Accidental Opening

[fishbulb]

I have noticed a lot of "Why does my (insert knife here) open up in my pocket" type threads recently, almost always followed by a few dozen responses discussing the finer points of tip-up vs. tip-down, studs vs. holes, clipped vs. just kinda floating around in a pocket, and (of course)linerlocks vs. the world. As far as this discussion goes, I have no opinions. However, anybody would have to admit that knives that use a ball detent to keep closed can possibly open up in a pocket, resulting in either injury or a very cool facial expression. Trust me, if you've never seen somebody surprised to find an open knife in their front pocket then you've been missing out.

I did see what I think could be at least a possible solution to this problem in the most unlikely of places. A Schrade Cliphanger. I know, a Cliphanger is a joke to anybody who knows better. My friend proudly showed me his and asked me what I thought. You can all feel free to make up your own joke for this situation, as I'm sure there are plenty of good ones.

Anyway, back to the solution. The Cliphanger is the only linerlock that I've ever seen that has a sprung bar along the spine, like a slipjoint or lockback. This takes some getting used to at first, but I think if it was used in a quality linerlock it would go a long way to holding it closed in a pocket. Seems like a pretty obvious idea, so there must be a reason it isn't used. Any ideas/opinions/coments welcome.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

For anyone really, really worried about a folder opening in their pocket, the best pocket to put that knife in would be a belt pouch. A folder is supposed to pivot open and closed. It has no moral fiber whatsoever, and consequently has no compunctions about biting your ... thumb ... off.

I've never had it happen and I hope it never does. I have had knives nip me when I was deliberately opening or closing them, which is probably a measure of how obsessive I am about keeping my knives unnecessarily sharp.

But we demand razor sharp edges on knives designed to open with blinding speed. Logic would indicate that Bladeforums is actually an advertising gimmick of the bandaid manufacturing industry.

 

[Sid Post]

A large liner lock (4 inch blade) is less likely to open in my pocket to a point where I could actually get cut.

That little Benchmade Cub jr. with its thin blade is a mean little bugger to carry clipped in a pocket.

If it is a liner lock and doesn't have a strong ball detent, put it in a pouch and save the Band-aid's for your children

 

[Tightwad]

Esav, Interesting point about the "bandaid". I'll bet it has sold a lot of one hand wonder
knives that wouldn't have found a ready market otherwise. For myself I only own
one "linerlock" knife, a Outdoor Edge Magna. It is the ONLY linerlock that I trust.
The rest are slip joint or lockbacks. I had a linerlock open in my pocket.....Once.
Just once. I promptly pitched it in the river and sold ALL of the other liner locks
I had. I didn't get cut but I ruined a favorite pair of pants. Darn!!

 

[Toro]

There are times when I don't want to have my Gunting showing in my belt sheath so I use a River City pocket sheath made by Mike Sastre.This is an excelent way to carry,as it is as fast as a belt sheath or pocket clip and is out of sight.Mike also makes the best inside the waistband sheaths for fixed blades I have ever used.
Toro

 

[FullerH]

The only knife that ever "bit" me as a result of coming open in my pocet was a very early model of the Al Mar Quicksilver. It was an early liner-lock that had no system to hold the blade closed, or none that I could see, and it had the habit of opening in my pocket and it nicked a knuckle before I gave up on it and tossed it into my drawer to remain forever in darkness. Pity, too, because it was an otherwise very nice knife.

My Gunting had the habit of opening in my pocket, fortunately w/o injury, but that was because I had not kept the pivot screw tightened, as Bram Frank had repeatedly suggested. Doing so is now a part of my maintenance procedure.