Help me understand a nail nicks...

I keep my nails trimmed as short as possible all of the time so nail nicks are absolutely useless to me.


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As all the folks above, main reason to carry a nick-nail knife is using it in "delicate" cutting, urban EDC or around people, mostly not to draw attention and because there's no hurry. Usually SAKs or Multitool blades. But I don't like them

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I also have trimmed fingernails and much prefer to OHO a knife blade and have it lock for my work and most other situations.

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In fact I prefer a step further in my main carry folders, that is having them open as they get drawn from the pocket ("Wave" opening) as many times I'm holding the thing I want to cut with the other hand, or I'm using it for things like pulling, holding onto a ladder, bending, etc. or wearing gloves

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There are knives that have a very heavy spring with nail nicks and they can be troublesome to open. I don't much care for a knife that requires me to use a needle nosed pliers to open it regardless of the brand.

I carry a 105 mm SAK all the time, frequently with a second modern. It has a nail nick and is very easy to open either by pinching or using the nail nick.

I have always believed that a nail nick would improve the LionSTEEL small Opera. I like this knife and it is pinch open only.

The strength of your nails make a difference. Some people have very weak nails which is often a vitamin deficiency.

If you like traditional knives (with a nail nick), I would go to a larger knife store and look at your options and choose one that you can open easily, but is still strong enough to be safe.
 
I actually carry both, usually at the same time, but not always. I prefer one hand opening, and that normally means a Spydie hole. But, I do carry SAKs and Buck traditionals, and sometimes a Case (not often). Right knife for the right job.
 
I hate nail nicks as well, but I don't at all mind pinch-opening, long pulls or EOs on traditional knives. Nail nicks, though, I typically find quite annoying and try to avoid them.
 
Nail nicks are really for penknives and slipjoint SAKs A slipjoint's joint should be smooth so most nails should be up to it. Keeps the design nice and slim.

People are in such a rush today. Opening and closing a folding knife is thinking time; how you are going to tackle the job. Yesteryear people had penknives or fixed blade knives. Steels were good but nothing fantastic, and knives were expensive especially something as elaborate as a penknife, plus an accident before antibiotics could kill you; so thinking what you were doing was important. Right tool for the job too. The classic penknife was a gentleman's tool, claspknives were issued much later even to troops to open those modern fangled cans. Nail nicks were more than adequate and didn't add to weight or costs.

Now we have heavy duty folders and everything is expendable. Heck, MRE's come in sachets so no cans even!

I feel undressed without at least carrying a penknife, you don't even know you have it on you. Anything bigger and you need a reason. Not much you can't do with a SAK or Opinel.
 
GREENJACKET said:
Nail nicks are really for penknives and slipjoint SAKs A slipjoint's joint should be smooth so most nails should be up to it. Keeps the design nice and slim.

People are in such a rush today. Opening and closing a folding knife is thinking time; how you are going to tackle the job. Yesteryear people had penknives or fixed blade knives. Steels were good but nothing fantastic, and knives were expensive especially something as elaborate as a penknife, plus an accident before antibiotics could kill you; so thinking what you were doing was important. Right tool for the job too. The classic penknife was a gentleman's tool, claspknives were issued much later even to troops to open those modern fangled cans. Nail nicks were more than adequate and didn't add to weight or costs.

Now we have heavy duty folders and everything is expendable. Heck, MRE's come in sachets so no cans even!

I feel undressed without at least carrying a penknife, you don't even know you have it on you. Anything bigger and you need a reason. Not much you can't do with a SAK or Opinel.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Truthful post of the week award.

People have got spoiled and in too much of a hurry. Knives with multiple blades and nail nicks give a ton of versatility that no one hand modern knife is going to touch. Nail nicks make it possible to have a 3 1/2 inch package weighing 3 ounces in a pocket that has three knife blades of different shapes and blade edges. Ot two knife blades screw drivers for flat and phiilips screwss, bottle and can openers and awl.

This stockman would be hard to do without nail nicks;
 
GREENJACKET said:
....People are in such a rush today. Opening and closing a folding knife is thinking time; how you are going to tackle the job.
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Yes, many people are in a hurry and opening a knife quickly is symptomatic of this. Such a hurry.... and usually going no where. Look at the odometer reading on your car and consider just how many hours you wasted sitting on that seat..... a lifetime so to speak.
 
jackknife said:
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Truthful post of the week award.

People have got spoiled and in too much of a hurry. Knives with multiple blades and nail nicks give a ton of versatility that no one hand modern knife is going to touch. Nail nicks make it possible to have a 3 1/2 inch package weighing 3 ounces in a pocket that has three knife blades of different shapes and blade edges. Ot two knife blades screw drivers for flat and phiilips screwss, bottle and can openers and awl.

This stockman would be hard to do without nail nicks;
Click to expand...
This. When making a multi-bladed folding knife, nail nicks allow the design to be compact while still providing access to each of the blades. Viewed in that light, the nail nick is an extremely clever method for reliably opening just one of several closely nested blades.
 
The old forester I grew up with, would look at the job, roll a backy smoke, light it, look at the job a little more, get his clasp knife out, do a neat little job of it, put his clasp knife away, and finish his smoke admiring his handywork. Satisfied it was a job well done.
He worked slow and methodically for a straight 8 hours and got a lot done. (I'd hack at it full tilt and be whinging after couple of hours; by lunch I was in pieces).
When hedgelaying he would have a whole line done in no time, well a week and miles seemed beautifully finished.

I'm older now and do stuff with a little less haste.

Big folders are a slow way to deploy compared to a fixed. Modern ways aren't always the best.
 
Nail nicks are proof that the devil is not a myth.

As often as my knife gets used a OHO knife is needed. I want to use SAKs and the like but, my nails just don't hold up to folders with nail nicks.

Having to use nothing but nail nicks would be pure hell for me.
 
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