Having just recently looked into this, just a couple of things. First, I wanted to be able to get the knife in action with just one hand, this meant no folding knives. It also needed to release from its sheath easily with either hand from a position it would most likely be mounted on my vest. By the same reasoning, I wanted one that was double-edged, so that I wouldn't have to think or flip the knife in my hand to bring a sharp edge in action (although serations might only be on one side). I had heard about sharp end versus rounded end, and I figured on that one what was important either way was that the knife be able to poke/cut through sail or tramp material if trapped under it. Lastly, in its sheath on my vest I didn't want something that would present a tangle hazard itself.
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<br>The Murrays knife looked real good, but they were out of stock at the time and I needed something fairly quick (requirements for a race...). West Marine, Boat U.S., Boater's World, Fawcetts, etc. all had either folding knives or really heavy stuff in leather or velcro closed sheaths for offshore, foredeck, and rigger use. The only things that looked close to applicable in their catalogs were not stocked items. Off to the dive shop!
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<br>The dive shop had lots to try - smallish affordable knives that mostly fit the bill, but as most were meant to strapped to your calf, the hand motion for getting some of them out would be awkward if the sheath were mounted on a vest. Also found that sheaths that continue underneath the knife handle make it hard to get the knife in awkward positions (other than leg mount) and made for a potential of dropping the knife when released. But it was a very helpful exercise in that it was now obvious that some things that look right don't work as you would hope, and emphasized the importance of trying things out. I found a nice model that locked in a hard sheath and releases when you grab and squeeze both side of the handle together, which I bought (I don't remember the make off-hand).
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<br>I had ordered the Murrays knife anyway, and it just came in the mail. Like it a lot, it also meets all my collection of dreamed up standards, and it looks to have a more sturdy blade. I'll keep that as well, so now I have something to lend to crew.
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<br>The reason I emphasize the one-hand operation came from a pitch pole in which I got a line wrapped around my ankle. I was able to free it without much drama, but it made me think about what might happen if a line wrapped a wrist and was not so easy to get free. <br><br>Keith Chapman, Annapolis, Md.
<br>H-18
<br>Northstar 500 (monoslug)
<br>WRCRA - www.wrcra.org