... And I got bit.

bb6tuner

bb6tuner

Joined
Dec 29, 2012
Messages
371
To make a long story short, I was always kind of weary with the way my Spyderco Military was only positioned for tip down.
I was scared that the blade would open up and stab me in the leg, but I put the thought in the back of my mind. After all, it was designed like that for a reason right?

Well today, my Millie bit me. :rolleyes:

And exactly like I feared it would. I had cut an Apple on the table, wiped off the blade, closed it, made sure it was closed, and clipped it my pocket. After walking around the house, I squatted down to check an electric outlet, and I felt a jab in my thigh.. I knew I had gotten bit that instant.

And sure enough, the blade opened in my pocket, and decided it wanted to burrow itself about a little less than an inch into my thigh. Not the worst bite I've dealt with, but I'm definitely gonna remember this one for a while.


Who else has feared a knife would cut them in a certain way, only to have it happen in that exact manner? :rolleyes:
 
That sux. Ive had it happen on multiple times with a tip up folder but never tip down. Most recently a emerson commander. Nothing beats reaching into your pocket to meet an opened sharp blade, ahhh yes fun times. Another time it happend, I was delivering a pizza to some old lady, reached in to grab her change and got bit. Bled all over, felt like a fool, til she stiffed me :D
 
Too funny. I have a Millie I bought in 96. It's been edc'ed a lot, and still to this day. It's never bit me once. I've never been bit by a knife that was clipped in my pocket, in lots of years. Usually, if a knife bites me, it was due to mishandling on my part.
 
Weird, I've never been bit by a tip down knife but its happened with a tip up knife..another reason I hate tip up carry knives..
 
My worst bite was from a Delica. I was not paying attention as I tried to close it one handed. I tried to "flick" the knife halfway closed and didn't have my index finger high enough on the handle to catch the blade. The edge slammed onto my index finger just below the nail. I felt it hit bone. It still gives me chills to think about it. It severed the nerves and the extensor tendons. I could not extend my finger all the way out even after the cut healed. I had to wear a splint holding my finger straight for six weeks to allow the tendons to heal. After that all movement was restored. It's been a year and I still have limited feeling on the patch of skin between my fingernail and first joint.

So avoid cutting the top of your hands.
 
Moxy said:
My worst bite was from a Delica. I was not paying attention as I tried to close it one handed. I tried to "flick" the knife halfway closed and didn't have my index finger high enough on the handle to catch the blade. The edge slammed onto my index finger just below the nail. I felt it hit bone. It still gives me chills to think about it. It severed the nerves and the extensor tendons. I could not extend my finger all the way out even after the cut healed. I had to wear a splint holding my finger straight for six weeks to allow the tendons to heal. After that all movement was restored. It's been a year and I still have limited feeling on the patch of skin between my fingernail and first joint.

So avoid cutting the top of your hands.
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I had the exact same thing happen to my thumb with a Tenacious. Didn't pull it out of the way fast enough after disengaging the liner. I learned to slow things down a little after that :o
 
It is always a factor when dealing with knives, I bit myself at the beginning of the week with a dull kitchen knife which when I grabbed it I knew it was a mistake. The saying that a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one can be right and wrong, but I will usually support this argument and will now use my quality sharper knives so I do not get bit. The Military should have a good enough detent not to open in your pocket though.
 
I've carried Millies and Paras for 5 years or more and never had either model open unintentionally. I don't particularly like clips and very rarely use them, but if I do, it'll be on one of those two knife models because I've decided to carry concealed IWB. Otherwise,I just drop the knife down in my pocket. Every Para and Military that I've ever had has had a strong enough detent to require an intentional movement to open it. But I also keep my pivots tight enough so that the blade isn't gonna move without some effort on the user's part. Mine wouldn't open on their own even with no detent. I won't carry a knife with a free-moving blade.
 
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I've gotten bitten so many times over the years that I rarely even take note anymore unless it's close to 'stitch' country. I've got one Spydie, a Bob Terzuola slipit that demands a blood sacrifice almost every time I open it. Probably the worst was when I had a tip up Kershaw with a really weak detent. I was carrying in my left pocket for some reason that day, but the clip was setup for right hand carry. I stuck my hand into my pocket for something and caught almost 3 inches of blade in that webbed area between the thumb and index finger. THAT one took like 15 stitches, and taught me to never make THAT mistake again!
 
That is one thing I love about the compression lock. Tip up in the corner it can't open, and no fingers in the way closing. I just can't wait for a true lefty model
 
Spyderco Caly 3: It's easy enough to open/close one-handed, ambidextrous, but I worried the day i first handled it that someday it'd bite me on the knuckle of my middle-finger when i failed to move it out of the way of the blade closing... and a few days ago that is exactly what happened. There isn't much flesh between knuckle-bone and outside air, not much bleeding or damage, but I hate cutting the skin at joints where a bandage limits mobility. *shrug*

I definitely prefer the operational safety of my Axis- and button-lock knives :thumbup: Never been bit during opening/closing of those.
 
I carry my tip-up knives in my right pants pocket so that the spine of the blade is all the way to the back of the pocket; that way if it does try to open it'll hit the seam with the spine (hopefully, and not the tip - I suppose that could happen with a very deep carry clip)

Seems very unlikely with an Axis lock though...

hope your leg heals up OK!
 
Had it happen with tip up knives. Don't see how you could do it with a millie. It has just enough stay closed to not do that. Do you buy from reputable dealers?
 
I hate tip up knives. I had my finger sliced several times reaching into the pocket with the point just sticking out a bit. All it takes to make a good deep slice and ruin your day.

Tip down for me all the way.. I never had one open tip down.

Plus I alos think it is faster and easier to open the blade carrying tip down. You have to make two adujustments with your hand for tip up. So yes, tip down is faster for deployment!
 
dalefuller said:
I've carried Millies and Paras for 5 years or more and never had either model open unintentionally. I don't particularly like clips and very rarely use them, but if I do, it'll be on one of those two knife models because I've decided to carry concealed IWB. Otherwise,I just drop the knife down in my pocket. Every Para and Military that I've ever had has had a strong enough detent to require an intentional movement to open it. But I also keep my pivots tight enough so that the blade isn't gonna move without some effort on the user's part. Mine wouldn't open on their own even with no detent. I won't carry a knife with a free-moving blade.
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Got that right, First thing I do with a new knife is tighten the pivot up a tad, to make it require a bit of effort to open. I have strong hands, so not a problem.
 
I've had my Benchmade's bite me, A Contego opened and got 2 of my fingers when I reached in a pocket, and an assisted Barrage opened when I had a Preon in the same pocket, I knelt down and got poked in the leg. I was shocked at the Barrage, but the contego with it's long blade opens too easy in the pocket.

I had a Microtech SOCOM Delta S/E that was just barely open that pricked my finger as well.
 
I have carried both kinds, but prefer tip-up carry with the knife positioned close to the hip. The wallet sits in front of it in the front pocket. The blade would need to come far enough forward to leave a gap at the pocket seam on the hip side for anything to happen.
 
This thread is making me rethink adding an edc folder. Might just have to stick with the blade on the leatherman
 
Eh, I think that something that's non-assisted and has a positive detent in the closed position ought to be fairly safe. I've been violating a few of my rules lately carrying a SOG Flash 2 with a busted pocket clip and still no pocket bites. Of course now that I said that... but then again I got a new Grip so I'm set now.
 
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