0bbecf23   
   From: goodsoldierschweik@invalid.com   
      
   On Thu, 5 May 2011 09:35:10 -0700 (PDT), rigger  wrote:   
      
   >On May 4, 6:41 am, Schweik  wrote:   
   >> On 4 May 2011 03:16:20 -0400, w...@panix.com (the wharf rat) wrote:   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> >    I've got an old Schrade "rope knife".  This is a fist sized   
   >> >slip joint with a heavy sheep's foot type blade.  It's sometimes   
   >> >called a "horticulture knife".   
   >>   
   >> >    This one is beveled only on the left side, like a Japanese   
   >> >knife.  The blade is pretty full so I don't think it's from bad sharpening.   
   >> >Is this by design or did someone regrind it that way, and why would they   
   >> >do that?  I've never seen it on a knife of this type.  (I know it makes   
   >> >it "sharper" by reducing the edge angle, but it also effects handling and   
   >> >just seems wierd)   
   >>   
   >> Is it a "Sailor's Knife"? They are usually a heavy sheepsfoot, but   
   >> frequently have a marline spike as a second blade.   
   >>   
   >> Cheers,   
   >>   
   >> Schweik   
   >> (goodsoldierschweikatgmail)   
   >   
   >Yep, that sheepsfoot is almost a trademark (any rigger should know   
   >this)   
   >around boating and rope work, in fact the old "Elephant Toe" was used   
   >in the same manner, with the rope held flat, the blade positioned on   
   >the   
   >rope, and a seperate baton or pin used to strike the back of the   
   >blade.   
   >   
   >However, when working with rope one does not use a marlinspike as   
   >built into a knife.  A marlinspike would be used with metal cable and   
   >an   
   >item know as a "fid", generally made of wood, is used for working   
   >knots   
   >and rope.   
   >   
   >dennis   
   >in nca   
      
   Don't get so opinionated. The knife "marline spike" is used for quite   
   a number of things and perhaps surprisingly unscrewing a tight shackle   
   may be the most common use. But I use one frequently for splicing laid   
   rope, mostly three strand stuff as you can do most of it with your   
   hands and only occasionally need something to spread the strands just   
   a bit more.   
      
   Today's usage of "fid" seems to be anything that can be used to splice   
   rope (as apposed to wire rope, cable) as the round gizzies that you   
   use to pull braided rope through are sold as "fids".   
   Cheers,   
      
   Schweik   
   (goodsoldierschweikatgmail)   
      
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