diving knives........

[NickBCotswold]

had to borrow one from a buddy on my last club dive at babbacombe as i hadnt yet got around to buying one.....

now bought a stiletto small 4" blade with shief (blade has surrated edge and "hook type thing!") - wanted small knife to stow away in BC rather than the james bond 12" strap to the leg macho knife (ooh err!) - so now I've got it it comes with a clip attchment on the shief and also a screw in permant hose clip (its a u-shape tube the you screw around a hose and to back of the shief) - whats people preferences on here to BC knives.....I'm personally happy just to put it into a zipped pocket, but then is it best to screw it to a hose??

not really something i've looked up! never seen anyone with a knife attached to a gauge hose or octopus!

advice/opinions anyone??

cheers!

Nick B

[IainC]

Put it anywhere where it is easy to get to.

In a zipped pocket would not count in my book, but YMMV.

Most common placing (on a hose) would be on the inflator hose of your BCD so it is near your shoulder - seen a few people do that.

Forearm is probably most accessible, also fixed to outside of BCD
pocket works.

Try a few places and see - remember getting at it is more difficult with gloves and with your mask on (reduced vision).

Iain C.

[Woz]

I have a small Beaver Eclipse on my wrist and a Green River (http://www.victoryknives.co.nz/underwater.html) on my waist. Bloke did a test (http://www.southwestmafia.com/forumswm/showthread.php?t=3578) on some knives in his shed with monofilament, netting and rope and only the Green River did everything. Snips were rubbish at rope, knives rubbish at monofilament. Green River went through the lot like, well, a knife through hot butter. You can get them from Divex (http://www.divex.co.uk) or a bloke in the Netherlands. (http://www.subsupply.eu/shop/product_info.php?products_id=180&osCsid=0d43f9f493ab923d3dda4194d5d41ce7)

It's apparently the sharp scalloping that's the key.

[NickBCotswold]

cheers guys!

way i see it i got 3 options:

1 - store away in zipped pocket: out of the way but hard to access in emergency!

2 - clip thats on it: can take whole thing on/off easily when setting up, storing away but its easy to dislodge and lose the knife on a dive!

3 - permanent screwed hose clip - once its on the hose can only remove with screws - more permanent but least its secure and sat on the shoulder more accessable!

think i'll try out number 3 at the pool on friday night (assuming us in gloucester get our bloody water switched back on sometime this week!)

many thanks!!!!!

Next question: good "OD novice" torch to look at buying - happy to spend around £40-£50.......

Nick B

[Woz]

Here's a photo of how I have my knife mounted so you dont lose it:
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/harness/wrist.jpg

And as for a torch, I would thoroughly recommend the Tek-tite Expedition Star. On budget, bright, tough and lasts for a stupidly long time. Good enough for wreck diving then when you can afford a light sabre, great as a backup torch.

www.lumbbros.co.uk (http://www.lumbbros.com)

[NickBCotswold]

brilliant, cheers woz!!!!!

will check out the torch too!

Anyone esle any torch reccomendations?

Nick B

[AndyA]

Nick

Im doing OD at the moment too (last dive this Wed at Stoney) and recently bought a Princeton Tec Shockwave LED. Used it at Stoney and it was great, easy to switch on and gave a great light. Bought mine in the US so got it for around £50. I think they are are more over here. I initially thought of getting a cheaper first torch but decided I would prefer something more rugged and reliable.
Found this link which shows it at £83, may get it cheaper if you shop around.
http://www.simplyscuba.com/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=19847

[NickBCotswold]

cheers b29..... will check it out and see if I can find it cheaper on "tinternet!


good luck with your last dive(s) at stoney! mine was only a couple of months ago and for the "pilotage" and "leading the dive" I kinda got lost in the murkiness!!! - least on my briefling to my instructor, part of the dive sign checks I made a new one: forefinger and thumb spread at 90 degrees and placed on the forehead means two things: "Lost" and "Loser!" lol!!!

had to use it twice!!!!!

still - - eventually found my way from the aircraft cockpit over past the nautilus and onto the room under the decking - so passed!!!

good luck matey!

Nick B

[AndyA]

Cheers Nick

Im hoping that vis may not be too bad. We're going in at 6pm so hoping everything has settled after the 4pm exit ! Try looking at some US sites, scubatoys.com, diversdirect.com and leisurepro.com are some I have either used or visited in person. With the pound being so strong against the dollar there are bargains to be had. Even if you get stumped with import tax you can still make savings.

[Alex Liddon]

I also had a shockwave for my first torch.

Underwater world @ Stoney Cove have it on offer at the moment.

http://www.underwaterworld.co.uk/acatalog/Shockwave-Torch-Bargain-section.html

Alex

[Gav S]

Hi, another good report for the shockwave here. Funnily enough though...bought the torch at an LDS so had a few models out to test etc. Anyway, had two of the shockwaves out for some reason and tried them side by side - marked difference in brightness. Chap said that the electronics in LED torches differ and do cause this effect. Needless to say I took the brighter one - moral being, once you've decided on the model try a few and choose the best.

As for knives - I tried a BC knife on the inflator hose but didn't like it much (wasn't keen on having it cinched on the hose and generally in the way of things). I attached it to my BC through two grommets on the pocket. I would not keep a knife in my pocket. Would also recommend snips - the bowstone ones are nice as they are held in with a little webbing strip which is also easy to tug out.

[Roz]

I have a Green River[/URL] on my waist.

I know that a lot of the commercial divers swear by Green River knives.

I carry an titanium knife and a pair of shears. http://www.narkedat60.com/store/itemDetails.asp?id=22-33-171 I agree with Woz's comments - the knife is for rope work and the shears for pretty much everything else. Forget net cutters, shears are just perfect for monofilament as they give you a very controlled cut. If you end up being caught up in mono and your buddy has buggered off, these are useful because you can "feel" a hose between the shear blades before you cut. Trying to cut yourself out of mono with a knife can at times be quite scary and haphazard. I find the shears from Narked at 60 ideal, because the sheath allows you to stash it in all sorts of places on your kit, whilst the strap ensures the shears are held securely whilst still being v. simple and easy to access in anger.

[NickBCotswold]

cheers roz, woz, b29 and everyone else!

go lots to think about!!! back in the pool tonight so will try the knife on the hose, see how it feels and if i can comfortably get it wearing gloves.....

will do a bit more research regading the torch.....trying to stick to around £40 budget, so a bit risky still buying fro the net, even tho you tend to save money that way......

cheers for the advice and will also osk the guys at the club tonight what they use.......


least we've running water down in gloucester again!!!!

Nick B