Can someone give me information on the types of knives for scuba diving?

[Plops]

I need to write about scuba diving knives for this site but I dont know anything on the subject so I am doing some research.

What are good companies?

What is a good price range?

Where is the best place to learn on the subject?

Whats the most common thing you use them for?

Are there any uses for them outside of scuba diving?

 

[DevonDiver]

There are a few basic concepts:

1. Big-Ass leg knives.
Strapped to your calf, they look great if you want to imagine yourself as the frogman hero of a 1960's action flick. Typically 6-12" blade.
Benefits: Can be used for prying stuff, like 'treasure chests'. Attractive to the opposite sex.
Drawbacks: Hard to reach, cumbersome.

2. Small, sharp BCD knives.
Secured to your BCD, they cut lines, webbing, hoses, seaweed etc. Need to be kept sharp in order to be useful. Typically <4" blade
Benefits: Easier to access with either hand, convenient to use,
Drawbacks: You can hurt yourself.

3. Razor Cutters.
Secured to your BCD or computer wrist strap. Very sharp and slice easily through loose lines without needing tension on the line. Can easily cut webbing, wetsuits etc. Small and easily carried.
Benefits: The easiest to access, extremely sharp, don't require tension on the object cut.
Drawbacks: Rust easily without care (replaceable razor blades)

4. Medical Shears.
Live in your BCD or leg pocket. Able to cut through wire trace fishing lines, electrical wiring etc.
Benefits: Cuts stuff that knives won't
Drawbacks: Bulky in your pocket, not easy access.

Then we have materials:

1. Stainless Steel.
Needs a little maintance, as they can still rust. Easier to sharpen, but dulls after time. Less brittle.

2. Titanium.
Expensive, but will never rust. Keeps an edge, but harder to sharpen. Can be brittle.

3. Non-Stainless Steel
Will become an orange blob after a short while. Cheap.

 

[Plops]

Thanks so much for the information. It seems there is a lot of type of knives I need to do research on.

 

[NAM001]

Let me add to what Devon said. People no longer use the rambo knives. |Face it you are not going to win a fight with a shark. the knife or cutter as i like to say, needs to be able to cut line or other entanglements The rambo is over kill and you normally hurt your self with it or cut your suit or just plain loose it. the other use , most prevalent is prying. the knife is a great pry tool. as such you don't need a sharp point that will hurt you. most that buy a pointed knife eventually end up with one that has a blunt point as the point breaks off. I like the stainless or titanium. small durable and you will probably never use it in the water other than as a pry bar. And when it comes to prying ,, so many are opposed to altering the environment that you probably do not want to be seen prying for fear of upsetting some group. Your dive locations are probably different than mine but I seldom have more than an occasional fishing line to cut off me or clear from a site. A 4 inch enclosed blade box/strap cutter is about all you need. Other things to look at,,,, if yo are in a situation that may need a cutter, then a knife strapped on is by default a snag item that works great catching lines as you swim by them.