Cutting tools

[DennisH]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about appropriate cutting tools. Most of the GUE-trained divers I have seen have moved to either the Halcyon titanium knife or the Swedish knife that looks like...well, like someone broke the top couple of inches off a steak knife.

I understand that the primary use of a cutting tool is for breaking fishing line in case of entanglement. I have also heard that some rescue scenarios may require cutting through someone's harness webbing.

My experience with the Halcyon knife is that it is remarkably blunt. I could break fishing line with it, but I doubt I could cut through webbing. I am also very experienced at sharpening knives, but the Halcyon is so thick that I would need an electric grinder just to get it's cutting edge thin enough to cut.

The Swedish knife cuts line easily, but again, I doubt it would be easy or quick to cut harness webbing.

I'd appreciate your thoughts -- is it necessary for a knife to be able to cut harnesses? How hard is it to cut fishing leaders with a knife? What solution do you use?

Thanks!

 

[Blackwood]

Shears are your best bet for cutting monofilament line and webbing .

 

[ivobj]

I use the "broken top steak knife". Never tryed to cut webbing (maybe I should test...), but I keep it really sharp and I really thing I could cut webbing with it, I confirm it to you as soon as I decide to ruin some webbing for test...

 

[Rainer]

My steak knife goes through webbing like a hot knife through butter (I've tried both). In any case, I also keep a pair of shears in my dry suit pocket. Much easier to use shears in many cases (especially wire leader).

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Why not test your cutting tool of choice before you have to rely on it?

I've found that most knives with a serrated edge will work nicely on webbing. Many ... but not all ... non-serrated edges will work well too.

A lot of the steel used to make knives non-corrosive don't hold an edge very well, and have to be sharpened from time to time. Most knives that will hold a good edge will tend to rust, and have to be cleaned from time to time.

Moral of the story ... pull them puppies out of the sheath every once in a while and make sure they're gonna do what you THINK they're gonna do ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[b1gcountry]

I was just on a tech charter with three tech 1 guys, my fundies instructor, myself, and one other non GUE DIR guy. We all had either the UK Remora, or an actual steak knife with the tip cut off.

I bought half a dozen steak knifes from the dollar store, and just snipped the tips off. If its rusty, I replace it.

Tom

 

[ScubaInChicago]

I bought half a dozen steak knifes from the dollar store, and just snipped the tips off. If its rusty, I replace it.

Tom

Where does one find an appropriate sheath for the aforementioned dollar store steak knifes?

 

[mts0628]

Where does one find an appropriate sheath for the aforementioned dollar store steak knifes?

Try this.

 

[Scubastud16]

I had the UK Remora mounted on my LP inflator hose waaaaaaay before I went into a Hogarthian set up. I still have the knife, and I loved it (very sharp, nice serrated edges). Now that I think about it, it would be pretty nice to put it on the harness.

 

[liuk3]

Regarding the EMT shears, are you guys using a particular brand? I had a set, and it rusted up after about 6 months, so I just stopped carrying them. I