Describe Your Favorite Pull (Nick), Mechanically Speaking.

[black mamba]

Please allow me to ramble, and dive in yourself with comments and experiences. Having owned thousands of traditional folding knives, I'm interested in why/how there are so many different types of nail nicks or pulls. Since I have definite preferences, I assume everyone else does, too. I understand that the way a blade sits in the frame, as well as the relationship it has to the positioning of other blades in a multi-bladed knife, can determine the type and position of the nick. But my question is about the mechanics of opening the knife. What kind and position on the blade gives you the greatest satisfaction when using it? I've always felt that a double-pull knife is ridiculous, because one or the other of the two nicks will invariably be preferred. I dislike the feeling of opening a knife where the pull is too far toward the tip, yet many knives, even single-blade knives, have the nick placed there when it could be just about anywhere on the blade. I also believe that long pulls look great on a clip blade or spear, but don't look appropriate on a secondary blade. And, they let the user decide where best to place his/her fingernail for the best leverage. Also, having large hands and fingers, I prefer a nick or pull long enough and deep enough to get a good purchase on the blade.

So, my preference is for a long pull where appropriate, deep and wide enough to give a secure grip, and centrally located. Your thoughts, please?

 

[SteveC]

Please allow me to ramble, and dive in yourself with comments and experiences. Having owned thousands of traditional folding knives, I'm interested in why/how there are so many different types of nail nicks or pulls. Since I have definite preferences, I assume everyone else does, too. I understand that the way a blade sits in the frame, as well as the relationship it has to the positioning of other blades in a multi-bladed knife, can determine the type and position of the nick. But my question is about the mechanics of opening the knife. What kind and position on the blade gives you the greatest satisfaction when using it? I've always felt that a double-pull knife is ridiculous, because one or the other of the two nicks will invariably be preferred. I dislike the feeling of opening a knife where the pull is too far toward the tip, yet many knives, even single-blade knives, have the nick placed there when it could be just about anywhere on the blade. I also believe that long pulls look great on a clip blade or spear, but don't look appropriate on a secondary blade. And, they let the user decide where best to place his/her fingernail for the best leverage. Also, having large hands and fingers, I prefer a nick or pull long enough and deep enough to get a good purchase on the blade.

So, my preference is for a long pull where appropriate, deep and wide enough to give a secure grip, and centrally located. Your thoughts, please?

I pretty much agree with your preferences except on longer thin blades more towards the front like on a Lambsfoot. Blade shape and pull strength has a lot to do with preference for me.

 

[r8shell]

...I dislike the feeling of opening a knife where the pull is too far toward the tip, yet many knives, even single-blade knives, have the nick placed there when it could be just about anywhere on the blade...

I dislike when the nail nick is too close to the pivot, and find it easier to open when farther toward the tip. It's a leverage thing, especially on knives with strong springs.

I prefer the look of a long pull.

 

[mrknife]

i prefer a nice well cut long pull. not that theres anything wrong with a nail nick, but growing up, all the knives i could afford only had nail nicks. i dont dislike them, and it doesnt deter my choice in purchasing. however, a poorly cut nail nick or long pull will definitely affect my decision in buying or keeping a knife. i think ive seen some boys knives where the nail nick appeared very lazily cut or was just gigantic for no reason, and ive seen some tiny short long pulls which appeared just lazy.

 

[Jack Black]

I like the aesthetics of a long pull, but in use I prefer a large, wide, deep crescent-shaped nick, not too far from the tip of the blade, where it gives good purchase, and assists pinching the blade open

 

[RickHuf]

Aesthetically, long pull in combination with a swedge (swage?) looks awesome. When looking at vintage knives, this is something that draws my attention.

Functionally, I don't like any nail nicks and prefer a pinchable blade or easy open cut out. Especially if there is a heavy pull, nail nicks are pretty useless.

My case stockman has a pull equivalent to a soggy noodle so the regular nail nicks actually work fine.

The Rough Ryders have this sort of exaggerated nail nick that makes them easy to open. That is nice with multiple blades.

 

[black mamba]

Even though I like this knife for other reasons, I dislike the nail nick inside the swedge. Doesn't look right to me, and lessens the purchase on the nick.

This is a proper long pull, ending at the swedge.

I really like this centrally located and decently large nail nick right under the "peak" of the clip blade. The forward position of the spey's nick feels awkward in opening.

 

[lithicus]

I find that mechanically, I don't like the nail nick too far forward on a "flimsy" blade. For example, a newer Case stockman that I have with a turkish clip has the nail nick very far forward and toward the tip. Because this blade isn't very "firm", it moves quite easily in the blade well despite my best effort to only pull straight up. On the flip side, an older Case stockman that I have with a full clip has the nail nick just behind center. This blade is very "firm" and it feels easier to "lift up" without pushing in.

That being said, I still agree with Jack Black . Lambsfoot knives seem to often have a nice big, deep nail nick very far forward and near the tip. But, these blades seem "firm" enough to me that I can lift these up easily without pushing in. And, it gives a lot of leverage for a heavy pull.

I also agree with black mamba on the nail nick inside of the swedge. I saw this recently on an old knife I'm thinking about purchasing, and it seemed odd. Just imagining that it is tough to get a good purchase on it as it cannot be as deep as it could be if it were not on the swedge. Which brings me to my next point.

I don't like a highly polished or rounded nail nick or long pull. I'd prefer it to have relatively sharp edges that my nail is unlikely to slip out of. I'm also not a huge fan of the "holes" for a nail nick. I've seen this on some newer high-end steel case knives. I kind of like having a "backing" to the nail nick, rather than my nail just going into a hole.

Lastly, I agree with black mamba again on the long pull leading into a nice swedge. This is hands down my favorite. I don't know why I like long pulls so much, and I prefer them to be matchstrike (but that's more of an aesthetic thing). The long pull lets you sort of choose where to place your nail. A large enough cresent moon nail nick provides the same ability. But, long pulls almost always give more flexibility in chosing where to place your nail.

 

[Reconmarui]

All I know is that Rough Ryder overuses matchstrike pulls so now when I see them on other knives my brain thinks "Cheap". I also don't like double nail nicks. I like long pulls the best where appropriate.

 

[lithicus]

All I know is that Rough Ryder overuses matchstrike pulls so now when I see them on other knives my brain thinks "Cheap". I also don't like double nail nicks. I like long pulls the best where appropriate.

I agree. And although this is a purely cosmetic thing for me because I don't own any-strike matches, I just absolutely hate matchstrike regular nail nick pulls.

I guess these next statements could be considered mechanical... in that if you did own any-strike matches the matchstrike pull is a mechanic to light one.
Regular nail nick matchstrikes seem to go completely against the concept of having a traditional matchstrike pull to me. My understanding, albeit a quite limited one, is that these were truly originally intended to light an any-strike match. Who would want to strike a match on a regular nail nick matchstrike pull? A matchstrike long pull seems far superior for this use case. So, in my mind (and I'm probably wrong for thinking this), a matchstrike only belongs on a long pull And I personally feel like all long pulls should be matchstrike. They just seem to have that more traditional look and feel. I just love a matchstrike long pull, like on my 8OT above.

My apologies if I took the mechanical aspect of this post in the wrong direction! I think the intention was to discuss various types of pulls and locations in regards to the mechanics of opening the blade, not striking a match against it

 

[black mamba]

All good, lithicus, the input is appreciated.

 

[Prester John]

I agree. And although this is a purely cosmetic thing for me because I don't own any-strike matches, I just absolutely hate matchstrike regular nail nick pulls.

I guess these next statements could be considered mechanical... in that if you did own any-strike matches the matchstrike pull is a mechanic to light one.
Regular nail nick matchstrikes seem to go completely against the concept of having a traditional matchstrike pull to me. My understanding, albeit a quite limited one, is that these were truly originally intended to light an any-strike match. Who would want to strike a match on a regular nail nick matchstrike pull? A matchstrike long pull seems far superior for this use case. So, in my mind (and I'm probably wrong for thinking this), a matchstrike only belongs on a long pull And I personally feel like all long pulls should be matchstrike. They just seem to have that more traditional look and feel. I just love a matchstrike long pull, like on my 8OT above.

My apologies if I took the mechanical aspect of this post in the wrong direction! I think the intention was to discuss various types of pulls and locations in regards to the mechanics of opening the blade, not striking a match against it

The 2019 Forum knife has a match-strike long pull, which looks okay to me (had trouble lighting matches with it, though!), but a match-strike nail nick just looks wrong.

 

[lithicus]

I've always felt that a double-pull knife is ridiculous, because one or the other of the two nicks will invariably be preferred.

I also don't like double nail nicks.

I also meant to comment on this. I, too, dislike the double nail nicks. Even if one of them is a long pull. I just don't see the point. You'll prefer one over the other and always use it. I think it makes the knife look too gimicky.

 

[rishma]

I prefer the look of long pulls by mile, especially with a swedge…but if I’m honest I find a properly placed standard nick the most comfortable to open. I still choose a long pull when I can, favoring form over function I guess

I do not like the look of match strike…anything

 

[abbydaddy]

I agree. And although this is a purely cosmetic thing for me because I don't own any-strike matches, I just absolutely hate matchstrike regular nail nick pulls.

I guess these next statements could be considered mechanical... in that if you did own any-strike matches the matchstrike pull is a mechanic to light one.
Regular nail nick matchstrikes seem to go completely against the concept of having a traditional matchstrike pull to me. My understanding, albeit a quite limited one, is that these were truly originally intended to light an any-strike match. Who would want to strike a match on a regular nail nick matchstrike pull? A matchstrike long pull seems far superior for this use case. So, in my mind (and I'm probably wrong for thinking this), a matchstrike only belongs on a long pull And I personally feel like all long pulls should be matchstrike. They just seem to have that more traditional look and feel. I just love a matchstrike long pull, like on my 8OT above.

My apologies if I took the mechanical aspect of this post in the wrong direction! I think the intention was to discuss various types of pulls and locations in regards to the mechanics of opening the blade, not striking a match against it

I strongly prefer long pulls on a main blade, and I strongly prefer long pulls to be matchstrike. I don't know if I would go so far as to say all long pulls should be match strike (some knives need cleaner lines), but I agree with the sentiment.

I don't like nail nick matchstrikes.

 

[cbr1000]

Please allow me to ramble, and dive in yourself with comments and experiences. Having owned thousands of traditional folding knives, I'm interested in why/how there are so many different types of nail nicks or pulls. Since I have definite preferences, I assume everyone else does, too. I understand that the way a blade sits in the frame, as well as the relationship it has to the positioning of other blades in a multi-bladed knife, can determine the type and position of the nick. But my question is about the mechanics of opening the knife. What kind and position on the blade gives you the greatest satisfaction when using it? I've always felt that a double-pull knife is ridiculous, because one or the other of the two nicks will invariably be preferred. I dislike the feeling of opening a knife where the pull is too far toward the tip, yet many knives, even single-blade knives, have the nick placed there when it could be just about anywhere on the blade. I also believe that long pulls look great on a clip blade or spear, but don't look appropriate on a secondary blade. And, they let the user decide where best to place his/her fingernail for the best leverage. Also, having large hands and fingers, I prefer a nick or pull long enough and deep enough to get a good purchase on the blade.

So, my preference is for a long pull where appropriate, deep and wide enough to give a secure grip, and centrally located. Your thoughts, please?

I prefer a long pull, non match strike. Regardless of the size of the body of the knife, I'm able to get my fingers on the blade pull in the perfect location. I find it much easier to clean a long pull. I always worry the nail nick will rust through if punched too deep. I know the chances of that happening are super low, but feel like if I leave any food or material in the nail nick that it's more of a chance.

 

[redsparrow]

PREFERANCES

long pull usually looks best
nail nicks usually function better
proper positioning varies by application
tend to favor nicks closer to the blade end for leverage
detest rounded or over polished edges to the opening mechanism
appreciate when a nail nick makes a blade pinchable
a good opening mechanism is known by it's feel
match strike nail nicks simply should not be allowed
form should follow function

 

[Capt. Carl]

I like a good ole nail nick. I like the clean look. No matchstrike, i think those look too gaudy imo

 

[Hengelo_77]

If you have a clippoint with flats I like the nail pull there, but it has to be long enough for you to place your nail far enough from the pivot if the spring is stronger.

This is my latest slipjoint. It could have worked if the spring was a bit softer.
It has a strong spring and is just a bit uncomfortable to open with this nail nick.
(I'm still learning)

 

[mrknife]

If you have a clippoint with flats I like the nail pull there, but it has to be long enough for you to place your nail far enough from the pivot if the spring is stronger.

This is my latest slipjoint. It could have worked if the spring was a bit softer.
It has a strong spring and is just a bit uncomfortable to open with this nail nick.
(I'm still learning)

is there enough purchase to make it pinchable?