Page 28 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
P. 28

Figure 1-10. The rigging knife is a specialized blade   aft of the tip, even with the presence of a finger
             intended for rough use. A sturdy, molded sheath keeps   guard.
             it safe and secure.                         •  Like the spike, a good knife needs a lanyard
                                                            hole. And again, avoid folding models; they’re all
             or trimming light seizings. The one shown above is   right in the shop, but afloat, and especially aloft,
             of near-ideal design, incorporating some important   you often need a knife one-handed, and now. A
             features:                                      good knife and spike combination comes from
                                                            the Myerchin company. You’ll find their products
             •  A heavy, broad-backed blade. The neatest,   at many chandleries. Pricier-but-worth-every-
               quickest way to cut rope with a knife is to use   penny knives can be gotten from custom makers.
               a mallet to pound the knife through. Ordinary
               knives don’t stand up well to this treatment, or to
               heavy shipboard or loft use in general. Serrated   SMALL STUFF—SPIKE KNOTS,
               knives are popular these days, because they are     SERVICE, SEIZINGS,
               so good at cutting rope. Trouble is, they’re only   AND CONSTRICTORS
               good at cutting rope; a rigging knife is just as
               likely to be called upon for shaving, chipping, or  You’ll find a multitude of uses for the following
               prying on everything from plastic to lead. The  Knots, Service, Seizings, and Constrictors.
               back of the blade can be used as a seam-rubbing
               tool for canvas work and can be rubbed back  Marlingspike Hitch
               and forth over the surface of wire rope to remove  It is difficult—even painful—to put much tension on
               meathooks. You may need to round the edges of  twine or small-diameter rope using only bare hands.
               the back of the blade a bit, if they’re too sharp  But cordage necessarily relies on tension, both for
               for this work. Use a fine file, followed by fine  holding things in place and for making knots secure.
               sandpaper.                                The handiest solution to this problem is to attach
             •  The point is fine enough to reach into tight spots  to the twine some other, more comfortable-to-grip
               or for delicate work, but blunt enough so you’re  object, and then haul on that.
               not liable to poke yourself accidentally some   The traditional knot for this purpose is called
               dark and stormy night.                    the Marlingspike Hitch. It isn’t much, just a Slip-
             •  The blade is slightly curved. Most rigger’s knives  knot made around a spike, but consider this: The
               are flat-bladed, but a little “belly” makes for  Viking longboats of roughly 300 B.c. to 800 a.d.,
               easier sharpening and slicing, and it lets you cut  vessels capable of navigating the open ocean, were
               rope on a flat surface, since the tangent point is  held together, partially or entirely, by linen twine

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