Maxam 3 3/4 Inch Sailor's Tool, a Powerful Multi-Use Sailor Knife Ideal for Boating, Fishing, Camping or Outdoor Activity, Silver

I really did not expect this knife to be this much knife for the low price, and the fact that it was made in china. But I was pleasantly surprised after examining the knife. It was well made and well finished, and with the american and english models costing so much more, I felt this was a really good purchase. The blade was very sharp as was the marlin spike, the can opener functional, and the shackle wrench actually worked. ( I know because I tried it on a real shackle on my boat.) The only complaint was to get it cheap I had to buy another item to get up to the free shipping mark...then I found it slightly cheaper with free shipping at e--y. In any event, this was a great little knife for any mariner, sailor, or someone who fools with ropes a lot on or off a boat. For the very cheap price, you just cant beat it. They are actually cheap enough to not worry about losing or to give as gifts to many people. Also, the standard and metric scales on each side were well stamped and cleanly done and were actually usable. The liner extends past the handle and i think is supposed to be used as a flat blade screwdriver but it cannot be used for that purpose as there are two liners right next to each other. You could grind one off so the other could be used for that purpose but this is not an important feature to me. In the companys defense they do not advertise the screwdriver feature, but I believe the more expensive american/english models do have this listed as a feature. The price is way higher however, and this is not a deal breaker for me as I could care less about the screwdriver feature anyway. Forgot to mention also that the lanyard ring is also very secure if you wish to attach this knife to yourself/anything by a landyard. Get this knife for yourself...your dad...your brother....your friends.....you will love it!!!

I bought three of these sailor's rigging knives viz (1) Myerchin Generation 2 Captain Pro ($60), (2) Navy Knife with Marlin spike made in Sheffield England ($58) and (3) Maxam Sailor's Tool ($10). The one that feels the best in terms of quality, form and function would be the Myerchin which also has a part serrated blade which is great for cutting rope etc. I wish I had seen that Myerchin also has a Titanium version before I bought mine. #2 and #3 seem similar in quality, form and function. #2 has a better polished finish though. I use #2 more as a show piece than anything else. #3 is good quality and the most used and abused simply because it is such a great tool at such a low price. I wish that it also had a part serrated blade but it seems to be made with a good grade 400 series stainless steel so it holds a good edge. I have now bought more to give to my employees (Engineering Technicians) as a general purpose carry tool. If money is not an issue, the Myerchin would be my first choice. If quality/ruggedness/value/price is the criteria, then the Maxam wins hands down above all the rest. It is like the energizer bunny. It takes a licking and just keeps going. The British Army/Navy knife is a nice conversation piece with bragging rights, if petting up a tool is your main use although it should hold up well too for tough use like the Maxam, just at a higher price. The Maxam belongs in every tool kit and utility belt/pocket for working people who will put it through hell. It is incredible value for money.

This tool feels solid, but the knife blade wobbles just a little when it is extended. The knife blade itself is thin and less substantial than the rest of the tools, bit it does cut rope well enough, although with a little more effort than I would expect. The marlin spike has 2 stops, one at 90 degrees, and one at full extension. Very good price for the features. Overall it seems it will do the job, and it comes pre-oiled, which will hopefully reduce the chance for rusting.

It is better than I expected .They added a short ruler with inches (2”) and a 4 cm) ruler.I like it!FYI: The awl does not have a sharp butt is an easy adjustment

At $6.25, Maxam is probably the bargain of Amazon, as far as a marlin spike is concerned. It is well contructed. Fit and finish is good enough for my taste. I bought this to compare it to Marbles brand, First Mate Nautical Knife ($11.28) I bought. Maxam comes with rounded pinhead finish, while Marbles show rough finish. Maxam and Marbles looks almost identical. One might think these came out of the same factory. It appears that both marlin spikes are cast, not machined. They both have shims on both sides at the pivot. Max has very thin SS shims, while Marb has brass shims. One flaw on Marbles is the built-in flathead screw driver is unusuable as is, because there are two present, side by side (actually, the extension of the liner). You will need to grind one off. The sheep's foot blade is flat-ground on Marbles, while Maxam's is hollow-ground. The blade steel is rather soft on both, but I have no complaints at this price. Both are solidly built. I do not have the Kings County brand, so I cannot tell how badly these cheap ones are made, compared to the Brit's, but I am quite satisfied with the cheapo version. And both come with the shackle key--which the Brit one is lacking. I would get two Maxams, and use them with abandon.

I work in the sailing industry and use a rigging knife every day. I have lost expensive knives overboard and at TSA checkpoints more times than I can count. I used the West Marine knives for a while and they were fine and relatively cheap. I saw the Maxam knife and was really skeptical that a decent knife could be had for that price. I have been very pleasantly surprised. This knife is better than many inexpensive knives I tried. The first one lasted about eight months before it went overboard. In that time the blade did not dull quickly, The spike and shackle key worked well, and biggest surprise is the rivets and hinges stayed tight the whole time. The knife worked perfectly. I just received two replacement knives and will soon know if I just got lucky with the first knife. If these are not as good as the first I will update this review. For the money, or even three to five times this price, there is nothing else close to this sailing knife that I have found.