Finally can't use slip joints anymore.

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
17,508
For now anyways.

It happened. I've been nailed by time and circumstances, and I can't open most slippys anymore. I've been operating left handed for a few months due to a problem with my left thumb. Its totally amazing how important the oposing thumb is to doing things. Without it, its like having your 4 fingers in a mitten with no thumb.

I got trigger finger in my thumb for some reason, like it only has two positions, and it clunks when I try to flex it. The clunk feels like a rap with a ball peen hammer. The hand doc gave me a cortizone shot in it a few weeks ago to try to break it free, but no go. It looks like I have to get it operated on, to free up the tendon at the base of the thumb, in the big joint.

The upshot of this is, I can't open most slippys now. I've been using a pocket fixed blade for a while now, so no big deal, but it's a bummer. The same doctor who did Karen's carple tunnel thing last year is going to do my hand, so I guess I'll be back to normal in the near future. But I've finally found a negative to the standard slip joint; they're hard to open with one hand out of kilter. My peanut and sak sits unused, and it's hard to even open a bottle of Alieve.

It's been kind of a weird experiance. I can open a soddie if its not too much spring preasure for the walk and talk, and I can pinch the blade with my fingers of the left hand against the heel of the hand. Maybe the red gods of fate are having some fun with me for bad mouthng one hand lockblades. It's made me really love my little Buck Hartsook and Mike Miller unfolding pocket knife. NowI know how much my friend Dan likes his pocket fixed blades like his Russells hunters scalple and Blackie Collins Buddy. Dan left his right arm from the elbow down in the Republic of South Viet Nam.

I've never given much thought to the opposing thumb, till I tried to open a slip joint, tie a shoe, or twist open a cold brew without using it.

I'm feeling slippy deprived. :grumpy:

Mini rant over. I had to vent guys.
 
I'm sorry to hear this. I hope that the operation fixes things up, and you are as good as new.

It looks like you may have to get one of those old fashioned (of course) one-hand opening slipjoints to tide you through. Meanwhile, in your place, I would still have that peanut in my pocket. Think of it like an old friend, waiting for you to get better so you could go out and play. :D

Have a great Christmas and holiday season, Jackknife--this will pass.
 
JK, if I can help with a knife or knives to get you through this rough patch, shoot me an emal and we'll get something done.

I hope you'll be good as new again soon.
 
Well, at least now you have a good excuse to buy new one handed knives, and when you get better you can trade them off for new slippies...

Keep on keeping on.
 
Sorry to hear about the hand.

Hope you be better soon.
 
Get well soon! In the meantime, pick up a Buck 110, I can open mine one handed very easily and it is a traditional styled lockback with excellant history/quality. I wish I had an excuse to carry mine more often, but I have so many great knives it is hard to chose most times.
 
I've a similar problem to Jackknife.

I often carry my British Army Knife because it's easy to open.

The good old Opinel is simple to modify as an easy opener.
 
Jackknife,

That sucks man. Would you like me to send you a knife that you can open one handed?

Let me know. I'd be happy to buy one and send 'er your way bro. If you want a Spyderco or Benchmade one hand opener I may have one you can just have.

Cheers! :)
 
As Elliott and D.L already offered, I still have a few of those knives we don't talk about here lol... If you want to p.m me with your thoughts on what would work easily, and still do the tasks you enjoy, you would be more than welcome to your choice of what I have.

Here's another thought as well. How about havin G2 Gary make a nice little sheath for a single bladed slippie. One that is made so that the knife is inserted into the sheath with the blade already deployed. This way you could continue to enjoy yur slippies and not have to worry about the opening of the blade which you say causes you a lot of discomfort..

The above offer stands as long as need be. Please don't hesitate to contact me about this.
 
Very sorry for your misfortune. An upside is that you MAY be exempt from the laws restricting ownership, use, and carry of automatic knives or "switchblades" due to your condition. This type of knife could be easier for you to use.
 
I do believe that the first one-hand openers (aside from friction folders) were slipjoints. I can't find a picture now, but surely one of y'all can find a pic and post it. The is no reason for Jackknife to abandon the traditional folder world for that of the :eek: modern:eek: one. He just needs to switch patterns for a little while.

:D
 
Gentlemen, thank you for the concern, and I don't need any knives. You're all too generious. I just needed to vent a little frustration to my blade brothers. I'm getting by very nicely with my Mike Miller unfolder and little Hartsook. And I have two Opinels, a 7 and a spearpointed 8.

But it's a humbling experiance, gives me new respect for people who have one hand and how they cope with all the little things in life that need two hands with a good grip. At least I still grasp with my finger tips against the heel of my hand.

Maybe we need to be humbled now and then, to slap us into wakefullness, and make us appretiate what we have, and what's really important. I don't believe things just happen by chance, and that there's a learning experince in there someplace. Like since I can't deal with opening a sak, I've went back to my dad's way of doing things. I put the Sears pocket screwdriver and P-38 and small nailclipper back on my keyring.
 
Last edited:
I hope you are back in action very soon.Would've offered you a Böker Copperlock I have that looks trad,green bone but opens with a thumb stud.One the other hand(no witticism intended!)closing a liner lock 1 handed is not so safe....But you are happy with your fixed blade and that's good.In the meantime, try taking a regular dose of fish-oil capsules(they don't have any taste)these really help with joint-pains,might be a good pre-op treatment.

Enjoy your Holiday season!
 
Sorry to hear that, jackknife. If you change your mind about using a one-handed folder for a while, just let me know. I'm just up the road in Westminster and have plenty that you could choose from, including a waved Spyderco Delica. I also have a couple of pocket fixed blades you could try out if the Hartsook is a bit small for some tasks. My favorite pocket fixed blade is one from Arno Bernard in a pocket sheath from Knives Ship Free.

Good luck with the surgery.

Dave
 
JK,

I have an auto or two I could send ya and would be glad to to so. (there are not even big).
:).
 
I'm sorry to hear that, and I sure hope that the operation helps you to get back to normal.
Like you said:It is important to appreciate what we have, but if you cant do it one way, do it the other.

Peter
 
I also have a knife or 2 to offer if you change your mind. My little mini auto would work out good for you. All the onehanders are stainless though :)
 
I hope you get your hand sorted out soon. In the meantime, it's an excuse for a new knife! How about one of those pointless, one-armed jacks that where you hook the end of the blade on the edge of a pocket?

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Then go find someone to whom life gave vodka" -Ron White
 
wow! I'm really sorry to hear this JK.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. Particularly, I've been considering what it means to be grateful for the things that aren't clearly good or that are clearly bad.

Thanks for sharing your circumstances and there will be lots of good thoughts coming your way from me.

Your friend,

Brett
 
popedandy said:
I'm just up the road in Westminster
Dave
Click to expand...


You're not only right up the road, but you're right where I'm getting my slice and dice done. I'm going with Doctor Stacy Berner right there in town, and he's out of the hospital there. He did my better halfs carple tunnel operations last year. He was recomended to us by another Westminster resident who was in our Vespa riders group.

Maybe see ya around over a cup of joe sometimes.:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top