Half Stops: Yea, Nay or Non-Issue?

Half Stops: Yea, Nay or Non-Issue? (Pick All That Apply)

  • Yes: They Make A Slipjoint Safer

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes: They Reflect The Ability Of The Maker

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No: They Make A Knife Unsafe

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No: I Just Don't Like The Way They Feel

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Don't Care Either Way, It's A Non-Issue

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Won't Buy A Knife With A Half Stop

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Won't Buy A Knife Without A Half Stop

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
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Depends on the pattern and whether the maker makes a nail breaker. For strong pulls, I prefer them. For easy pulls, doesn't matter either way.
 
I generally prefer not to have them but I can tolerate them if I'm considering a pattern on which they're traditionally incorperated.
 
I really like half-stops on closing a knife

But when opening a hard sprung knife I don't particually like half stops because I have to move my nail out of the nick so I dont break my nail

So:
Yes to half stops on a medium sprung knife
Yes I can see it reflects the ablity of the Maker

But what I like best is a cam opener where the half point is neutral to the spring and acts like a half stop.
What is called? A rest stop??
 
I do like them. Not from a safety aspect though. I just like the feel when opening and closing...
When I look at pics of a custom slipjoint, I certainly don't think less of the makers talents if the knife doesn't have half stops.

IIRC, The first knife I had with them was a Case Mini Trapper. The first time I held one, I knew I liked everything about the pattern, and when I opened her up and realized it had half stops, I liked it even better
 
I like them on a larger knife such as a big jack or hunter, on peanuts and smaller stockman it isn't as important to me.
 
I really appreciate a well done half stop. That being said, it's really not an issue for me one way or the other.
 
Half-stops are a nicety, but not a necessity.
I do like them.
 
Don't mind either way, but if the knife has one then it should be flush in all three positions...
 
willgoy said:
Don't mind either way, but if the knife has one then it should be flush in all three positions...
Click to expand...

I don't like the way they feel, but it won't stop me from buying a knife that has them. A couple of guys at work have Great Eastern 25's and they feel right with half stops, but what willgoy says, they must be flush in all three positions.
I have noticed that some newer knives have "soft stops" as I call them. a larger radius on the tang, and it stops halfway without a snap.I'm not crazy for that.
I would prefer a half stop over a cam if it is not smooth.
 
I wouldn't want them on a bog folder, like a folding hunter, but they are a nice frill on smaller patterns.

Not a deal breaker either way.

I would rather have no half stop than a poorly done half stop.
 
Flush in all three positions is the ideal, not often found in production knives but a must have in made to measure customs.
 
I like half stops, I'm not sure I would want them on a stockman or folding hunter thought.
 
555 said:
I like half stops, I'm not sure I would want them on a stockman or folding hunter thought.
Click to expand...

I agree with that 100%. Stockmans would not be good with half stops. i'm starting to think it's pattern specific, although different patterns such as trappers have both, but i've never seen a stockman with half stops.
 
I was using SAKs quite a bit before I got into other slipjoints, so my first reaction to half-stops was negative just because I was not used to them and saw them as a hassle.

However, after using many more slipjoints, I have come to prefer half-stops. I think they are a good safety feature and I really appreciate 'flush-in-3-positions'. I definitely prefer it on stronger springs.

However, I do not like the 'soft' half-stop, or the non-flush half-stop. I am perfectly happy, though, with the GEC half-stop where the spring is actually below the frame, rather than above it, at half-stop.

On softer springs I would rather NOT have half-stops.

-Nick
 
They add a certain class to a knife, IMO.

Not a deal breaker for me if they are not there, however.

Glenn
 
Not a big deal for me. I do prefer half-stops, and believe they reflect the ability of the maker. However, they must be done properly! And they don't fit all patterns.

I was offered a custom knife made by a Master Smith at the recent Blade show. The blade was not flush in all three positions. It was perfect in one, close in one, and way off in the other. I looked at it, thanked the maker for showing it to me, and walked away. Quickly. Funny thing - there are no examples of that makers work in my collection. And if offered another, I'll need to see it in person first.

I don't think a half stop makes a knife any more or less safe. Like someone once said - you can't make them idiot-proof! I always open and close all my slip joints with two hands. So far, I still have all 10 fingers. And, I never allow them to 'snap' closed. If the kick isn't done right, subtle flat spots on the blade result. I've seen those too.

I pretty much get what I like, half stop or not, shield or not, etc.
 
navihawk said:
I agree with that 100%. Stockmans would not be good with half stops. i'm starting to think it's pattern specific, although different patterns such as trappers have both, but i've never seen a stockman with half stops.
Click to expand...

Well, now you have - I present a stockman with half-stops:
P1010777.jpg
 
I have premium stock knives both with and without half stops. (But none say Bose on the tang, regrettably. ;))

I think a good middle ground is the one adopted by Reese Bose on the patterns he builds.

If the original (vintage) knives featured a half stop, he will incorporate one as well.

If not, he won't.

I find that Joel Chamblin often does the same.

You'd be hard pressed to find two better representatives of their craft. :thumbup:
 
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