When to use your knife

[Aviatrr 0]

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I just ordered Laura and myself a Jack Knife for our rigs. Where would you think the best place to mount these would be? I want it to be someplace where it can stay there for long times (e.g. not come off easily).

If you're referring to a 'Jack the Ripper' type knife, the only place I can put one is on the chest strap - and I only carry that knife for CReW.....it's too big to be carrying in freefall, IMO..
If you're referring to a standard sized hook knife(I don't know of any that are called a Jack Knife, though), there are many options.....you can mount the pouch on your legstrap...you can have half a snap sewed on your legstrap cover, and half on the knife lanyard - then the knife slides under the cover and is secured by the snap....you can do the same thing with the snap but place it under the mudflap.......there are many options.. Talk to your rigger about the placement of it if you want it to be installed permanently.. Another option is sewing the pouch into your jumpsuit.. I sometimes jump with a different jumpsuit, or no jumpsuit at all, so I prefer mine on the rig itself..
Mike

[billvon 3,006]

>If you're referring to a 'Jack the Ripper' type knife, the only place I can put one is on the chest strap - and I only carry that
> knife for CReW.....it's too big to be carrying in freefall, IMO..
I have one in a thigh pocket on my jumpsuit. I've had no problems with it in freefall.
-bill von

[markbaur 0]

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I think the only real option would be, as Clay described, holding on to the one you just cut while you cut the remaining, then let go.

I don't understand how you will do this. Each canopy has two risers on each side. If you are planning on cutting main risers, then getting rid of your canopy with one cut on each side requires you to cut through the confluence wrap near the 3-ring grommet. If you are planning on cutting reserve risers so one cut on each side gets rid of your reserve, you will need to cut through the main lift web -- after you move the main risers out of the way.
Mark

[Jessica 0]

So I got my knife today...a nice one, metal, $20ish.
And I'm looking at it, thinking...this thing ain't cutting no RISER.
Am I just grossly misjudging the knife's capabilities? It's just sooo small. It seems like it would take a lot of time/altitude to saw through risers with it.
Walk a mile in your enemy's shoes. Then you're a mile away and have his shoes.

[PhreeZone 20]

Risers and canopys slice like butter when tension is on them. If you can get a rigger or someone with some spectre line laying around to help you try this: pull the line REALLY tight and just nick it. The nick will turn in to a big gash. A swing at a 2500 lb or smaller line under tension with any type of half way sharp knife will slice through it like its warm butter. The tirck it the tension.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique

[skymedic 0]

Exactly Phree, this is why when I am climbing in Nepal, we use "saftey" knives...as even a nick in a loaded rope will lead to a very bad day.....and why we try to sheild ropes from sharp rocks and the like....
marc
"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape"

[riggerrob 643]

I covered Hook knives in the April 1985 issue of Parachutist Magazine and again in Skydiving circa 1986.
A previous poster was correct in being suspicious of cheap little plastic knives. The small orange Zack knives that come free with most rigs are better than nothing.
One problem with Jack the Ripper knives is that the plastic handle flexes and allows the blades to chew on each other, dulling both blades. The Australians identified this problem in the early 1980s and recommended stiffening the hook knife pocket with a piece of plastic. Far better to buy a hook knife from Square One with a long metal handle. I think they call it "Raptor."
Mount your hook knives high on your chest, where you can access them in the middle of a canopy wrap. Mud flaps are the most permanent, but a pocket slipped onto the chest strap will work in the short run. Your second knife could be slipped into a thigh pocket on your jumpsuit.
Forget lanyards as they can create more problems than they solve. Far better to wear two knives. A tape loop large enough for three or fingers can be handy.
As for the extremely rare scenario of accidentally opening your reserve and tearing it on the tail of the airplane, leaving a good main still packed on your back. I would cut the reserve risers, toss my main pilotchute and pray.

[SpeedRacer 1]

Wait a minute. do you cut thru the thick, belt-like risers, or do you grab the beginnings of the lines together & cut thru them? which is easier?
Speed Racer
"Fill your hand, you son-of-a-bitch!"

[PhreeZone 20]

The risers are just type 8 webbing... it slices real easly under tension.
I want to touch the sky, I want to fly so high ~ Sonique