Knives

[ChanceMcCall 0]

What kind of knives are most skydivers using these days? Are many still using the automatic knives life the military used to issue? What are you doing if you go to a state where they are illegal? Thanks!

[phoenixlpr 0]

First post troll?

[countzero 7]

these days we're using hook knives. they can be found on any major skydiving gear website. i don't think any of the hook knives on the market today violate any state's weapons laws. if you think this might be an issue check the laws of the state you're planning to bring your knife into.

diamonds are a dawgs best friend

[airtwardo 7]

Nope...they're semi-automatic.

Only the military has full auto knives.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[jakee 1,595]

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What kind of knives are most skydivers using these days? Are many still using the automatic knives life the military used to issue? What are you doing if you go to a state where they are illegal? Thanks!

What the hell is an automatic knife?

Seriously though, there is no danger of hook knives becoming illegal anywhere - not even in England! You couldn't even attack an 80 year old granny with one.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[airtwardo 7]

What the hell is an automatic knife?

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I've got a couple examples of what I think he's referring to.

One is an orange 'switch blade' type, standard blade on one end, hook knife blade on the other.

The other is a Swedish military parachute knife, imagine a well made military knife with the blade, spring loaded in the grip...shooting out straight from the hilt instead of the side like a switchblade.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

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[slotperfect 7]

Several knife manufacturers now make "automatic" knives. I have a large one from Benchmade that I use at work. I don't take it home just to save me the trouble of having to explain it in the wrong circumstances.

Arrive Safely

John

[ChanceMcCall 0]

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First post troll?

First post, but I am no troll. I'm simply an once in a while skydiver who remembers the military issuing this type of knife to jump qualified personnel, and was wondering if this was acceptable still in the skydiving community.

[phoenixlpr 0]

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First post troll?

First post, but I am no troll. I'm simply an once in a while skydiver who remembers the military issuing this type of knife to jump qualified personnel, and was wondering if this was acceptable still in the skydiving community.

Ok. We can jump any knife, but I usually jump with a hook knife only, even crappy plastic ones.

[airtwardo 7]

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First post troll?

First post, but I am no troll. I'm simply an once in a while skydiver who remembers the military issuing this type of knife to jump qualified personnel, and was wondering if this was acceptable still in the skydiving community.

So do you mean the switch blade type?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[bodypilot90 0]

some time more than one

[ChanceMcCall 0]

I think the WWII and Korea ones were switch blades in that they came out the side. I think the more modern ones are out the front and same button retractables.

My question still stands. Would a DZ look at a skydiver sideways if he/she showed up with the military knife because everyone has moved to the much cheaper hook knives? Do the hook knives have advantages and/or limitations over the military knives? Why is the military still issuing them as opposed to hook knives?

[airtwardo 7]

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I think the WWII and Korea ones were switch blades in that they came out the side. I think the more modern ones are out the front and same button retract ables.

My question still stands. Would a DZ look at a skydiver sideways if he/she showed up with the military knife because everyone has moved to the much cheaper hook knives? Do the hook knives have advantages and/or limitations over the military knives? Why is the military still issuing them as opposed to hook knives?

The thing with carrying a 'non-hook knife' is more on the practicality side...weight and size factor in as well as having a longer / sharp object strapped to you during a high performance landing.... might not be a great safety plan.

I do a night pyro demo act in which a also carry heavy wire cutters with me...but for a normal skydive smaller and lighter is usually better.

Also, the orange switchblade hook knife issued by the military, made by Camillus, is definately a post WWII item.

I have one a Ranger buddy gave me he carried in Granada.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[jakee 1,595]

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Would a DZ look at a skydiver sideways if he/she showed up with the military knife because everyone has moved to the much cheaper hook knives? Do the hook knives have advantages and/or limitations over the military knives?

With a spring loaded blade? Possibly - depending on experiance levels I doubt anyone would stop you from jumping it.

For me I think the advantage of a sturdy hookknife rather than a switchblade is that it is relatively easy to only cut what you want to cut and very difficult to accidentally stab yourself in a violent malfunction.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[airtwardo 7]

Here is what I was referring to....

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[ChrisL 2]

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I think the WWII and Korea ones were switch blades in that they came out the side. I think the more modern ones are out the front and same button retractables.

My question still stands. Would a DZ look at a skydiver sideways if he/she showed up with the military knife because everyone has moved to the much cheaper hook knives? Do the hook knives have advantages and/or limitations over the military knives? Why is the military still issuing them as opposed to hook knives?

A hook knife is better (in my opinion) because there is no danger of cutting yourself with one. In an emergency in which you might be spinning and flailing around at high speed, a straight blade could be a problem in a couple ways.
For one, it would be very easy to badly cut yourself in this kind of situation. It could also be dropped more easily.

Most hook knives have handle designs that make dropping them less likely and blade designs that make cutting yourself impossible.

__

My mighty steed

[jakee 1,595]

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Here is what I was referring to....

Gotcha. Good for a lot of applications, but if I was being thrown around under a lineover or similar I don't think I would feel too happy waving three or four inches of exposed blade around - I value my face

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[airtwardo 7]

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Here is what I was referring to....

Gotcha. Good for a lot of applications, but if I was being thrown around under a lineover or similar I don't think I would feel too happy waving three or four inches of exposed blade around - I value my face

Yup!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[JohnRich 4]

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A hook knife is better (in my opinion) because there is no danger of cutting yourself with one. In an emergency in which you might be spinning and flailing around at high speed, a straight blade could be a problem in a couple ways...

In addition, with a straight-blade knife, you might have to use your other hand to hold the lines taut so that you can cut them. With a hook knife, however, you can cut with just one hand - by simply pulling one-handed, you create the tension needed to cut the line.