So, I have a compound problem....

[superpaco]

Yesterday I was using my super-cool LM wrenches that i got from Loki to take apart my Micra to clean it and lube it after a failed attempt to keep it dry while in the pool. It was going fine on the first handle, complete teardown, polish, lube and re-assemble accomplished, I moved on to the second side. Then I torqued on the other handles' bolt for like ten minutes before i was sitting there with a partially rounded out tool and a bold head that had been twisted right off. Now I'm looking up sailors knives and I'm eyeing a Caribbean or a Boye to ensure I have no similar problems in the future. Then it occurs to me that maybe I have a problem; I am consumed with unease if I cannot carry my "gear" with me. I need at least a knife, but what I really want is a knife, a light, a multitool, flame, and a pencil. Do any of you all go through this? My wife is planning a trip to Disney and I'm considering my tool layout versus their policies. I have a certain knife/tool for when I'm sick cause it s easier to carry and keep track of. I have a tool problem. And my Micra is broke. And I need a new sailors knife that apparently should have more than the usual amount nitrogen and/or cobalt in it. How about you?

[Spartan19]

As for the sailing knives, I would recommend the Spyderco salt series, or a buck 110, that's the knife I've carried at sea on my belt every day, and never had any complaints, the same for the spydercos, which are awesome sailing knives. If you want a fixed blade, the myerchin offshore is a good system. Also victorinox makes a great sailing knife

[Sos24]

I also need to have certain edc items on me to feel comfortable, which is why I have a pocket organizer with SAK, flashlight, lighter, pen, and some basic first aid/hygiene items almost always on me.  If it is somewhere that a blade is not allowed then I switch to the Leatherman Style PS.

As far as sailor’s knives, mine is a British Army Knife which was a gift.

[Aloha]

You are among friends.  I think the vast majority of us here love tools and find we really love having one or several on us at all times. 

[superpaco]

Well thanks for the recommendations and words of solidarity. I have been looking at the Salt series and they look great, but the 110 idea surprises me. Tell me Spartan19 what do you do for care on your 110 and how often is it submerged? Cause I plan on my knife getting wet and staying wet a lot...

[Alan K.]

I'm sure he's not swimming with the buck 110. The wood handles would be destroyed very quickly. You can swim with the Spyderco Salt as long as you rinse it in fresh water, dry it and oil it between uses. If you really want a knife you can swim with you should consider a dive knife or kayaker's knife. They are the only ones really made to get and stay wet.

[Aloha]

From what I am reading LC200N is pretty great for a wet conditions blade steel. 

[ReamerPunch]

Spyderco Caribbean or Waterway? 

[Spartan19]

Well thanks for the recommendations and words of solidarity. I have been looking at the Salt series and they look great, but the 110 idea surprises me. Tell me Spartan19 what do you do for care on your 110 and how often is it submerged? Cause I plan on my knife getting wet and staying wet a lot...

Ah. That's going to be a problem, as what I do is all on top of the water, so my knife is never submerged. That could be a problem for diving. In that case, I'd get a boye Cobalt knife, nothing to rust there

[superpaco]

I'm sure he's not swimming with the buck 110. The wood handles would be destroyed very quickly. You can swim with the Spyderco Salt as long as you rinse it in fresh water, dry it and oil it between uses. If you really want a knife you can swim with you should consider a dive knife or kayaker's knife. They are the only ones really made to get and stay wet.

That's what I was thinking, then I gave it another think.  I decided that my Buck 110 being Dymondwood (sp.) brass and stainless steel wouldnt be the worst knife someone ever chose to get wet. Then I decided to take my smurfin' skirt off and use some of those drawer-princesses for their god-given purpose! I then selected my Kershaw Cryo as a knife I would not cry over using or losing. Full stainless and aluminimum construction, frame lock, individual stand-offs, bronze washers, and a titanium-whozits-extra-corrosion-resistant coating. I had it made in the shade. Three days later and five cumulative hours of submersion later, no rinsing and I see no problems. Except one. Now I want the really nice really light version.

[superpaco]

Spyderco Caribbean or Waterway? 

From what I am reading LC200N is pretty great for a wet conditions blade steel.

Yes, I think the Caribbean is on the short list.

Ah. That's going to be a problem, as what I do is all on top of the water, so my knife is never submerged. That could be a problem for diving. In that case, I'd get a boye Cobalt knife, nothing to rust there

And the Boye is the one after that. I mean, if the end game is 'Waterworld' these are just the ticket....

[getahl]

To piggy back on  a previous comment, Spyderco's salts have proven to be impervious to rust to me. My Pacific Salt has been in a few pools, and been in and out of the Pacific, without rinsing, for about a decade. No rust. I've heard some of the early units would rust on the laser engraved H1 on the blade, but that proved to be stainless particles leftover from the engraving operation. So far , so good.

[superpaco]

To piggy back on  a previous comment, Spyderco's salts have proven to be impervious to rust to me. My Pacific Salt has been in a few pools, and been in and out of the Pacific, without rinsing, for about a decade. No rust. I've heard some of the early units would rust on the laser engraved H1 on the blade, but that proved to be stainless particles leftover from the engraving operation. So far , so good.

Excellent info, thanks!

[nate j]

To piggy back on  a previous comment, Spyderco's salts have proven to be impervious to rust to me. My Pacific Salt has been in a few pools, and been in and out of the Pacific, without rinsing, for about a decade. No rust. I've heard some of the early units would rust on the laser engraved H1 on the blade, but that proved to be stainless particles leftover from the engraving operation. So far , so good.

This was almost exactly my experience with my Pacific Salt.  Multiple swims in pools and the Atlantic Ocean, with only a touch of discoloration around the "H1" engraving.

The only other problem I had with it was that the ocean swims seem to have left some fine sand in the pivot, which no amount of rinsing seems to remove.  Doesn't seem to affect operation, but will probably shorten the life of the knife.  Doesn't appear to be any easy way to disassemble the knife for cleaning.  I wish there were more fixed blade options in H1.