Deployment Holes, Do they work?

I love the spydie hole it works very will with or without gloves on. I think that the hole is actually more reliable than a thumbstud because its so easy to find with your thumb no matter how you grab the knife. The real advantage is found when you try opening one with gloves on though.
 
Takes a bit of practice to get used to, to be sure. I still can't switch easily between hole and stud. It's more reliable, though, as the hole is larger and easier to reach; downside is that the knife is taller in the pocket. However the Stretch makes up for this by being nice and thin.
 
"I've found the hole to be much more reliable than studs or disks, especially with gloves, cold/wet/slippery hands, or an adrenalin rush. I will say that when choosing a knife with a hole opener you should avoid knives in which the handle scales cover a significant portion the hole, as this can make it slower or less reliable to open in an emergency. I've also found that spyderco's round holes work much more smoothly than the oval, comet, or other shaped holes i've tried because the perfect circle allows the blade to rotate around your thumb as it opens."

+1 Exactly what he said.
 
to each their own I guess,,I love the spydys, for their reliablity, the ease they take a razor edge, the general quality of the knife as a whole,,but I am not crazy about the looks of the thumbhole,,it works jsut fine,,never had aproblem with them,,I just like the looks of a thumbstud or disk better,,thats why there are so many different makes of knives,,so that each taste can be met,,and thats why I love that we all do not like the same knives,,gives us so many choices,,
 
yeah you are crazy.
That hole is like a Krabby Patty anyone who says theye dont like it has never tried one yet. LOL
 
I stayed away from Spyderco for probably 10 years after seeing their deployment hole the first time. I finally bought one based on good reviews, and I've only bought one knife with a thumb stud since. Given two equal knives, one with a thumb stud and one with a hole, I'll take the one with the hole.
 
snipes1027 said:
Hey guys, recently I've been looking around at some spydercos, byrds etc, and I just can't get over my fear of deployment holes. For some reason subconsciously I look at them and think they just wouldn't be reliable and have always opted for the thumb stud, excluding these knives. I found the spyderco stainless stretch, c90p, and really like everything except the damn hole, and it is keeping me from taking the plunge. Who can tell me I'm crazy?
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You really are crazy. Look at all the people on here who carry Spydercos religiously myself included. Do we ever speak of having trouble opening them (no)? In all honesty I hate thumb studs compared to the Spyder hole. So yes they are a reliable opening system and yes you should get one or ten. ;)
 
Simply put: If the Spyderhole did not work, they would have been using it for the last 30 years. Personally, I cannot understand why people say they are afraid of it. Makes absolutely no sense. I mean, are you planning on prying a concrete block out of a wall with it or what?
 
I used to think Spyderholes looked odd at best. Now I EDC an Endura 4 and love the way it works. Studs tend to catch a little on the edges of my pockets. The Endura slides right by because there is nothing sticking out. As others have said, a Spyderhole is very comfortable and reliable. A few people who see my Endura open think it's automatic, but it's not even assisted. Go into a local store that has Spyderco and try one. I like it. You might like it too after you actually try it.

Shalom,
Steve
 
Opening hole is also highly unlikely to become loose and fall off at some point. :D

And I also do like the fact that it makes sharpening easier as you don't have to worry about a thumb stud hitting the stone.

Simple and highly useful.
 
I'm crazy too, I've owned one spyderco rescue, traded it here. The hole kills me but for different reasons, I just don't see the advantage of taking a hard use tool and punching or drilling a huge hole in the blade thus weakening the blade. Defies logic, ration and basic engineering. The profiles when closed are ridicules with tons of blade and that big DA hole sticking up to the stratosphere over the top of the handles.

I've tried to buy a another saver salt in H1 because I like the steel but can't do it, I'd rather fight rust than the funky non natural non flowing ergos of that DA hole. Hey, wally check this knife out, hey slim you know what you need to do, drill or punch a huge hole in it. Yea, thats it, thats the ticket, put a big hole in the blade.

Kudos, to Sal G. he did it, and has a loyal following, but the knives just don't look natural for lack of a better word, they just don't flow, they look odd and out of sorts. Lots of people love em and tolerate the things I referenced above but I just can't do it. I've tried and it is a deal killer for me plain and simple.
 
Somewhere here on BF, there's a WHOLE thread about Spydie Holes (and their many other uses, besides just opening the blade).

Ah, here it is: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=668033&highlight=uses+spyderco+hole

I love the hole. As others have pointed out, it's much easier to maintain contact with the inside edge of the Spyderco hole when deploying the blade. Many thumbstuds are just too small and/or slippery and/or pointy, all of which increase the likelihood of your thumb slipping off when opening the blade quickly.

Take the plunge (into the HOLE)!
 
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If you don't like the hole that is fine, everyone has their opinion. But if you are using a knife so hard that you are worried about a hole weakening the blade you are using the knife wrong. You need a prybar at that point. You would have to be trying to break the knife in half for the lack of metal to be an issue and even then I bet the pivot gives out before the blade does.

I'm also not really into what my knife looks like if it is a great tool. I don't use them as fashion accessories. Yeah there are some knives that look great but looks don't make it work good. Spyderco wouldn't be around with so many fans if it did not work. I also don't buy wrenches based on looks.

Edit: I would be more concerned about the stainless handles. They don't do it for me and feel cold and are slippery. I would go with the FRN or the carbon fiber personally.
 
Just as a heads up, all folding knives have holes in them, and many fixed blades do as well. Doesn't seem to weaken them much for 99% of users.
 
I like a round opening hole for knives I carry on my weak side. They not only open easily with either hand, but a Spyderco mid-lock in particular closes easily with either hand.
 
I like the fact that you can wave a knife that has a hole. My opinion that when the knife gets cut to make the wave feature then gloved operation is enhanced. See Charlie Mike if you need 411 on waving.
 
As with all aspects of life, the hole is good.

(there is a reason that the goal of so many sports is putting something through a hole)
 
Deployment holes work beautifully. I was a bit worried about flick opening but like anything with a little practice it works very well and without issue.
 
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