Petzl

[ringzero]

Petzl has been around for a long time.

I've always associated the name Petzl with expensive, but top of the line caving gear.  Great headlamps in carbide, electric, and hybrid.  Great gear for vertical caving.  Also a range of rock climbing and moutaineering gear.

Petzl was the first big company to make and widely distribute cutting edge equipment designed specifically for cave exploring.  Not repurposed climbing equipment, but stuff designed for caving from the get go.  Because of that, Petzl will always be a sentimental favorite of mine.

Anway, I wasn't aware that Petzl was selling knives until I saw them being discussed in a thread here on MTO.

Here's a pic of Petzl's bigger friction folder, which I believe they call Spatha:



Very interesting design.  Also comes in a smaller version, but I couldn't find a good pic of that.

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[donvito]

Seen the knives in store a while back, think they are relatively cheap $25 for the big one and around 20 for the smaller one, can't comment on build or quality didn't get a chance to handle them.

I have the Tikka plus for over 8 years and it's still going strong, the elight is a relatively new addition for me, but it too seems like a quality build product. 

[John]

Mark I recall GG buying the smaller one today both are called spatha and the smaller one is serrated 
http://www.altrec.com/petzl/spatha-knife-small?cm_sp=Baynote-_-Detailpage-_-DetailPageAlsoWantA

[Gareth]

Shame the large one is just to long for legal EDC at 82mm.  I've always associated them with headlamps myself although I knew they also did climbing gear.

[Mr. Whippy]

Petzl (among others) are also big in ice climbing and rock climbing gear.  I climb with a pair of Petzl Quarks and love my Petzl Tikka plus headlamp. Their ropes have a reputation for shedding the outer sheath.  Decent crampons (not as good as Grivels IMO) and excellent rock gear.

I've seen their knife in person and actually wasn't that impressed.  Nice big hole for clipping but the blade was not confidence inspiring at the pivot point (sort of felt like it was hit or miss).


 

[ringzero]

Given Petzl's areas of expertise, I'd imagine this knife is highly specialized  - designed for durability and reliability in adverse conditions.

-No locking mechanism to jam up when coated with a thick layer of cave mud and gritty sand.

-Probably some sort of rust proof steel to survive long term in a constantly wet cave environment.

-Primary function would be to cut nylon rope and webbing.

-One hand accessible blade.

Doesn't look to be a great general purpose knife, but as a caving knife it might be very good.

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[Mr. Whippy]

Given Petzl's areas of expertise, I'd imagine this knife is highly specialized  - designed for durability and reliability in adverse conditions.

-No locking mechanism to jam up when coated with a thick layer of cave mud and gritty sand.

-Probably some sort of rust proof steel to survive long term in a constantly wet cave environment.

-Primary function would be to cut nylon rope and webbing.

-One hand accessible blade.

Doesn't look to be a great general purpose knife, but as a caving knife it might be very good.

.
 

Yea, I don't know about the whole caving thing.  Tight spaces to wriggle through, can't always get a hand free, restrict ability to breathe--makes me a little claustrophobic.  

Ok, maybe a LOT claustophobic. 

Canyoneering? That looks fun, but caving?  Don't think I'd enjoy that.

[american lockpicker]

Is that knife made in France.

[Shane769]

I know probably 5 guys that climb with these knives clipped to harnesses, and I agree with what Mr. Whippy says. The pivot is really, really hit or miss, 2 hits and 3 misses in my group. It has lots of play in theirs, and does not seem like something sturdy at all. As for cave mud, I highly doubt it, since we climbed on a windy day a while back on a crag with a sand scree slope under it, and the dust that blew around almost completely jammed a pivot, on one of the good ones. Well oiled and looked after as well. The steel they use, not sure what it is, is pretty rustproof, as no one had any rust on theirs, but I don't know about how well it will handle constant wetness in a cave... No one I know caves. The OHO, really tricky, and from my attempts, hard to actually accomplish. And while I'm not trying to bash Petzl at all (I'm a bit of a BD guy) I don't know how well I would want to trust that if my life was in the balance 

And on the topic of caving... I don't know if I will ever do it
A friend of a friend got nearly killed a couple months back on a trip I was invited on but couldn't attend. The lead on the way out places a cam behind a big flake, and as the cam released tension and pushed against it, it busted off... all 500+ pound of it, landing square on one of the people below. Lucky he was over 6'5", since it only caught him in the chest, and didn't get higher.

[Gareth]

Youch!  That sounds scary as heck.

[Mr. Whippy]

And on the topic of caving... I don't know if I will ever do it
A friend of a friend got nearly killed a couple months back on a trip I was invited on but couldn't attend. The lead on the way out places a cam behind a big flake, and as the cam released tension and pushed against it, it busted off... all 500+ pound of it, landing square on one of the people below. Lucky he was over 6'5", since it only caught him in the chest, and didn't get higher.

Worst nightmare alert!

Actually, worse than that is the one where the flake comes off, lead falls and is seriously injured and then I have to riggle through some gawdawful tight slot on lead   

Caves? 

[Shane769]

And on the topic of caving... I don't know if I will ever do it
A friend of a friend got nearly killed a couple months back on a trip I was invited on but couldn't attend. The lead on the way out places a cam behind a big flake, and as the cam released tension and pushed against it, it busted off... all 500+ pound of it, landing square on one of the people below. Lucky he was over 6'5", since it only caught him in the chest, and didn't get higher.

Worst nightmare alert!

Actually, worse than that is the one where the flake comes off, lead falls and is seriously injured and then I have to riggle through some gawdawful tight slot on lead    (Image removed from quote.)

Caves? 

Amen to that. Multipitchs can be hard enough... but being in a hole doing one....
Not my bag at all

[ringzero]

Thanks for the real world reports, guys.

Sorry to hear about the pivot problems.  I figured the reason for the unusual pivot design was to make it resisitant to jamming up due to mud and grit.  Maybe that was the intention, but looks like it didn't work out so well.

Petzl gear is usually well thought out and executed, in my experience.

Sounds like they should have done a little more R and D before bringing out the Spatha.

About caving.

While there are technically challenging vertical caves with very unpleasant conditions, there are plenty of caves that require no climbing or ropework at all.

There are claustrophobic caves with tight squeezes, but also caves with no crawling at all.  Caves that require wetsuits and caves that are completely dry.

Caves for everyone, from the total newb, to the hard core vertical caver and cave diver.

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[Shane769]

I know there are a lot of different kind of caves, and I have been in the really big open ones, mostly a couple around North and South Dakota on a trip once. But I think me and Whippy are more :surrender:towards the vertical technical climbing, crawling caves. But yeah, the only reason that Petzl made the pivot how it is, that I can tell, is so that you can throw in on a racking 'biner and keep it one you at all times.

So you cave eh? Got any good pics?

[ringzero]

I know there are a lot of different kind of caves, and I have been in the really big open ones, mostly a couple around North and South Dakota on a trip once. But I think me and Whippy are more :surrender:towards the vertical technical climbing, crawling caves. But yeah, the only reason that Petzl made the pivot how it is, that I can tell, is so that you can throw in on a racking 'biner and keep it one you at all times.

So you cave eh? Got any good pics?

Got lots of cave pics, but none in digital format - they're mostly slides.

As far as vertical caving, rock climbing, and mountaineering, I miss them all.  The spirit is still willing, but alas, the flesh has grown weak.  Enjoy it while you can.

I still enjoy caves, but nowdays the caves are of the less challenging, walk through variety.  ;>

.

[Woz]

@ Ben: Yes Sir, they are French made.
The 12C27 INOX used is GREAT. it is made by Sandvik and used on some famous MORA models, Laguiole knives and even some older Bark River knives. That´s a hell of a steel!
But, to be honest, I do not like the Spatha. Yes, it is lightweight, offers great steel and is cheap. But it feels cheap too, I do not like the opening mechanism and I do not think it is very ergonomic. After all, it is designed to be a climbing knife, not much more than an emergency tool. Guess it is good for that, but not for EDC duty, imho.