PFD knife revisted...

[Fiskadoro]

I'm kind of nuts about safety since I like to paddle alone. After a discussion about PFD safety knives here at BWE I rethought the idea, and essentially bought one for my vest. It's a Spyderco hawkbill or more technically a Byrd Crossbill folder, which I got from Sierra Trading Post during one of their daily sales, for $13.

Just got it today, and I'm already very pleased.


Did a little demo vid which you can see here:



The deal with a safety knife for me is I wanted something that could cut me loose in a hurry if I tangled in a rope or line in the water, but that I could carry kind of hassle free. So the knife is just what I wanted. It fits great on the vest, no sheath, easy to use one handed, light weight, low profile, big enough blade to do the job....etc. So I can clip it to my vest when yakking, it's easy to get to, and I have the safety of a good knife without the bulk of a sheath knife.

Works for me..


Jim

[f'nsabiki]

the new "Billy Mays"

[driftwood]

Good life saving info. Got a little scared looking at this video. Never seen a
kayak ninja man.

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by driftwood

Good life saving info. Got a little scared looking at this video. Never seen a
kayak ninja man.

LOL... Ninja man = Priceless


I didn't know what to expect when i first say his video.

[wiredantz]

The knife looks pretty good, you can use it in case a white shark tries to take a bite out of your kayak.

[Socalrobt]

Hey, Jim. Do you have the part number for that knife? Thank you.

[lterrero]

Thanks for the post Jim.

[Iceman]

Loved the cameo walk on from Rin Tin Tin

[Billy V]

Do you have 9 or 10 feet of grade 70 transportation chain in that vest ?
lmao.

Love the video. Kind of a spinoff of De Niro

[THE DARKHORSE]

And I thought I had too much spare time on my hands

In Jim's defense, though, at least he goes fishing on a regular basis and, for the most part, knows what he's doing. Unlike the majority of the safety squad and tinker'rs around here.
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I've never carried a knife on the kayak (unless I know I'm going to be chumming for hours on end). Then again, I'm pretty good at not getting wrapped up in loose lines and don't have a great fear of the unknown.

While I appreciate all the go, go, go-safety guys (ya' know, guys who bring multiple GPS units, multiple radios, flares, two bilge pumps, extra batteries just in case?)---we're not exactly roping Great White Sharks!

Kayak fishing is as dangerous as you make it, I guess .

[dorado50]

X2... most guys are trying to squeeze the Queen Mary into their kayaks instead of fishing.WTF. A folding knife will almost all the time take two hands to unfold, I'll take any straight knife anytime.

[Nic D]

quick search found this knife http://www.outdoorplay.com/Stohlquis...shoppingdotcom

from this site http://www.thefind.com/sports/info-squeeze-lock-knife

[Iceman]

there's more than 1 way to............

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by Iceman

there's more than 1 way to............

If there's anything that I like...I mean really really like, its humor.

[BT]

Thats not a knife, THIS is a knife!


one thing I will point out from your video, and this isn't knocking you at all just what I saw, is that you acted in a panic wrapping your hand up, but as soon as went for your knife you acted calm when opening it up and cutting your rope. train how you fight, fight how you train. I am not saying go out and put yourself in a dangerous situation, but everyone should keep in mind that once panic and fear truly sets in, your brain reacts to the situation differently than it normally would. Keep in mind that you may not have the motor skills to open that knife one handed once you really begin to panic.

other than that, I say nice knife! You can tell it is definitely sharp by how it went thru that rope. I am a knife guy. People were commenting on prices of knives, but there are reasons some knives are expensive. I have never gotten a sale knife at Big 5 that has lasted more than 3 months. But I have a Spyderco that has lasted 10 years.

I have a handful of great knives, and a bunch of crap ones, but I when I fish (from a boat or a yak) I have a folding knife and a filet knife. On my yak the filet knife is by my left hand, and the folding knife is in my pant or wader pockets. I would think a decent filet knife would cut through kelp or rope if it is kept sharp. You can get an easy to use sharpener for a couple of bucks, and when you are out fishing you should always keep your edge sharp.

I am also a flashlight guy...and if I told you how much I have paid for some of my flash lights you would look at me like I have three heads. But in my line of work, we have a saying, "one light is no light, two lights is one light, and three lights is a minimum."

[WahooUSMA]

Originally Posted by Iceman

there's more than 1 way to............

Hahaha funny, Andy.

I carried a Spyderco knife for many years. Best knife to cut away a seat belt, or commence with some great bodily injury. Don't think I would carry something like that on a yak for fear I might injure myself, or have the blade open up while I am being tossed in the surf. Yes, after time the blade will loosen, if not tightened regularly. If and when I carry a knife, its usually just the cheap plastic handle bait knife from Long Fin or local tackle store.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

.... in Jim's defense...... at least he goes fishing on a regular basis and, for the most part, knows what he's doing.....

So they tell me...

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

I've never carried a knife on the kayak....... Then again, I'm pretty good at not getting wrapped up in loose lines and don't have a great fear of the unknown.....

I hear that.

Actually there is kind of a tongue and cheek aspect to my post and video, but you know how it is: no-one ever get's my sense of humor.

I've been fishing small craft near and offshore for a few decades now in So. Cal. Often way offshore. I've been caught in storms even gales with forty to sixty knot winds. You know how many times I have needed a knife in a emergency situation? Not once!

The closest to an emergency I've used a knife is when I had to cut a hoopnet rope off some other knuckleheads prop after he ran over my hoonet

Irritating as hell but not all that dangerous.

Saltwater Kayak fishing is not white water rafting. Its not like your going to get tangled in a web of gear ropes then get beat to death as the raft runs the rapids out of control.

Like I said in the other post..... I use a knife on the kayak for only a few basic things. Cutting bait, gutting fish, or sometimes stabbing it deep into halibut, or T sharks to severe their spinal column to incapacitate them.

My take is there is nothing wrong with clipping a knife to your vest, and yes maybe in a emergency situation a knife might come in handy, but if I'm going to carry a knife I want it to be a real knife that's balanced has a point and feels good in my hand.

A knife is just a tool, and I like good tools. My new knife will probably do more damage to halibut then any ropes that cross my path. Hey and look on the bright side... If I end up in the water far offshore, drifting in my PFD waiting for the inevitable scavengers to come, at least I'll have something to stick in their eye before they chew my leg off.




"From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee. Ye damned whale. "

[DESTROYER]

Originally Posted by THE DARKHORSE

While I appreciate all the go, go, go-safety guys (ya' know, guys who bring multiple GPS units, multiple radios, flares, two bilge pumps, extra batteries just in case?)---we're not exactly roping Great White Sharks!

Kayak fishing is as dangerous as you make it, I guess .

This coming from a Guide.LOL! I guess you're a good swimmer

I know where you coming from, but I never knock the over prepared kayak fisherman because I know it will come back and bite me in the ass.

Nice Video Jim. I think that same knife saved Rob Sanford's life when his Defiance Boat capsized on a wave coming into the MB Channel. His automatic floatation PFD had him trap in the pilot house and if he didn't have a knife on him, he would have died. Thanks for sharing.


Moyer

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Kind of what I was thinking Matt, is it really a good idea to give people a hard time about wanting to be safe. Particularly when you are in a position of people trying to follow your example.

For the record I normally have a knife on board but not on my PFD. On my PFD I usually keep a hook knife. They are great for quickly cutting line and you never have to worry about getting stuck or cutting your PFD.
This is the one I have from Benchmade. I see they now have some new ones that I may have to take a look at that may be better for the kayak.
http://www.benchmade.com/products/8

[BT]

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

This is the one I have from Benchmade. I see they now have some new ones that I may have to take a look at that may be better for the kayak.
http://www.benchmade.com/products/8

I was trying to find those earlier but was thinking spyderco and not benchmade. We use these at work, and they cut thru anything.

I like the 9 CB carabiner. Has a blade cover, carabiner clip, AND a bottle opener.

Those are great tools and have used them to rip seat belts, web gear and clothing off with ease. Great yak application.