Easy opening big folders

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Just picked this one up, and thought of this thread. The Camillus made Remington jumbo trapper is good sized,and easy to open. Both Remington and Camillus branded ones should be easy to find on auction sites, and had at a good price. I also have a single blade lockback on this frame that's not difficult to unlock for me.
 
Don’t have arthritis, yet, and find I much prefer the slippies that can be opened by pinch/pull method with a medium backspring or less, and as GT says, trying to release the thumb release on some lockbacks - can be a tad difficult

Perhaps having a good try of different models in a good retailer will help to some degree.....but I will be moving on many of my ‘difficult to open’ slippies soon

Best of luck finding what suits you :thumbsup::)
 
PirateSeulb said:
What patterns do you enjoy? What size range for the knife and/or blade do you want to stay within? For a good smaller blade the Viper EZ Open is great if you don't have an aversion to more modern construction and a detent blade retention system.
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I like lockbacks, toothpicks, folding hunters, coke bottles. Prefer a 4 inch blade or even bigger. 3.6 "inch blade is about as small as I want. I have big hands so really like big knives. On good days I can open stiff blades but on bad days need something with a light pull.
 
Well I prefer some smaller folders myself largest I can think of right now that had a strong enough not to be too light pull was the original run of the Maserin Plow the newer run with a slightly more modern design look a bit nicer finish but I expect probably have a similar pull but the blade is about 3" IIRC. My best recommendation at this point for something more traditional would be some friction folders.
 
Opinels vary in their ease of opening, though I think aficionados have tricks to fiddle them tighter or looser.

You might look at Au Sabot. A lot of the French traditionals have big, grab-able blades.
 
I would suggest Buck The 55. Very easy to open and pocket friendly. And you can configure custom one at the Buck Custom Shop.

That´s the only knife in my collection who can recapture some pocket time from little yellow Peanut.
 
MTHall720 said:
I like lockbacks, toothpicks, folding hunters, coke bottles. Prefer a 4 inch blade or even bigger. 3.6 "inch blade is about as small as I want. I have big hands so really like big knives. On good days I can open stiff blades but on bad days need something with a light pull.
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Sounds like a GEC 97 is what you're looking for. These are also pinchable to open, very easy opening knife. Just too large for me. I have one in Yellow Rose that I'm posting in the For Sale Forum...
 
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Henry Beige said:
Okapi ratchet knife. Big blade, easy pinch. It may take some work to put an edge on the blade, and F&F can be iffy, but easily up to the demands of EDC.
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You beat me to the punch on this one. Here is the more detailed post I was preparing:
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Plenty of blade to grab on all 3 of these, and easy pulls. All have +/-4” blades. The problem would be finding them and getting them shipped without paying way more than they are worth (10-15 bucks, tops).

For a couple of years the Okapis were readily available in the US, but supplies seem to have dried up. I just saw one seller on the Big Shopping Site for the bottom one (Okapi Big Sable). The price was about right but the seller charges for shipping. The middle one has ONE reputable seller from South Africa on the Big Auction Site- all the others are Chinese knockoffs and/or way overpriced.. Avoid the plastic-handled versions of the Okapis at all costs. Also with the Okapis you run the risk of getting one with manufacturing flaws, and you might have to put a lot of work into the blade to get it useable. The Cold Steel Kudu might be a better option for you if you don’t mind stainless steel and made in China.

Spanish-made knives similar to the top one, some with nicer handle options, can be found on Spanish retail sites, but shipping can be prohibitive and Chinese-made knockoffs also abound.

Keep in mind none of these will have the heft or feel of quality you get in your more typical slipjoint makes and models, but I personally love them.
 
51238AAE-CCE1-4AA1-9D60-FC1F7808BD99.jpeg I had forgotten about the Pallares ds Solsona, about as unsubstantial a slipjoint as I have seen, but takes an edge and cuts.

Baryonyx has a number of Okapis in stock right now. Both the Sheepsfoot and Big Sable slipjoints are there, but he does not carry the ratchet knife.

Somebody already mentioned Opinel; the No.10 has a 4” blade. Antonini and MAM also have friction folders. The Antonini Old Bear has a locking collar. MAM has a number of pure friction folders, as well as liner-lock variants.

Svord and Higonokami friction folders are also readily obtainable and easy to open.
 
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Really like the looks of the Okapi.
Does the GEC 97 come in wood?
I am excited about adding one more traditional to my collection. Budget is somewhat modest but the search itself is lots of fun. You guys have given me great suggestions.
So far my patterns I have are lockback hunter, big Toothpick, and Coke Bottle.
I used to have a Granddaddy Barlow but it had a quarter and also a half stop which was one stop more than I wanted.
The brands I have had in the past are Case, S&M, Canal Street, Remington, Schrade, Rite Edge, Rough Rider, Camillus, and Buck. Wish I had kept them all. Later sometime I will post a pic of what I currently have in traditionals.
 
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