Does one really need one handed opening?

[Lycosa]

This.^
But, use the knife that works for YOU.

 

[shecky]

There are occasions when I need one hand opening. On those occasions, this is what I carry:

I've sung the praises of this Stanley model for a few years. The 10-016 is like the kid brother of the ubiquitous model 99. Takes regular blades, but is about an inch shorter and about half the thickness. Easily pocketable. I've added pocket clips to a couple, and have several other floating about the house and tool boxes. They used to be bare cast metal finished but more recent ones are painted gray. Only bad thing about them is that they are so hard to find. When they first came out, Walmart sold them for less than $3. That was then. They stopped carrying them a few years back. Nowadays, online vendors sell them for significantly more, or they sell them cheap and charge $10 shipping. That they're so hard to find makes me think they've been discontinued.

Most of the time, though, I carry a regular non-pocket clipped, two hand opener, locking or slipjoint. Not necessarily "traditional", as defined by the Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades sub-forum. Just not one hand opening.

 

[Hickory n steel]

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.

I'm not doubting that one hand openers are more convenient, because they are and it's a great thing. that being said , in no way do I feel inconvenienced by a 2 handed folder.

They may be less convenient comparatively, but any knife that folds is a convenient thing (inconvenient means not convenient )

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

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."

You clearly didn't read all of it. I don't blame you, it's rather long winded.

My original post was about my assumption that we were all just spoiled and didn't need one handed openers. So I spent a few days without one and while I still didn't NEED the one handed opening, I found myself inconvenienced a lot more often than I thought I would and resolved to continue carrying a one handed opener most of the time.

Others though, particularly the rescue workers, have noted an actual NEED for the one handed functionality.

 

[Quiet]

I'm not doubting that one hand openers are more convenient, because they are and it's a great thing. that being said , in no way do I feel inconvenienced by a 2 handed folder.

They may be less convenient comparatively, but any knife that folds is a convenient thing (inconvenient means not convenient )

I do not have an issue with your viewpoint. My own is a little more cut and dried. Which knife is more inconvenient overall to use? For me, the answer is one that requires two hands coupled with a slower deployment method.

 

[Quiet]

You clearly didn't read all of it. I don't blame you, it's rather long winded.

My original post was about my assumption that we were all just spoiled and didn't need one handed openers. So I spent a few days without one and while I still didn't NEED the one handed opening, I found myself inconvenienced a lot more often than I thought I would and resolved to continue carrying a one handed opener most of the time.

Others though, particularly the rescue workers, have noted an actual NEED for the one handed functionality.

You are continuing to illustrate my point. Putting "need" in bold means that you believe that your definition of the term should apply to all, am I wrong? You are, in a roundabout way saying that those folks who aren't rescue workers, or who weren't able to give you a scenario or situation that you find an acceptable "need" case don't actually need one-handed opening knives. Honestly, this is a question that I don't understand why someone who claims to be a knife enthusiast (can't really understand why you'd be here on Bladeforums otherwise) would even be asking.

Fact is, for most people, you don't actually "need" a knife at all if you aren't in a kitchen. You can rip open an envelope with a finger under the flap, or rake a car key over a piece of string hanging from your shirt. You can use the string to open that bag of feed for your cows. You can just bite into an apple. For many, a knife itself is a convenience. I daresay plenty of folks here would tell me that they need a knife. My response? Absolutely, me too, bud.

And I need my primary EDC knives to be able to be deployed one handed. Anyway, you are free to continue the debate, I'll bow out as my piece has been said.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

You are continuing to illustrate my point. Putting "need" in bold means that you believe that your definition of the term should apply to all, am I wrong? You are, in a roundabout way saying that those folks who aren't rescue workers, or who weren't able to give you a scenario or situation that you find an acceptable "need" case don't actually need one-handed opening knives. Honestly, this is a question that I don't understand why someone who claims to be a knife enthusiast (can't really understand why you'd be here on Bladeforums otherwise) would even be asking.

Fact is, for most people, you don't actually "need" a knife at all if you aren't in a kitchen. You can rip open an envelope with a finger under the flap, or rake a car key over a piece of string hanging from your shirt. You can use the string to open that bag of feed for your cows. You can just bite into an apple. For many, a knife itself is a convenience. I daresay plenty of folks here would tell me that they need a knife. My response? Absolutely, me too, bud.

And I need my primary EDC knives to be able to be deployed one handed. Anyway, you are free to continue the debate, I'll bow out as my piece has been said.

I think you're finding judgement where none exists.

The question in the title is the one I posed to myself. In the first post I went on to explain my findings.

The question I posed to others, was whether or not you'd ever given up one handers for a period. So I continue to be puzzled by the apparent offense you've taken.

 

[stabman]

Do I need one-hand opening?
Sometimes...it all depends on the day.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I do not have an issue with your viewpoint. My own is a little more cut and dried. Which knife is more inconvenient overall to use? For me, the answer is one that requires two hands coupled with a slower deployment method.

OK that makes more sense , at first it just kinda sounded like you were calling it a fact.

In the end were all knife people, and can agree that knives are awesome 👍

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Bryce glad you were able to spend some time with that Comrade folder, interesting knife, and at it's price point I find it hard to beat for an every day carry. And as others have, I'll concede that I carry both traditional as well as one hand opening, but then, I like knives and one hand opening, while for most of the world isn't necessary, it certainly convenient and I do appreciate having that option.

Here's a shot of the folder in hand

For more information and photos here is a small review I did of this folder

Looking forward to see your sharpening prowess on this folder
G2

 

[ourgon]

I tried to carry Douk Douk. I wasn't happy about two hand opening and no clip. Then I discovered how to open it with one hand and how to carry it comfortable in a pocket.

[video=youtube;eDo9oK8uFlk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDo9oK8uFlk[/video]

On video it looks shitty, normally I can deploy it quickly. But you can see the idea.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Bryce glad you were able to spend some time with that Comrade folder, interesting knife, and at it's price point I find it hard to beat for an every day carry. And as others have, I'll concede that I carry both traditional as well as one hand opening, but then, I like knives and one hand opening, while for most of the world isn't necessary, it certainly convenient and I do appreciate having that option.

Here's a shot of the folder in hand

For more information and photos here is a small review I did of this folder

Looking forward to see your sharpening prowess on this folder
G2

I really need to get a better camera.

 

[cricketdave]

I've carried a one hand opener for a long time and i've had serious need for it to open with one hand a half dozen times. Most of the time its just convenient and a two hander would work fine. The times I need it to open with one hand and fast were times I really needed it to open fast. I'd have been fine with a fixed blade too. I'd have been more severely injured than I was if I hadn't been able to cut free quick.

 

[znapschatz]

I happily carry knives that open either way. That said, if I was forced to choose one hand openers would win hands down (pun intended). Easy, quick one handed operation is frequently a benefit but, almost more importantly, it's never a detriment. I don't let the lack thereof deter me, though.

I need one-hand opening, and one-hand closing, and pocket clips. And sometimes I REALLY NEED these things.

If you are holding something in one hand that you need to cut, you only have on hand available to operate the knife. And this seems to happen a lot. And even when I don't need one-hand operation I want one-hand operation because I want to use the best tool available and not something that has fewer features.

When I cut something I hold in my left hand, then I take my knife out of my pocket with my right and open it. Then I cut the object, close the knife and put it away.

For all the above reasons, yes, I need one hand opening. It's a safety feature when I'm up on a ladder, and a convenience most anytime else. The only time I use two handers anymore is if the particular blade is needed, or for some multi-tools. But even for those, my go to is a Charge TTi, with a Super Tool in reserve for heavy duty situations.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Do I NEED a one-handed opening knife? No, not at all. I carry multiple descendants of the original knife - the fixed blade.

I EDC is 3 fixed blades - either a pair of Kabar shorties and a BK11 off the farm and some small (4" to 5" blade) fixed blade paired with one of my larger knives while working on the farm. Today, it was a Kabar 1217. Yesterday, a BK9. Tomorrow, probably an Ontario machete cause I'm gonna be working on clearing brush.

I started out with my first 2-handed in 1960 because that is all there was. I didn't get my first one-handed opener until the BuckLites, 482, 484, 486 came out and the immediately replaced all two-handed folders I carried at that time.

While in the Navy, I seldom carried my preferred knives - the Kabar 1232 and the Western L46-5. The PTB frowned on them. After leaving AD and getting a corporate job, which also frowned on fixed blade carry in the work place, I simply joined the corporate first response team and added my fixed blades to my EMS response belt. Problem solved.

When corporate America decided that it was better for my job to be sent to China, I started carry multiple fixed blades all the time, only NOT carrying them when REQUIRED to because of laws or government regulations.

Ever been on a ladder and the binding cord or shipping straps hang on something just as you nearly reach that point of no return? One-handed or fixed blades are the only way to SAFELY get out of those situations, unless you are lucky and someone is within yelling range and can get there to help. I won't reiterate all of the ways an EMT/Paramedic needs one-handed or fixed blade knives. Working in a low slope attic, cutting batts of insulation open to roll out, slowing down to pull out a two-handed knife is a waste of time. 90F+ in an attic, for work? NEED becomes MANDATORY.

There's lots of folks out there who don't NEED a one-handed or fixed blade knife. Their circumstances are such that they never need to cut something "RIGHT NOW". My grandfather routinely carried traditional, two-handed knives because that was the only option available to him from 1908 to 1969. Which is why he ALWAYS carried a fixed blade when working on equipment.

As cricketdave just said, when you need it fast and only have one hand available, you better have a one-hander or a fixed blade. The fixed blade my grandfather carried saved his life on several occasions.

 

[JParanee]

I appreciate all genres off knives but I'm at the point that I prefer DA Autos

 

[22-rimfire]

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.

Pretty flimsy justification but I guess it is good enough for you especially if you are so busy that you can take 15 seconds to set the box down, open the two hand knife, and pick up said box again to be sliced open. Yep. We're really that busy.

 

[Quiet]

I think you're finding judgement where none exists.

The question in the title is the one I posed to myself. In the first post I went on to explain my findings.

The question I posed to others, was whether or not you'd ever given up one handers for a period. So I continue to be puzzled by the apparent offense you've taken.

That's entirely possible. I apologize for coming off that way and taking the discussion in that direction.

I will say that I genuinely would not enjoy knives as much as I do if things like flippers, thumbstuds, the wave, etc. weren't available. I have several traditionals, however truth be told, I bought them because I liked how they look. They spend all of their time in my knife safe, though. My SAKs though, those are a different story, primarily because of all the useful tools! I received a Farmer from a really awesome fellow BF member, and I have been pairing it with a primary large EDC. Right now, it's an Emerson Vindicator.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

That's entirely possible. I apologize for coming off that way and taking the discussion in that direction.

I will say that I genuinely would not enjoy knives as much as I do if things like flippers, thumbstuds, the wave, etc. weren't available. I have several traditionals, however truth be told, I bought them because I liked how they look. They spend all of their time in my knife safe, though. My SAKs though, those are a different story, primarily because of all the useful tools! I received a Farmer from a really awesome fellow BF member, and I have been pairing it with a primary large EDC. Right now, it's an Emerson Vindicator.

Ditto sir! I generally carry a modern folder along with a traditional. Today it's a Delica and a GEC 92. Nostalgia in one pocket and convenience in another.

 

[Reignman]

I have a few really nice little boker tree knives and a Jim Wagner... I find myself sometimes romanticizing the idea to pay homage.. kimda like when you see someone smoking a cigar and think that's awesome but find yourself too busy to waste that much of a chunk of your day... (I love Cubans btw just stick with me) I feel like that chunk of time is me opening and closing those style of knives. Often I have gear on, hands tied etc and need the practicality of the one handed operation... even though those little bokers are pretty dang cool