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The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Nautical Knives, Art and Collectables

This group is for you sea dogs who enjoy anything nautical. Two connections to iKC are divers' knives and sailors' knives. Other possible related topics are model ship building and collecting, nautical photography, boat building, sailing, etc.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on December 30, 2012 at 19:42

Been a while since anyone has posted. I recently picked up a 1980 2 Sheffield made 2 piece clasp knife. It has the little arrow on the handle so I think Genuine issue.

It is shown below along with a Rodgers 1 piece and the Genuine Army (Lewis) 3 piece Clasp Knife. All Sheffield made.

All three

Two Piece

Three piece

Comment by Tobias Gibson on June 7, 2012 at 12:22

If you're not in the group "Box Full of Knives" and haven't been following the Discussion "Military Knives" you might want to drop by. They've been showing a bunch of old Military Riggers.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on May 17, 2012 at 14:37

I need to re-cant my comments about the Davis Yachtsman Rigging knife. I said some pretty harsh things about when I first got it but after using for some time, I have to admit, it is better than I thought. I'm sure more than one person has formed a different opinion of a knife (either good or bad) after using it for a while.

I've updated my review at Amazon (if you wish to read it the link is below. Originally I had it 1 star, then it went to 2 stars after a few months of using it. It probably been close to two years now and it keeps doing what I want it to do. Hard not to give a knife 4 stars when it performs better than you thought it ever would.

Amazon Review

Comment by Tobias Gibson on March 15, 2012 at 11:40

So I check my email this morning and I find this notice from Amazon regarding my review of the British Army 3 pieces clasp knife offered through Rothco:

Knife sounds great but I question the veracity of the author. The comments read more like an advertisement from the manufacturer. So, either kudos to the earnest reviewer for great writing skill and time on his hands to write such comments. Or, boooo to the advertiser for trying to pull the wool over my eyes. However, like all comments, I tend to disregard the rants and raves. Bottom line.....looks like a good knife and will consider purchasing.

Apparently the comment was pulled by the author or Amazon or hasn't shown up yet. Either way, I'm going to take it as a compliment.

This the link to the knife. It has 2 five star reviews and 1 one star review.

British Army knife by Rothco (It is actually made by Lewis in Sheffield and distributed by Rothco.)

Comment by Jan Carter on October 26, 2011 at 18:28

Tobias,

My best practice on ebay, look up the knife at other sites and see what its going for.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on October 26, 2011 at 17:45

Someone is in for a big disappointment. Someone on eBay has a $26 bid on the S&W rigging knife. Retail is about $12. Of the stainless steel riggers, it is one of my least faves. Feels bad in the hand and the bail is in the way when you use the spike. See the bid under this eBay number: 400250486954

Comment by Terry Waldele on May 22, 2011 at 14:40

Thanks, Tobias. I have a knife with a shackle key and now I know what it's for

Comment by Tobias Gibson on May 22, 2011 at 8:17

The odd looking blade is a shackle key

The shackle key is unique to the world of sailing knives. It is a flat unsharpened blade with an elongated hole in the center that often narrows at the handle end of the blade. It is used for loosening shackles (butterfly like screw heads) on ships and boats. (To be more precise, the shackle key loosens the screw pin that holds the shackle in place, thus shackle key; it opens a shackle.) On folding knives, the shackle key is often a blade unto itself, a hole cut in the main blade, or is built into the frame of the knife. The shackle key is sometimes formed in the handle end of marlin spikes; giving the spike a resemblance to a large needle.

Comment by Terry Waldele on May 21, 2011 at 23:52

This appears to be an Ibberson "Doublesharp Yachtsman's Knife." Can you tell me the purpose of the odd looking blade with the bottle opener on it?

Comment by Tobias Gibson on May 21, 2011 at 19:21

That's one heck of bilge find!

Comment by Rino Smajo on May 21, 2011 at 18:34

gift from a friend (he found it in bilge)

Comment by Terry Waldele on June 1, 2010 at 2:35

Hi Jim,
Welcome aboard the good ship "Nautical 'Nives." I can relate to your comment about the impulse to buy rigging knives. When my son was a pre-teen, he told me he really wanted something (I forget now what it was, but whatever it was, it befuddled me as to why he would want one.) So, I asked him "Why do you want THAT?" His response was, "Uh, just to have." It really boils down to just that. You SEE it; you WANT it; so you BUY it - SIWIBI. BTY, I still have a ways to go to reach just the shoebox phase. (My rigging knives still fit in a cigar box.) One of my favorites is what appears to be a very old British rigging knife that I bought in an antique store near Prescott, AZ. It was so rusty you could barely make out what it was deep in the bottom of the "junk box." I de-rusted it, and that's all the clean-up I did on it. This is it:

Comment by Jim Child on May 31, 2010 at 10:19

Hey All! I figured I'd be polite and warn everyone that I'd come aboard.

Maybe 15 years ago I noticed that I owned three "rigging knives": a Kabar "system" with spike and multi-plier-tool and a Capt. Currey UK folder inherited from my Dad and a cheap SS Davis folder I'd picked up at one of the local "marine supply" stores. I announced to my family that I was "officially collecting rigging knives" and they should feel free to gift me with multiples of same!

For a lot of years I was happy just buying a blade when I happened to notice a new one at checkout while purchasing bottom-paint or some such. And, at different points in time, each of my sons did, in fact, give me a knife for my birthday.

And then, a few months back, I was on eBay for some reason and suddenly thought maybe I'd do a search for "rigging knife" and see what happened. Well, that was a BIG mistake!! The shoebox that had housed my entire collection for years is now being replaced by a 6 drawer wooden chest from Grizzly.

....and while I had been really good about only acquiring knives that incorporated a marlin spike in one way or another, I've discovered that I'm not always able to pass up a real pretty single-blade jack "rope" knife, USCG approved or not.... please pray for me! LOL

Jim

Comment by Tim the Wolfdog on May 26, 2010 at 19:30

i think bos'n knives are cool.

Comment by Rino Smajo on May 26, 2010 at 2:00

No,it didnt go overboard,i left it on one boat ;-)

Comment by Terry Waldele on May 25, 2010 at 22:32

CaptJeff,
Yeah, in your comment you said the knife was one you used to have. That's why I asked what happened to it. Just curious whether you sold it, lost it, or what? Come clean now; you lost it overboard, didn't you?

Comment by CaptJeff Saylor on May 25, 2010 at 17:51

great looking boat! what happened to the knife??

Comment by Terry Waldele on May 21, 2010 at 23:18

Hi Rimo,
Thanks for sharing you pics! Great shots of your boat and knife. What happened to your knife? Did you sell it?

Comment by Rino Smajo on May 21, 2010 at 16:31

Boat i was skippering,and knife i used to have.

Comment by Terry Waldele on April 21, 2010 at 21:00

Hey, Thomas, we've got plenty of room for you. Welcome aboard!

Comment by Thomas Johnson on April 21, 2010 at 8:40

Ahoy! Room for a blue nosed shellback?

Comment by CaptJeff Saylor on April 16, 2010 at 6:22

haha! good to have you HammerFist!

Comment by Terry Waldele on April 16, 2010 at 1:08

Welcome aboard, Hammerfist Forge! All Golden Shellbacks, Emerald Shellbacks, Royal Diamond Shellbacks and even Pollywogs and landlubbers are allowed to join.

Comment by Tim the Wolfdog on April 15, 2010 at 18:29

I meant Golden Shellbacks. Didn't proof before I hit send.

Comment by Tim the Wolfdog on April 15, 2010 at 18:28

are olden Shellbacks allowed to join? OOPS! Already did. How yaw doin, Guys?

Comment by CaptJeff Saylor on February 17, 2010 at 14:17

how could i NOT join this group!!
Glad to be aboard!

Captain Jeff Saylor

Comment by J.J. Smith III on February 17, 2010 at 10:30

Ahoy Captain, Permission to come aboard.

Tags: Art, Collectables, Knives, Nautical, and

6 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on December 15, 2014 at 10:35

Steve Paolantonio Colonial is a sponsor to many of the high end regattas such as Rolex and Paneria-our marlin spike knives are carried by world class racers, through my contacts in racing-that's me on the cover, we are big into sailing, with Colonial knife marlin spikes being the most popular carried knife in the pro racing-regattas

This was a very cool posting by Steve at Colonial. I didnt know their marlin spike went one so many adventures!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on January 15, 2015 at 21:03

LOL, another knife pattern to collect!

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 15, 2015 at 21:54

it sure is ,we know at least one other person who does!

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on January 15, 2015 at 22:14

Good job Leo. The first step in conquering your fear...

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on January 16, 2015 at 7:57

I would like to see actual statistical evidence that the Colonial marlin spikes are the most popular knife carried among the the pro-racing regattas. I'd also like to know why. Most people who know me, know I've got quite a few spikes and also know I've reviewed quite a few. But don't take my word for it, go to any sailing blog or newsgroup and you'll see sailor after sailor tell you they don't want a rigger if it you need two hands to open it. And even more will tell you they want a well made fixed blade.

I would like to know which marlin spike knife by Colonial is being touted as the most popular among the pro-racers. And if the reason it is most popular is because it was given away by the sponsor? Don't get me wrong. I own the Model 1757 Ranger and it is a solid, well made knife; albeit a little crude on the finish. Very strong, good edge, and easy to sharpen. But there are better riggers in the same price range that are one hand opening with locking blades.

I'd choose a Myerchin over a Colonial any day of the week. Also the new Camillus Ti with bamboo scales or the SOG marlin spikes are nearly identical in size and shape to the Colonial Ranger but have blades that more easily open and will lock in place! The blade on the Colonial does not lock.

Then the Maxam, Gordon, and Gill all have a shackle key. Sure nothing locks but then only the spike locks on the Colonial Ranger!

No offense to Colonial but even if this is the most popular among the pro-racers it isn't the best rigger found at the price range of the Ranger. Just my humble opinion.

I.lantz -- enjoy the hunt for sailing knives. If you want to see some of the variety found within riggers/marlin spikes view my page : The Sailing Knife: http://rigger.hegewisch.net/index.html

(the page is primarily focused on folding riggers and is a little out of date as I need to photograph and review about three more Myerchin's and four other assorted rigging knives.)