Page 28 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

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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