Rescue Hook
A rescue hook attached to the pfd makes more sense to me than a knife, thinking of being in turbulent water, upside down with a rope wrapped around me. I don’t want to have to figure out which side of the knife has the cutting edge. I don’t want to have to saw. I just want to grab, hook and pull. I carry another knife in my kit to spread peanut butter and other essential tasks.
brain fart…
thanks.
I’d have trouble tucking a canoe in my PFD 
Despite my confabulation of names it’s the best
knife for me, so far.
What’s a river knife?
– Last Updated: Jul-28-09 6:06 PM EST –
The only thing I have ever used my so-called river knife strapped on my PFD for, in 30 years, is literally just to spread peanut butter.
The double bladed ones with Swiss cheese metal handles are great for stabbing winos in dark alleys, but they can barely slice said cheese much less a rope.
Cutting your way out of pinned kayak? Charlie Walbridge tested this on a kayak back in the mid-80's with an assortment of the popular river knives of the time. He made almost no cutting progress and concluded he would die.
The knife I actually use on my river trips is a folder that I can whip open with a wrist flick. It has a belt case and second, serrated blade that I can swap in or out. I carry it either on my PFD belt or pocket, my waist belt, my thwart, my pants pocket, my car -- in other words, I actually use it all the time.
The wino stabbing thing is still clipped in its plastic case on my Charlie Walbridge hifloat vest somewhere in the junk pile masquerading as my garage.
An EMT/police rescue knife
– Last Updated: Jul-28-09 12:53 PM EST –
made for freeing trapped people would be a good choice.For instance:
http://policehq.com/ProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=Traffic%20Equipment&Category=RESCUE_KNI&Prod=BM-10105
wrist flick does not work
underwater. One handed openers are definitely the way to go if you are getting a folder though.
Attaching Gerber
At first I thought my new Gerber sheath would not fit in my standard PFD lash, but eventually I crammed it in there. I am trying it mounted right side up, many prefer upside down. I also tie the knife to the PFD, the Gerber sheaths can let loose.
Ah hah!
I ran across a Tom Krein Dogfish in CPM 154 steel. Not surprisingly, it’s quite a bit more expensive than the CRKT version.
http://steeladdictionknives.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4249
NRS Pilot or Co-Pilot
http://www.shopgetoutdoors.com/paddling_gear/paddling_accessories/pilot_knife.html
Boker ResCom
Folding rescue hook type blade with serrated saw blade along inside spine of hook section. Folds to be just a bit larger than the lash tab but open gives a good solid handle feel in the hand. $43
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
www.the-river-connection.com
Old school
– Last Updated: Jul-30-09 7:18 AM EST –
KABAR https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=1256
or this...
https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=BK3&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7,8,9&categoryName=Military/Tactical
Why does your kayak need a knife?
Got some tough water to cut?