For wife with arthritic hands, easy opening/closing knife rec?

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Pier23

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Jan 4, 2015
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My wife loves knives, and on our farm, she has ample chance to use one. But she is getting some arthritis in her thumbs, so conventional folders with ...whatever the locks are that are released by pressing down on the back of the knife, are difficult to use.

Sooo....looking for a sub-$100 2.5-3 inch blade folder with easy opening and closing. Light weight a definite plus.

She likes a small Gerber she got me for my birthday that has a thumbstud to open and a pudh-button release, but I had to work that guy a LOT to get it so it could be opened with o e hand. I think I essentially broke a claimed assisted opening feature so I could open it... <sigh>
 
How about a Hogue EX01? Button lock mechanisms are very easy and very safe. If I had arthritic hands I wouldn't want to be putting my hands in the way of the path of the closing blade.
 
Have you thought about a small fixed blade? There are many different sizes and styles that might work.
 
How about a PM2?

Fits your budget, size and weight requirements.

Big Spider hole, and the compression lock is very easy to close the knife with.

If you are not familiar with the way the PM2 operates, there are a never ending amount of video's on youtube to show you....
 
I'd always recommend the Benchmade mini griptilian, extremely smooth opening and closing, pretty lightweight. It's not anything incredibly fancy, but good quality and pretty tough for what it is. Also it comes in various colors. Hope you find what your looking for. :)
 
If only there was a cheap button/compression lock flipper... That would be perfect for someone with arthritis. I would recommend the BM300SN as it is a flipper so she could deploy it with her index finger rather than using her thumb... but the axis lock still depends on thumb use, albeit not a lot.
 
Reading some other threads concerning the subject a Svord Peasant was also recommended.
 
Take a look at the Kershaw Thistle. It's a thumbstud, but the blade is high enough just to grasp it and the liner lock has a button to close.
LLAP
Rich
 
Kershaw makes a bunch of knives that open with a assisted opening flipper for index finger opening, sell on-line < $100 and have blades of 2.5 to 3" in length.
 
Kershaw dimension comes to mind. Titanium handles, assisted opening, and push button lock. Discontinued, so get one while you can.
 
Just had another thought. Look at the Opinel twist locks, either #6 or #8 depending on the size you need. Easy to open and the twist lock is secure and easy to close. I'm thinking about the same thing as I too am developing arthritis in my hands. I've used either a round file or Dremel sanding wheel to open up around the thumb nick to make them into the old style easy openers - can make it as large as needed. Also Opinels are dirt cheap (inexpensive, but robust). Just a thought.
LLAP
Rich
 
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Another vote for the mini-Griptilian by Benchmade. The axis lock is easy to use, smooth and strong.

Jim
 
Gadsden said:
Have you thought about a small fixed blade? There are many different sizes and styles that might work.
Click to expand...

She has some small fixed lades, but strapping on a knife is one more level of hassle. Much easier to slip a knife in a pocket.
 
asdf12345 said:
How about a Hogue EX01? Button lock mechanisms are very easy and very safe. If I had arthritic hands I wouldn't want to be putting my hands in the way of the path of the closing blade.
Click to expand...


I am not familiar! I will look at one, thx!
 
JR88FAN said:
How about a PM2?

Fits your budget, size and weight requirements.

Big Spider hole, and the compression lock is very easy to close the knife with.

If you are not familiar with the way the PM2 operates, there are a never ending amount of video's on youtube to show you....
Click to expand...


Uh...is this a Spyderco? Sorry, don't know the model. I have wanted an excuse to get into Spydercos, however.
 
CarterR said:
I'd always recommend the Benchmade mini griptilian, extremely smooth opening and closing, pretty lightweight. It's not anything incredibly fancy, but good quality and pretty tough for what it is. Also it comes in various colors. Hope you find what your looking for. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you, the guidance here is wonderful. Have heard great things about Benchmade. I am not in a great knife area, so Benchmades are not at the local WalMart....but I should seek them out.
 
josephrogers said:
If only there was a cheap button/compression lock flipper... That would be perfect for someone with arthritis. I would recommend the BM300SN as it is a flipper so she could deploy it with her index finger rather than using her thumb... but the axis lock still depends on thumb use, albeit not a lot.
Click to expand...
You are right! A flipper/button release WOULD be a great combination!

Don't know Benchmade, but there seems fo be a lot of enthusiasm for it, thank you!
 
You can order some nicer knives online through WalMart.com and have them shipped to your local store. I think Spyderco is one of the brands. Can the same be said of Benchmade?

Edit: You can get Benchmade products through WalMart. Who would have thought?
 
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