Half stops- am I the only one?

[stezann]

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.

And now how is it like the spring position in closed and opened?

 

[Buzzbait]

Not for me, at least if I have a choice. Too "jumpy," both opening and closing, especially with a strong backspring.

Jumpy is a good description. I've torn thumb nails on knives with half stops and strong backsprings. Especially larger knives with lots of travel, like my Case Backpocket knife. The knife jumps to the half stop position faster than my finger nail. RIP!!!!!!

 

[AreBeeBee]

Jumpy is a good description. I've torn thumb nails on knives with half stops and strong backsprings. Especially larger knives with lots of travel, like my Case Backpocket knife. The knife jumps to the half stop position faster than my finger nail. RIP!!!!!!

And is it my imagination, or are the knives with the strongest backsprings the ones most likely to have half-stops? Seems like it.

At a recent local knife show, I handled a couple of very attractive knives — but hit the brakes when I found (1) strong backsprings and (2) half stops. Glad I was able to handle them before reaching for the wallet.

If I get stuck with a half-stop knife (having bought it from ebay, say) I'll keep it. But I know that in six months or less, it'll end up in the bottom-drawer box, in effect the graveyard for knives that disappointed me. This is all very personal, but I find a half-stop knife is just not pleasant to open and close.

 

[Will Power]

I agree, half-stops impede a smooth open close, I've never seen the point of them actually! This is probably because I prefer single-spring 2 blade knives and most European knives are non half-stop. My recent GEC 82 Dixie Stock knife has quite a moderate pull and tremendous snap on all three blades, wonderful smooth opening without the half-stop interruption. As for the half-stop being a safety feature?? I've found the opposite.

Thanks, Will

 

[EyeDog]

My worst knife cut came as result of a half stop. One handed thumb push and did not get my index finger far enough back. Yea...I know, really dumb.

Some half stops the blade almost fires at the stop with strong force. Very annoying especially on 7-9 pulls.