Half Stops - Love Em or Lose Em

[Will Power]

I don't mind the HS but I don't see the attraction really. A smooth opening/closing feel is preferable, what the knife looks like overall, how it balances in the hand and how it cuts are more significant.

 

[Railsplitter]

I prefer no half stop but I don't mind a half stop as long as it isn't on a lock back. I would probably own a Civivi Rustic Gent which is a lock back if it didn't have a half stop. Just seems out of place on a lock back.

 

[JohnDF]

I prefer no half stop but I don't mind a half stop as long as it isn't on a lock back.

I don't believe I've ever seen a lockback knife with half stops... that's just kinda weird.

 

[Scott J.]

I like 'em

 

[brownshoe]

I was told by a maker half stops were easier to make with the analogy that its harder to make a good circle than a square.

 

[buckthorn]

I realize this is a Traditional forum but, if you can, try a Spyderco UKPK for an alternative. There is a half stop in the action but it's much gentler than the the square tang version. I don't see where a similar construction couldn't be used on a Traditional folder, though it may be patented.

 

[mrknife]

Sure, if its offered Ill take it. I won't necessarily reject a knife for not having a half stop as I certainly have a few in my collection. I consider them an early safety feature if such a thing may apply. I did get bitten once by one of my tc barlows when it snapped to half but its more my fault for playing with knives under the influence. Its a feature.

 

[knife_fan]

I like half stops. They've saved my fingers on a couple of occasions.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Certainly sounds like a good poll question

For me I like the half stop
G2

 

[Peregrin]

Another thing to consider regarding half stops.

For those wondering which knives traditionally have half stops and which knives have cam ends, here is a simple(and GENERAL) rule of thumb: Round-ended knives have cam ends ie., Whittlers, stockmen, toothpicks, toenails, knives with sunk joints, etc. Square ended knives (some of which may have a radiused end but are NOT CONSIDERED ROUND ENDS) have half stops, ie Trappers, jacks, hunters, etc.

Keep in mind, with slip joints, there are exceptions that defy generalizations BUT this generalization works most of the time. You can find knives that have both half stop and cam end blades in them. I like those because they have something for everyone.

your mileage may vary/void where prohibited by law/do not remove this label under penalty of death/no smoking/brush your teeth after every meal/blahblahblahyakityschmakity

This bit of knowledge was passed on to Kerry by the late, great Tony Bose.

 

[huntnfishin]

I have a 33 cam tang and on the secondary pen the action acts like a half stop. Stops mid way and I gotta help it along and it snaps shut. Marked “S” and I’m guessing that’s why…

 

[Bigfattyt]

I've read about (but can't now find the article) and heard others on here say how bad/harsh half stops are on the back spring.
More points of possible stress than a knife with no half stop.
Maybe one reason why some Queen's with half stops experience broken back springs over time for example.

The only broken spring I've ever had was on a cam tang. A Queen Cam tang, to he precise!

 

[The Zieg]

All knives are dangerous and should be outlawed.

 

[Hickory n steel]

That real sudden sharp stop always kind of hurts my thumb nail, but I can live with it.
On a lockback however ( Gerber does this on their lightweight lockbacks like the LST ) it gives such a satisfying action to the knife, makes it feel like a slipjoint but ultra smooth and easy to open.

I don't have more than a few with half stops because they're just not common with the makes I mostly buy, but I don't think I really care either way.

 

[Silent H]

Having a half stop or not does not factor in to whether I buy a knife or not. Typically, when I open or close a slipjoint, I pause at the halfway point, whether it has a half stop or not.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I like them both, bit I find that I really like a half stop on smaller frames.

I also have preconceived notions that a half stop equates to quality.

I also like how the square ends keep lint out of the joints a wee bit better.

 

[Wharn]

I got a nasty bite from a 23’s half stop. I don’t hate them but honestly prefer them without. When i open my 44 (or when I inspected my recent 73) my middle finger tingles a bit where I got cut.

 

[Jack Black]

I have no strong preference either way, to some extent it depends on the knife. Square tangs are the older design, and originally all spring knives (slipjoints) would have had square tangs. Cam tangs were introduced by French cutlers, as a way of reducing wear between the spring and tang, which was more of a consideration in the past, and which will eventually render a knife unusable (or at least seriously compromise its usefulness). According to cutlery historian Simon Moore, there was initially some resistance, among Sheffield cutlers, to adopting the cam tang, because they foresaw they would sell fewer knives. Square tangs are not a safety feature, they are simply an older design.

 

[tomas_f]

I like the cam tang, but combined with really strong spring only.

 

[A.L.]

I’ve always found them clunky and unnecessary. Seems to me that lot of times they are more trendy than useful.