Fixed vs Folder dive knifes

[marchand]

Ti that is used in knife blades is more brittle than the steel used in knife blades. You said that there are some Ti alloys that are not very brittle at all; I would like to see a knife made with said alloy hold an edge for more than a day. I once tried to use a Ti knife to open scallops; bad idea. It chipped on the second one. I have never had a steel knife do that. You keep saying that Ti knives are just as good as knives made with conventional stainless steels; however, there are now new steels which are far superior to the old ones, so your claim has little meaning.

In my opinion, Ti requires more maintenance than steel does because it has to be sharpened more often. Which is more of a PITA, oiling a knife or sharpening it.

I just did a test. I took a Ti beta alloy knife and a steel knife. The Ti knife I have not used very much at all, and the steel knife I have used a fair anount. I have never sharpened either knife.

It took the Ti knife 5 strokes (every time) to cut though 2" nylon webbing, while the steel knife only required 2 (sometimes 1).

The steel knife still has a very nice edge (can still shave with it). I can tell there is a difference in the edge of the Ti knife after cutting though the webbing several times (cant shave with it any more).

[davepoff]

I have a Genesis 3 Gauge Inline Console and was able to ziptie my fixed blade knife and sheath to the back of it. Works great and is really accessible.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by marchand

I once tried to use a Ti knife to open scallops; bad idea. It chipped on the second one.

Marchand, same thing you do for construction, you can hold put a house together using a hammer and nails, but why not use the tool better suited, a nail gun?

If you are regularly opening scallops, get a scallop knife, only $18, less than most any dive knife:

SCALLOP KNIFE

[marchand]

How did you get that "L" in my name?

Why should I buy something that only be used for opening scallops when I can buy something else that can serve several purposes including opening scallops?

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by marchand

How did you get that "L" in my name?

Why should I buy something that only be used for opening scallops when I can buy something else that can serve several purposes including opening scallops?

Maybe it's just a different mentality, I'd just rather have the right tool for the job. I've never opened scallops but from people I know who have, they swear by the purpose made scallop knives. I'm looking to get lobstering gear now and I can just get a mesh bag which will work for all sorts of things, but I'm looking to get a lobster inn, because it is the better tool for the job.

I personally have a beta ti knife, fixed blade, and am very happy with it. So far my only use for it has been cutting lines tangled in a wreck, but it worked perfectly fine for that and is still quite sharp. I use my knives as such, and not a pry tools, and they have held up well. Just because a dive knife chipped when being used to open scallops doesn't mean it's necessarily the fault of the alloy when it breaks in a use far beyond the intended use it was designed for.

[marchand]

Last time I checked the knives with the flat tip were designed for prying.

It probably is a different mentality, I'd rather have a tool that can do a lot of jobs well than have a tool that does one job perfectly. However, Ti does not do the job perfectly at all. It doesn't stay sharp and in my opinion that is a huge flaw and makes it the wrong tool for the job.

[teog]

I appreciate all the comments but is seems we are getting off track my original question about fixed or folder. Lets please get along.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by teog

I appreciate all the comments but is seems we are getting off track my original question about fixed or folder. Lets please get along.

Fixed, I only use 5mm gloves, 7mm mitts, or dry gloves, so pretty much no dexterity.

[marchand]

I would get a fixed blade knife. The only reason I can think of for a folder is as a backup. It also might be possible for sand to jam a folder depending on the locking mechanism.

[det4220]

The only reason that I could think of to get a folder is if you had to rent a BC and couldn't attach a fixed blade or there was some law or other restriction where you were planning to dive that forbid fixed blades.

Get a fixed blade.