When I moved back to the beach a few years ago I acquired a really good custom sailing knife from a dude. It was a big honking knife & I had to wear a belt just to keep my shorts from falling down.
But at some point on a work trip that particular knife disappeared and I thought I left it in a rental car in Texas. So began the quest to find the perfect sailing knife, because, as you know, a sailor is only as good as the blade he carries.
I might’ve just made that up.
Regardless, I’ve since been through a string of knives that now have broken springs or rusty blades.
So last month I was standing at the Spyderco booth at the Annapolis Boat Show trying to get some shelter from the rain. I’m making small talk with the sales guys behind the counter when this plain clothes guy beside me starts telling me about the knife I’m holding.
He knew his stuff and the sales guys were obviously deferring to his knowledge. I told him about my rusty knife and he started showing me their Salt Series of knives that he says will never rust ever. That’s when he introduced himself as Sal, the founder of Spyderco.
After a few minutes, Sal asked me if I’d try out a few of their knives and see if they’d be a good fit for my upcoming circumnavigation. I agreed.
I received the package in the mail yesterday and the timing couldn’t be better. I’m writing this from the cockpit of my friend Randy’s 35′ Beneteau sailboat at Conch Harbor Marina in Key West. We’re going to be hanging out here a few days waiting for a weather window to sail north towards Clearwater before Thanksgiving.
I think a two week sailing trip is as good a way as any to put a new knife to the test. Thanks Spyderco…I’ll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and that knife I thought I left in the rental car in Texas? 6 weeks and 14 airports later, the kind folks at TSA in Spokane, Washington found it tucked away in a forgotten pocket of my carry-on backpack.
They kept it.