Favorite Opening System?

TripleB67

TripleB67

Joined
Jan 28, 2016
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183
Simple as that, what is your favorite opening system on an EDC knife?

It may be because I'm new to quality knives, but for me, using a flipper is my favorite (easy, feels 'cool', and probably most importantly for me, it's safe). However, I've got a Robin II, Rat II, and Pazoda II on the way so my preference for opening may change after I've spent some time with those knives.

Also, what is your least favorite?

Mine would have to be the nail nick opener...for somebody who has the horrible habit of biting his nails, these are impossible for me!

Looking forward to hearing your responses!

TripleB67
 
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The Spyderco Round Hole is king if you ask me.

My least favorite are those (in my opinion) ugly looking oval holes from other makers.
 
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Hole, stud or disc. Other methods are okay on an auto or assisted opener.

Definitely not a flipper on a manual knife.
 
I, personally, go through phases, but there are some that stand out or that I carry more often. I went through a wave phase. Still enjoy it but I currently don't own any waved folders. I feel they rip my pants up too much. Love the concept and practicality of it. Went through a flipper phase (never assisted, not a fan). A well made flipper can be extremely satisfying. I have a couple flipper frame locks that regularly get thrown in the mix. Still not my favorite though. I think, for me, my most favored hover between thumb stud and Spyderhole. I do like disc style openers too but they seem pretty few and far between and don't currently own one of those either. But yeah, my most carried knives either have studs or holes.
 
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Fixed blades are my favorite to use but they usually don't have to be opened (am I right?), so flippers without assisted opening are my favorite way to open a folder and then the flipper typically functions as a finger guard which is an added bonus. But I have several knives with thumb studs, nail knicks, Spyderholes, a front flippers and so one so I am not being too selective based on the manner of opening.
 
Oho lockbacks are the best in my book. ( so that includes studs and spider holes, if I actually had a spyderco ) My primary edc for the past 2 years and into the foreseeable future is a buck 482.I don't know if anyone would agree but I consider holes, studs, and disks to be the same thing because your still thumbing open a lockback knife ( and these aren't mechanisms but devices )
 
Favorite: Spydie hole

Not really least favorite, but I'll say least convenient would be nail nick.
 
I would say that flipper would be favorite (manual though)

Close second would be thumbstud. I have never tried Spydie hole only because I don't quite like the look of it, but I am sure it works as well or even better than a thumbstud.

Least I would say would be nail nick. It works, but just doesn't look or feel quite as cool as flipper or thumbstud.
 
It depends on the knife, but I tend to like Thumb Studs just fine.
Flippers are good, but for some reason I just don't have many. Mostly due to knife design, not opening method.
Round holes make the blade a little too wide sometimes, so it is not in my top, but I do have some spyderco's.
Auto's are generally looked at as a weapon, and are expensive. I have a Kershaw launch 6 on my want list to try out though. Good price and materials.
Nail nick is great for traditionals, but one hand opening is super convenient, so trads really are backup knives for me. Been getting back into them recently, and they make awesome food knives when your main blade just cut some dirty rope or cardboard.
Had to edit in the thumb disk and wave. Not a big fan of thumb disks. Not very comfortable for me. Would avoid unless I loved the knife.
Wave openers are cool, but to me unnecessary and only come on knives I'm not interested in.
 
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having limited thumb mobility and strength, i like assisted opening. kershaw speedsafe probably my favorite that i've tried. i haven't tried a non assisted flipper though.
 
Favourite would be unassisted flippers that don't require any wrist action and anything I can thumb-flick open, like the Spyderhole or some thumbstuds (RAT 1, ESEE Zancudo, etc). Least favourite would be the nail nick. Also, not a huge fan of the wave feature, it's difficult to use in tight spaces and it doesn't always open the knife all the way (been trying it with CQC-4KXL and CQC-2K, maybe the ZT ones or actual Emersons have better action).
 
My favorite is the large Spyderco hole. Their smaller holes don't work as well for me, the holes that other manufacturers use don't work as well either because the ones I've seen have chamfered edges. I've used a lot of knives with thumb studs and I like them but they are less positive than the big hole. I have to position my thumb just right to activate the thumb stud and sometimes my thumb can slip off. OTOH the sabertooth tiger thumbstud on my Kershaw Blur was very positive to open because you wouldn't slip off of that one. I have a few flipper knives and they work ok but take me longer to open.
 
Great post! In my world the Wave is a revolutionary way to open a blade. Its the only way to open a knife with only 1 motion. Even an auto knife requires 2 motions of pulling it out and pressing the button. Interestingly enough waves aren't Illegal in the same areas where auto are banned. And it's even faster deployment, so for some it's like a loophole to the law. Not here in FL but other areas. The $30 emerson kershaw collabs got me started. Now I have a few and I really want a lefty drilled cqc8 true Emerson. Soon enough.. go get a cqc kershaw emerson of your choice. It's sweet
 
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