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 38]

 

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 by skydiverek

[BIGUN 703]

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 126]

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 64]

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 by sundevil777

[riggerrob 263]

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 126]

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 720]

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 0]

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