Half stops- am I the only one?

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

Joined
Sep 28, 2005
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That actually uses half stops as a functional part of the knife?

I prefer half stops on my knives, just because. I like the tactile feel of the stop while opening, respect the engineering of a knife that is flush in all three ranges, and they just work for me. But in conversations here it's only talked about in terms of the action of opening, never about using the knife opened in half stop position.

I use my half stop knives very often while only half open I've discovered. If it's just a quick snip of something, why not? No need to open it all the way! If I need to choke up on the blade, it's easier and seemingly safer to have the handle nestled in my palm and blade extended, than it is for me to have handle fully extended past my wrist and me grabbing the blade. It quicker, just as safe as using a friction folder fully opened, and is just a part of my knife using journey that I've done but never realized explicitly.

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Am I alone? Anybody else utilize the half stop as a function of knife usage??
 
I occasionally use my half stops when I'm clipping a bit of string, especially with my GEC #15 razor, as it's a pain to open fully with the horn. Other than that I like it better to have one direction the knife will not move rather than it basically free-floating.
 
I also prefer a half stop. I often just open my knife halfway to open pharmaceutical packaging and other quick, easy cutting items.
 
I do not like half stops. I feel like I'm more apt to cut myselfwith one than not...
 
Interesting concept. I can't say that I've ever used a knife in that fashion but it does seem practical in some cases. I prefer half stops but this technique never occurred to me.
 
I like a half stop,but always open the blade fully.But lack of a half stop is not a deal breaker .
 
Half stops are talking features!!!... Then if you have a swayback wharncliff you can use the blade tip in half stop for removing splinters from the skin, for making holes in leather...etc

That kind of blade lends itself for fine tip working, and the half stop position is confortable for that kind of applications.
I'm curious about other half stop uses...please share.
 
I will reluctantly reveal a closely held slipjoint ninja secret............A two bladed jack knife slipjoint with one blade fully opened and the other at half stop is an impromptu ninja star! Please do not tell anyone you heard this from me or I will be bound by the secret order of slipjoint ninjas to take your life.
 
Everybody know that ninja's slipjoints don't walk and talk, but jump in complete silence ;)
 
I do prefer half stops but I can't recall ever intentionally using a knife in the half stop position.
 
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I prefer knives without half stops. To me they are easier to open and close, and much safer. I can't imagine cutting with a slipjoint in such a manor that the blade would close and the half stop would save me from being cut, but I have cut myself when opening/closing a half stop knife when the blade "jumped" to the half stop position.
 
I'm easy - half stop/no half stop - I like both. I will say there are times when I do exactly the same thing as the OP. It tends to be with pen blades or secondary blades.

for example; my favourite pattern to collect is the #25 from GEC. They early two blade jacks and barlows (and indeed the 2012 runs) utilise a small clip point as a secondary. These have very strong springs, particularly the 2008 models, and the secondary clip in the half stop position is incredibly solid.


(here is a 2012 - note the clip point)

I often use it thus to open packages and blisterpacks and what not where I would like to drive a point downwards but want the body of the knife in my palm. I'm not saying it's a fool proof way by any means but I enjoy doing this. Just because :)
 
I tend to use the half stop feature the same way as CUTS LIKE A KRIS, only opening it to the half stop position and using the blade to cut rope, or packages.
 
Yeah I do the same thing as the OP sometimes. Not a big one for it but it still happens. I don't particularly mind either way on the half stop though, never a deal breaker for me.
 
Except for a cork screw or some gadget designed to be used half open, I would never use a knife blade half open. I would go against everything I've learned about safety and proper cutting techniques.

I don't hate half stops, I just don't understand why a knife blade should stop half way open. It don't understand from a safety stand point and it just seems to make the knife harder to open.

I didn't do my home work & bought a Queen #51 Dogleg Jack with half stops, mumbled to myself about the half stops for a year. Then took out the finishing stones and put a small radius on the tang corners. It still has the half stops, still has a good snap but opens much smother now & doesn't have that half finished feel.

If I radius the corners of the tang, I can live with and don't mind half stops. As long as I like the knife in every other way.
 
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