Arthritis Users

OpsTech

OpsTech

Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
90
Ever since I was little, my dad always had a pocket knife. He now has arthritis and it’s hard for him to use a traditional knife because he is in pain. I’m looking for a great flipper, or a semi assisted knife he could use. Does anyone have any good knife suggestions that they’ve used to avoid arthritis pain? Thanks for your help.
 
Take your Dad to a store that sells a lot of knives so he can try them out. Arthritis affects people differently, what works for one person may not for another.

Better yet, buy knives you like that you think will work and you like. Let your Dad try 'em and if they do not work for him, you have a new knife :)
 
Your dad should definitely handle as many knives as he can in retail stores to see what (if anything) feels good and works well for him. If he’s dealing with physically disabling arthritis pain, he should probably be seeing a doc about it. He might end up doing PT and either meds or dietary supplements and significantly diminishing his average daily pain threshold.
 
I have arthritis as well as damaged nerves in my arm and hands. When my hands get cold they will at times just drop what is in my hand unless I am focusing on holding it. My dexterity is no where near where it used to be.

As far as my knife choice the easiest for me are the large ( Endura, Stretch, Police, Millie etc.) Spydercos with a good sized round hole opening device. I have assisted and autos as well as most every type knife action and opening device and the Spyderco's by far work the best for me. Part of that is design and much of it is muscle memory from using them for years. The backlock also works best for me out of all the locks I've used.

I always suggest getting a persons input on a gift knife . If they aren't happy with the design or can't use it well they might not tell you out of politeness and just not use it.

Joe
 
If your dad is used to a traditional slip joint, Case offers an assisted opening knife that may be suitable for him.
 
Why not a 2.5" - 3.25" fixed blade, like:

ESEE CR 2.5
CRKT Mossback B&T
Becker BK-14 with OE handles added
or step up the size to a Manly Patriot!?
 
Spyderco UK Penknife.

I gave one to my father because arthritis was making traditional slippies difficult.

it’s easy to open one or two handed and there’s no lock to manipulate.
 
If he likes traditional styling, you might give the Case Russlock model a look. I consider combining it with a leather pocket slip from Collector Knives. Might keep the tab upright in the pocket a little more.

The Case Kickstart is another to look at. Thumb studs and assisted opening.
 
Sounds like since he's been using slip joints he's not necessarily looking for one-handed opening. Pinching the nail nick and fighting the spring seem to be what's aggravating his arthritis. Maybe something like a friction folder?
 
If he's not able to pick one out I'd recommend ordering from somewhere that has an easy exchange policy just in case he doesn't like it and then get him something with a buttery smooth opening, closing and locking mechanism like a (2nd the) spyderco manix/pm2, I also think a benchmade mini/full grip would work really well
 
Sticking with the Case theme, if he can pinch alright as kniferbro kniferbro mentioned above, the Case Tribal lock might be a good option. It has a lot of blade that is easy to get a hold of and being a lock back knife it doesn't have a strong spring. Larger knife so it is also easy to hold and use.
 
OpsTech said:
Ever since I was little, my dad always had a pocket knife. He now has arthritis and it’s hard for him to use a traditional knife because he is in pain. I’m looking for a great flipper, or a semi assisted knife he could use. Does anyone have any good knife suggestions that they’ve used to avoid arthritis pain? Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...


Flippers and AOs often have strong detents which I have to imagine would be equally painful for someone with bad arthritis. Have you considered a friction folder?

OHFK9COA-1.jpg


The Ohta pictured above is d2 steel and cocbolo and comes in under $100. He also makes a fancier version in a laminated steel. The exposed tang allows the knife to be opened with your thumb, off hand, leg, table, etc. Really anything you can press the tang against will open it.

If your pop's been using slippies forever he probably has good cutting technique so the lack of a lock shouldn't be an issue. The blade can then be closed in the same plethora of methods.

@knifeswapper happens to sell them, along with some very nice leather pocket slips on his site: collectorknives.net
 
Yes, all modern Higonokamis are quite easy to open (they often have longer levers...). Check out Ohta, Kotoh, Hikari. Svörd folders are interesting options, too. Still, you need a nimble thumb. However, there is a Case / Queen / GEC model specifically designed to be opened by hooking it on the seam of the pants. If memory serves, it might well be called "One armed bandit" :
RqQ4NSk.jpg
 
Do you have any knives your Dad can try?? That might help narrow down what he likes and what would work..
John
 
Thank you all for your kind words. I appreciate the feedback and all of your suggestions. You're all a huge help. After reading the comments, i should have put in more detail.

My father is 75 years old and has been struggling with arthritis for the past 25 years. He does take medication, but as you all know arthritis is progressive over time. Just recently his hands tend to freeze a little more often. The type of freezing is during motion. For an example if he was to try to open a Spyderco Endura using the Spydie Hole, his thumb would freeze mid deployment. Here in Bakersfield we have a couple stores, and their knives are limited to the most popular selling units that turn inventory (My collection below). Because we are in California, we can't use autos. The knives he's tried are mostly axis, frame, and lockback locks. Below is a list of knives he's tried out and the one he just got.

My knives he's Tried-

SpyderCo:
Delica
Endura
Para 2
Para 3
Manix

Benchmade:
Bugout
Bailout
Sequel
Mini Vallation (Assisted)

Cris Reeves:
Small Sebenza 21
Large Sebenza 21
Small Inkosi

Out of all of them, he could use the Bugout the best, but it's hard for him to pinch back the axis lock.

We went to the shop yesterday to look at the Kershaw's. He purchased the Kershaw Chive (assisted flipper). He loved the action, but hated how smooth the scales were. I ttok it to the shop at work and sand blasted the scales to have a grit feel to it. So far he likes it. He constantly tells me he wants one "Made in the USA" . LOL So we will be going back to find another.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I even want to buy the ones you sent out.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Flippers and AOs often have strong detents which I have to imagine would be equally painful for someone with bad arthritis. Have you considered a friction folder?

OHFK9COA-1.jpg


The Ohta pictured above is d2 steel and cocbolo and comes in under $100. He also makes a fancier version in a laminated steel. The exposed tang allows the knife to be opened with your thumb, off hand, leg, table, etc. Really anything you can press the tang against will open it.

If your pop's been using slippies forever he probably has good cutting technique so the lack of a lock shouldn't be an issue. The blade can then be closed in the same plethora of methods.

@knifeswapper happens to sell them, along with some very nice leather pocket slips on his site: collectorknives.net
Click to expand...
I'm going to purchase that one. It's so nice. I'll see if he want's to try it out too.
 
OpsTech said:
Ever since I was little, my dad always had a pocket knife. He now has arthritis and it’s hard for him to use a traditional knife because he is in pain. I’m looking for a great flipper, or a semi assisted knife he could use. Does anyone have any good knife suggestions that they’ve used to avoid arthritis pain? Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Since I tried edc'ing a small fixed blade, I recommend one for folks with arthritis. My current carry is the little Condor Compact Kephart in 1095 and I love the little knife. I want to get something fancier..... But looking through my existing inventory, I have a couple small customs that would fill that niche also.
 
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