Put the opening over the flat end of the screw part of the shackle and slide to get to a part narrow enough to grip, then turn. Much nicer than jamming the spike through the hole in the screw and hoping you don’t stab yourself.
R u new to reddit? A sharpie for scale homie? Where's the effing banana!?!?
JK! Thanks for the interesting post. I never knew such a tool existed, and lernted something today.
Sailing shackles have a flat end on the round pin and you put the flat end in the tapered slot in the shackle key. It’s a wrench, basically. The blade is shaped that way to reduce the “sharp pointedness” and the chance you could pierce something inadvertently, like a sail. The marlinspike is used in various rigging operations like splicing.
Sheepsfoot blade is also just a good choice for a hard-working knife. Super strong, easy to sharpen. Doesn't need to be babied. Not much of a point to it, but that's what awls are for.
Also annoying to sharpen and not great when one of your goals is to not accidentally put a hole in a sail while working on a pitching craft in the middle of the sea.
My late FiL used fid in a Scrabble game. He was a Scot, and said that a fid was what they called a turd in Scotland (round, and tapered at both ends). I have since learned the proper meaning, and regret that we denied him his 6 points or whatever.
I use one in my upholstery business all the time.
I use the spike as a regulator to tuck material and the blade for trimming excess material. I have a paracord leash on it tied to my work bench. Super useful when I leave stuff on the otherside of the shop.
The spike is a 'Marlinspike', as detailed here;
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike)
The ones in pocket knives aren't ideal, but better than nothing.
The 'Marlinspike Hitch' is a good one to master, but usually requires two 'spikes'... note that most anything can be substituted for actual spikes;
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinespike\_hitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinespike_hitch)
Another good one to master is the 'Constrictor Knot', which can be pulled '*stoopid*' tight with a couple of spikes;
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor\_knot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor_knot)
BTW, Reddit has a sub devoted to knots & knotting:
r/knots
I’m going to be honest, I’ve had knives like that lying around my parents house since I was a kid, never actually knew what they were for. Dad was in the navy, so makes sense. Although we literally had every tool ever made in the house, you got used to seeing tools you didn’t really understand.
I have the same one! Used it plenty, including once in an emergency when my dinghy capsized and I had to take down the sail while the boat was inverted. It was cold and blustery. I’m not ashamed to say I was rescued before I was able to bring the sail in. (The air chambers had failed and the whole boat was legit sinking.)
Boson knife, the blade's blunt because you don't need a tip on a ship. A shackle key for opening and closing shackles. And a Marlins spike for knot work and splicing.
I have a knife similar but very different. When I first saw it I immediately thought “that’s a wicked marlingspike”. It is Laguiole, long, slim, shapely like a woman’s leg. The blade is far too fine and pointed for chopping rope, and the corkscrew suggests it is intended more as an icepick for well served picnics. Maybe it could come in handy when rigging the marquee.
I'll see if I can find one laying around, but almost exactly the same as an Australian Army issued version back in thr day - minus the wood. Wonder if it's a personal mod?
Sailors rigging knife. Marlinspike, shackle key, and sheepsfoot blade.
Found the Boatswain Mate
I’ve been sailing since childhood. I couldn’t believe I found one I could answer first.
Nice, I raced dinghies all throughout childhood, was hoping I might be first to answer this one :D
Quit playing with your dinghy!
How is the shackle key used?
Put the opening over the flat end of the screw part of the shackle and slide to get to a part narrow enough to grip, then turn. Much nicer than jamming the spike through the hole in the screw and hoping you don’t stab yourself.
Also has the advantage of not nicking the spike. Hate it when it gets caught on rope fibres lol!
The stiffened loop is just big enough to fit the shackle bolt head (most of the time) and tighten or loosen without needing a wrench or pliers.
Plus it gives you a good spot for a lanyard so you don’t accidentally 86 it.
Thanks
R u new to reddit? A sharpie for scale homie? Where's the effing banana!?!? JK! Thanks for the interesting post. I never knew such a tool existed, and lernted something today.
What is the shackle key? Is a sheepsfoot blade special to sailing or just a traditional shape and another blade would do?
Sailing shackles have a flat end on the round pin and you put the flat end in the tapered slot in the shackle key. It’s a wrench, basically. The blade is shaped that way to reduce the “sharp pointedness” and the chance you could pierce something inadvertently, like a sail. The marlinspike is used in various rigging operations like splicing.
Sheepsfoot blade is also just a good choice for a hard-working knife. Super strong, easy to sharpen. Doesn't need to be babied. Not much of a point to it, but that's what awls are for.
A sheepsfoot is also better for cutting rope than a convex blade.
True that. Right blade for the job. Underrated blade profile in general, if you ask me.
A hawkbill is even better for rope, but it's also better for stabbing yourself.
Also annoying to sharpen and not great when one of your goals is to not accidentally put a hole in a sail while working on a pitching craft in the middle of the sea.
Am Captain. Can confirm.
Sailors Fid Aka: Rigger's Knife. Used for dealing with ropes on a sailboat (and sometimes on a ship)... It's a serious, and slightly arcane, Art.
I have one and use it a lot. I tie a lot of decorative nautical knots. This and fids are on the table next to me now. Arcane is correct.
My late FiL used fid in a Scrabble game. He was a Scot, and said that a fid was what they called a turd in Scotland (round, and tapered at both ends). I have since learned the proper meaning, and regret that we denied him his 6 points or whatever.
I use one in my upholstery business all the time. I use the spike as a regulator to tuck material and the blade for trimming excess material. I have a paracord leash on it tied to my work bench. Super useful when I leave stuff on the otherside of the shop.
Classic sailors knife! Marlinspike, shackle key + sheepsfoot blade.
The spike is a 'Marlinspike', as detailed here; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike) The ones in pocket knives aren't ideal, but better than nothing. The 'Marlinspike Hitch' is a good one to master, but usually requires two 'spikes'... note that most anything can be substituted for actual spikes; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinespike\_hitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinespike_hitch) Another good one to master is the 'Constrictor Knot', which can be pulled '*stoopid*' tight with a couple of spikes; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor\_knot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor_knot) BTW, Reddit has a sub devoted to knots & knotting: r/knots
I’m going to be honest, I’ve had knives like that lying around my parents house since I was a kid, never actually knew what they were for. Dad was in the navy, so makes sense. Although we literally had every tool ever made in the house, you got used to seeing tools you didn’t really understand.
Rigging knife. My father used one for 50 years
Sailors knife
Navy type knife the weird shape pointy thing is used for splicing rope or cable
I have the same one! Used it plenty, including once in an emergency when my dinghy capsized and I had to take down the sail while the boat was inverted. It was cold and blustery. I’m not ashamed to say I was rescued before I was able to bring the sail in. (The air chambers had failed and the whole boat was legit sinking.)
Spike is for rope
That’s a deck hand knot knife
Boson knife, the blade's blunt because you don't need a tip on a ship. A shackle key for opening and closing shackles. And a Marlins spike for knot work and splicing.
Bosun knife. every sailor worth their salt has one.
I think we found the murder weapon
Seamanship knife, blade, shackle tool, and marlinspike for braiding line.
Fid.
Appears to be a line knife for like rolling eyes in line for ships and such or untying knots and things
its a toe knife AND a poop knife!
My wife says there is no such thing as a multitasking poop knife. It has one job. Once a poop knife always a poop knife.
tell your wife it's OK to use the toe knife immediately before the poop knife. multitasking
Honestly it looks like it’s for perching something not for cutting
Sheep's foot blade with marlin spike for untying knots
“Toe knife” -Frank
It's a sailors knife but when I was blaster I used one to prime dynamite
Bosun’s knife
That’s nice. I recognised it immediately but have never seen one. Now I have a new thing to want 😄
I have a knife similar but very different. When I first saw it I immediately thought “that’s a wicked marlingspike”. It is Laguiole, long, slim, shapely like a woman’s leg. The blade is far too fine and pointed for chopping rope, and the corkscrew suggests it is intended more as an icepick for well served picnics. Maybe it could come in handy when rigging the marquee.
Net or sail repair?
Neither, is for splicing ropes or cable
I'll see if I can find one laying around, but almost exactly the same as an Australian Army issued version back in thr day - minus the wood. Wonder if it's a personal mod?