Do You Trust Half-Stops?

Keep the fingers out of the way; it doesn't matter whether there's a half-stop or not. Or, perhaps it does, but only because knives with half-stops will snap shut more violently, IF the blade is pushed past the halfway point and not controlled. All the more reason to keep the fingers out of the way as sheer habit, and don't rely on a half-stop as a substitute for careful handling.

I agree with Old Hunter above^; the greatest value I see in a half-stop is for display of the blades. It's really the only time I've actually appreciated them, for taking pictures and such.


David
 
I once let a half-stop house-sit while I was out of state. Came home to an awful mess. It also drank milk straight from the jug. Never trust a half-stop!

Seriously though, no. I don't trust them to save my digits. I don't mind them, but would generally prefer they not be there.
 
I agree with many of the other replies, keep your fingers out of the path of the blade at all times when closing. However, I do appreciate the walk n' talk of a slip joint with a half stop. To me the extra half second it takes in closing isn't a bother. It's not a necessary feature or deal breaker if it doesn't have half stop, but something I appreciate when it does.
 
I keep my fingers out of the way when closing a knife, half stop or not. I generally close against my leg. i prefer slippies with half stops. If no half stop, I want a pretty strong spring or I am not likely to use the knife.

Anyway, I don't trust half stops, but I prefer them.
 
bonzodog said:
Why on earth would anyone put fingers in the blades path.
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Exactly. I like half-stops for the feeling they give, but I don't use them any differently than any other knife.
 
i thought half stops were intended design for opening knives, which the half stop allows for a secure stop position to switch finger positions half way through deployment from the nail nick / long pull to a pinch open. This prevents the blade from snapping shut if you slip from the nail nick too early during a smooth cam tang deployment. The half stop blade tang can be designed to have less tension the first half of the pull open to be easier on thumbnails, and stronger 2nd half of the pull open to maintain strong spring tension to hold the blade fully open with strong spring tension.


I see little to no benefit in a half stop when closing a knife.
 
My fingers are always out of the way when closing, whether the knife has a half stop or not. I always hold the blade, either pinched or using the nail nick, until the knife is fully open or fully closed. It's what my daddy taught me and it's ingrained.

Whether I like or carry a particular knife is never dependent on whether it has a half stop or not. I do prefer them on knives that have bear trap springs.
 
I agree that half stops are great for display purposes, when photographing knives. But in actually use, they mean pretty much nothing to me. I guess they're a safety feature in certain circumstances. I never really had many knives with half stops until I got in GEC's.

I'm not a fan of half stops on larger blades with strong springs. There's so much travel to the half stop, that the blade gains a lot of momentum to get there. If my finger nail is still in the nail nick when the blade comes to a jarring halt at the half stop, I end up ripping my nail. If I pinch open the blade, my finger ends up getting bit. This is especially true on the Case Backpocket knife.

I like how GEC does their half stops. The snap into the half stop is often softened slightly, so I don't rip a nail.
 
Buzzbait said:
I agree that half stops are great for display purposes, when photographing knives. But in actually use, they mean pretty much nothing to me. I guess they're a safety feature in certain circumstances. I never really had many knives with half stops until I got in GEC's.
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I view half stops sort of like the safety chains on a small trailer (hitch). The chains are there just in case, but I wouldn't depend on them.
 
Arathol said:
First, there is nothing wrong with half stops, they work fine.
Second, you don't ever wrap your fingers around the handle when you are closing a knife, ever. Learn to keep your fingers out of the way and it won't make a difference how the knife closes.
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Agreed.
I trust them, but not to a "this will keep my fingers safe" point.
As far as I am concerned, they are there to reassure/remind you that you are closing or opening the knife and to acknowledge that there is a sharp edge involved.
Nothing more, nothing less.
 
I trust them to let the blade come down just far enough to cut me and then spring back into the half stop position.
 
Jeff_R said:
I think of half stops like I do the safety on a gun. Nice to have, but never trust it to work when you need it.
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^This.
Just because a gun has the safety engaged doesn't mean I'm going to start ignoring safety rules and pointing it at something I don't intend to shoot.
The same goes for the way I treat knives.

Common sense and using tools the proper way is the best "safety feature" you could ask for.
 
I like half-stops as a half-way reference point when closing the knife, especially if my attention is diverted. Plus; it makes a nice semi-stop that helps prevent the blade from snapping shut unexpectedly once you're entering the return point of the spring. For me, that reference has the effect of reacquiring my attention as I in effect, close the knife twice. I also enjoy the added mechanical feel half-stops give. That said though, I still follow normal safe practice as with any other knife, half-stop or not.
 
So that's a "No" for everyone?!

Come on, PNWJimbo! You're on video!

Here's another video of ApostleP doing it too (35 seconds in):

[video]http://youtube.com/watch?v=n9Tvzvu7B6I[/video]


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Well, I don't know if it is a "No", but more if an "eh...".
The concensus is that we appreciate them as a fail safe, but not as the sole means of safe operation.

It is like a parachute in a plane. It is nice to have if you end up needing it, but it isn't how I would prefer to leave the plane...
 
I close knives with half stops with my fingers on the handle, sure. Start the blade moving with my thumb, then reposition for. Half way with fingers moved. I do the same thing with can hang cam tang knives (no half stops) too. This is all one-handed operation. I also use two hands. Or sometimes I push the knife closed against my leg, and then fingers aren't in the way.

I have never seen a half stop knife close all the way from open. The half stops are always enough to catch themselves. I don't think the knife would pass QC if the half stops weren't actually stops.
 
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traumkommode said:
I close knives with half stops with my fingers on the handle, sure. Start the blade moving with my thumb, then reposition for. Half way with fingers moved. I do the same thing with can hang knives (no half stops) too. This is all one-handed operation. I also use two hands. Or sometimes I push the knife closed against my leg, and then fingers aren't in the way.

I have never seen a half stop knife close all the way from open. The half stops are always enough to catch themselves. I don't think the knife would pass QC if the half stops weren't actually stops.
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Alright! A dissenter! What are "can hang knives"?


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calvinw said:
Alright! A dissenter! What are "can hang knives"?


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That is autocorrect having mischievous fun with "cam tang" or (radiused tang/no half stop)

Edited my original post to leave context and correct the error.
 
One should never rely on half stops (or a lock for that matter) to save you from a sharp blade. Keep your fingers and appendages in the right place with a little caution and they won't get cut.
 
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