Half stops- am I the only one?

I don't use half stop for any blade tasks. Mine are very strong closing past the stop. I most likely to get injured using it in half stop position. I do use the half stop on SAK tools, like the screw driver. This is a designed function to provide extra torque. I wish the auger tool on my pioneer had half stop.

- Rex

Pioneer by tens339, on Flickr
 
clutchcarter said:
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.
Click to expand...

First rule of slipjoint ninja club... oops!
 
I prefer half stops, but some knives get a pass. (sodbusters come to mind) As for using in the half stop position, I will if I am cutting something like a stray string.
 
^^^^^ I love Half/Stops :cool: I guess one reason is because a lot of the patterns I like such
as Jack knives happen to have half stops. I believe they add an extra step to the manufacturing
process which denotes quality and more attention to detail by the cutlers making the knife.
By properly. I mean flush in all 3 positions, which is rare in a production folder. I also think that
it adds some what of a safety factor for the closing of the blade. I prefer to use my knives with
the blade fully open.
 
The only time I have used a blade like that is with the large screwdriver blade on a SAK (which, coincidentally, is the only blade on the knife with a half stop). Worked great when I needed to turn a screw in a tight spot or needed a little more leverage. I am pretty sure that's why it had the half stop, since none of the other blades or tools did. Edit: Exactly as RexRazorX shows above.

On knife blades I dislike half stops but I put up with them if the blade pulls are in the normal range. I despise and will not use a knife that combines a very strong pull and half stops. Turns something as simple as opening a pocket knife into a perilous event requiring full attention.
 
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I'm not too big on half-stops. I won't kick one out of bed, but certainly won't go out of my way to find one. They're just another obstacle to overcome in opening a knife, IMHO.
 
jc57 said:
...
On knife blades I dislike half stops but I put up with them if the blade pulls are in the normal range. I despise and will not use a knife that combines a very strong pull and half stops. Turns something as simple as opening a pocket knife into a perilous event requiring full attention.
Click to expand...

I agree with John on the danger of half-stops on a knife with strong pull. I actually like half-stops on knives with "normal" pulls, although I rarely use a knife without opening it fully. This thread makes me want to experiment with some half-open uses, though.

- GT
 
I like half stops for two reasons: safer closing, and the fact they can NOT be considered gravity knives in areas where law enforcement considered knives that can be flicked open to be gravity knives. You can not flick open a locking knife with a half stop. This really is important when I am in NYC....maybe not as much elsewhere
 
Thanks for all of the replies! I only expected one or two saying no, I'm glad I'm not alone. It's funny, I find half stops safer, especially on bear trap knives! Yet others find them more dangerous. That's why they are all different, to suit us picky knife buyers. 😉
 
I admit I've cut a piece of string on the half stop a few times. :o I always feel just a bit guilty, as it might not be the safest use.
 
I like half stops on most patterns. Sodbusters I like a smooth cam tang. Half stops come in handy on multi blade patterns, I couldn't imagine not having them on the 5 blade Tony Bose that Kerry showed me at Blade several years ago.
 
Plus one for half stops. They come so handy with a strong backspring... Now as strong pulls seem to be no longer appreciated, I understand the half stop will disappear all the same. Sad for me... I really love both. Strong pulls with a smooth tang can be tricky... not an actual issue but I like the confidence with the half stop. Did I say I like beastly strong backsprings ? Send them to me instead of sending them back to GEC... Period ! I pay the shipping !
 
I'm not a huge fan, but they aren't a deal breaker for me. My biggest gripe is that I have cut myself trying to close a blade with a half stop more than once.
I am one of those quiet open/quiet close guys. I don't like to let my blades snap shut, so I ride the blade down gripped in my fingers. When it jumps to the stop instead of gliding the tip will nick me sometimes.

Not a big deal, just need to be conscious about when I carry my trapper.
 
Not for me, at least if I have a choice. Too "jumpy," both opening and closing, especially with a strong backspring.
 
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