carry a Myerchin L377P when aboard and it lives in my sea bag otherwise. I find I keep having to go dig it out of my bag when I am working on making new running rigging because I just don't like how it sits in my pocket and I'll lose it if I set it down. So I am in the market for a one, maybe two blade traditional folder with a true marling spike (not a short round awl) that can be sheath carried or in my jeans pocket comfortably. I would like to keep the price around $50 or less, it is going to see some very hard use, so no safe queens. Either a sheepsfoot or wharncliff blade only and the thicker the blade spine the better. Doesn't have to be stainless as it wont be carried when underway very often, just when I know I have work to do.


Thanks
-Xander

 

[meako]

 

[meako]

vendor link removed
how about the 3 piece british army knife ?

vendor link removed

 

[freezergeezer]

Have you considered Myerchin's P300 series?

Or one of the older British military jackknives - same frame as Meako's suggestion, but with plastic scales - which I find make them nicer to use hard.

 

[300Bucks]

You may need to think about a knife safety rig like this while on the water.

All I know about is Buck 315 Yachtsman and their clones. This is a 'Barehead' 315. No metal bolsters.

This is the slightly older bolstered 315.

If you trawl the Bay a little you should be able to come up with a user. Camillus stamped models are the same knives.

300Bucks/ch

 

[Noddy]

Nowill Navy knife

 

[pipedreams308]

You could just keep your current rigger on your belt in a nice belt sheath. There is a gentleman who makes these and sell the on the big auction site. (his picture)

Just for fun, here is my Schrade.

 

[Modoc ED]

You might consider using a separate knife and a separate marlin spike. Here's a post I made about this back in April of this year.

"While the combination Marlin Spike Knife knives talked about in this thread look good, they are pretty much impractical.

Think about it. There you are using the marlin spike portion of the tool and all of a sudden you need the knife portion to cut or trim the line. Whadda ya gonna do? Pull the marlin spike out of your line and lose all progress made using the marlin spike in order to use the knife end? A lotta guys/gals that do a lot of line/rope work run into that problem shortly after they get their shiny new tools and end up buying another knife to use along side their marlin spike knives.

Most Bosun's Mates in the Navy carry a stand-alone knife and a separate stand-alone marlin spike. So do other ratings that are also involved with rope/line work in their ratings (jobs). Even sailors that have nothing to do with working with line/rope carry marlin spikes that are separate from their knives. It's kinda a Navy thing.

These are my knife and marlin spike I carried while in the Navy (24-years). Both separate tools. A combo tool would have been pretty much useless.

Some Bosun's Mates (especially those old salty ones) carry a knife, a marlin spike, and a fid in a scabbard that hangs off their belts. They'd use their marlin spikes, which are made of steel, to work wire rope and cable and their fids, which are made of wood, to work their hemp or nylon line and ropes.

More than one of those combo marlin spike knives have gone over the side after a frustrated sailor had to undo his/her work in order to trim the line they were working on.

I hope I haven't gone too far astray. Seeing those Marlin Spike Knives brought back a bunch of memories."

 

[Modoc ED]

As you can see by the blades on the knife I posted a picture of above, a sheepfoot blade is not necessary to work rope or line. Here's a blurb on blunt-bladed knives as to why they were carried at one time in the Navy.

"The "U. S. Navy Regulations" used to forbid any Seaman from carrying a knife with a pointed blade aboard ship. The only exception was a Bosun's Mate who needed a pointed blade to perform his duties.

This was always thought to be a strange regulation as there were no restrictions against carrying a pointed "fid" or "marlin spike".

I'm not sure of the time-frame that this regulation was lifted but it was not in effect when I joined the Navy in 1965 although I do know it was in effect as late as 1960.

Even today many Commanding Officers forbid or restrict some types of knives from being possessed on their ships or shore stations.

While serving on the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 "Bonny Dick" (Aircraft Carrier) in 1969 the Commanding Officer forbid the carrying of pointed knives aboard ship and required that such knives be confiscated or that the points be snapped off the blade in order for it to be carried. This despite the fact that the "U. S. Navy Regulations" no longer forbid pointed blades on knives."

So, don't tie yourself down to one type of blade. Get a knife with a blade that you think will let you accomplish your tasks with the least amount of effort. One thing to consider is the diamater of the line you are working on. The thicker the line the longer blade you will want.

Oh, although you want a sharp blade, you do not want the edge sharpened to a mirror finish. You want a sharp, coarse, grabby (my description) edge that will cut for the entire length of the stroke/pull you make with your blade.

 

[fast14riot]

You might consider using a separate knife and a separate marlin spike. Here's a post I made about this back in April of this year.

"While the combination Marlin Spike Knife knives talked about in this thread look good, they are pretty much impractical.

Think about it. There you are using the marlin spike portion of the tool and all of a sudden you need the knife portion to cut or trim the line. Whadda ya gonna do? Pull the marlin spike out of your line and lose all progress made using the marlin spike in order to use the knife end? A lotta guys/gals that do a lot of line/rope work run into that problem shortly after they get their shiny new tools and end up buying another knife to use along side their marlin spike knives.

Most Bosun's Mates in the Navy carry a stand-alone knife and a separate stand-alone marlin spike. So do other ratings that are also involved with rope/line work in their ratings (jobs). Even sailors that have nothing to do with working with line/rope carry marlin spikes that are separate from their knives. It's kinda a Navy thing.

These are my knife and marlin spike I carried while in the Navy (24-years). Both separate tools. A combo tool would have been pretty much useless.

Some Bosun's Mates (especially those old salty ones) carry a knife, a marlin spike, and a fid in a scabbard that hangs off their belts. They'd use their marlin spikes, which are made of steel, to work wire rope and cable and their fids, which are made of wood, to work their hemp or nylon line and ropes.

More than one of those combo marlin spike knives have gone over the side after a frustrated sailor had to undo his/her work in order to trim the line they were working on.

I hope I haven't gone too far astray. Seeing those Marlin Spike Knives brought back a bunch of memories."

Actually I do carry separate spike and knife in addition to my folder. I should make it clear that I am not navy, I race sailboats professionally. I am a bowman and have found that during a crowed mark rounding a fixed blade has a tendency to get ripped out of its sheath, I have tried it. Most of the work done with a spike for me is with J-lock shackles and other types. When I have to go up a rig its easier to have a small knife that doesn't get in the way of my climbing harness. That buck looks nice, maybe some others out there?


thanks
-Xander

 

[hayseed1]

300 bucks,I know this is off subject but I had to say that rope work is impressive!

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I've had several of the green handled Camillus marlin spike knives, and two Buck Yachtsman models, and have to say that the Buck models were very well made, and had a traditional look to them too. Why I got rid of mine I'll never know. If you can find a Buck 315, go for it. Cheap, well made and not too hard to find.

 

[300Bucks]

I should have stated that was a captured photo from a knot tying website. I use it when talking about Bucks marlinspikes. The big Buck marlinspike collector I know of here on BF is ShepardJim.

I do however, retain a goodly portion of my extensive scout training from 40 years ago. Our Scoutmaster was a task master, but earned our lifelong respect, we did rope projects that would shock most scouts today. Extensive bridges and towers out of dozens of willow logs, that would stand in the church yard for several weeks. (I am sure liability concerns would stop that today) I can still make an eyesplice and backsplice and a monkey fist. Tie double bowlines, surgeons knots, tauntlines and the rest. It also boosted me to teach knot typing courses at youth fishing clinics. Getting them to wet the line with spit is the hardest task...ha All the men were army or air corps, we could have used an ol bosun. I have seen straight rope knives and a spike in a custom sheath, Bucks old custome shop even made some, but I understand what fast is stating. I would think a knfe safety line might be in order when climbing with a folder. I have done a lot of stuff high and low, raft, kayak, cave exploring,logging,airboating but for some reason the ocean tells me to stay onshore, or hang over the side and turn green.

Owned by ItsTooEarly

300Bucks/ch

 

[neeman]

There are English manufactures that make a rope knife (sheepsfoot) with a fid in a single sheath, where the sheath is deep enough not to have either the knife or the fid fall out

They also make a clasp knife like the British Army knife, but specifically for sailing, where the spike is different

 

[Javelin]

Need a super tough folding knife huh? Sheepsfoot or similar blade?

This is by far the toughest non locking 50$> folding knife out there. I used one for a couple years till I lost it, amazing steel.

search "brass cased knife" or other wise "higo no kami"

vendor information removed per forum guidelines

 

[Will Power]

If you want a cheap one but not bad in robustness, then Rough Rider offer this pattern in their Old Yellow series-yellow delrin nice and visible.And, if it does go overboard it won't be expensive!

 

[meako]

my apologies - did not mean to spam- just wanted to get that British army knife picture -the other bit kind of just happened along due to my inability. sorry.
-razzen frazzen computer.
good point by modoc ed - separate tools for separate jobs.

 

[Shepherd Jim]

...<snip>...The big Buck marlinspike collector I know of here on BF is ShepardJim.

...<snip>...Our Scoutmaster was a task master, but earned our lifelong respect, we did rope projects that would shock most scouts today. Extensive bridges and towers out of dozens of willow logs, that would stand in the church yard for several weeks. ...<snip>...
300Bucks/ch

Hey 300Bucks/CH! Your Scoutmaster sounds like my kind of guy. I was my oldest son's "Den Mother" and Scoutmaster for a few years back then. Around the campfire he was always mortified when I'd haul out a couple pieces of rope and start teaching knots to the troop. Several years later, he was learning to rockclimb in college, he apologized, telling me (!) how important knots could be.

I have to agree: if I'm sitting down to build myself a new set of halyards and sheets I'll fit myself out with a fixed sheepfoot blade and a separate spike (or two).

But, for every day around the farm, my EDC is a cheap and cheerful Davis all SS folder. I have it on a 15" lanyard -- simple braided, multicolor "climbing rope". The knife lives in my front pants pocket and the lanyard hangs out and against my leg. When I need the knife I just reach down and grab the lanyard -- no need to look or stick my manure-covered, gloved hand into my pocket. Out amongst the chickens and sheep the spike is mostly used to loosen "non-knots" (hopefully tied by someone else) or pick out something jammed between a ewe's toes.

 

[will62]

Second on the separate marlinspike. Only knew two boatswain mates who had the combo ones and they were CPOs who spent most of their time in the mess or forward linehandling room.

Used one that had part of a crescent wrench welded on the top for undoing shackles.

 

[fast14riot]

Used one that had part of a crescent wrench welded on the top for undoing shackles.

Yeah those are iron workers alignment spikes. I have tried one of those before and typically the taper was too steep for doing a proper wire to rope splice.

The knife I am looking for is not going to replace my existing tools, but just amend my kit and help in small jobs. A proper spike is almost obsolete for rope work nowadays. A doubled over piece of seizing wire is almost all I use anymore for double braid and single braid line.

I am a firm believer in using the proper tool for the job but sometimes a convenient multi-task tool is enough to get the job done. If they didn't do anything well SAK's and leatherman tools wouldn't be as popular as they are.

Thank you for all the suggestions, and I enjoy some of the conversation of use of a knife rather than always a buyers review of fit and finish.


-Xander