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Myerchin Knives Frequently Asked Questions

Myerchin UK has been the sole European importer of the superb Myerchin range of Rigging Knives since 2006. Based near Dorchester, Dorset, we aim to provide an efficient and knowledgeable service both to sailors and to other specialist knife users.

Here are the answers to the questions we get asked the most.

What options do Myerchin offer in their rigging knife range?

  • The range falls into 3 categories – Fixed Blade, Folding Blade and Multi-Tool. Within these ranges, there are other features to match the knife to your individual requirements. Below is a brief introduction to each type: –
    • Fixed Blade – simple, no working mechanism. Available with different material and colour handle ‘Scales’ and a ‘plain ground’ or ‘¾ serrated’ Sheep’s Foot blade. Additionally, the fixed blade also comes with a Marlin Spike and leather sheath.
    • Folding Blade – easy to carry and deploy when needed. The Knife Body contains both the blade and Marlin Spike. Available with different material and colour handle ‘Scales’ and a ‘plain ground’ or ‘¾ serrated’ Sheep’s Foot blade. Supplied with a nylon belt/harness sheath.
    • Multi-Tool – a simple economic knife/pliers solution. Available with 3 different colour aluminium handle ‘Scales’ Red, Blue & Silver. The ‘Sailors Tool’ has a short ‘¾ serrated’ blade and a Marlin Spike which doubles up as the lever handle to the pliers.

What is? and what are the advantages of a Fixed Blade Knife?

  • Fixed Blade – A single piece of Pro-grade German Marine Stainless Steel from the knife tip to the end of the tang. Quite simply there is nothing to fail. Two ‘Scales’ comfortably sandwich the full-length tang to provide a comfortable, practical, strong and ergonomic handle.
    • The Myerchin Fixed Blade features a ‘Sheep’s Foot’ Blade tip.
    • We see most fixed blades going out to those who regularly use a rigging knife, boatyards, professional boat crew and classic boat owners. Leisure sailors in the main prefer the more compact Folding Blade.
    • The knife is available to use by simply pulling out of its sheath and does not have to be unfolded. Therefore the fixed blade (without any mechanism) used without abuse will not fail. The single full-length blade/tang provides maximum strength, the blade is the tang, and the tang is the blade simple!

What is? and what are the advantages of a Folding Blade Knife?

  • Folding Blade – The Generation II (G2) Folding blade range is strong, compact and has both a blade and marlinspike. The G2 Folders feature (depending on the model) a ‘Frame’ or ‘Liner’ lock mechanism. Perfect for ‘One Hand Opening’ both the Pro-grade German Marine Stainless-Steel blade and the spike are locked open in this way.
  • We see most folding blades going out to Leisure Sailors and those who have the knife for those ‘when needed’ moments. Boatyards, professional boat crew and classic boat owners’ sailors in the main prefer the Fixed Blade.
  • The compact, easy-to-carry folder fits easily in the pocket (on a lanyard of course).
  • Alternatively, the sheath can be secured to a belt or harness (vertical or horizontal to meet preference). “It’s knowing it’s there and will always work when needed that gives peace of mind”.
  • The knife is perfect for ‘one hand opening’. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “One hand for yourself, and one hand for the ship”. To Myerchin the importance being you can remove the knife from its sheath/pocket, open and use it with one hand on the boat.

What are the differences between the Captain and Crew Folding Blade Knife models?

  • Because we all don’t have the big sailor’s hands all folding blade models are available in the Captain (large) and Crew (small) ranges.
  • The Captain – Length Closed: 4.75” (121mm), Blade Length: 2.8” (72mm), Spike Length: 3” (76mm), Weight: 7 oz (195 g).
  • The Crew – Length Closed: 3.5” (89mm), Blade Length: 2.3”, (59mm), Spike Length: 1.75” (45mm), Weight: 2.4 oz (69g).
  • Weights are approximate as they vary between the different Scale materials.

It states that the black handles are made from G10 – what is G10?

  • G-10 is a high-pressure fibreglass laminate, a type of composite material. It is created by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth, soaked in epoxy resin, and by compressing the resulting material under heat until the epoxy cures. It is manufactured in flat sheets.
  • G-10 is very similar to Micarta and carbon fibre laminates, because they are all resin-based laminates, except that the base material used is glass cloth. G-10 is the toughest of the glass fibre resin laminates and therefore the most commonly used.
  • Properties: –
  • G-10 is favoured for its high strength, low moisture absorption, and high level of electrical insulation and chemical resistance. These properties are maintained not only at room temperature but also under humid or moist conditions. It was first used as a substrate for printed circuit boards, and its designation, G-10, comes from a National Electrical Manufacturers Association standard for this purpose.
  • Decorative variations of G-10 are produced in many colours and patterns and are especially used to make handles for knives, grips for firearms and other tools. These can be textured (for grip), bead blasted, sanded or polished. Its strength and low density make it useful for other kinds of handicrafts as well.

How should I sharpen my Myerchin?

  • There is not just one way to sharpen a knife. There are many factors to take into consideration, like the type of blade, the sharpening tools you have available and the amount of time you are prepared to spend keeping your knife sharp. One thing that most people agree on is that a blunt knife is more dangerous than a well-maintained sharp knife! When using a blunt knife the loads and forces exerted on the item being cut increase dramatically and this increases the risk of serious/deep wounds if the blade slips from the job into the body.
  • There are a few essential things that are specific to the Myerchin knives that need to be applied when sharpening the blades.
  • Blades are ground at a 20-degree angle
  • Serrated blades should NOT be dressed from the flat side, use rods on the serrated side of the blade
  • Wash and dry the blade on completion
  • Keeping the blade lightly oiled (e.g WD 40 or similar)
  • We recommend (and sell) the ‘Smiths 3 in 1 Knife Sharpener System (V100)‘ Specific instructions to sharpen a Myerchin knife are provided on the product page.

My Marlinspike has some indents is this correct?

  • This is not unusual and does not represent a defect. The marlinspikes are manufactured using a forging process, forging enables the grain structure of the steel alloy to be aligned along its length thus producing a much tougher product (in the direction required). Forging is effectively a hammering process and as a result, an uneven surface is an outcome before finishing. During finishing this is usually/largely removed but obviously, too much finishing would reduce the diameter of the spike and weaken it that way. These marks are unlikely to cause any negative outcomes for the spike so standard recommended maintenance is all that is required.

Where are Myerchin Knives Manufactured?

  • Myerchin Inc. is an American company based in California (Not to be confused with Myerchin UK – we are a stand-alone UK company based in Dorset, England, and we are the European Agent for the whole Myerchin Range). The Myerchin Original Range was made in Japan. Around the time that the Generation 2 was introduced manufacturing switched from Japan to China. The decision to move manufacturing to China was based on improved production methods, quality and output. As a result, we have experienced a significant improvement in quality, and our returns, although already low, dropped further; when you consider the Professional Ranges are genuinely guaranteed for life to be free of material and manufacturing defects (not abuse obviously) this is something we are very proud of.

I am from overseas but visiting the UK can I purchase without paying UK VAT?

  • No sorry, it is not possible under UK VAT law. Copied below is the HMRC guidance, the bold italic text below is the requirement that would render the whole operation pointless. In order for you to provide the evidence of export that we would require to satisfy HMRC of zero rate supply, you would have to pay Import VAT in your receiving country.
  • HMRC Guidance (UK Delivery Address on Exported Goods attracting Zero Rate VAT)
    If the UK Supplier has sent the goods for processing prior to export they can be charged at the zero rate as long as these conditions are met:
    When you make a supply of goods to an overseas person for export, but deliver them to a third person in the UK who is also making a taxable supply of goods or services to that overseas person, you can zero rate the supply provided:
    • the goods are only being delivered and not supplied to the third person in the UK
    • no use is made of the goods other than for processing or incorporation into other goods for export
    • the goods are exported from the UK and you get evidence of export within the specified time limits and your records show the:
    o name and address of the overseas person
    o invoice number and date
    o description, quantity and value of the goods
    o name and address of the third person in the UK to whom the goods were delivered
    o date by which the goods must be exported and proof of export obtained
    o date of actual exportation
    If all of the above conditions are not met the supply cannot be zero-rated as an export and must account for VAT at the appropriate UK rate.
    It is therefore essential that it is establish at the time of sale what type of export documentation will be required to you to support the zero-rating of your supply.
    Please see the guidance below:
    VAT on goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-goods-exported-from-the-uk-notice-703#sect3
    So in short we would need to apply VAT at the UK rate of 20%. There is of course a delivery charge saving to be made by having it dispatched to a UK address.