How do you close a folder?

CSG

CSG

Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Messages
1,433
I read that the scouts teach something about using the palm of your hand. To me that seems dangerous. I grasp the knife in my left hand and blade in my right hand, edge up, and close by bringing the handle over towards the blade.

I use this on slipjoints like the Vic Farmer and locking knives like a Buck 110. I can see where all my fingers are and where the edge is going.

If I understand what I read with the scout method, I'm doing it wrong. IMO, they are.

What do you guys say?
 
palm method all the way! handle in right hand, left thumb and forefinger on the pivot, and close the blade (which is facing down) with the palm resting on the blade spine. . simple fast, and completely safe.
 
If I get you right, you're closing it blind and risking having the heel of your hand slip over the point and subject to being stabbed or cut.
 
2 ways for me for a slip joint.

1. hold in right hand, fingers on the scales, pinch the pivot with left thumb and index finger, with back of blade against palm of left hand just fold until the spring takes over.

2 Hold in right hand w/fingers on the scales, and swipe the back of the blade forward across the side of my right leg up near the pocket. I've used this one since I was a wee lad so it's second nature.
 
Slipjoints:
Handle in left hand, edge faceing down with tips of all fingers in contact with the scales when possible. Thumb straight, about where the pivot is.
Palm of right hand ove the blade. Contact is near the bottom of the palm in the center.
Use pressure from both hands to close.
On a very small knife like a Peanut, the front bolster is pinched between the thumb and fore finger with all other fingers straight out.

Lockback:
Knife in left hand with fingers over the gap and thumb on lock.
Pinch blade and move out of locked position.
Once its free from the lock enough that it can't engage, change grip of left hand to that mentioned above.

Axis lock:
Pull back Axis Lock.
Flip shut.

Liner lock:
Don't use 'em. Not very "lefty friendly". If I do use one I have to hold it edge-up and move the lock with my thumb then reach under the blade with my right hand.
 
I push the back of the blade against my eyelid and slam it shut as hard as I can.

No wait, I use my palm. It's easy, fast and very safe. I don't agree with some of the stuff that scouts are taught these days, but I do think they have pretty good knife safety tips.
 
CSG said:
I read that the scouts teach something about using the palm of your hand. To me that seems dangerous. I grasp the knife in my left hand and blade in my right hand, edge up, and close by bringing the handle over towards the blade.

I use this on slipjoints like the Vic Farmer and locking knives like a Buck 110. I can see where all my fingers are and where the edge is going.

If I understand what I read with the scout method, I'm doing it wrong. IMO, they are.

What do you guys say?
Click to expand...

Agreed. Some knives I can close one handed but if it is a two handed method I have the cutting the edge down and pinch the blade twixt thumb and trigger finger, bringing the blade and handle together. What they are teaching sounds dumb. There is less control of the blade and should one be not be paying attention for whatever reason the finger tips could easily be guillotined if they curled. I believe that is especially true for young people that are notoriously poor and far more likely to have some 110 looking thing that snaps shut rather than closes sweetly. Needlessly reckless - should know better.
 
I particularly feel the edge should be up while closing the knife. I think you ought to visually see where it's going. Grasping the blade with one hand and the scales with the other is a no accident way to close your knife. Failsafe. The palm method, not even close safety-wise IMO.
 
on slippies i close them one-handed although that probably isnt quite the safest way, but i have never cut myself closing a knife so i guess it is safe enough.
 
Personally, I think closing a knife should be second nature if its one you are familiar with. You shouldn't need your eyes. Like knowing where the safety on a firearm is by feel alone or knowing the RPM's of your vehicle by sound and feel as you let out the clutch. No need to look at the safety or the tachometer.

Once you have a feel for the item you are using it should be a no-brainer.

I actually had to take out my SAK and a Spyderco lock back to look at how I close them in order to post an answer. Its that ingrained. Like shaving. I do it so ofter I don't use a mirror any more.

Use an item enough and it becomes an extention of your hand/body.

I've closed slipjoints as saxon mentioned, by pressing the spine against my leg or hip. If I use the knife enough I should know the spring tension and what to expect.

But then again, I probably mess with my knives too much anyway ;).

Chris
 
First off...the feet should be shoulder width apart.....get on the balls of your feet....get the kids out of the room....
 
CSG said:
I read that the scouts teach something about using the palm of your hand. To me that seems dangerous. I grasp the knife in my left hand and blade in my right hand, edge up, and close by bringing the handle over towards the blade.

I use this on slipjoints like the Vic Farmer and locking knives like a Buck 110. I can see where all my fingers are and where the edge is going.

If I understand what I read with the scout method, I'm doing it wrong. IMO, they are.

What do you guys say?
Click to expand...


I don't own any slip joints but on my other folders I just push the spine of the blade against my thigh and close it that way.
 
I use the side of my leg or my hip to close my slippies or the palm of my other hand.

My mini-grip gets closed by disengaging the lock with my thumb and pushing it closed with my forefinger of the same hand.
 
Bushman5 said:
palm method all the way! handle in right hand, left thumb and forefinger on the pivot, and close the blade (which is facing down) with the palm resting on the blade spine. . simple fast, and completely safe.
Click to expand...

This sounds exactly like what I do...right thumb and forefinger on the pivot, check

left palm on the spine, check

close knife...check.

I must have done this more than a thousand times and I have yet to cut myself, or even get close. In fact I can't imagine how I could possibly cut myself doing this. I just pulled a SAK out and opened and closed it a few times and man, there is just no way to screw this up.

The only POSSIBLE thing I can think of would be if you were sitting down, closing the knife in your lap, and you were naked, and suddenly the entire stage staff of Muggs 'N' Juggs showed up and started wrestling in a swimming pool full of mud, and you experienced a sudden level of interest, and in between when you started closing the knife and when it snapped shut, something got in the way.

But honestly I think I could close my knife this way, a thousand times, WASTED, and never ding myself, ever. Sorry man, I think you're paranoid on this one!
 
Carefully. :eek::thumbup::eek:



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
CSG said:
I particularly feel the edge should be up while closing the knife. I think you ought to visually see where it's going. Grasping the blade with one hand and the scales with the other is a no accident way to close your knife. Failsafe. The palm method, not even close safety-wise IMO.
Click to expand...

Hold the knife by the handle in your right hand, edge down, and then push the blade into the handle via pressure on the spine using the palm of the left hand.

Correct?

How unsafe is that? Pretty save, imho. Our scouts often use those "BSA" knives, which are slip joints. Never had a problem with closing them.
 
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