Folders: Drop shutty or controlled descent?

[BP Green]

I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube reviewers and many just love that guillotine action on their folders. I don’t get it. I like having ten fingers. Just curious as to where most here stand on it?

 

[DavidABQ]

With my backlock/lockback knives I am definitely in the drop shutty camp.

 

[M.FREEZE]

I don’t care about my knife being drop shutty. I’d prefer less blade play. I also like to keep my knives “stock”. I don’t upgrade washers, bearings etc.

 

[Tsujigiri]

I think good action is one of those things where you know it when you see it. Drop shut action on a lighter blade can be an indication of tight tolerances. But you can get drop shut on some lower quality knives with an overly heavy blade, or lockbar tension that's too light. On the other hand, thick, multi-row bronze bearings when done right don't swing closed, but slowly glide with more of a hydraulic motion. Then there are some like the bushing CRK's that are fairly stiff but feel precise and controlled. Drop shut is just one feature we can point to to indicate quality, but the truth is that quality and care in the design and construction of a knife is apparent in ways that are difficult to qualify.

 

[knarfeng]

I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube reviewers and many just love that guillotine action on their folders. I don’t get it. I like having ten fingers. Just curious as to where most here stand on it?

I don't want the cutting edge to move unless I physically move it. Like you, I prefer to be able to count using base 10.

 

[BP Green]

I think good action is one of those things where you know it when you see it. Drop shut action on a lighter blade can be an indication of tight tolerances. But you can get drop shut on some lower quality knives with an overly heavy blade, or lockbar tension that's too light. On the other hand, thick, multi-row bronze bearings when done right don't swing closed, but slowly glide with more of a hydraulic motion. Then there are some like the bushing CRK's that are fairly stiff but feel precise and controlled. Drop shut is just one feature we can point to to indicate quality, but the truth is that quality and care in the design and construction of a knife is apparent in ways that are difficult to qualify.

I agree 100%. It seems to me that many of these reviewers put way too much emphasis on it though.

 

[Kaizen1]

I have knives that drop shut and knives that don't. I don't have any reason to think the former is more dangerous to me than the latter. Any action you'd do that would risk your fingers with a "drop shutty" knife would most certainly be risky with any other folder.

 

[BP Green]

I have knives that drop shut and knives that don't. I don't have any reason to think the former is more dangerous to me than the latter. Any action you'd do that would risk your fingers with a "drop shutty" knife would most certainly be risk with any other folder.

Respectfully, I don’t see how that even makes any sense. The “why” is pretty self explanatory.

 

[edgelion]

I vehemently despise the term.

But I do prefer a bit more gravity-induced motivation for one-handed closure. I like 'em to open faster than they shut, expect the blade to immediately start its turn when the lock is manually disengaged, and don't mind if a complete fold requires more than a spring squeeze and wrist flick. Pretty much everything else is character.

 

[BP Green]

I vehemently despise the term.

But I do prefer a bit more gravity-induced motivation for one-handed closure. I like 'em to open faster than they shut, expect the blade to immediately start its turn when the lock is manually disengaged, and don't mind if a complete fold requires more than a spring squeeze and wrist flick. Pretty much everything else is character.

I agree, little gravity assist is fine. But I don’t want it slamming down on its own like a mouse trap.

 

[Blues]

If it's already drop shut, fine. Otherwise, I take no steps to encourage my knives to drop shut. Just don't care about it, and the folks that make a big deal about it really haven't convinced me that their way is "the" way.

 

[whp]

I don't want the cutting edge to move unless I physically move it. Like you, I prefer to be able to count using base 10.

I definitely want total control of my folder. Drop shut doesn t allow that. The last folder I bought was drop shut. I had to correct that by tightening the pivot screw. Much better control now.

 

[knarfeng]

If it's already drop shut, fine. Otherwise, I take no steps to encourage my knives to drop shut. Just don't care about it, and the folks that make a big deal about it really haven't convinced me that their way is "the" way.

Agree. I also have knives which will drop shut. Definitely not my preference, but not a deal breaker either.

 

[SharpBits]

I like to tighten the pivot so that the blade is just shy of drop shut.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I just try to keep my fingers out of the way. Usually works .

 

[jbmonkey]

drop shut is a thing I care least about on a knife. I like controlled closing where I make it close. smooth action on opening and closing is a nice thing....but not that important to me either.

 

[BP Green]

I just try to keep my fingers out of the way. Usually works .

“Try” being the operative word. . .

 

[Blues]

“Try” being the operative word. . .

I thought "usually" was.

 

[knarfeng]

Had to rethink that. Nevermind.

 

[BP Green]

When it comes to knives that drop shut, blade weight and sharpness are two huge factors when it comes to my tolerance level. I’ll let it slide on a smaller knife, but if it’s a knife that can do some real damage, I’m going to be tightening that pivot screw.