An essential piece of equipment for all water sports enthusiasts and outdoor activities, the marine knife is a must-have. In this article, the Wichard team delves into the history of marine knives invented by the brand, presents its various equipment, and offers some tips...
Marine Knives : A Historical Expertise of the Group
- 1919: The history begins when Antoine Bizet, a cutler, partners with Henri Wichard. Together, they establish a company "specializing in the manufacture of all items for cutlery and locksmithing using cutting, stamping, and other processes." From then on, Wichard became a renowned company, soon developing all sorts of tools for various industrial and commercial activities, particularly knives and a wide variety of scissors for multiple uses.
- 1980s: Several ranges of Wichard knives were introduced. The first marine knives, specifically designed for nautical activities, appeared.
- 1996: Three types of marine knives for sailing were marketed. Sailors could choose between a single-blade marine knife, a marine knife with a blade and shackle key, and the Bosco knife, which included a blade, a shackle key, and a marlin spike.
- 2016: Two new ranges of marine knives hit the market: Offshore and Aquaterra. The new knives feature blade locking mechanisms for safe use.
With a new design incorporating a serrated blade, the marine knife is now perfectly suited for emergency situations, allowing for faster and more efficient cutting of ropes.
- Recent years: The historical Wichard marine knife has evolved and is now equipped with features like a corkscrew, bottle opener, shackle key, marlin spike, etc. With these additional accessories, the brand aims to continue enhancing practical convenience for the user. The multifunctional and phosphorescent Offshore knife, model number 10122, quickly became a bestseller.
To this day, Wichard knives are manufactured in Thiers, a French locality renowned for its cutlery. The blade and mechanical parts of each marine knife, such as the marlin spike or shackle key, are entrusted to one of our historical partners' expertise.
Wichard knives are primarily made from MA5 stainless steel, a material carefully selected by our team after numerous cutting and salt spray tests to ensure its resistance to the marine environment. The injected handle of Wichard knives is also made in France by a local partner.
Each Wichard marine knife is designed to withstand corrosion and extreme temperatures. We test each batch of parts before commercialization to guarantee our customers robust products with great cutting power.
A Marine Knife for Every Nautical Activity
Offshore Knife, Dedicated to Sport Sailing
Designed to support sailors’ specific needs, the marine knives in the Offshore range are serrated, foldable, and equipped with blade locking mechanisms. The Offshore range comes in two models: a single-blade serrated knife and a serrated blade knife equipped with a shackle key and marlin spike.
The Wichard Offshore knife features a 2-millimeter-thick blade made of MA5 stainless steel. This material ensures good corrosion resistance and cutting power. In its version with a shackle key and marlin spike, the Offshore knife consists of two separate pieces to reduce the risk of injury. The soft handle provides optimal grip and prevents slipping, especially when used with wet hands.
For safety, the Offshore knife can be opened with one hand, allowing use while holding onto the boat.
Each Offshore knife comes with an adjustable lanyard. Compact, it easily fits in a pocket without hindering movement.
Wichard Offshore knives are affordable, offering sailors a quality product on a low budget. For both models in the Offshore marine knife range, sailors can choose between three different colors: orange, blue, or photoluminescent yellow, which, after absorbing light during the day, remains visible for several hours at night.
Offshore Knife Models
Offshore Rescue, an Emergency Marine Knife
Among the Wichard marine knives, the Offshore Rescue knife is dedicated to emergencies, rescue operations, and extreme sports. Developed in collaboration with the Loire-Atlantique Fire and Rescue Service's nautical team (West of France), who assisted the Wichard team in testing dimensions, sizes, and attachments, this equipment is a fixed-blade marine knife.
With a thicker blade than previously presented marine knives, measuring 3 millimeters and serrated along its entire length, the Offshore Rescue knife can cut the thickest ropes, such as mooring lines, in just 2 seconds. At the request of Wichard product users, the equipment also includes a shackle key in its blade.
As a rescue knife, this product has a rounded tip, reducing the risk of injuring a rescued person.
The materials chosen for the Offshore Rescue provide the equipment with excellent corrosion resistance and great strength. The MA5 stainless steel blade has undergone numerous tests to allow the Wichard teams to achieve the best compromise between corrosion resistance and cutting power. Among these, the Catra test subjected the blade to numerous back-and-forth movements on a stack of paper, and the highly abrasive material demonstrated the equipment's performance.
The serrated blade Offshore Rescue marine knife is available in fluorescent yellow and red. In black, the Offshore Rescue knife is equipped with a smooth, non-reflective blackened blade and is preferably chosen for non-nautical uses.
Finally, our teams designed a sheath to secure the knife. Like the handle, it is injected at Maillard, a Wichard group company. A trigger allows for easy securing and removal of the Offshore Rescue from its protective equipment, without needing to respect a specific orientation. The knife can be replaced in the sheath regardless of its position. Everything is designed for the quickest possible action, without wasting any time!
Offshore Rescue Knife Models
- The serrated blade Offshore Rescue knife in fluorescent yellow and red: models 10192 and 10194
- The black Offshore Rescue marine knife with a smooth, non-reflective blackened blade: model 10195
- The Offshore Rescue strap cutter, also equipped with a shackle key: model 10193.
Aquaterra Knife, an Outdoor Knife for Leisure Use
For us, the Aquaterra marine knife is ideal for water sports and outdoor activities like fishing, powerboating, kayaking, or hiking. It is available in two configurations: equipped with a folding smooth blade or equipped with a folding smooth blade and a corkscrew. In both versions, it is available in three colors—black, blue, or red—and an adjustable lanyard can be added.
In the hunting and fishing version, the Aquaterra knife is equipped with a smooth blade and a corkscrew. Available in green or black, the Aquaterra knives dedicated to hunting and fishing also feature a perforated blade for one-handed opening.
Aesthetic, elegant, and practical, the Aquaterra knife with a wooden handle is perfect for personal use or as a gift—in exchange, according to the French tradition, for a coin... or a forged Wichard piece!
The Aquaterra knife with a wooden handle is a quality piece with a simple and smooth MA5 stainless steel blade, 3 millimeters thick, or a smooth MA5 stainless steel blade paired with a corkscrew. The handle is made from olive wood slabs, and the liner is made of aramid fibers. Thanks to these materials, this version of the Aquaterra marine knife is particularly robust yet much lighter than other wooden marine knives on the market.
Finally, for environmentally conscious users, Wichard also developed the biosourced Aquaterra knife. It features a simple, smooth blade and a handle made from natural elements—a mix of oyster shell powder and castor oil resin. Moreover, although manufactured with environmentally friendly materials, the knife still provides the soft comfortable grip and long-lasting durability of the other Wichard marine knives.
For this marine knife with a 35% lower carbon footprint than a conventional marine knife, Wichard selected colors that blend perfectly with the environment: sand and green.
Aquaterra Knife Models
- The Aquaterra knives with simple, smooth blades in black, red, and blue: models 10133, 10134, and 10136
- Aquaterra knives with a smooth blade and corkscrew: models 10153, 10154, and 10156
- Aquaterra knives in the hunting and fishing version with a blade and corkscrew: models 10163 and 10165
- Aquaterra knife with a wooden handle and simple blade: model 10180
- Aquaterra knife with a wooden handle, smooth blade, and corkscrew: model 10181
- The two versions of the biosourced Aquaterra knife, in sand and green: models 10130 and 10131.
Choosing and Placing a Marine Knife
Choosing Your Wichard Knife
To select the right marine knife from our range, evaluate your specific needs. For instance, consider whether you require a knife with powerful cutting capability, especially for quickly severing a rope in an emergency. The Offshore knife is ideal for regatta or offshore cruising, while the Aquaterra knife suits water sports or outdoor activities perfectly.
Carrying or Installing a Knife Onboard
Since the Offshore Rescue knife is reserved for emergency situations, we recommend selecting a strategic location for placing your equipment: in the companionway, under the helm, at the base of the mast, under the trampoline... You can use the attachment points or loops of the sheath to secure it by fastening, screwing, or sticking it with double-sided tape, for example.
To keep your Offshore or Aquaterra knife with you at all times during your activities, you can opt for a marine knife sheath that can be worn horizontally or vertically. Wichard offers several sheath models, ranging from number 10022 to number 10029. Choose the one that best suits your preference.
We offer pouches with Velcro or snap closures, in various materials: black or brown leather, or black Cordura® – a highly durable synthetic fabric. Additionally, the adjustable lanyard for marine knives prevents the risk of dropping the knife during use.
Offshore or Aquaterra Knife : Usage Tips
Depending on the Wichard marine knife model you choose, we recommend following specific usage guidelines:
- All Aquaterra and Offshore knives feature a blade locking mechanism. Unlock the blade by pressing the back of the knife. The shackle key/marlin spike on the Offshore knife also locks in the open position for better usability and unlocks the same way.
- Offshore marine knives have a blade cut-out for one-handed opening. To avoid damaging the blade, do not use the cut-out for shackle keying.
Maintaining Your Wichard Marine Knife
If you own or plan to purchase a Wichard marine knife, a few maintenance practices will help you keep your Offshore or Aquaterra knife in optimal condition over time:
- After use, rinse your marine knife with clear water or wipe it down.
- Do not put your Offshore or Aquaterra knife in the dishwasher.
- If your knife has a folding blade, always let it dry with the blade open to allow complete water evaporation.
- After several rinses, it is advisable to oil the mechanisms of all models with a bit of 3-in-1 penetrating oil.
- Finally, remember to maintain your knife's sheath. For the Offshore Rescue knife, regularly check that the sheath drains properly through the small hole provided for this purpose.
