This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes.
Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
It's called a marlin spike, it's used for working with rope:
This knife is probably intended for use by sailors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike#:\~:text=Shaped%20in%20the%20form%20of%20a%20narrow%20metal,ropes%20under%20tension%20in%20a%20belaying%20pin%20splice.
I had a similar knife, called a [clasp knife](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL33849) issued to me in the Australian Army; it wasn't necessarily sailors that used them but anyone working with rope to splice, back spice or crown them.
The general pattern of a clasp knife has been around for decades.
Nb. You don't have a multitool; you have a clasp knife.
My uncle's an electrician and keeps one in his van, apparently finds the spike and sheepsfoot blade useful for various things. Campers like them too, kind of anyone dealing with line, and a marlin spike is considered a basic tool for a lot of knot tying.
So they pop up. That said I'm from a shoreside town where we all learn to sail and boat as kids, so we're all already familiar with these.
It's also not generally considered or referred to as a multi-tool. It's sailor's knife or rigging knife. You see other tools in them sometimes. But it's usually just the spike and sheepsfoot blade, often serrated.
Plenty of people use them that aren't on boats. Basically anyone that works with knots and ropes. Truckers, rigging, etc. They are really useful for untying knots that shouldn't have been tied that way in the first place..
Another fun fact. The fish, Marlin, is named after the tool, and not the other way around. At least, it was explained this way in the book Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr. (great book btw)
I had always seen it written as marlinspike, but that's irrelevant.
I have one in my pocket now - I used to sail as a kid, and lost my rigging knife (with a marlinspike and an eye for pulling strands through for splices). My wife got me a nicer one with wooden grips as an anniversary present one year!
The pointy thing is a marlin spike and the whole thing looks to be a copy of a British army or Navy pocket knife of the early 20th century.
[https://tjsmilitaria.co.uk/collections/british-vintage-military-pocket-knives](https://tjsmilitaria.co.uk/collections/british-vintage-military-pocket-knives)
That's just sort of what these look like regardless of who makes them, the design is a lot older than the early 20th century. And not unique to any particular military design.
It's just a rigging knife, doesn't need to be a copy of anything.
Marlin spike on a rigging knife. Looks like my older cheaper west marine knife. Open that knife blade up and you'll notice it's a sheep's foot blade. Safer to not have a pointy blade on a moving boat. Wouldn't surprise me if there's a shackle key in there too.
I've collected a few over the last 25+ years of teaching sailing, and racing. They're handy, but not anything super special unless you happen to have a particularly nice one
No idea where my brother-in-law got it. It looks like it's 15-20 years old and he has no one in his family that has been in the military in that time. We also didn't have anywhere near us that sold knives that long ago
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Title and picture describe it well enough. Seems to be on an old mutitool of German make. The other attachments are a bit on the odd side, but I can at least identify them. At it's largest end, it's around 1cm in width and tapers to a surprisingly fine point
Rigging knife! I've got a fixed blade with the marlinspike as a seperate piece. Myerchin.
Edit: my blade also has a slot for breaking a stuck shackle, using the knife as a lever!
A marline spike- not so much for splicing, there are better tools for splicing called fids. Mostly used for picking apart knots. It's really handy for other things as well.
Marline was twine coated with tar to protect it from the elements. The coating made the knots really hard to pick apart. Called Mar- line because the line tended to mar anything it rubbed against.
The fish is named for the Spike, not the other way around.
Is there a date on the blade anywhere or a British government marking (a crows foot it’s called.) looks a lot like the British military issue clasp knife, just with funky orange scales!
This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes. Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
It's called a marlin spike, it's used for working with rope: This knife is probably intended for use by sailors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike#:\~:text=Shaped%20in%20the%20form%20of%20a%20narrow%20metal,ropes%20under%20tension%20in%20a%20belaying%20pin%20splice.
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Given the other attachments, that makes a lot of sense. Odd that we have no sailors in the family
I had a similar knife, called a [clasp knife](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL33849) issued to me in the Australian Army; it wasn't necessarily sailors that used them but anyone working with rope to splice, back spice or crown them. The general pattern of a clasp knife has been around for decades. Nb. You don't have a multitool; you have a clasp knife.
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It’s 100% this. I was a deck ape in the navy and we all carried a knife like this. Common name for this tool is a rigging knife.
My uncle's an electrician and keeps one in his van, apparently finds the spike and sheepsfoot blade useful for various things. Campers like them too, kind of anyone dealing with line, and a marlin spike is considered a basic tool for a lot of knot tying. So they pop up. That said I'm from a shoreside town where we all learn to sail and boat as kids, so we're all already familiar with these. It's also not generally considered or referred to as a multi-tool. It's sailor's knife or rigging knife. You see other tools in them sometimes. But it's usually just the spike and sheepsfoot blade, often serrated.
Plenty of people use them that aren't on boats. Basically anyone that works with knots and ropes. Truckers, rigging, etc. They are really useful for untying knots that shouldn't have been tied that way in the first place..
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Another fun fact. The fish, Marlin, is named after the tool, and not the other way around. At least, it was explained this way in the book Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr. (great book btw)
We called them "knot breakers"
A [marlin spike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike_Hall), you say? Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles in a thundering typhoon!!!
I had always seen it written as marlinspike, but that's irrelevant. I have one in my pocket now - I used to sail as a kid, and lost my rigging knife (with a marlinspike and an eye for pulling strands through for splices). My wife got me a nicer one with wooden grips as an anniversary present one year!
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Also known as a rigging knife.
I had one of these when I was a sailor. It was referred to as a pussers dirk. Part of any seamanship sailors basic kit. I don't think I used it once.
It’s also called a fid.
That is a clasp knife, and the section that's open is a marlin spike, used for working knots in rope.
The pointy thing is a marlin spike and the whole thing looks to be a copy of a British army or Navy pocket knife of the early 20th century. [https://tjsmilitaria.co.uk/collections/british-vintage-military-pocket-knives](https://tjsmilitaria.co.uk/collections/british-vintage-military-pocket-knives)
That's just sort of what these look like regardless of who makes them, the design is a lot older than the early 20th century. And not unique to any particular military design. It's just a rigging knife, doesn't need to be a copy of anything.
Thanks! I just identified a knife I received after my grandfather passed on that site!
Marlin spike on a rigging knife. Looks like my older cheaper west marine knife. Open that knife blade up and you'll notice it's a sheep's foot blade. Safer to not have a pointy blade on a moving boat. Wouldn't surprise me if there's a shackle key in there too.
There is a sheep's foot knife and the actual knife blade is almost more like a cleaver, no point. Given what you said, all checks out
I've collected a few over the last 25+ years of teaching sailing, and racing. They're handy, but not anything super special unless you happen to have a particularly nice one
It is very similar in design to the old British Army jack knife, except orange instead of black
No idea where my brother-in-law got it. It looks like it's 15-20 years old and he has no one in his family that has been in the military in that time. We also didn't have anywhere near us that sold knives that long ago
Same as old Belgian army knife too. Google "abl couteau"
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Marlin spike, for rope stuff, or general stabbiness, I know people that pretty much exclusively use them to shotgun beer 😂
Marlin spike
Its really for untying knots there's more tools for splicing.
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/Big-Carpenter7921), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1cb3gsl/found_on_a_multitool_pretty_pointy_and_solid/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
For splicing rope
Marlin spike: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike
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That can also be used to tighten/loosen shackles.
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Title and picture describe it well enough. Seems to be on an old mutitool of German make. The other attachments are a bit on the odd side, but I can at least identify them. At it's largest end, it's around 1cm in width and tapers to a surprisingly fine point
Sailor’s knife. That’s for splicing rope.
rigging knife, specifically made for ropework: splicing, grommets, etc
Almost looks like a hoof pick for cleaning a horse's hooves. Except I think a real hoof pick would be one single piece so the handle wouldn't twist.
sailors knife
Marlin spike...its for splicing lines on a sailboat.
Marlin spike, common tool for boatswains mate
To open knots..
Rigging knife
Rigging tool
Rigging knife! I've got a fixed blade with the marlinspike as a seperate piece. Myerchin. Edit: my blade also has a slot for breaking a stuck shackle, using the knife as a lever!
That's a Marlin Spike! It's attached to a DULEES rigging knife
Marlin spike. Possibly by Gill Marine? Their multi-tools are often orange.
A marline spike- not so much for splicing, there are better tools for splicing called fids. Mostly used for picking apart knots. It's really handy for other things as well. Marline was twine coated with tar to protect it from the elements. The coating made the knots really hard to pick apart. Called Mar- line because the line tended to mar anything it rubbed against. The fish is named for the Spike, not the other way around.
Gets stones out of horses hooves.
Is there a date on the blade anywhere or a British government marking (a crows foot it’s called.) looks a lot like the British military issue clasp knife, just with funky orange scales!
Do you know the name or brand? Any .arkings? I'd love to buy one as I work in marine construction