Our Story - Trusted Marine Rigging Knives Since 1984
Born From Real-World Sailing Experience
Myerchin Marine was founded by sailor and designer John Myerchin with a singular goal: to build reliable, professional-grade rigging tools engineered for the unforgiving challenges of life at sea.
The idea was born during a blue-water voyage from San Diego to Hawaii. While battling the elements, John experienced the sudden danger of a traditional, non-locking knife. That pivotal moment inspired him to design a safer, tougher, and more dependable rigging knife.
Since 1984, Myerchin Marine has been the trusted choice for sailors, commercial crews, and maritime professionals worldwide.
A Family Name Built on Adventure
The Myerchin Marine name represents more than four decades of maritime craftsmanship, innovation, and an unwavering dedication to those who work and explore on the water.
1980, John Myerchin, his wife, and their three teenagers leave San Diego bound for Hawaii.
In the early 1980s, founder John Myerchin set out from California on a definitive ocean passage to Hawaii. He was aboard a Westsail 32 that he had built with his own hands, with his family by his side.
John Myerchin's Westsail 32 at anchor off Lahaina, Maui.
While navigating the Pacific, John experienced firsthand how dangerous a standard folding knife could be when it unexpectedly closed over his thumb. Bandaged but undeterred, he continued navigating the open ocean by sextant and paper charts, asking himself a simple question:
➤ What if a sailor had a rigging tool specifically engineered for the true demands of the sea?
John began sketching a knife designed for ultimate safety and performance. Those original sketches became the blueprint for the very first MYERCHIN rigging knife.
What began as one sailor solving a problem on his own boat evolved into a global standard.
➤ Designed by Sailors. Proven at Sea.
Our tools are not built to sit on a shelf. From our signature locking mechanisms to the precision-engineered marlinspikes, every single detail serves a purpose.
For over 40 years, MYERCHIN knives have been rigorously tested in the environment that inspired them—the world’s oceans. Today, they are proudly trusted by:
- The U.S. Navy & U.S. Coast Guard
- The U.S. Army
- Merchant Mariners & Commercial Fishermen
- Professional Sailors & Harbor Patrols
The Family Legacy
Passed Down. Built to Last.
What started as John’s vision has grown into a proud, three-generation maritime legacy. Today, John’s oldest daughter, Laura, leads MYERCHIN—carrying forward the strict standards of craftsmanship and innovation established by her father. The horizon looks bright as the third generation now works alongside the family, learning the trade from the ground up.
For us, MYERCHIN is more than a company. It is a lifelong commitment to quality.
It is decades of shared passion, institutional knowledge passed from one generation to the next, and the immense pride of putting our family name on every tool we create. With that name comes the responsibility to protect a reputation built on trust, survival, and sea-proven reliability.
➤ Our Heritage. Your Adventure.
We are proud of where MYERCHIN began, but we are even more excited about where our community is taking us. A new generation of modern adventurers, boaters, and sailors is discovering the value of owning a tool designed with genuine purpose.
A great knife is never just equipment—it is a companion on the water. And after a lifetime of hard use, it becomes an heirloom.
That is the kind of legacy we are proud to build.
➤ MYERCHIN. Built at Sea. Trusted for Generations.
Tools Trusted Where Performance Matters
Myerchin Marine knives have been tested in some of the world’s most demanding environments. Our customers include members of the US Navy, US Coast Guard, US Army, merchant marines, emergency professionals, and sailors who depend on their equipment every day.
Built as working tools, Myerchin Marine knives combine practical design, quality materials, and proven performance for marine and outdoor applications.
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- The Joint Staff Certificate
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- The Myerchin Patent
A Legacy Worth Carrying
For nearly five decades, Myerchin Marine has created nautical cutting tools designed for sailors, professionals, and adventurers who demand reliability.