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ady
Oct 20, 2010, 6:08 PM
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I am a new climber-and I've seen many climbers carry knives. Many of them are really attached to them-and consider them their favorite tool. I've met climbers that have stories about their knives and talk about them like a companion. I was thinking I should invest in one-but would love to hear about your experiences or knife stories.
I'm hoping that it will help me with this decision.
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Kartessa
Oct 20, 2010, 6:12 PM
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ady wrote: I am a new climber-and I've seen many climbers carry knives. Many of them are really attached to them-and consider them their favorite tool. I've met climbers that have stories about their knives and talk about them like a companion. I was thinking I should invest in one-but would love to hear about your experiences or knife stories. I'm hoping that it will help me with this decision.
That's kinda creepy. I get the needing a knife thing... But loving it... eek.
As for what you do with one... you cut things with it, such as your shirt or your hair when it gets caught in your belay device. You can use it to dig out a splinter, or open a can of tuna on a ledge.
Edit: 'cause I sounded like a bitch before.
(This post was edited by Kartessa on Oct 20, 2010, 6:19 PM)
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sspssp
Oct 20, 2010, 6:14 PM
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At the risk of being trolled...
A knife is useful for cutting old slings at anchors. It is useful for cutting a shirt (or hair) that has become entangled in your atc when rapping. It is useful for cutting the rope if: part of the rope is hopelessly stuck in some crack and you can't free it--you need to cut a chunk of the rope to use as a sling when retreating.
If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated.
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edge
Oct 20, 2010, 6:14 PM
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It's for cutting yourself in the hand while making guacamole.
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jeepnphreak
Oct 20, 2010, 6:18 PM
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sspssp wrote: At the risk of being trolled... A knife is useful for cutting old slings at anchors. It is useful for cutting a shirt (or hair) that has become entangled in your atc when rapping. It is useful for cutting the rope if: part of the rope is hopelessly stuck in some crack and you can't free it--you need to cut a chunk of the rope to use as a sling when retreating. If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated.
to add to that, I carry a length of webbing for rap stations. I just trim what I need to make the station. I find that easier to custom fit the amount of webbing rather than carrying a ton of small slings and try to make a half ass attempt.
oh yes and small and serrated is what you want.
(This post was edited by jeepnphreak on Oct 20, 2010, 6:19 PM)
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gblauer
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Oct 20, 2010, 6:50 PM
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Why would a climber need a knife? Haven't you ever watched Vertical Limit?
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markc
Oct 20, 2010, 7:16 PM
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jeepnphreak wrote: sspssp wrote: At the risk of being trolled... A knife is useful for cutting old slings at anchors. It is useful for cutting a shirt (or hair) that has become entangled in your atc when rapping. It is useful for cutting the rope if: part of the rope is hopelessly stuck in some crack and you can't free it--you need to cut a chunk of the rope to use as a sling when retreating. If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated. to add to that, I carry a length of webbing for rap stations. I just trim what I need to make the station. I find that easier to custom fit the amount of webbing rather than carrying a ton of small slings and try to make a half ass attempt. oh yes and small and serrated is what you want.
On multipitch routes, I carry a length of supertape and a couple rap rings to replace aged anchors or in case I need to bail. It's on my "oh shit" biner with a tibloc and my knife. For single-pitch, I have all of that in my pack.
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milesenoell
Oct 20, 2010, 7:18 PM
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ady wrote: I am a new climber-and I've seen many climbers carry knives. Many of them are really attached to them-and consider them their favorite tool. I've met climbers that have stories about their knives and talk about them like a companion. I was thinking I should invest in one-but would love to hear about your experiences or knife stories. I'm hoping that it will help me with this decision.
Pay no attention to the yahoos, the real reason you need a knife is to fend off those damn goats.
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moose_droppings
Oct 20, 2010, 8:04 PM
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Another reason to carry a knife
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boymeetsrock
Oct 20, 2010, 8:13 PM
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gblauer wrote: Why would a climber need a knife? Haven't you ever watched Vertical Limit?
Or been to the Gunks?
edited for clickyability
(This post was edited by boymeetsrock on Oct 20, 2010, 10:30 PM)
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lofstromc
Oct 20, 2010, 10:22 PM
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You can also cut a square out of your shirt for those times when nature calls and you forgot the tp.
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maldaly
Oct 20, 2010, 10:29 PM
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Joe Simpson has the best answer ever for that question. Also, back in my big bushy beard days, I once found myself hanging from my beard after it got stuck in the rap rip. Cutting was way easier than yanking.Climb safe,
Mal
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shimanilami
Oct 20, 2010, 10:34 PM
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Indeed, I spend much of my free time talking to and about my knife. I have grown very attached to it. It's not only my favorite tool. It is like a companion to me. We have been through a lot together.
Like this one time when me and my knife were downclimbing a sketchy cliff in order to escape from some hounds. I had to leap from the face into some trees, and I cut my arm pretty badly in the process. Fortunately, my knife has a needle and thread in the handle, so I was able to sew myself back together and then escape into a cave.
There was another time when me and my knife were in a restaurant in Japan, and we got into a tassle with some locals, the Crazy 88's. We were fine, but we left a bit of a mess.
And then there was the time when my knife and I ran into this nut who wouldn't let us cross his bridge without a battle. We were able to work things out with nothing more than a flesh wound or two.
And then there was that time on the Death Star ...
I don't know where I'd be without my knife. Probably sitting behind some desk somewhere.
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kachoong
Oct 20, 2010, 10:35 PM
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Like Gabe Walker I like to carry a pair of crampons on my harness for cutting teh rope with.
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gdburns
Oct 21, 2010, 12:06 AM
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Its for cutting your T-shirt out of your belay device... or was it my belay device? That was quite a pickle...
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dyee
Oct 21, 2010, 1:52 AM
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jeepnphreak wrote: sspssp wrote: If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated. oh yes and small and serrated is what you want.
Why a serrated edge? Would you not prefer the cleaner cuts from a plain edge? I can only see a serrated knife being better at cutting hard items like trimming trees or cutting off your arm  .
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bill413
Oct 21, 2010, 2:16 AM
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dyee wrote: jeepnphreak wrote: sspssp wrote: If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated. oh yes and small and serrated is what you want. Why a serrated edge? Would you not prefer the cleaner cuts from a plain edge? I can only see a serrated knife being better at cutting hard items like trimming trees or cutting off your arm .
Be prepared.
More seriously - try cutting some webbing with a smooth blade vs. a serrated blade. Granted, if a smooth blade is kept razor sharp it will work well, but as soon as it isn't, serrated wins.
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clc
Oct 21, 2010, 2:30 AM
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my prussic froze to my rope while rappelling proffesor falls. I had to cut the prussic to get down. Through I could have chopped at it with my adze.
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wiki
Oct 21, 2010, 2:32 AM
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dyee wrote: jeepnphreak wrote: sspssp wrote: If you get a knife, I recommend a very small blade that is serrated. oh yes and small and serrated is what you want. Why a serrated edge? Would you not prefer the cleaner cuts from a plain edge? I can only see a serrated knife being better at cutting hard items like trimming trees or cutting off your arm .
A serrated knife is better for cutting salami and tomatos at lunch-time.
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west_by_god_virginia
Oct 21, 2010, 2:54 AM
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the same infinite number of reasons anyone who steps foot out into the wilderness would need a knife.
I think you should stay inside, where it's safe.
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