Contemporary Mariners have a few dedicated sailor's knives to choose from. There are the superb American Myerchins, German naval pattern made by Linder and British John Adams in sheath knives. Folders are also available from Myerchin,John Adams, Case and a few others. These knives are all stainless steel and come with a marlinespike and ( sometimes) shackle opener. They are all also somewhat expensive. A general use knife can make due, but any deck work will find the other tools lacking. There is a new/old folder on the market well worth buying for ship use. A recent supply of vintage NATO folders has surfaced. These are very substantial knifes with a properly curved marlinespike,sheepsfoot blade, combination can/bottle shackle opener and a small flat screwdriver blade integral with the frame. They are carbon steel. The best feature is price. I acquired an example from friend and dealer www.ragweedforge.com for the exorbitant amount of $9.00+shipping <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> You have to clean some grease and buff out a few rust spots on some examples ( mine had 3, nothing serious.) These knives appear unissued and are sharp out of the grease. Very sharp, I cut myself <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So few people know how to splice that a marlinspike has fallen into disuse.

Even if you do know how to splice rope, most contemporary rope is not laid so cannot be spliced.

I see marlin spikes from time to time and think back to the time when I used to make rope and splice rope. I don't miss the care required to coil laid rope and keep natural fiber rope from rotting.

The marlinspike is going the way of the buggy whip. No buggies so need for whips. No laid rope, no need for the spike.

Must be getting old.

A marlinspike is also very useful to work out a tight knot. So even though one might not be spicing an eye or splice finishing the ends of a rope, the marlinspike still has applications with today's ropes. Pete

Being the proud owner of a English Hansom Cab, Irish Jaunting cart and racing surrey I must disagree. WHip makers,though few and far between now enjoy a thriving business. As for modern rope, or line on ships? Ask any horse packer or sailor what rope they prefer when everything is falling apart and you have to rebraid 40' of 3 strand Manila into 2 strands of 60' to get home with that quartered elk or obsolescent 36' MLB with a dead engine and this really wierd looking lateen sail the base CO let you restore. BTDT <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Not to mention the use as expedient can opener if the pull tab happens to rip off of your favorite legal beverage during the post-race party. Yep, marlin spikes are still darned handy!

Yes,marline spikes and how I love 'em.Boatswain's Mates in the U.S. Navy still carry an eight inch spike.They are used for all manner of uses from stirring coffee to opening screw pin shackles.But alas,in todays Navy they are seldom used for thier true purpose of splicing wire rope and line or knot work.Regretfully a lot of the old timers that did that work are no longer around.Now younger sailors are more interested in computers than good ole seamanship...

Indeed. My grandfather, who did a few laps around the Horn as part of the Chilean nitrate trade, would be appalled at today's gee-whiz computer-driven what passes for seamanship in some quarters. I can see him now, dumping a bucket of salt water over the central CPU for a warship, grinning in delight at the flying sparks and sputtering connections, and then gruffly roaring, "Improvise!"

Maggot
Your grandfather sounds like my kind of fellow.Most of what deck apes do is what I call trained improvisation.I would rather have a fellow deck tech along in a survival situation than any one else.IMPROVISE!!!
Boatman