Knife on the arm

[Vov]

Hi everybody,
We have been discussing a lot on safety in Bulgarian spearfishing community. So I desided I need a second knife when I go sperfishing... I bought a Picasso Tigre - small, thick, strong, spposingly heavy duty and rust-free, in a soft sheath... I used a couple of velcro bands and was able to relatively easily adjust this thing handle down, on my left arm and gave it a try.
To my surprise very soon the knife slipped down and rested on my wrist... It did not and could not fall out due to a good, elastic rubber holder, but I felt very awkward and uncomfortable all the time... Next I added a number of tiny elastic cords - to hold the knife in position but somehow don't like the idea... I want to be able to retrieve it with my teeth - in the worst case scenario - but the whole thing does not seem very good.
Additionally, the knife needs some serious sharpening if I expect it to be my last resort to air... it should be sharp as a rasor...
Any suggestions, experiance with THIS knife? Thanks.

 

[Gwaihir]

Get some neoprene and glue the thing to your arm.. works great !

 

[Bill McIntyre]

.
Any suggestions, experiance with THIS knife? Thanks.

Well, not with THIS knife, but if you give up on that one, the Riffe knife with its elastic arm straps fits nicely on my forearm. The bungee cord that I added fits over the end of the sheath and holds it in, and I slip it over my wrist as I take the knife out so that I can't drop it.

As far as sharpness goes, I have cut a 3/32" stainless steel slip tip cable in the water with the serrated side of the blade.

I'm not trying to show off a fish, honest, but just trying to show how it looks on my arm.

 

[Vov]

Hi Bill,
Thanks a lot for the info and pictures...
I am probably trying to get too much... I try to find the slimmest possible, sharp and strong enough small knife to put on my arm - as a second one...

I have really seen a cluster of 1-2mm thick wire well camouflaged by vegetation already at 6-7 meters and did not like it...
I know many of us have seen and touched various ropes, lines, etc., and no matter how rarely that happens, it is still dangerous...
So I am trying to find a suitable solution, knowing that I would have ONLY seconds to understand what has happened, invent a decision and do it... I also know (as well as you and others) that sh*t happens VERY quickly without any notice...
Vov

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I actually like a bit of a round handle to make it easier to hold.

That knife that I called a Riffe is actually not really a Riffe, but is made in the same factory in Italy that makes Riffe, but without his name on it. The guy who imports them to the US is Masahiro Mori, morifish@aol.com, and he charges $30.

But he also offers a slimmer knife that he himself uses in a pocket sewn to his wet suit, and that one costs $35.

 

[deep thinker]

Instead of using velcro straps, use rubber straps with a buckle, they are stronger and you can pull them tight so they dont move down your arm. Otherwise attach the velcro ends to a elastic strap to get a better tighter fit on your arm.
I use the rubber straps and have never lost my knife nor have it move around on my arm.

 

[miles]

Hiya

Recently bought the new Omer Mini-laser ( check Diving-Action . com ) Specifically designed to be used on the arm. Very comfortable and very easy to use!!

Highly recommend them!!

Regards
miles

 

[Pastor]

Have you found it wanting to slip down your arm to your wrist Miles? I have benched mine in favor of a standard double strap

 

[foxfish]

I found the omer quite difficult to use & have chucked it in a box for the time being! Might try to mod the straps with some Velcro or something next season.

 

[miles]

Hiya

Foxfish, i think you're talking about a different omer knife. The minilaser comes with a nylon sheath and a single broad velcro strap. Apparently a relatively new design from Omer.

Pastor, i carry the knife on my fore-arm and have experimented with it on both the inside and outside of the arm. No problems at all with it slipping down!! The blade is thin and small, making despatching fix very easy. Really comfortable knife to use!!

Only problem i have is that my wife LOVES the knife, so its been appropriated to her dive-bag!!:vangry:vangry

 

[foxfish]

Same knife Miles but sounds like a different sheath, mine has two straps & a plastic sheath? Anyhow my mini laser would not grip the nylon outer of my suit so I thought I might mod it by gluing a small piece of Velcro to my suit sleeve & the back of the sheath, I have done this to the waist line of my suit & my shot weight belt to stop the belt sliding when I dive.

 

[miles]

is this it?

 

[sunfish]

Vov, I have the Picasso knife and sheath and was very dissapointed with it. I thought it'd be good because of the name. As you say, the sheath doesn't hold the knife properly. When you try to sharpen it you will find it neither takes nor holds an edge properly.
The knife with elastic cord, in Bills picture, is made by Spetton and is a good knife in these respects. I have the same one for 3 years and recomend it.

 

[Mr. X]

Re. sheath's, the Omer Mini-Laser, mentioned by Miles, is surely the best option. Omer also used to offer a small knife called the Hunter which is sometimes worn on the arm I am told. I love the RA Limpet Sheath for flat knives. It is held on by two broad elastic bands. [ It looks like is made by folding some special thick tape.] It *might* work on your arm but I wear it on my leg. Can't come undone & holds the knife securely -- it would be hard to get the knife out with your teeth though!

Re. sharpening, several people recommend the fancy American Laskey system. A friend bought one & showed me how to use it. It worked ok on a flat blade knife but just didn't work on my diamond profiled dagger blade (perhaps you need some special extra piece or technique?). If you don't care about how pretty your blade looks & want a sharp knife quickly, it is really is hard to beat a mill bastard file. If the blade is pretty sharp anyway, a kitchen knife sharpener sometimes works (doesn't work well for mine though). Alternatively a plain old sharpening stone (or 2-side stone: rough & smooth) - they work great on pen-knives & small sheath knives; I would say don't use oil (others will no doubt disagree - but it cloggs up the stone). You can buy/carve a blade guide if you want a consistent angle, but I don't care too much about that. For a super sharp blade, you might be able to get some benefit from a kitchen sharpening steel or leather strap but that seems like over-kill; a very sharp blade might be too thin - in which case it might fold in use. I would avoid high speed grinders - as they can affect the temper of the steel (there are some low speed ones specially designed for sharpening kitchen knives though - but where is the fun in that).