What knife style and where to put it....

[jose 0]

I have had a hook knife on my rig since jump #17. I have moved it from place to place a couple times since that date, as I saw fit for quick access. There are many styles out there that are made from differing materials, some cheap and some heavy and all aluminum.

Granted the opportunity is small that I will ever use my knife, but I have thought of several scenerios that I will be visiting its location before I chop a main. Now I really dont want to talk about the specific scenerios, but the location of the actual knife and its composition.

I see them on chest straps. Leg straps. Mudflaps and I'm sure other places. I've seen cheapo colored plastic ones (which I currently have). I've seen long Jack the Ripper ones that are all aluminum that are on the opposite end of the scale. And then the neato one made by Aerodyne.

So, with all the places and styles to choose from, where in your opinion (based on actual use and lots of jump experience) is the most accessable place and style of knife.

Im thinking along the lines of getting to the knife without sight, massive g-forces, head pinned, whatever fucked up mess that you might be in. And then, construction of the knife. Not only for strength, but for practicality. IE the Ripper is a slash style that does not need any finesse to use it as it is more of a machete as compared to the small plastic ones that seem they would take quite more of a tactile approach to get the desired results.

Then there is also ergonomics of the knife itself. Will it work with gloves? Can you even get to it with gloves on, like, unsnap it? And how good of a grip do you have with it? Can you operate a riser with it still in your hand if need be?

So many things to consider in the last seconds of your life. I just want the best option I can get for that scenerio.

[AggieDave 6]

I'm a HUGE fan of Jack the Ripper knives. Why? Its big, its easy to grab and easy to hold. They're also strong and have easily replacable blades (incase they get rusty or you dull up your knife being a moron).

I prefer to have the case sewn onto the front of my right thigh. That way I always know where it is.

If I'm doing something like CReW then I'll put another hook knife on my cheststrap (atleast) so I have one low and high.

The cheapo plastic ones break when you need them, they're worst then not having a knife at all, IMO.

The aluminum knives are nice, but some are hard to get ahold of with gloves on.

The Benchmade knife is nice (the one you contributed to Aerodyne making...they distribute it, its made by Benchmade, a well known knife company), BUT I don't feel like its well suited to skydiving. I think its cool, it looks trendy and all, but I prefer to stick to my Jack the Ripper for the fore mentioned reasons.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[slotperfect 7]

A forum search would have revealed a couple of existing threads on the subject.

Arrive Safely

John