Describe Your Favorite Pull (Nick), Mechanically Speaking.

[TheJon]

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

Although the A Wrright nail nicks are occasionally criticized for being to large they just work so well.

I agree with Duncan on the Longpull thing, they do look better slimmer and more understated, John Lloyd manages this very well on some of his knives. Longpulls look very attractive on a Spear but they don't function so well as a well positioned crescent in my experience.

Generally, prefer cam construction no half stop as it makes for a smoother opening & closing. However, if I like the knife , a half-stop is no real obstacle, just better without .

This is my general opinion as well.

Jack knives or Stockman that have blades obscuring the nicks in others. Don't really understand the worship of same side nicks on same end Jack either ? It looks OK usually, but turning it over goes OK too.

This and your above comment are things I whole heartedly agree with. Here's an example. The bunny knife vs pony jack both have long pulls with nailnicks on the secondary, yet yhe bunny knife is significantly easier to use. The pony Jack's clip is obscured making it hard to pull.

 

[Bloodloss]

I love a long pull on a single blade knife. I can usually just pinch it open. Yeah, they look nice, but there's just something satisfying about the way the meat of my thumb grips in the groove for an easy open.

 

[pmek5]

Nice deep well done nail nick. One of the reasons I like the 2017 BF TC is that it looks very nice & simple with a nail nick rather than a long pull.

 

[HEMI 49]

I'm not in favor of one style over the other...... However, it needs to be accessible and locatable w/o looking for it.... To wit: When you got to the bathroom at your BIL's house at night, you walk in the bathroom and put your hand on the wall expecting the light switch to be there.... No one should be flailing around trying to find the light..... So, nicks or pulls need to be placed on the blades where they provide good mechanical function and are EASILY accessed......

The knife designer needs to optimize the functionality and visual appeal of the pulls... Pulls/nicks are the frosting on the cake..... You might have a great cutting knife, but if it looks like a dog's rump, it won't win many acclaims..... Well placed nail pulls can add some nice visuals to a knife.....

 

[Another Shepherd]

I hate nail nicks. My nails--especially thumb nails--get battered and chipped in everyday activities. I don't want a knife that is hard on my nails.

That said, a nail nick near the tip with an easy-open cutout is the least bad.

 

[jc57]

Never gave it much thought. If I can open the blade, it'll do.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I've been wondering this for a while, how do the traditionalists feel about having no nail nick or no nail pull on a well pinchable knife?

 

[Just Tom.]

I've been wondering this for a while, how do the traditionalists feel about having no nail nick or no nail pull on a well pinchable knife?

No nick? No problem.

 

[Slice-and-dice]

Preference: no nail nick to abruptly disturb the flow of the blade. I’d love either enough blade showing to pinch open, in the case of a single blade, or a combination of studs and shallow bolsters On a multiblade

 

[AntDog]

Preference: no nail nick to abruptly disturb the flow of the blade. I’d love either enough blade showing to pinch open, in the case of a single blade, or a combination of studs and shallow bolsters On a multiblade

I’m ok with anything as long as it gets the blade out. If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be a big ol single nick ala Buck 110. Super comfy and works at different angles.

 

[Old Engineer]

I'm not in favor of one style over the other...... However, it needs to be accessible and locatable w/o looking for it.... To wit: When you got to the bathroom at your BIL's house at night, you walk in the bathroom and put your hand on the wall expecting the light switch to be there.... No one should be flailing around trying to find the light..... So, nicks or pulls need to be placed on the blades where they provide good mechanical function and are EASILY accessed......

The knife designer needs to optimize the functionality and visual appeal of the pulls... Pulls/nicks are the frosting on the cake..... You might have a great cutting knife, but if it looks like a dog's rump, it won't win many acclaims..... Well placed nail pulls can add some nice visuals to a knife.....

What Brent said and I do not care for nail nicks with sharp edges . My nails are not as tough as they used to be so I do not much like to have to really work to open a blade . The 2019 Blade Forums knife can be Pinched Open and the Charlie's Lambfoot nick location are both great knives for me to open . Visual appearances of nick or long pulls don't matter that much to me . Having to Work at opening a blade causes me to not carry a certain knife.

Harry

 

[Prester John]

I love this one. Extremely easy to use, and I don't have to rap the knife on the table to get the blade to come out a little to pinch it open. A few knife blades I can pinch, but I love thumb nicks like this one.