Best folder for Pops

M

MyBestLife07

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2022
Messages
68
So I've noticed my dad's age start to get to him...
80+

He needs a good sized handle to hold onto with
diminished dexterity....... but at the same time needs
a smaller blade that's easily wielded without as much
risk to accidental cuts.

With or without a pocket clip / half the time he just
slips something into his pocket regardless if there's
a clip on it or not.

Is there such an animal that exists out there?
 
Honestly, I would get him a small auto.

I know it sounds stupid, but hear me out;

Firstly, deployment is easy, buttons aren’t hard.

Second, if he has enough hand strength to close it, there’s not that much to deal with in terms of difficult locks and falling blades.

Third, it’ll only ever snap out and not shut, so the sharp edge should be safer than a liner frame or other.

Fourth, if it’s difficult, adjust the spring tension to be easier. (Actually, that may be a stupid suggestion, as I’m not 100% sure if you can do that with most knives)

I would also look at something like a BM Bugout or Ritter Hogue especially. Not much easier than an AXIS/ABLE lock in my opinion.
 
rhino said:
Also, a small fixed blade might be a better choice. A Mora Eldris would work well and are small enough for pocket carry.
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I thought about a fixed blade - - but never really found something I thought he would carry..... Wasn't familiar with this one though - thanks! It's a consideration.
 
Leo Greer said:
Honestly, I would get him a small auto.
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I've considered this, as well.... something perhaps like a Microtech Troodon (or mini - even)......
My concern is that the action may be too stiff for him, and not too sure about his willingness to deal with the maintenance of an auto after the blade gets a little dirty.

Most definitely a consideration for something "assisted", however... as long as I'd trust it not to accidentally deploy of course.
 
I gave my dad a Kershaw Launch 8 automatic, and he loved it. Maybe something from the Kershaw Launch line would work.
 
MyBestLife07 said:
I've considered this, as well.... something perhaps like a Microtech Troodon (or mini - even)......
My concern is that the action may be too stiff for him, and not too sure about his willingness to deal with the maintenance of an auto after the blade gets a little dirty.

Most definitely a consideration for something "assisted", however... as long as I'd trust it not to accidentally deploy of course.
Click to expand...

I thought "auto" too, but was thinking side-opener, more like a Protech Runt or similar. OTFs are a bit fiddley, as you note.

I may just be an oaf Doing It Wrong, but I don't trust assisted openers. Just myself several times on one before wising up and ditching it - the way the blade "jumps" takes it out of contact and allows all sorts of different ways to cut yourself.
 
Re: autos

If you go that route, make sure the button is easy to press. My brother gave my dad an inexpensive auto (side opener) when he was in his late 80s, thinking it would easier for him to open. He didn't have the finger/thumb strength to actually press the button.

A Spyderco would be another good choice. The thumb hole makes them really easy to pinch open.
 
1. Budget? A price range always helps.

2. I'd vote for a small, fixed blade as well. Make sure it is legal in your area. A fixed is the best for hands with limited dexterity obviously. If you want something unique, duckchildress duckchildress makes some awesome knives with a 3" blade + sheath for $100 (give or take).
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...ottle-opener-440-c-african-blackwood.1866511/

3. I don't own an auto so I won't comment on those. That is an option too.

4. If you go a folder (non-auto), it seems the Spydie hole is good for hands with diminished dexterity. Maybe a Chapparral? Again, a Spyderco would vary widely on your budget.
 
gazz98 said:
1. Budget? A price range always helps.

2. I'd vote for a small, fixed blade as well. Make sure it is legal in your area. A fixed is the best for hands with limited dexterity obviously. If you want something unique, duckchildress duckchildress makes some awesome knives with a 3" blade + sheath for $100 (give or take).
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...ottle-opener-440-c-african-blackwood.1866511/

3. I don't own an auto so I won't comment on those. That is an option too.

4. If you go a folder (non-auto), it seems the Spydie hole is good for hands with diminished dexterity. Maybe a Chapparral? Again, a Spyderco would vary widely on your budget.
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Budget is anywhere between 100 and 200 in a perfect world...
I know some of the auto's are higher range, but if I knew the action was "easy" enough for him to operate and "safe" enough not to deploy unwanted.... it really wouldn't matter greatly (up to 300).

Allowances in FL are pretty lenient as far as legality goes, so pretty much everything is in consideration.

Perhaps a manual blade with a big 'ol hole is a good option.... it's one I haven't considered, but is starting to make a lot of sense...
Easy to pinch and pull on, and zero risk of accidental opening I'm sure.
 
MyBestLife07 said:
Budget is anywhere between 100 and 200 in a perfect world...
I know some of the auto's are higher range, but if I knew the action was "easy" enough for him to operate and "safe" enough not to deploy unwanted.... it really wouldn't matter greatly (up to 300).

Allowances in FL are pretty lenient as far as legality goes, so pretty much everything is in consideration.

Perhaps a manual blade with a big 'ol hole is a good option.... it's one I haven't considered, but is starting to make a lot of sense...
Easy to pinch and pull on, and zero risk of accidental opening I'm sure.
Click to expand...
Florida is The Freedom State.
 
Went through this with my father. When he had to go to "independent living" they made him give up his pocket cutlery. When he felt like that was one of the last things he could hold on to from his previous life (he called "independent living" a warehouse for old people to die in) it was crushing. So I looked at moving him elsewhere. Everyone was the same, though.

I met with the Sr. Director of his facility and we arranged that I could get him a small folder, with one blade. It was tough. Dad dexterity and strength had declined to where he could not operate a liner lock, triad lock or axis lock. >> I << wanted him to have some kind of lock to help keep from slicing himself in case he lost control of his knife. Also, no pocket clip as he didn't like them because he thought he might think he had it clipped securely when he didn't and then lose it. Also, since he wasn't a fidget flipper or a showoff, no one knew he had it with him and to him a pocket clip was like an ad. And he was one of those folks that just wouldn't lend you his knife. Like me (or maybe me like him) he just felt better with some kind of blade in his pocket.

I wound up getting him a Buck cousin of this knife (ad from BF supporter):


That Buck 55 checked all the boxes. Met his price point, even though I was buying it. I DID NOT want it to wind up with the other knives I bought him that sat in a box because they were too good to use. Broke my heart to see his classic folding PUMAs, a couple of Carl Schlieper folders in stag, a couple of vintage Bokers in bone, and a few others I bought over the years in a box I found when I cleaned out his house. They weren't that expensive, but to him, a knife was a tool and prudence must be used when purchasing. You didn't carry a knife you couldn't afford to lose or damage when it was called to duty.

He understood bone, stag, wood, and ivory. No other scale material. So no "plastic" handles like my big folders ( "no Pop... really, it's Micarta or G10, harder than hell, wears great" Him: *snort* "Looks like plastic to me" ) , the 55 has a tiny bit of heft so it feels good in the hand, the one we got was VERY well fitted and made, and it slipped easily in his pocket. It is a good looking knife in a world of screwed together parts. And when I saw him, I could easily sharpen it for him while we chatted. Never rusted, never needed maintenance, never needed to show him how to open/close it, and bonus points for being made in America.

Good luck with your Father. Enjoy him while you can. The end can be pretty swift.

Robert
 
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The budget on these always kills my suggestion.
Pros:

Small-sub 3 inch blade
Lightweight -1.5 oz
Amazing easy to open -pinch/nick/thumb roll
Secure but easy to unlock
Clip is small and is fine tossed in pocket
Tough as nails
Sexy as a college cheerleader

Con:
Doesn’t fit the budget.

Chris Reeve Mnandi

Good luck with your hunt and my best to your Pop.
 
My first recommendation for knives in general are fixed blades, but I admit my bias. I’ll take a fixed blade over a folder all day any day. Lots of option there for pocket carry.

I’ve only had one auto in my lifetime, and it was a Boker Kalashnikov, so my experience is limited. I do think it could be a viable option, as long as the button/switch isn’t too stiff.

Folders… Thumb hole opening is probably the easiest manual way to open a knife. Spyderco would be my choice. As far as locks go, there are all kinds, but I would possibly be inclined to go with a slip joint, especially for an old timer who has most likely used one before the modern folders exploded on the market. A Spyderco UK Pen Knife, Roadie, Squeak, Urban, Honeybee, Grasshopper, Bug, and I think there may be a Lil’ Native with a slip joint as well.

Good luck on your hunt, I’m sure your dad will love whatever you end up getting him!
 
midnight flyer said:
Went through this with my father. When he had to go to "independent living" they made him give up his pocket cutlery. When he felt like that was one of the last things he could hold on to from his previous life (he called "independent living" a warehouse for old people to die in) it was crushing. So I looked at moving him elsewhere. Everyone was the same, though.

I met with the Sr. Director of his facility and we arranged that I could get him a small folder, with one blade. It was tough. Dad dexterity and strength had declined to where he could not operate a liner lock, triad lock or axis lock. >> I << wanted him to have some kind of lock to help keep from slicing himself in case he lost control of his knife. Also, no pocket clip as he didn't like them because he thought he might think he had it clipped securely when he didn't and then lose it. Also, since he wasn't a fidget flipper or a showoff, no one knew he had it with him and to him a pocket clip was like an ad. And he was one of those folks that just wouldn't lend you his knife. Like me (or maybe me like him) he just felt better with some kind of blade in his pocket.

I wound up getting him a Buck cousin of this knife (ad from BF supporter):


That Buck 55 checked all the boxes. Met his price point, even though I was buying it. I DID NOT want it to wind up with the other knives I bought him that sat in a box because they were too good to use. Broke my heart to see his classic folding PUMAs, a couple of Carl Schlieper folders in stag, a couple of vintage Bokers in bone, and a few others I bought over the years in a box I found when I cleaned out his house. They weren't that expensive, but to him, a knife was a tool and prudence must be used when purchasing. You didn't carry a knife you couldn't afford to lose or damage when it was called to duty.

He understood bone, stag, wood, and ivory. No other scale material. So no "plastic" handles like my big folders ( "no Pop... really, it's Micarta or G10, harder than hell, wears great" Him: *snort* "Looks like plastic to me" ) , the 55 has a tiny bit of heft so it feels good in the hand, the one we got was VERY well fitted and made, and it slipped easily in his pocket. It is a good looking knife in a world of screwed together parts. And when I saw him, I could easily sharpen it for him while we chatted. Never rusted, never needed maintenance, never needed to show him how to open/close it, and bonus points for being made in America.

Good luck with your Father. Enjoy him while you can. The end can be pretty swift.

Robert
Click to expand...
^^^This. Got my Dad a 55 and he loves it. It’s the first knife I’ve ever given him that he carries consistently. He’s never without it and uses it so much I’ve already had to sharpen it a few times.



Got it from DLT and had the blade engraved.



He was flying recently and forgot he had it in his pocket. TSA asked him if he’d like to “surrender it” and he said “hell no! Are you nuts? My son gave me this knife! Look at the blade.” OP - I’d highly recommend a Buck 55 for your pops.
 
AntDog said:
^^^This. Got my Dad a 55 and he loves it. It’s the first knife I’ve ever given him that he carries consistently. He’s never without it and uses it so much I’ve already had to sharpen it a few times.
Got it from DLT and had the blade engraved.



He was flying recently and forgot he had it in his pocket. TSA asked him if he’d like to “surrender it” and he said “hell no! Are you nuts? My son gave me this knife! Look at the blade.” OP - I’d highly recommend a Buck 55 for your pops.
Click to expand...
Good son: love the engraving.... I'm 83 and can't figure out which surgery to do first. I'd hate to give up my knives; Lord, let me die in my home. I realize that this is not always possible, and I pray for those poor folks.
 
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