Half Stops: Yea, Nay or Non-Issue?

[navihawk]

You learn something new here all the time. Elliot, are they all customs with half stops or do you have production examples?
Bill that stockman is outstanding.I've never seen one with a sheepsfoot and coping blade.
Another question, is the shadow patterns as strong as one with a bolster?

 

[Blues]

You learn something new here all the time. Elliot, are they all customs with half stops or do you have production examples?

Another question, is the shadow patterns as strong as one with a bolster?

Good pickup. :thumbup: Only the customs have half stops, none of my production stock knives. (I think you were referring to the stock knives.)

AFAIK, a well constructed shadow should (generally speaking) be the equal of a bolstered knife in strength. Of course, this leaves room for the exceptions insofar as integral frames and bolsters, linerless shadows, different scale material etc. are concerned.

 

[samhain73]

I prefer half stops, but it's not a deal breaker if a knife does not have them. Weak springs are the only deal breaker for me.

 

[navihawk]

Good pickup. :thumbup: Only the customs have half stops, none of my production stock knives. (I think you were referring to the stock knives.)

AFAIK, a well constructed shadow should (generally speaking) be the equal of a bolstered knife in strength. Of course, this leaves room for the exceptions insofar as integral frames and bolsters, linerless shadows, different scale material etc. are concerned.

Yes, i was refering to stocks.
the reason I asked on the shadows was the large pin, or bolt. I used to have an Al Mar hawk I wish I still owned.
Thanks
Steve

 

[hoopster]

I think I voted on the poll but can't remember my vote or if I commented. I do strongly prefer half stops. They're just satisfying for me to feel closing or opening. That said, it's not a deal breaker if a knife doesn't have them.

 

[samid]

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

FWIW - on all of the several SAKs in my possession that do have the "Bottle opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper" blade, that blade (and only it) has a half-stop (perfectly executed as usually is the case with SAKs - not too soft and not too strong, with backspring flush in all three positions). I *think* the reason for this is the screwdriver - with the blade at the half-stop position, the handle of the knife may be used as a lever when screwing or unscrewing something.

As for GECs with half-stops - I only have one such, a #89 Tidioute Melon Whittler on which the two smaller blades have half-stops. With both, the springs are above the frame at the half-stop position. (I still like that knife a lot though .)

--
Cheers,
Dmitry.

 

[LKJW]

I voted, but I like typing, too. I like half-stops, but it isn't a huge issue with me. Just seems a lot of the older patterns I like have them. But some don't. Informative, huh?

 

[rarreola]

I just bought my first half stop and I like it, it´s an old german mariner pocket knife. looks safer to me.

 

[sunnyd]

I have found that good half stops make slipjoints much safer while in use in the field, after, and only after the user is completely familiar and well versed in the mechanics of the knife's half stop function.

I also believe that a properly executed half stop improves on the knife's overall design and performance depending on the pattern of slipjoint in question.


Anthony

 

[STR]

I like a crisp half stop personally. Most of the ones I have commissioned to be made are done with half stops. Over the years from always carrying a traditional of some kind in my left pocket I've found that the half stop models have given me less issues with grit and lint build up than the ones without. Anymore on my finer knives I carry them in a pouch but even that didn't stop one of my customs from recently giving me some issues with the point of the blade not wanting to stay down when snapped shut. It was a rounded tang model and not a half stop one that was doing this.

Anyway, I'm not sure that is related or that its not just coincidence but I always liked the Gerber 'Safety Pause' that they incorporated in their knives in the 70's and 80's and although there is some debate about whether its going to add a touch of safety or not to me it at least let me know the position of the blade when I was closing it without necessarily having to look down to see so you can kind of appreciate the fact that when it half stops you don't have to look at the knife to know its time to move your fingers out of the way.

STR

 

[KnifeHead]

I don't believe half-stops pose a safety concern. After all, knives don't cut people...people cut people. But, as I have said before, I can cut myself (I might add "by surprise") faster and harder with half-stops. It's not a flaw, it's a "feature"

If somebody asks, "Hey, I want you to make a sowbelly and can I have half-stops?" I'd say, "No, they don't have half-stops." It's a traditional thang.

Some knives have half-stops and some don't. There you have it. Unless of course you want to break with tradition. While we're at it, let's see if we can start a "Spydercos with jigged bone" thread here and see how far that gets us! Don't laugh, it may be the next new traditional knife.

 

[Blues]

While we're at it, let's see if we can start a "Spydercos with jigged bone" thread here and see how far that gets us!

"Get thee behind me, Satan!!!"

 

[KnifeHead]

Half-stops or no half-stops in this beauty?

 

[DavidZ]

I had a slippie at one time that had a pronounced half-stop when closing the blade, but it was barely perceptable when opening the blade. I liked that one!
I wish I still had it, or could even remember what one it was. Of all the things I lost, I miss my mind the most!

 

[Mike Robuck]

Half-stops or no half-stops in this beauty?

Post reported. Inappropriate content in the trad. sub forum. Looks like you will be getting red for Xmas.

 

[Blues]

Sheesh, another thread down the toilet...


(Don't worry, Mike, we're gonna ban Kerry for this. )

 

[duckman1]

I like half-stops. But not a deal breaker if it doesn't have them.

 

[Noddy]

I like 'em

I just do.

 

[KnifeHead]

No worries, Hillstreet. I gave myself a warning for that one.

 

[kamagong]

While we're at it, let's see if we can start a "Spydercos with jigged bone" thread here and see how far that gets us! Don't laugh, it may be the next new traditional knife.

Not a Spyderco, but it fits your criteria otherwise.

- Christian