Recommendation: Hook Knife, Sheath and placement

[Rio Santonil 7]

During the recent USPA Safety day, I attended the seminar on mid-air collision and entanglements. The presenter suggested "Bench Made - Hook Knife". I'm leaning towards Bench Made but I'm open to other brand recommendations that you may be aware of or use with your rig for comparison purposes. Also, where do you place your hook knife on your rig or do you place it in jump suit or pants? 

https://www.benchmade.com/7-hook.html

https://www.benchmade.com/7-hook.html

[skydiverek 63]

 

These knives are great! Made of a SINGLE piece of steel (meaning, blade is NOT a seperate piece).

Big one:

 

Small one:

 

 

I have both models. Bigger one under mud flap, smaller one under front leg strap cover (above the legstrap hardware). One high, one low. One on the right, one on the left. Just in case one of your arms is broken, or you cannot reach high or low in a canopy wrap.

See below:

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by skydiverek

[BIGUN 1,395]

4 hours ago, Rio Santonil said:

place your hook knife on your rig or do you place it in jump suit or pants

http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000061/K16910/BLACK-JACK-THE-RIPPER-HOOK-KNIFE

In the custom pocket sewn into the thigh of my jumpsuits.  

[chuckakers 426]

5 hours ago, BIGUN said:

http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000061/K16910/BLACK-JACK-THE-RIPPER-HOOK-KNIFE

In the custom pocket sewn into the thigh of my jumpsuits.  

Same here. I suggest using a large-handled knife (like the Ripper) and placing the pocket on the front of the thigh on your strong-arm side.

[sundevil777 102]

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/rig-parts/hook-knives/javelin-hook-knife-w-pouch
These are great and available many places, not to be confused with the orange zak knives that are awful and still being sold at paragear!

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by sundevil777

[riggerrob 643]

2 hours ago, chuckakers said:

Same here. I suggest using a large-handled knife (like the Ripper) and placing the pocket on the front of the thigh on your strong-arm side.

Ripper knife handles are made of cheap plastic that distorts and allows lines, etc. to get trapped between blades.

You would be wiser to buy the stiffer knives with fiberglass or metal handles.

See the CANPARA article on hook knives that I wrote back in 1984.

[chuckakers 426]

4 hours ago, riggerrob said:

Ripper knife handles are made of cheap plastic that distorts and allows lines, etc. to get trapped between blades.

You would be wiser to buy the stiffer knives with fiberglass or metal handles.

See the CANPARA article on hook knives that I wrote back in 1984.

Ordering

[countzero 7]

There is also Gerber Crisis hook (long type) and Gerber strap cutter (short version) that are similar to the Benchmade ones.

What ever you get carry 2 and in different places if possible, in case you drop the first one or if access is one is blocked by fabric of a canopy wrapped around you.

 

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

On 3/29/2022 at 6:29 PM, countzero said:

There is also Gerber Crisis hook (long type) and Gerber strap cutter (short version) that are similar to the Benchmade ones.

What ever you get carry 2 and in different places if possible, in case you drop the first one or if access is one is blocked by fabric of a canopy wrapped around you.

 

I seem to remember one of the 'crusty old guys'* suggesting carrying 3. One to drop, one that you won't be able to get to and one that you'll be able to use.

 

* - I believe it was AirTwardo, but I could be misremembering. Open to correction if anyone knows for sure.

 

[parachutist 2]

On 3/28/2022 at 2:31 AM, BIGUN said:

http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000061/K16910/BLACK-JACK-THE-RIPPER-HOOK-KNIFE

In the custom pocket sewn into the thigh of my jumpsuits.  

I do the same

[mtgale00 1]

For reference: Cut to the Chase

Knife Rule No. 1: 2 is one and 1 is none.

A knife with a ground steel cutting surface is the only real knife. The value of a hook knife that uses a utility blade(s) for skydiving is always arguable.

[riggerrob 643]

4 hours ago, mtgale00 said:

For reference: Cut to the Chase

Knife Rule No. 1: 2 is one and 1 is none.

A knife with a ground steel cutting surface is the only real knife. The value of a hook knife that uses a utility blade(s) for skydiving is always arguable.

Good point.

We knew about this problem 40 years ago when I wrote an article for CANPARA Magazine. Back then some one suggesting adding a piece of cardboard to a hook knife sheath to prevent the two blades from "chewing" each other.

Also consider that cheap plastic handles are liable to allow the two blades to separate and jam around a piece of webbing - or suspension line.

Far wiser to invest in a knife with a solid fiberglass or metal handle.

A cheap, plastic hook knife is a huge improvement on nothing, but wise jumpers invest in hook knives with metal handles.

[riggerrob 643]

Thanks for the reminder guys. I just replaced a (missing) screw on my metal-handled hook knife and it is going back into its pocket on the shoulder of my harness.

[councilman24 37]

This is the BIG one.  On your sternum means you can get it with either hand and your sternum doesn't bend so knife never get in the way.

Edited July 14, 2022 by councilman24