Cutting tools – just my preferences
Thinking I already had the perfect cutting tool when I decided to carry one diving. Professionally I carried (dry) a Buck Ranger, EMT shears and a folding Gerber River knife. The Gerber was almost always my first choice and rarely resorted to another. It had provided many many years of excellent service. Was light, compact and comfortable for me to use gloved or not, one handed and easy to keep quickly available. I was very dismayed to find it rusting immediately and needing more attention than I wanted to devote. I never minded sharpening and cleaning when necessary, I do mind after every dive whether I’ve used it for months or not, just because I carry it in salt water.
I find the EMT shear too bulky to carry. Yes it is thin but the flat, rigid plane aspect and the uneven shape makes it get hung up with other things, hard to get into and out of pocket and was impossible to secure closed quickly and easily. The ratio of hassle and threat to use was not desirable.
I searched quite a bit settling on a Wenoka but was unable to find the unimproved model and did not like the sheath on the improved one at all.
Sadly I began it all again. Unfortunately where I live I’m limited at what I can actually touch and operate. Searching online was a challenge as not all information was available. So one thing I would like to see is detailed information such as a something like a ruler for reference, multiple views and the ability to zoom the pixels outa them.
If I’m carrying the doggone thing it is for strictly emergency need so I want it mounted on my BC – visually available to anyone else as well as myself and at least in theory with either hand. Therefore thin and sleek to the BC. I’ve not found grommet nuts to be a problem as I feared.
I want something no longer total than 7” and preferably only 5” like a folding, although I’m concerned about being able to open it one handed in awkward positions and not convinced a folding knife is the way to go. If it folds, I have to be 100% certain it’s not gonna rust and gunk up reminding me of my arthritic knee. I do like the uncomplicated 1 thing with a folding knife vs sheath plus knife and a means to secure them together since I can’t hear it drop when it hits the sand and a way to secure to BC = bulky
I prefer lethal sharp cutting surfaces within drip dry maintenance requirements and extreme strength considering it is a very low profile blade. I’ll take flexibility and possible permanent distortion (destruction in the case of a folding) over brittle. Although I do not plan to use it with any frequency I’ll pay what it takes to get what I want (please don’t tell the marketing people.)
I want a double drop plain point ever so slightly rounded (I had a surgeon admire my operation with the Buck Knife – think of a scalpel blade) to plain edge as well as serrated – opposing side. Hooked Line cutter near tip of serrated, position balanced in regard to blade strength. I’ve seen that in folding but that line cutter is an exposed cutting surface and I just don’t get it. Unprotected cutting surfaces when the knife is not in use is a deal breaker no matter what else, and I’m not convinced a line cutter is worth the reduction in strength.
My gloves are all the cushion and grip I need and have no use for plastic and less for color preferring Spyderco’s bare bones, clean minimalist, down to business designs. Don’t add useless weight and bulk.
As far as sheaths go, can they just be firmly friction fit? Material resistant to slicing as Kevlar or a thin layer so you have some leeway when inserting and the handle is pushed along a guided path snug as a bug? I can deal with learning how to feel my way without looking, it just takes a couple of practice runs. I do think an obscenely bright mouth area of sheath would have value as a location signal however I personally detest any form of orange and would be loath to resign myself to tolerating it.
I prefer a full tang, again strength for overall size and as a hammering surface although it (hammering) is a low priority. I like the idea of a screwdriver tip shaped butt – only along the lines of multiple applications but not as a primary capability – or frequent use.
Some sort of distinction to the gloved hand – I’m very tactile – when it goes from handle to blade and what way is up. Fair warning is all I ask, remember I want sleek and very low profile. Handle sized for women’s large to Men’s small size. Quite possibly I’d buy something with less of my wish list if it fit my hand; there is a lot to be said for being able to manipulate what ya got to work with.
Weight is just heavy enough to notice I’m carrying it and not 1 oz more, it all adds up and right now wet gear weighs enough.
