Dysfunctional Dive Knives that Endanger Divers - ScubaMax

[buddhasummer]

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[bombay317]

I lost my dive knife the other day when kelp unsheathed it without me knowing. I have a Tekna on order from Tekna, which I found from this thread.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I really want to like the Myerchin 510 knife, actually I really like the knife and have a couple, but their sheath is total crap for ANY waterside application. Cannot use them.

A510P: Offshore Safety/Dive. - Myerchin Marine Inc.

Our Generation 2 A510P Offshore Safety/Dive Prois a line-cutting workhorse used by professionals around the world. Forged from a single bar of our Pro-Grade German Marine Stainless. The Pro-grade German Marine stainless that we use is comparable to 440C for hardness and edge-holding...

myerchin.com

You see, they poke 4 eyelets into the sheath and fasten those with steel (or other ferric material) which will rust like little else at the sight of salt water. Rinsing after saltwater immersion does not help. This transfers to the knife itself - and white rubbery bits on my bc - which is a bad thing. Perhaps if they would just forgo the eyelets.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I really want to like the Myerchin 510 knife, actually I really like the knife and have a couple, but their sheath is total crap for ANY waterside application. Cannot use them.

A510P: Offshore Safety/Dive. - Myerchin Marine Inc.

Our Generation 2 A510P Offshore Safety/Dive Prois a line-cutting workhorse used by professionals around the world. Forged from a single bar of our Pro-Grade German Marine Stainless. The Pro-grade German Marine stainless that we use is comparable to 440C for hardness and edge-holding...

myerchin.com

You week they poke 4 eyelets into the sheath and fasten those with steel (or other ferric material) which will rust like little else at the sight of salt water. Rinsing after saltwater immersion does not help. This transfers to the knife itself - and white rubbery bits on my bc - which is a bad thing. Perhaps if they would just forgo the eyelets.

I had a stainless Victorinox Knife that a crabber gave me to clear some crab line off his prop once. the knife was a great serrated type blade with a blunt end and very sharp.
I ended up making my own sheath out of weight belt webbing, an outer and an inner and a belt loop. all put together with aluminum rivets with the aluminum washers they sell. I flattened out the rivets on an anvil with a small hammer after installing them to lower the profile. worked really well. the knife press fit into the sheath and formed it's own pocket. never lost it.
maybe try something like that.
That's a good looking knife.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I had a stainless Victorinox Knife that a crabber gave me to clear some crab line off his prop once. the knife was a great serrated type blade with a blunt end and very sharp.
I ended up making my own sheath out of weight belt webbing, an outer and an inner and a belt loop. all put together with aluminum rivets with the aluminum washers they sell. I flattened out the rivets on an anvil with a small hammer after installing them to lower the profile. worked really well. the knife press fit into the sheath and formed it's own pocket. never lost it.
maybe try something like that.
That's a good looking knife.

That may work.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

That may work.

the way I made the holes: get an old small rod like a phillips screwdriver or something that is the same diameter as the rivets. Heat it up with a torch or gas stove flame and melt your holes where you want them when you have it all mocked up.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Dr Lector, I bought my last set of shears at medical supply. The hinge still rusted away. I haven't bothered to replace them. Perhaps I'll try another pair. I do want the function, which is why i had the other 3-4 pairs in the first place.

Not sure if this solution would work for others, but I carry two pairs of shears........one each in both thigh pockets of my drysuit. I keep both sets lightly coated with WD40 and vacuum sealed with a basic Food Savor. I've never needed them.... but if I do they are both just like brand new with zero corrosion. If needed they will easily just punch right through the seal a meal bag.

 

[34109411]

First of all, let me recommend that anyone buying a dive knife AVOID ScubaMax knives at all costs - your life may depend on it!

Seriously.

I have had two separate incidents compounded by the flawed plastic release systems (both different models) of ScubaMAx problems - on the first one, I even contacted the company and offered to return the knife so that they could see that the knife itself was stuck due to a flawed release.

They ignored me.
View attachment 188706
The second incident occurred this last week, while diving in Maui, I got entangled on a dive float line - I reached for a ScubaMax BCD knife, and found that its plastic sheath lock mechanism had failed, and the knife was on the sea floor somewhere. I contacted the company again, and was ignored again.

I am interested in hearing if anyone else had had issues with ScubaMax knives - particularly their retaining systems. Depending on the response, I may consider submitting some formal complaint to a federal consumer protection, since there's definately a chance that, with such poor technology for such an important piece of equipment, a diver might someday die due to the loss or inaccessibility of a ScubaMax knife when they really need one.

Michael

not with this model. the cressi alligator got the same problem nearly impossible to take out from the shield when you need it. the release system is also a flaw design. The knife itself is good. i put the shield in the garbage and find another one much easier to take out when need it.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

While I'm at it, might as well ask where divers are wearing their Trilobites too. I have one and not overly happy with placement.

Mine is attached to my inflator hose with the Flexi Pouch. Good location in that it's easy to see, easy and quick to find with either hand and uses otherwise unused real estate....

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Mine is attached to my inflator hose with the Flexi Pouch. Good location in that it's easy to see, easy and quick to find with either hand and uses otherwise unused real estate....

And you even go to such lengths to prominently label it right above where it's mounted.