The Swiss Navy Knife

Multitools are getting out of control

- Sam Llewellyn

Once, a sailing knife had a blade on one side and a marlinespike on the other. This was handy in a world where boats were held together with nails, string and blind faith, but less so in a marine environment that became increasingly mechanical.

My current state-of-the-stainless-art Leatherman is a work of genius, and can do just about any job you like. Its disadvantage, however, is that it weighs a ton. Put it in your pocket and your trousers fall down, causing comment, some of it unfavourable. Hang it round your neck on a knotted lanyard and one false step will have you into the drink and plummeting bottomwards. And put it in a holster thing on your belt and you will rightly become an object of scorn and mockery, open to suggestions that you are trying to look as if you have just come out of the Special Boat Service or are some kind of starship trooper. As for dirty great sheath knives, there is an ancient saying that the larger the knife the worse the sailor, and it may be true.