are you releasing from the side with the braid or the side without?  the stone may be hanging up on the corner of the string if you are releasing from the string side.

Use ammo large enough that it rests on where the two cords are (except on the side without the cords). If the pouch is too large for this, make another sling with a pouch small enough for your ammo.

can we see this small rigging knife that needs to be carried?

And an update:
I retied this sling tighter, and squeezed one more loop out of it (easier said than done!) so there is now zero slack. It would now appear to a non slingers as a perfectly solid knot.

A brief google search said that every rigging knife NEEDS a lanyard if you're going to be climbing anything at all. Being a boater, I wouldn't consider NOT having a lanyard, since I know just how awful (awful fun that is) the sea and weather can get.

Now then, this knot wraps around my wrist almost exactly halfway, making me think that if you made the monkey chain fromthe single strand instead of doubling it over, it would be about perfect for a wrist lanyard. You could make the clipping mechanism that attatches to the knife a 'retention toggle'

If you want to wear your knife all the time, you could do so around your neck. I would suggest then making a Kydex sheath for your knife. Then, simply drape the sling around your neck (pouch on the back of your neck), and bring the two cords together a comfortable distance away in front of you. From that point, start the monkey chain (only needing  a few passes). The retention toggle can be a quick-clip device, which hooks right into the sheath.
Whala, a necklace with a funky looking knot a couple inches long, with a nice knife on the end.

Just some initial thoughts....

I currently am using a folder, but I need something with a marlin spike.

I can't write all that much, but I miss everyone at the forum.

-Aaron

Unsapien, go by what your saling comrades tell you, but from my experience, get a fixed blade. Have a nice kydex sheath for it. When the "peasoup" rolls in and you can't see the hand in front of your face, while in ten foot seas, one hand busy holding other lines or whatever, you don't want to be trying to open and close a folder.

P.S.
I just did  a Froogle search on these and they really do all appear to be folders!
My two cents: Get a largish fixed blade SERRATED knife for easy, general use and emergencies. Then get a folder with a plain edge and a marlin spike.
I'd probably actually get two knives and a seperate spike, but this is probably a bit much to most people.

In fact, when not out on the water, I still carry two spikes that I ground out of nails. One is larger than the other and they both fit (very snugly) into a cut down bic pen. They seperate the fibers fine, and I use another cutdown bic pen as a larger 'spike' once everything has been loosened up.

For rope and sailcloth work go for a plain edge. Do not buy a serated edge unless you expect to use it for other purposes.
A spike is easy to find and if you expect to do your ropework in the workshop you will want it separate, but if you expect to do your ropework at sea, a folder with a spike may be usefull.

For buying a fixed blade rigging knife, go to a rigging/rope firm.

Willeke