Hi Tim, I strongly recommend getting a stainless steel knife with a serrated blade so that you can always take it with you and know that it will be able to cut through lines and straps quickly. The serrations make a big difference. The other thing I strongly recommend is getting a relatively cheap knife so that you feel fine about taking it with you and do not worry about possibly losing it. I have found very good knives like these at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I wish I had known about them before I spent so much more on the Gerber knife I bought. Go to your local big box home improvement center and look for a knife there. Because the price is right, buy one for your crew, too! Take care, Mike<br><br>