Does one really need one handed opening?

[Peter Hartwig]

A fixed blade is not always convenient or "appropriate" in the urban jungle for some of us, at least none that I've seen and would use.

YMMV

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It wasn't a reference to today

 

[Hickory n steel]

Yes I do need one hand opening.



I don't presume to know what strangers on the internet "need" in there daily life.

Nor do I assume they have no idea what they actually "need".

All I really mean is that a lot of people went straight for one hand openers because of the convenience and never tried a one hand opener to see if they could still get the job done without feeling burdened. I was like this and my brother still is, so I know there are people like this out there.

 

[Quiet]

All I really mean is that a lot of people went straight for one hand openers because of the convenience and never tried a one hand opener to see if they could still get the job done without feeling burdened. I was like this and my brother still is, so I know there are people like this out there.

Why would you? "Well let me see, there's this less convenient way, and then there's the faster, more convenient way. Nah, I like inconvenience, let me get one of those two-handed jobbies!".

I mean, is that actually a thought process people should have had?

Modern folders work better for a lot of people. The idea of asking the question "Who really needs one-handed opening??" comes off an awful lot like "Who really needs a gun? Or a car that can do better than 70mph?"

Just my take.

 

[mmmotorcycle]

I have bad arthritis in most of body and until that gets treated better..... One handed opening knives and fixed blades have been my preference. With that said, I have enjoyed more traditional knives in the past...

 

[Ironbut]

I very much prefer a knife that I can open with either hand. Yes, I prefer one hand opening knives. I am usually holding the thing that needs to be cut, so I need a knife that can be opened with one hand.

That's pretty much me. I carried Boy Scout knives & Barlows for many years & a one handed opening knife is a big plus as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Ronin_Jedi]

It wasn't a reference to today

Thanks for clarification but mine was not solely directed at you. I say this because others - on other threads - have advocated just that.

Best to ya!

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[Rey HRH]

Yes, I need a one-handed opening knife by necessity of how I think.

I get home. I see an Amazon box. I pick it up to check if it actually is for me. Why, yes, it is. I wonder which order is this. What's inside the box? I don't know because it's still all taped up. Did I think to take out my knife when I saw the box because I'm going to eventually need / want to open the box? No. Do I want to set the box down again and then take out my knife, open it with both hands, then pick up the box again? No. And that's why I need a one-handed opening knife so I can hold on to the box with one hand, pull out my knife with the other and open it one-handed and open the box to find out what's inside.

 

[Todd21969]

All I really mean is that a lot of people went straight for one hand openers because of the convenience and never tried a one hand opener to see if they could still get the job done without feeling burdened. I was like this and my brother still is, so I know there are people like this out there.

And a lot of people went straight to two hand openers cause that's all we had. [emoji6]

Once we had a choice (Thanks big time Sal [emoji106] ) many of us chose, and needed, those new fangled knives. And still do.

I take it you grew up ( or still are) in a post Spyderco Worker world.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Why would you? "Well let me see, there's this less convenient way, and then there's the faster, more convenient way. Nah, I like inconvenience, let me get one of those two-handed jobbies!".

I mean, is that actually a thought process people should have had?

Modern folders work better for a lot of people. The idea of asking the question "Who really needs one-handed opening??" comes off an awful lot like "Who really needs a gun? Or a car that can do better than 70mph?"

Just my take.

I think of two hand openers like I do fountain pens and manual transmissions. They're less convenient but there's an intrinsic value to the inconvenience itself. The extra little effort makes you more conscious of the process and can often make using the item feel more special.

As it turns out though, I don't want that special experience with my knife when opening a package of bacon are 630am on a Tuesday. I just want the damn bacon out quickly. So, for most tasks, I'll be sticking with a one hander.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Why would you? "Well let me see, there's this less convenient way, and then there's the faster, more convenient way. Nah, I like inconvenience, let me get one of those two-handed jobbies!".

I mean, is that actually a thought process people should have had?

Modern folders work better for a lot of people. The idea of asking the question "Who really needs one-handed opening??" comes off an awful lot like "Who really needs a gun? Or a car that can do better than 70mph?"

Just my take.

Why ? because a lot of two handed openers are just nice slicy blades that perform very well, and it's nice to switch it up some times.
Someone is not going to be considering carrying an inconvenience, they'll be considering trying out a different type of knife that may not feel inconvenient for them ( the point is to try one out and see )

Anyway I can see that you don't like 2 handed folders which is fine, just remember that they're not inconvenient for everyone. A lot of people have no problem switching between one and two hand openers.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Yes, I've needed one hand opening on quite a few occasions. I've never had the NEED for two-hand opening though, ever.

Can't say it any better. I love traditional knives, but I've reached the point where I will no longer just carry one. It's always second to a one hand opening lockblade of some sort.

Read your other reply, I was an EMT also, and one handed opening would have been a blessing back then. But the incident that pushed me over the edge happened to a friend that works for Animal Control. Our local ones are not armed with guns,and a large dog took him off his feet and got one arm in it's teeth, and he could not get his pocket knife out and open. He now carries one hand openers in both left/right pockets.

 

[ATJ999]

I love one hand open, one hand close. A lot of times one hand is carrying something or otherwise occupied, so it is a huge time saver to be able to cut on the go without setting everything down, reaching for knife, two hand open, cut, reach down and pick up the stuff I set down. I would rather reach for knife, open cut close, grab what I need from that pile and continue down the line. That being saide, I orders my very first traditional folder today, a Case double blade, for when I have time for two hand open.

 

[Quiet]

Why ? because a lot of two handed openers are just nice slicy blades that perform very well, and it's nice to switch it up some times.
Someone is not going to be considering carrying an inconvenience, they'll be considering trying out a different type of knife that may not feel inconvenient for them ( the point is to try one out and see )

Anyway I can see that you don't like 2 handed folders which is fine, just remember that they're not inconvenient for everyone. A lot of people have no problem switching between one and two hand openers.

What? If one opening method takes less effort to do than another effort, then it's more efficient and more convenient. I'm not sure how that can be in doubt. I'm not speaking about personal preference, I'm speaking in an overall general way. If people enjoyed opening knives with two hands, then modern knife designs would have that as a primary feature. But since opening with two hands is objectively more inconvenient, that's why modern folder companies have come up with a multitude of ways to, you guessed it, get around the inconvenience of opening a knife with two hands.

I myself don't have issues switching between the two. However, I tend to carry modern folders because they're just more convenient. (shrug) Is what it is.

 

[pinnah]

Can't say it any better. I love traditional knives, but I've reached the point where I will no longer just carry one. It's always second to a one hand opening lockblade of some sort.

Read your other reply, I was an EMT also, and one handed opening would have been a blessing back then. But the incident that pushed me over the edge happened to a friend that works for Animal Control. Our local ones are not armed with guns,and a large dog took him off his feet and got one arm in it's teeth, and he could not get his pocket knife out and open. He now carries one hand openers in both left/right pockets.

IMO, this highlights the difference between a modern one hand opener and older traditional knives that can be one hand opened - namely, speed.

I one hand open my Buck 110 all the time but wouldn't want to do it with an attack dog gnawing on my arm.

Luckily, when I'm working around my property or in my shop and need to one hand open my 110 (or other traditional), that thing isn't gnawing on my arm.

Water sports that involve ropes is another place where the speed of modern one hand opening may be critical. I know a guy who died pinned under a canoe in 3' of water while tangled in a line. He had a Leatherman PST on his hip that didn't live up to its name.

 

[Quiet]

I think of two hand openers like I do fountain pens and manual transmissions. They're less convenient but there's an intrinsic value to the inconvenience itself. The extra little effort makes you more conscious of the process and can often make using the item feel more special.

As it turns out though, I don't want that special experience with my knife when opening a package of bacon are 630am on a Tuesday. I just want the damn bacon out quickly. So, for most tasks, I'll be sticking with a one hander.

Indeed, it's called nostalgia. I would say that fountain pens are somewhat poor comparisons. I have a collection of fountain pens, and I have never in my life found a ballpoint pen that writes as smoothly as one of my fountain pens. So, I recognize the older technology as still being excellent. Knives are not that way, in my estimation. I have many modern folders which cut what I need cut easily, as easily as they are deployed. There is literally no situation I can ever recall in my life where I had a knife, cut something and thought, "Man, wish I'd had a little slipjoint, this would have been a lot easier!" I recognize that your mileage may vary.

I want things that will take some work, and for me, a traditional knife just isn't it. Small, non-locking blades that are a pain to open with gloves, and require both hands? Pass.

As for manual transmissions (all my cars have been two door coupes with RWD, big motors, and a manual) they have historically performed better than automatics. It's only recently where companies have created automatic transmissions that shift faster AND deliver better fuel economy, so delivering an all around better, more efficient experience. So, I can understand that there's a level of nostalgia involved with buying a car with a manual transmission. Now, all that said, I respect that some folks have that nostalgia about knives. However, the question being asked just kinda comes off as judgemental, as I stated in my above post. No one should presume to tell me what I need or don't need, which is what this thread is essentially doing. "Come in here and explain to me why you need a modern folder, because I don't think you do."

 

[pinnah]

I want things that will take some work, and for me, a traditional knife just isn't it. Small, non-locking blades that are a pain to open with gloves, and require both hands? Pass.

I one hand open large traditionals with my gloves on.

I recommend against painting traditionals with too broad of a brush.

 

[HwangJino]

Some of us use folding knives for work. One handed operation is a HUGE benefit when working all day.

 

[Quiet]

I one hand open large traditionals with my gloves on.

I recommend against painting traditionals with too broad of a brush.

A few models that you are able to gripflick cannot be compared to a controlled deployment, and frankly, I'm surprised that no one else has called you on that yet. Grabbing the blade, flicking the knife hard and hoping to open it, then having to re position the knife properly in your hand isn't in the same league as a properly sorted modern design with a flipper, wave feature, thumb-stud, Spyderhole, etc. You aren't the only one who's done that to a Buck 110. I still wouldn't carry that knife over a modern folder.

Like, grabflicking an Opinel? What? That is the most awkward thing ever, and certainly not something I'd want to do if I actually needed a quick or efficient deployment. So, at the end of the day, I am glad that you have a technique that works for you on a few knives. Me, I like having natural control of the knife at all times as soon as it leaves my pocket. Your mileage may vary.

 

[smith357]

I do not "need" one hand opening, nor does any able bodied person, but a one armed man sure does.

 

[Todd21969]

Some of us use folding knives for work. One handed operation is a HUGE benefit when working all day.

My Military at my work, my two other work knives are a PM2 and a Emerson Mini CQC 15 (also my true EDC).

Sure I could pinch open a 110 or a 112. I used to do it all the time as a teen with a Puma 112 copy.

But why bother? The Emerson and Spydercos are easier, and are a lot easier to clean out all that sand and stone dust than a closed construction lock back.