Dull diving knife?

[rdolmat]

Hi folks!

newbie diver here...just getting my 'kit' together.

I bought a dive knife today (brand new) and when I brought it home, the non-serrated side of the blade is as dull as a cotton swab. Is that normal? perhaps a safety issue? Or should it be razor sharp? (ie: the safest knife is a sharp knife?)

irate5:

cheers
rich

 

[Ben_Ayers]

I'd be p....d! Can you take in back? What kind of knife is it?

Ben

 

[rdolmat]

I'd be p....d! Can you take in back? What kind of knife is it?

Ben

yeah! I should be able to take it back, I only bought it from my LDS about 20 min ago. It's an IST knife...yes, I know...a cheapo..but I'm gettin' short on the loot!

 

[Ben_Ayers]

Thanks Rich,
I've been looking at knives online - and don't want to have to send something back because it's dull!

Ben<-----Not buying a IST knife, at least not online...

 

[ScubaSteve]

I would suggest you return the knife and check the new one before you leave. ALSO, before you leave, ask the shop about knife maintenance so that when this one goes dull, you can correct the problem.

Once the knife gets wet, ensure you dry it off after the dive and do not store it in the wet sheath....that is where I went wrong with my first knife....actually I first went wrong when I left the shop without asking about maintenance of my nice new purchase.

 

[msg]

Put it on a stone and sharpen it. Knives are rarely sharp out of the pack, thank the justice system. The company also doesn't have to spend the extra money to get it sharp. It only takes a few minutes to sharpen the blade. If you use it much, cutting rope, fishing line, sandwiches, you'll need to sharpen it anyway--you might as well get use to it.

 

[rdolmat]

Put it on a stone and sharpen it. Knives are rarely sharp out of the pack, thank the justice system. The company also doesn't have to spend the extra money to get it sharp. It only takes a few minutes to sharpen the blade. If you use it much, cutting rope, fishing line, sandwiches, you'll need to sharpen it anyway--you might as well get use to it.

hmm...that sounds odd to me though. I wonder why all kitchen knives are sharp.

I prefer to get a sharp one from the store. I can REALLY screw it up if I try to sharpen it myself.

And I'm talking DULL here! not just "not razor sharp" but I ran my finger up and down the blade edge (right on the edge) and didn't feel a thing. Darn thing wouldn't even cut a plastic bag...POS.

 

[bleeb]

Knives are rarely sharp out of the pack

IIRC, a long while back, one other possible reason that might have been mentioned here on SB was that some people preferred their knives being not quite as sharp to reduce the risk of damaging self or equipment from fumbling with the thing because of reduced dexterity (cold and/or gloves), so it's left to the new owner to decide. No idea about how much truth there might be in this, though.

 

[viper_t4]

nice points here!
am a newbie too with several dives at Anilao.
actually i intend to pick my dive knife too to complete my set.

yo! thanks a lot for tips guys!

 

[ucfdiver]

Is it supposed to be sharp? I simply use a steak knife with the end (tip) cut off.