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So my mates are always having ago at each other for either carrying or not carring a knifes when doing SRT. I want to know what other people do.

I always carry a knife when doing SRT.

Came in handy a few weeks ago when I needed it to cut the safety-link (between top jammer and harness in a Frog setup) of a caver in another group in the same cave as us. He had got himself totally hung up part way up a pitch trapping the rope from below a deviation with his safety link.

Luckily the pitch was rigged with two ropes so I was able to prusik up and release him by cutting his safety link. He had a spare piece of rope to replace it as well.

Knives and ropes have been discussed a number of times here on Cavechat. A search will find them easily. But, it's been a while and it's time to talk about it again.

I always have a knife when I'm caving. I never, never* bring it out around ropes. (*except when you add water to ropes) Ropes and knives do not mix. There is always a better way to get out of a situation than cutting, creativity may be necessary. But, add water and knives need to be ready to go into action. Even then, calm, cool, reasoning and discretion should be used. There are so many things that can accidentally be cut.

I carry a multi-tool that includes a knife.

Always but I have yet to need it for anything ropes work related.

I carry sharp wit.

Cavemud wrote:I carry sharp wit.

As evidenced by your witty post!

Trogman

I carry one, in my pack. I have never needed it while on rope. I agree with Scott that there is almost always a better solution.

The main reason I carry mine is that it is a multi-tool with pliers. I have found the pliers to be a much more useful vertical caving tool than the knife.

I carry a multi-tool in my pack and a small folding knife on my harness:

http://www.trango.com/paraphernalia/Piranha_Climbing_Knife

I've used the small knife for cutting webbing or rope during rigging, but I would hesitate to deploy it under normal SRT maneuvers. I'm generally reluctant to say "never" because, as with most things, it depends on the situation.

Extremeophile wrote:I carry a multi-tool in my pack and a small folding knife on my harness:

http://www.trango.com/paraphernalia/Piranha_Climbing_Knife

I've used the small knife for cutting webbing or rope during rigging, but I would hesitate to deploy it under normal SRT maneuvers. I'm generally reluctant to say "never" because, as with most things, it depends on the situation.

I also carry a crescent wrench for bolts and maillons. Sure would like to find one made of stainless, or better titanium ...but I digress.

I carry a knife.

Setting bolts by hand one day I was at the top of the drop with two below me. Word came up that the socket on the hammer would not fit the bolts and no other tool was available. I went for one. It took 30 minutes at a run to get to the nearest likely place, an auto parts store. I didn't know what we really needed so I went for an adjustable wrench, grabbed it and headed for the check out. That's when I noticed a woman, two male customers and the clerk staring at me in shock. I was in full cave gear, covered in mud and sweat, a wrench in hand and a determined look in my eye. Good thing I wasn't going for a knife. I may have been arrested.

Extremeophile wrote:
I've used the small knife for cutting webbing or rope during rigging, but I would hesitate to deploy it under normal SRT maneuvers.

Duh, I guess I have used a knife for this while on rope too. I meant I have never had to resort to using a knife to get out of a sticky situation. (except for one time in Detroit, but that's a different story)

I also carry a knife, that is when I can find it. I also have a trango pirrhana, and I love it. Problem is, it's so small it's easy to misplace it. What I really need is 3 or 4 of them so they can just live on harnesses instead of traveling around on a biner from one to the other.

I carry a multi tool for digging but not for vertical. I use the multi tool all the time for odds and ends while digging but have
never needed a knife while doing vertical.

I carry a small knife in my first aid kit but have never needed it for anything in-cave. I have used a multi-tool before but I often neglect to bring one along.