Fixed vs Folding dive knifes

[lommnb]

Hello all,
I currently have a fixed blade wenoka dive knife that Ive owned for years. I always have found it a pain to strap a large knife to my calf.

Some companies are now selling folder style dive knives. I know Spyderco is known for excellent quality and was considering there salt series knife.

So which do you prefer? Fixed or Folder.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

I've never tried a folder, but I would be concerned about opening one with gloves, or while entangled. Spyderco is certainly a good knife. And they're known for their one handers. But how well will they work with gloves? I don't know personally, but I'd certainly want to try one out before I spent any cash.
Personally, I carry a Wenoka Squeeze lock. Titanium, tanto point. It's attached to my BCD, so there's nothing to strap on. I also carry EMT sheers. I can reach either cutter with either hand.

 

[ScubaVideo]

I just picked up a Spyderco Caspian 2 Salt. The sheath is garbage and not only won't mount easily to a harness, but it is difficult to remove the knife - even out of the water. However, I knew that before buying it and also got a Halcyon sheath. That was not quite right yet as the big fat "H" (I mean knife) was exposed along the top edge for about 1/2". So I cut off a few inches of 2" harness and took it to the shoe repair shop. A couple hours later I have a perfect sheath for the Caspian 2 Salt. I also have a
Spyderco Pacific Salt Yellow folder that I may clip into a pocket just in case. I also have an EEZY Cut Trilobite which comes with a nice sheath that is mountable.

Here are some shots of all three with notes on the mod:

 

[ScubaVideo]

OH, forgot to mention that I would go with fixed as your primary just as Dirty-Dog said. A folder still needs to be sheathed, pocketed or mounted in some way and then opened once released from its mount spot. Clipping a folder into a pocket as a backup only.

 

[Akimbo]

Depends on the purpose. Commercial divers often carry folding knives, at least as backups. Usually backups are carried in case the primary gets too dull rather than lost. They don’t deploy as fast, but can be much more compact. They are often shoved up a wetsuit sleeve in warmer water or hang on a clip from the harness in colder water.

I find a Z-knife cuts the vast majority of materials a recreational diver needs for entanglement problems — and the majority of that is monofilament. Hunting and gathering have their own requirements, as does salvage. The factors that influence folding knife selection are deployment time, ease of unfolding and folding, hand comfort, how much you use it, what you want to cut, and how to stow it. Generally folding knives don’t perform prying functions as well as a fixed blade.