knives vs shears

[dallasdivergirl]

I am now carrying both after not carrying anything.

[texdiveguy]

I carry 2 knives and one pair of hd wreck shears.

[BuzzGA]

Originally Posted by BobbyWombat

I had the same question and started a thread on it here:
Poll: Dive Knife vs. Diving Shears???


Here is my summary from that thread of the discussion. Feel free to comment/debate as you see fit.

Diving Shears
Pros-
1. Easier for cutting monofilament line
2. Less risk of injuring yourself in the process of using it
3. Easy to cut one handed

Cons-
1. Harder to manipulate with gloves on (can be dropped when grip relaxed)
2. Not ideal for cutting thick line such as rope

Dive knife
Pros-
1. Serrated edge can be used to saw through thicker material
2. Easy to use and hang on to with gloves (maintain positive grasp during use)
3. Spade tip allows for prying, if necessary
4. Easily cuts thin line, if line is held tight

Cons-
1. Not always easy to cut one handed (usually one hand needed to hold the material to be cut)
2. Higher risk of cutting yourself
3. Not allowed at some dive sites (to keep divers from prying open mussels, for instance)

"Z Knife"
Pros-
1. Great (possibly best?) for cutting thin line and webbing
2. Can be used rather easily with gloves on
3. Lightweight
4. Small

Cons-
1. Need two hands to cut unless the material is taut
2. Razor blade can corrode and dull faster than normal knife if not properly maintained (but is easily replaceable)

Fogcutter
Pros-
1. The best of both worlds: a knife and a pair of shears

Cons-
1. You wind up with a decent knife and a bad pair of shears
2. Difficult to manipulate with gloves on
3. Two tools, yes, but no redundancy

Thanks for the post. My wife is trying to decide which she wants to carry and this is a big help

[BobbyWombat]

Originally Posted by MicahEW

Sorry probably should have searched before I made the same post...

No worries. Many times the same questions come up. I actually don't like it when people respond with a simple "go do a search for this".......I think it is actually great to start the questions again and get another group involved in the discussion.

-BW

[DarinMartell]

My vote is for both!

[Hollywood703]

I carry 2 knives, and 1 set of shears, you never know when one arm might become entangled where you cant get to your knife, should have 1 accessible from each hand.

[BobbyWombat]

Originally Posted by Chad

Shears ..... cut through nylon webbing faster than a knife.

Good point! I'm going to add this to my summary!

[BobbyWombat]

Originally Posted by Hollywood703

I carry 2 knives, and 1 set of shears, you never know when one arm might become entangled where you cant get to your knife, should have 1 accessible from each hand.

Yeah, I have this same philosophy. I don't go as far as carrying TWO knives....but hey....redundancy is a good thing, right?

My setup is to have a spade-tip knife w/serrated edge on my right waist and a pair of shears in a quick release pocket on my left shoulder strap, just below my D-ring.

This gives good separation both left-to-right and up-down. Both are accessible via either hand, and don't require unzipping a pocket. I have to believe I would have at least one arm free and one tool accessible even in a significant entanglement.

Bonus thought:
I really don't like putting cutting tools on your thigh, because it makes reaching it with the opposite hand more difficult.

-BW

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by BuzzGA

Thanks for the post. My wife is trying to decide which she wants to carry and this is a big help

Why not just carry both?
My shears cost me $6.00 and the knife I wear on my harness cost me $6.00. Cheap insurance.

[NeurosurgeryNP]

I carry one set of EMT shears - I am typically a cruise ship diver, and it is a big PIA to go through security with the dive knife.