Gift for grandfather... one-hand opening traditional knives.

midnight flyer said:
I would approach this a bit differently than some of the already mentioned good ideas. They all seemed pretty good, but in this case I would go with what he would want.

My dad is 85 and in assisted living. I have watch not only his manual dexterity go away, but his sense of masculinity as well. His pride is pretty hurt at this stage of his life, knowing that he can't do very simple things anymore. I showed him my Queen Barlow when I got it, and he couldn't open it at all, and in fact broke his nails trying to do so. Same with a couple of others. Thumb studs, long nicks, light pulls, nothing seemed to help if there was any resistance at all. He can't get his nail in the nick, and they are so thin they break anyway.

He can't operate a thumbstud as he can't keep his thumb centered on it well enough and the force consistent enough to make it work. Forget a liner locks, 99% of lockbacks, NO frame locks of any sort... he can't operate them. This is a man with no time to waste on "break in periods".

I found out he couldn't open any of his own knives either, and in disappointment and disgust, he gave me all of his old knives. He really wanted a knife, though.

I checked out a million knives at a gun show and looked for the ones that had the easiest to grip blades, and the easiest to open. No regard for brand or origin, just something he could open.

Of all surprises.... I found and old USA made Schrade LB7. This old rascal probably started with a light feel to it, but a few thousand miles later, it is like butter. The
knife cleaned up to near new, and he loves it. It is big enough to really annoy my Mom (which for an 85 year old man married for 60 years to the same woman is wonderful) and the SIZE makes it easy for him to handle.

He had such a problem holding onto my smaller knives, trying to manipulate blades (impossible!) and using nail nicks I finally just asked him what he wanted. He wanted something he could easily hold onto (check), large enough he could use both hands easily since one is partially paralyzed (check!), one that was easy to operate (check!), one he wouldn't be likely to lose (check!) and something manly enough to make him feel good again. That LB7 hit the mark in spades. It was a really clean knife, and I am not sure with his eyes that after a cleanup and buff he didn't think it was new.

He LOVED the "Made in USA" stamp. He was delighted at its manly size, too.

Even the light lock isn't bad for him as he rarely closes it; he knows he could if he wanted to, and that is enough. It sits on the table next to his recliner so he can open mail, medicine and packages. I know it is like killing an ant with a sledgehammer, but he likes everything about that big, heavy knife.

So if I was in your shoes skippz, I would ask what he wanted, what he felt was important and then go shopping for him. Let him handle a few of your easier to open knives and that will let you know what kind of pull will work for him. Smaller knives, even up to my large stockman were just too small for my Dad's shaky hands to handle. He likes the fact that unless he drops that big Schrade, he won't get cut as it won't snap shut on his fingers. Personally, I wouldn't have picked that knife for him in a million years.

Buying my Dad a knife at this stage of his life (that he liked!) was a really special thing for both of us. So much so I am probably going to give him my NIB Queen gunstock for Father's day. The fit and finish is nearly perfect, but the kicker is that on a 1 - 10 range of blade pull, this one probably is about 2 1/2. I have never felt a smoother opening folder, but in truth it is too light for me. I like a healthy snap, and this doesn't have it. But it should be perfect for him. The master's top of the clip on the spine even sticks out a long way from the case so he can grab it easily without worrying about the nail nick.

Enjoy your grandfather while you have him. And while this could sound wrong if you took it that way, think of the wonderful memory of that knife you will have if you get it back, knowing he liked it and carried it. You will keep it forever.

Best of luck!

Robert
Click to expand...

Midnight Flyer, this is one of the most thoughtful posts ever! And, it's a great idea. I loved reading it. Thanks for sharing your idea's and experiences.
 
midnight flyer said:
I would approach this a bit differently than some of the already mentioned good ideas. They all seemed pretty good, but in this case I would go with what he would want.

My dad is 85 and in assisted living. I have watch not only his manual dexterity go away, but his sense of masculinity as well. His pride is pretty hurt at this stage of his life, knowing that he can't do very simple things anymore. I showed him my Queen Barlow when I got it, and he couldn't open it at all, and in fact broke his nails trying to do so. Same with a couple of others. Thumb studs, long nicks, light pulls, nothing seemed to help if there was any resistance at all. He can't get his nail in the nick, and they are so thin they break anyway.

He can't operate a thumbstud as he can't keep his thumb centered on it well enough and the force consistent enough to make it work. Forget a liner locks, 99% of lockbacks, NO frame locks of any sort... he can't operate them. This is a man with no time to waste on "break in periods".

I found out he couldn't open any of his own knives either, and in disappointment and disgust, he gave me all of his old knives. He really wanted a knife, though.

I checked out a million knives at a gun show and looked for the ones that had the easiest to grip blades, and the easiest to open. No regard for brand or origin, just something he could open.

Of all surprises.... I found and old USA made Schrade LB7. This old rascal probably started with a light feel to it, but a few thousand miles later, it is like butter. The
knife cleaned up to near new, and he loves it. It is big enough to really annoy my Mom (which for an 85 year old man married for 60 years to the same woman is wonderful) and the SIZE makes it easy for him to handle.

He had such a problem holding onto my smaller knives, trying to manipulate blades (impossible!) and using nail nicks I finally just asked him what he wanted. He wanted something he could easily hold onto (check), large enough he could use both hands easily since one is partially paralyzed (check!), one that was easy to operate (check!), one he wouldn't be likely to lose (check!) and something manly enough to make him feel good again. That LB7 hit the mark in spades. It was a really clean knife, and I am not sure with his eyes that after a cleanup and buff he didn't think it was new.

He LOVED the "Made in USA" stamp. He was delighted at its manly size, too.

Even the light lock isn't bad for him as he rarely closes it; he knows he could if he wanted to, and that is enough. It sits on the table next to his recliner so he can open mail, medicine and packages. I know it is like killing an ant with a sledgehammer, but he likes everything about that big, heavy knife.

So if I was in your shoes skippz, I would ask what he wanted, what he felt was important and then go shopping for him. Let him handle a few of your easier to open knives and that will let you know what kind of pull will work for him. Smaller knives, even up to my large stockman were just too small for my Dad's shaky hands to handle. He likes the fact that unless he drops that big Schrade, he won't get cut as it won't snap shut on his fingers. Personally, I wouldn't have picked that knife for him in a million years.

Buying my Dad a knife at this stage of his life (that he liked!) was a really special thing for both of us. So much so I am probably going to give him my NIB Queen gunstock for Father's day. The fit and finish is nearly perfect, but the kicker is that on a 1 - 10 range of blade pull, this one probably is about 2 1/2. I have never felt a smoother opening folder, but in truth it is too light for me. I like a healthy snap, and this doesn't have it. But it should be perfect for him. The master's top of the clip on the spine even sticks out a long way from the case so he can grab it easily without worrying about the nail nick.

Enjoy your grandfather while you have him. And while this could sound wrong if you took it that way, think of the wonderful memory of that knife you will have if you get it back, knowing he liked it and carried it. You will keep it forever.

Best of luck!

Robert
Click to expand...

very great post. also made my eyes a little watery.
 
Whew...what reading! with such tremendous meaning here...fantastic values being put in place here...well done everyone.
 
One of the easiest knives to open I can think of would be a pruner. Rough Rider do a good Hawkbill, I've got one I use in work sometimes and it's easy to open, and it would be cheap to try one to see if it helped him. I know the Hawkbill isn't for everyone or every task, but it can do most things in a pinch. I've a couple of friends in work I've tried to get in to knife buying but funnily enough the only knife they were both interested in and went on to buy was a RR Hawkbill...... and they EDC them.
 
I know this is not a trad knife but considering the need is greater so it is worth thinking outside the box.

The Fallkniven U2 is a lockback
It is flat and wide and is easy to hold for shaky hands
The blade is shorter, so it is much easier to control and use the point of the blade
It has a lanyard hole for a lanyard, to pull the knife out the pocket
It has a nail nick both sides so the blade can be pinched open easily
There is no resistance in opening
It locks open for safety
And the lockback is easy to push to close the knife

Also it is a very sharp knife that will not need sharpening
A quality knife

Well worth looking to meet your Grandfather's needs
 
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An Opinel in carbon steel could be considered as well.

VERY easy to open as it has no spring. Wooden handle is big and good to grip but not heavy. The swivel locking collar is extremely easy to use,much easier than a liner lock(these can be VERY tight sometimes) or a lockback-which can require a load of pressure. The Opinel's blade is a decent thin slicer ideal for pocket tasks, the carbon version is very easy to keep keen too.
 
Tons of good ideas and amazing sentiment here. Thankful I got to read it.
 
What about a Svord Peasant folding knife? No locks, no springs, and seemingly, a lot to grip onto to both open and close it. And they don't cost an arm and a leg, for what seems like a quality product.
 
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