Easy to Open Folders

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OldVet69

Joined
Jun 23, 2010
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I am a 60 year old college professor and Vietnam Vet. I live in NC and have a Concealed Carry Permit. I carry most of the time except when I go to work (it is illegal to carry on campus). It is also illegal to carry a knife on campus although most male students have something clipped to their pockets (it is North Carolina).

I have a number of knives -- including a large Sabenza and a Shadow III( which is still new in the box) plus the usually run of Gerbers, Spyderco's, etc.

I am looking for advice on several knives.

First, I want a pocket folder which is easy to open. My thumbs and fingers hurt and while it doesn't bother me when I shoot I do have problems opening a folder one handed. The folder would be used for everyday things but also I would like something for last ditch protection. I know I have to die sometime but I just don't want to go without a fight. I don't have a dangerous occupation but I don't like to ever be unarmed. I don't need a long blade but just something that will do the job if ever needed. I am thinking 2 ¾ to 3 inch blade but something which will make a relatively large whole.

Two, I would also like a recommendation on a fixed blade "combat" type knife. This will go into my "bug out" bag. Someone stole my K-bar years ago and I really think I want something smaller. The Shadow III is about the right size but I want something with more of a guard. I wouldn't trust my grip if I stabbed someone using the Shadow III. I am getting ready to experiment using skate board tape on the grips of some of my pistols. My hands are not that weak but I have pain in my thumbs and fingers.

In both the folder and the fixed blade knives, the ability to efficiently dress game would be useful. I hope to put three deer in the larder this fall. I am not an experienced field dresser. I killed a deer a couple of years ago and the guy I went with field dressed it with my minimal help. He is a cop and had the skin and head off and the innards out very quickly. His knife was dull and I lent him a Gerber and he cut himself. I keep my knives sharp. I also hope to go elk hunting (in Montana or Colorado in the next couple of years).
Finally, I would like advice on a good small ax for camping, etc. Is the Woodman's Pal a good choice?

I am not a mall Ninja. I don't even go to malls! In NC, you are not suppose to carry a handgun into restaurants that serve alcohol (I never go to bars) and would like to have something in my pocket when I walk back to my car. If I ever have to defend myself, I hope I will at least have a pistol and would prefer a rifle or shotgun. But I would rather have a knife than be empty handed. However, I am also thinking about survival issues. So I am picking up binoculars, a crossbow (requires a pistol permit in NC???), air rifle for small game, and restocking the first aid kit. I like the soft life but it is time to get back into shape and prepare to protect the kids and grand children.
 
Kershaw makes some of the nicest, fastest assisted openers. I have a nice Random Leek S30V framelock 3" blade, with a tiny flipper on the spine and a thumbstud as well. Faster than an automatic and legal. It cuts like a laser and opens all my mail. Very thin profile and very light too.

They have many others but I'll let others chime in about them and your combat knife. I dig my KA-BAR and have ESEE fixed blades as well.
 
OldVet69,
Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your service.
Regarding easy to open folder, did you have a chance to try Spyderco waved Delica or P'Kal. You do not need to use your thumbs to open this knife, but it will tear pocket of your pants after a while.
 
What about an auto (if legal in your area or due to your military status)? Press a button is all you have to do. Lots of great automatics out there that are built like tanks.. and some that are as classy as they come.

If you can get used to it.. a waved knife is super fast (but does tear up pockets). With Spyderco's or others with a hole opener.. you could spydi-drop them (hold the hole with two fingers and flick it down to open) unless that would be uncomfortable for your situation.

Kershaw has some nice assisted openers with a rear "flicker" that makes opening a cinch..Leak and Tyrade are a few I can think of.. Check out YouTube also.. great way to learn about knives (well anything) and see how they work in action.

Good luck!
 
I think you need an Assisted Opening knife with a flipper. :)

There are lots of great ones on the market. :)
 
Kershaw was also one the first companies to come to my mind. Though I'm a big fan of the Leek, I don't think it would be a great choice for self defense. I wouldn't be comfortable holding it with wet hands or with any type of hard stabbing motions. That is, unless I had a downward grip on it with my thumb securing the pommel of the handle. I would look into the Kershaw Zing. The G-10 handles have a nice texture to grip on, it has a 3" blade, the flipper works effortlessly and the flipper seems like it would help keep the hand from sliding forward onto the blade. You can check them out at most Walmarts. While you're there, check out the Kershaw Leek as well.

Kershaw Zing:
K1735-2.jpg


Kershaw Leek:
K1660-2.jpg
 
I find some of the Kershaws assisted knives a cinch to open but sometimes a tad difficult to close if that makes a difference. A super smooth liner lock with a very accessible liner might fit the ticket?
 
Kershaw's Blur might be within your specs. It's an AO, comes in a lot of steel varieties, and could work OK for skinning, although that probably isn't it's strong suit. Benchmade's Barrage is an AO with an AXIS lock. If you're OK working AXIS lockbars, that could be a good choice.

The Spyderco Sage might be your best bet for non-waved openers. It's an easy open blade with a large thumb hole, and the scale has a large lockbar cut out for accessibility. Someone has already suggested the Delica or Endura waved blades. They'd be worth a look, too.

Something to think about, though, is that you might do better with a smaller FB in a pocket sheath. Knivesshipfree has some great FBs that fit in your front or back pocket or jacket pocket.

Good "hunting" and thanks from me, too, for your service.
 
i'm surprised more people haven't said anything about Benchmade and the axis lock. from what i've read, they're super easy to open, and lightning fast. use either a wrist flick or the thumb stud... tons of youtube videos of people playing with their axis locks...

i'll let ya know how i like mine when i get it.
 
I'd say the Kershaw A/Os suggested are a good start. Benchmade Axis locks
are pretty easy to open without much effort as mentioned. I have the 940
and it's great.

Have you thought about a dual action OTF auto? Don't know bout the legality
in carrying in your area, but may be a good solution given your situation.
 
I have issues with my right thumb so I have to have folders that are easy to open. I find Spyderco knives to open easily and quickly. Some assisted opening knives are good too but I have to get ones that the thumb stud is positioned easy to get to.
 
cziv said:
Kershaw makes some of the nicest, fastest assisted openers. I have a nice Random Leek S30V framelock 3" blade, with a tiny flipper on the spine and a thumbstud as well. Faster than an automatic and legal. It cuts like a laser and opens all my mail. Very thin profile and very light too.

They have many others but I'll let others chime in about them and your combat knife. I dig my KA-BAR and have ESEE fixed blades as well.
Click to expand...

I'm going to second this one. It's one hell of a slicer for every day use, and it deploys very quickly. I would imagine it would be one hell of a deterrent.

But I'm different than you are, I'd rather fight with my hands than with a knife. As I type this, I have a Leek in my pocket. I only carry mine for utility though, and would not use it in a self defense situation unless it was absolute life or death. Laws are strict here though, getting into a fight and merely having a folder in your pocket = concealed weapon charge.

-Freq
 
The Emerson's with thumb disks open quite easily; close easily too, unless you get a "sticky" lock.
 
freq18hz said:
But I'm different than you are, I'd rather fight with my hands than with a knife.
-Freq
Click to expand...

I've never had to fight with a knife...it just stays where I put it and doesn't attack me.:D
I haven't had to fight with my hands either; they obey the commands of my central nervous system.:cool:
 
I think there are several companies that make easy to open knives, without going the assisted opening route.

The reason for my hesitation about assisted opening: the only AO I own is the Benchmade Barrage. It opens with an incredible snap, but the safety is a very small notch, not something for someone with problems in their hands. I don't know about Kershaw AOs; if they have the same feature, that is something to watch out for. If not, check them out.

In standard opening knives, I would suggest two familiar brands. Spyderco has the large thumb hole for easy access, and are slick openers. For my money, however, nothing beats axis lock folders for ease of use; take a look at the different handle sizes and configurations.

And good luck.
 
Benchmade 890 Torrent, which is an very nice assisted with a thumbstud would be a great option. However, my first choice would be a Lone Wolf Diablo D/A. Double action- looks like a stud opener, but can be opened as an auto by sliding the scale.
 
I like the Benchmade axis system,particularly my 710D2. A Spyderco Delica would be the next easiest knife to open.
 
I do have some hand pain and stiffness from my line of work (construction) so I can see wanting an easy to open and close knife .I see some recommendations for frame/liner locks but even I have a problem with them sometimes I have some that my girlfriend can`t even close .I like the kershaw Spec Bump as it has a axis like lock that is on the outside of the knife and can be pushed with a thumb or finger and it has a "flipper" so it is easy to open and the g10 scales are easy to hold and grippy to boot. Other than that I also like the griptillion line of knives but they can be stiff when new.
Also as others have mentioned Even if unlawful I would just blow some cash on an out the front auto from one of the better companies as they tend to be easy as hell to open and fun to play with as well as being kind of scary when "brandished" and they are just a regular old cutting tool too.
 
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