Water Work (& Play) Knives
This week we're going to take a look at a collection of different knives. An overview, if you will, of knives that either are made specifically for work in or around water, OR knives that will fit the bill and not suffer too greatly from the environment while getting the job done. Why focus on knives in a water environment? Some of us do work in the water. All of us do work in the rain. Some of the knives we look at were specifically designed for use by those who work in a maritime environment. Others? Well, let's just say this: it would be better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Make sense? Let's take a look.
First up in the Masters of Defense Dieter CQD. My T&E version is the Mark I original that doesn't have the window-breaking tip built into the grips. I received this knife courtesy of Jim Ray at MOD in late 1999 when I was doing an article on knives in police work. Then, and now, this is one of the best all around knives you can carry as a cop - and it would serve the soldier quite well too. With a 3.75" blade made from 153CM stainless steel, the CQD is sufficient for most cutting tasks. What really made the CQD stand out (especially in 1999) was the fact that you didn't have to open the knife to cut webbing, string, etc. Built into the grips is a support blade that is essentially two razors set in a crossed fashion. Dragging this across webbing, seatbelts, clothing, paracord, etc cuts efficiently - again, without having to expose the open blade. The grips are "three dimensional", and while some people maintain that ALL grips are three dimensional, I have to point out some strengths on the CQD design. First, the grips are long enough to have that support blade, which also enables the butt to be used as a striking weapon. That milled aluminum sticks out the back of my hand about an inch (maybe a little more) when I grip the CQD. The shape of the grips is perfect to fill the palm of your hand, but narrow near where your thumb and forefinger wrap, as well as near the heal of your palm so that your grip wraps around in general, but tighter front and back. Finally, there is a swell on both sides of the grips where you would find a hilt on a fixed blade knife. Those swells allow for greater purchase and provide a depth to the grips not found on any other folding knife I'm familiar with. MOD designed a unique plunge lock mechanism into this knife and provided a secondary lock system to back that up. By locking the blade open and engaging the second lock to prevent it from closing accidentally, you essentially get a fixed blade knife.
Remembering that you get what you pay for, the CQD isn't cheap, but it's worth every penny. Having run mine through a collection of tests and evaluations (and having shown it off to anyone who will listen), it's now cleaned and back in my gun safe waiting for my youngest son to turn 21 so I can give it to him. Before I forget, it comes with a nylon pouch that is specifically designed so you can wear it vertically on your belt, or horizontal via the provided straps. A very versatile tool start to finish. Learn more about it at http://www.blackhawk.com as Masters of Defense has joined the BlackHawk Products Group family.
Next on my list is a collection of knives from SOG Knives: two fixed blades and one folder. The SOG SEAL Pup is a downsized version of their SEAL Knife 2000. With a 4.75" blade, which incorporates about 1" worth of serrations, my SOG SEAL Pup came in a kydex sheath that is notched out so that you can cut paracord, webbing, etc without having to draw the knife. I wondered why that was so important that it was being incorporated into more and more knife designs and then someone finally told me this: if you're working on an inflatable boat, the last thing you want to do is drop a knife. Makes sense to me. Further, my own cop mind added, if I can use the knife as a rescue tool without having to pull out and expose the blade, I decrease my chances of being sued for misusing the tool - even completely accidentally. The SOG SEAL Pup is also available in a nylon sheath (with common utility pouch of course) and is a very serviceable tool. One thing I should mention is that neither this knife, nor the CQD I went over first, is a recreational diver's knife. I actually planned this article as a review of knives for scuba diving. The manufacturers that I know and deal with sent me the knives they make for professionals who work in or near water. BIG difference. There are two knives that follow that are made for recreational diving. I'll be sure to mention that appropriately. The SOG SEAL Pup grips are glass-reinforced zytel (feel like rubber to me) and the sheath provides for multiple carry methods. Another versatile tool that was well thought out.
Next is the SOG Mini-Pentagon. When I first got this I saw it as a great hideout knife - but it's manufactured of the same materials and finishes as the SEAL Pup, so it carries the same corrosion resistance capabilities. Further, it's the same size as a great many recreational dive knives. In fact, if SOG would put a blunt tip on it, I think they could put it into scuba diving shops worldwide and do an okay business with it. This double-edged spear point knife sports a 3.5" blade that is straight on one side and serrated on the other. As small as it is, it's easy to keep handy and it cuts quite well. The grips (same material as SEAL Pup) are 4.24" long, which is enough to provide good purchase, and they are shaped / textured to provide a secure hold even when slick from water or sweat.
The SOG Trident is a folding lock blade that they sent me, and it too is a handy knife. SOG also makes a fixed blade Trident, and I guess we can call this the little brother. The 3.75" blade opens easily thanks to SOG's patented S.A.T. = SOG Assisted Technology. We are all familiar with this type of technology: you start the blade opening and it's pushed the rest of the way by spring power. Because SOG knows that none of us ever want a folding knife to open in our pocket (ouch) they have designed a safety lock into this knife. It locks the blade shut and you have to take the safety off to open the blade. The SOG Trident has what SOG refers to as a "Groove" (trade marked) in the handle / grips. This indent serves the same purpose as the support blade on the CQD, or the notch in the sheath on the SEAL Pup. It allows the user to cut paracord, string, etc, without having to open the blade. The grips are shaped well and the clip is positioned to allow a deep-pocket carry of the knife. For more info about SOG knives, check out http://www.sogknives.com.
Next is a very well known name in knives: Spyderco. Spyderco sent me three knives and I already had one in my collection. The one most of you would be familiar with is the Rescue line of knives. With a sheepsfoot blade that is fully serrated, the Rescue is available with black, blue or orange grips, and with two different lengths of blades (79mm = 3 1/8" or 93mm = 3 5/8"). Like most Spyderco knives today, the clip is reversible with a regular screwdriver, and the thumbhole in the blade provides for easy one hand opening. The sheepsfoot blade on the Rescue makes it easy to shove under clothing, or between a body and a seatbelt, to cut without risking puncturing the victim (we're not supposed to ADD injury during rescues, are we?).
Very similar to the Rescue is the Pacific Salt. With a blade manufactured from new H1 steel, Spyderco has integrated all of its other fine features into a knife with a VERY high corrosion resistance factor. The blade length is just under 4" and the shape is like a soft sheepsfoot design: not quite as dramatic as the Rescue, but with a definite downward curve, again, to make sure we don't stab anyone as we try to cut them free of whatever entanglement exists. Spyderco was also thoughtful enough to enlarge the thumbhole somewhat to make it easier to open the knife with gloves on. Available with black or yellow grips, the Spyderco Salt series is a useful choice around the water.
The Sypderco that I had, and which I can no longer find in their catalog, is the Snap-It. With red grips, about a 2.5" serrated blade, and a built in clip that allows you to hang the knife from a belt loop, d-ring, etc, the Snap-It is a great knife to have in or around the water. The blade is more than sufficient for most utility cutting chores, and the ability to simply snap it onto your pants, vest, etc makes it quite convenient. As I said, I can't find this tool in the current Spyderco catalog, but it's still available through some retailers such as AG Russell knives.
The last Spyderco I'm going to look at is the Assist I. When I first started playing with this knife I came to the belief that it is ideal for rescue work, especially in or near the water, and it incorporates a few features I've never seen in folding knives before. The blade has a completely blunt tip, while the cutting edge is 80% serrated, and 20% plain. The total cutting edge is just under 3.5". Rather than always having to cut with the blade open, this knife was specifically designed so that you can fold it closed on whatever you're cutting and then squeeze it as you move it to cut through the rope, cord, webbing, whatever. The thumbhole is the standard Spydero 14mm size, but they've added a hood on either side of the thumbhole that gives additional engagement for opening the blade with gloves on or in slick conditions. If you squeeze the blade shut, a carbide tip is forced out of the end of the grips - a tool with which to break windows. Finally, if you look at the picture, you can see the red material in two holes near the clip screw. That is an emergency whistle that is integrated into the grips. VERY loud; VERY annoying. My wife and my dogs would prefer if I didn't test it in the house anymore. This knife IS going to become part of my recreational dive kit. Naturally, you can find more info on Spyderco knives at http://www.spyderco.com.
No matter what knife you choose, if you're going to be doing rough work on a boat or close to water, consider the value of a lanyard - especially on folding knives that clip in your pocket. Few of us are willing to go diving to recover a knife that was lost due to slick conditions, bad weather, etc. If you take a few minutes to make a lanyard for your knife, the worst that will happen is that it'll fall to your feet, or at least not sink in the water, when you drop it. A few moments of effort = saving the cost of replacing that knife. Just a thought.
About the author:
Lt. Frank Borelli is the Training Commander and DHS Coordinator for Fairmount Heights Police Department - a suburb of Washington DC. He also owns a consulting company that contracts to the Army, trying to find ways to share military technologies with the law enforcement community. Frank has seven years of military experience, more than twenty years of law enforcement experience, and fifteen plus years of training experience. Frank writes for Blackwater, ASLET, and other law enforcement periodicals. Please send any comments to frank@borelliconsulting.com.