Half stop or not to stop?

R

randomlooker

Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
671
Which do you prefer?

Personally, I really like half stops on blades. It's like the knife is asking if I'm sure I want to close it, or is there something else that needs to be cut first? The double thud CHUNK when opening a half stopped blade with a strong spring is pretty sweet, too.
 
Half stops are all the rage these days. Does anyone know the history of it?
For stiff springs, I don't care for it, least I cut the crap out of my fingers. However, I do like it for its self cleaning mechanism.

God Bless
 
A half stop on a strong spring,
Is indeed my favorite thing!
The tang's square tip
let's me change my grip!!
 
YEP... I do like half stops. To me, it adds a touch of quality..

I'm really surprised there aren't more knives available with them
 
All the knives I own that have wimp springs or poor snap have no half-stops.

All the knives I own that have half-stops have satisfying snap and nice tense springs....
 
I'm not a big fan of half-stops. I know that most consider them a safety feature, but I've cut myself more often with slipjoints that have half-stops than those without them.
 
In my old knives that worked quite well, I was annoyed by the half stops. But one the newer Queen knives I have almost make it imperative. I have to open the blade to the half stop, change grips, then open the blade all the way.

Inconvenient to be sure, but if there wasn't a half stop I wouldn't be able to use the knife without the utmost care.

Robert
 
Half stops for me. In fact, the only reason I don't own a GEC Furtaker is there is no half stops.
 
I'm a fan of half stops, although if I like a knife that doesn't have one, it's no deal breaker.
 
For me it depends on the knife. They are okay on a trapper or a larger knife, but I would find it annoying on a smaller knife like a peanut or a barlow. I like both types though and they each have their own advantage. With them you have the safety and the ability to change grips for a strong spring. If there isn't a half stop you get a nice smooth opening without the added resistance of the squared tang. Given the choice, I would probably pick one without half stops.
 
The bigger the slippie, the more I like the half-stops. Today I am carrying a large Douk douk with half stops and a Texas jack w/out half stops. Both are just about right the way they are.
 
Don't care for them myself. The half stops on my peanut are good, but I don't prefer them.
 
I don't prefer them, either. I wish some of the GEC ones had a larger radius on the corners.
 
Hi,

I like half-stops. But I'm perfectly happy with them or without them. I think I have more knives without than with.

dalee
 
Certain patterns,traditionally had no half stops.Like a Sowbelly
Some patterns,had both on one knife,like a whittler with half stops on the main blade,and not,on the opposing end secondary blades.(or vise versa)
The term,for a knife with no half stops,is "cam tang",I'm almost 100% positive on that.
I mostly prefer half stops,but if the knife does not have them,it certainly is not hated by me.
If a knife has a cam tang & real great walk n talk,and you are not thinking it has cam tang,it can "POP" open & get away from you.
It's nice to know in advance,witch way it is
-Vince
 
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They feel right on some knives. Feels good when a half stop is still full functioning on a 50 year old knife. I have an old Ulster Daddy Barlow, single blade. I never cut much with it, but I like to get it our sometimes and just feel it stop. :o
 
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