How do you close a folder?

CSG said:
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.
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no. the blade edge and point are no where near skin. It is IMPOSSIBLE to cut oneself when using this method, that is why Sir Baden Powell taught the method from the beginning.

stay tuned , i'm loading a HiDef video on the Scout knife closing method.

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.
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you can see just fine using the Scout method. In fact, there is more control of the blade compared to having it edge up and in the wrong hand.

again, gimmie a few minutes, i'm loading the video
 
Rupestris said:
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.
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+1 on these comments. Liner locks are not my thing either. As for a fixed blade--I just sink it into my leg. There's no way that blade is gonna bite my precious fingers!! :D
 
So most of you guys promote closing a knife without control (letting the blade snap into the handle with the spring driving it) and without visually seeing where your fingertips are?

Fine by me but that sure isn't the way I'd teach knife safety. I'm OK with being "paranoid" in this case. ;)

Looking forward to seeing the video because maybe I'm missing something. My granddad was in the cutlery business and that's the way he taught me.
 
CSG said:
So most of you guys promote closing a knife without control (letting the blade snap into the handle with the spring driving it) and without visually seeing where your fingertips are?

Fine by me but that sure isn't the way I'd teach knife safety. I'm OK with being "paranoid" in this case. ;)

Looking forward to seeing the video because maybe I'm missing something. My granddad was in the cutlery business and that's the way he taught me.
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It's the way I close my knives, but also not the way I'd teach it :)

Do as a say not as I do :D
 
CSG said:
So most of you guys promote closing a knife without control (letting the blade snap into the handle with the spring driving it) and without visually seeing where your fingertips are?

Fine by me but that sure isn't the way I'd teach knife safety. I'm OK with being "paranoid" in this case. ;)

Looking forward to seeing the video because maybe I'm missing something. My granddad was in the cutlery business and that's the way he taught me.
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As always, proper follow through is important. If you pinch the knife properly, you'd have to be an idiot not to know where your fingers are.

You could also pinch the blade and shut it like that, not letting the spring snap it back in.

Most lockbacks and slip joints have a "kick" that prevents the knife's sharpened edge from slamming into the backspacer when you close the knife. It used to be you couldn't let it shut on it's own (using the spring to pull it back) because you'd dull the edge.
 
Lockbacks: Hold the knife on the right hand and press the lock wile at simultanusely pushing the spine of the blade against your right thigh to close the blade.

Liner locks, I do with using only the right hand.

Slippies, I use both hands

:D:D
 
GSG,

you mentioned it several times in your reponse and I just have to ask. How can you no know where your fingers are. I just can't see what you are explaining.

I also use the palm method. I am reading you first post and trying to figure out how you close the knife by bringing it to the blade. It seems very un natural to me.
 
CSG said:
So most of you guys promote closing a knife without control (letting the blade snap into the handle with the spring driving it) and without visually seeing where your fingertips are?
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I'm not against seeing where my fingers are. Especially with a folder that I'm not familiar with. I just believe that I can trust my sense of feel as much as I can trust my sense of sight. They're my hands. I should know what they're doing and what kind of danger they might be in.

As a kid I opened my thumb with my dads Barlow. It closed like a bear trap and I wan't expecting it. I got three stitches and a valuable lesson. I had a Case Stockman bite me while closing it one handed (blade edge up, closing it with my index finger). It just barely cliped my ring finger but the knife was new to me and I didn't have a "feel" for it yet. Since then I close it one handed all the time without incident.
 
I'm a lefty. Using a Vic Farmer as an example, I take the handle in my left hand, opening up. I take the open blade in my right hand, edge up. Of course, when I say "hand" I mean fingers. Grasping the scales with my thumb and forefingers and the blade with the thumb and forefingers of my right hand, I bring them together, under control. If I do it the way most people here seem to do it and they way I understand the scouts to teach it, I would have the knife facing down (opening and edge) and use the palm to push the blade down until the spring engages and it snaps shut. I like my way better.
 
valcas1 said:
GSG,

you mentioned it several times in your reponse and I just have to ask. How can you no know where your fingers are. I just can't see what you are explaining.

I also use the palm method. I am reading you first post and trying to figure out how you close the knife by bringing it to the blade. It seems very un natural to me.
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CSG hold your left palm (FLAT) like you are swearing on the Bible. Take note of where your fingers are. They are no where near the blade.

video is still uploading.....sorry for delay

EDIT: here we go:



and some slo mo sequence photos for you right handers (knife handle in right hand/blade in left):

still loading

slow motion sequence shots for your LEFT handers (knife handle in LEFT hand, blade in right):

still loading
 
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CSG said:
I like my way better.
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That's what makes us all a bit different. Not knocking your way. Just explaining why I like my way.

You don't learn anything if you go through life with blinders on.
 
Thanks for posting that, Bush. Your vid shows what I assumed and that uncontrolled snap as well as having the heel of your hand towards the pointy end is exactly what I'm talking about. I still like the method I learned a lot more.
 
Well, the only thing I do different is hold my left hand at 90 degrees to yours...that is across the blade instead of lengthwise.

But the effect is the same and I really can't see injuring myself this way.

Or at the very least, any risk I assume by doing this is probably outweighed by the risk I take getting out of bed every morning.
 
Oh, and FWIW, I prefer a fixed blade although I own many folders. :D

I raised this question because I'm about to teach my 9 and 11 year olds and plan to give them a simple slip joint pocket knife to use. They're both in scouts and have been shown this other method which I think is less safe, especially for kids. I'll show them why I think the method I learned is safer and more controlled.
 
36 years of closing a knife this way, 20 - 50 times a day. never been stabbed by the tip (even with my pointed blades) or cut by the blade. It is impossible.

CSG said:
Thanks for posting that, Bush. Your vid shows what I assumed and that uncontrolled snap as well as having the heel of your hand towards the pointy end is exactly what I'm talking about. I still like the method I learned a lot more.
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there is a "snap" yes, but if you look carefully the palm follows thru WITH the blade the entire way. There is also NOTHING in the blade path to cut.

slow mo pics sequence:

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i'm not saying this is the ONLY way to close a blade, i'm simply demonstrating that there is no safety issues with the time tested and proven Baden Powell Scout knife closing method. . :)
 
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Been closing my Schrade stockman slipjoint on my leg since mid 1960's. Haven't 'stuck' or 'cut' my leg or my fingers yet. :D


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I pinch the blade with my thumb on one side and my index and middle finger on the other. Of course I don't use slip joints any more so I usually close one handed using my leg like BSA's use their palm.:o
 
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.
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Ya know, I do the same basic thing. I often close against my belt as well with a slippy. If I am comfortable doing so with a particular knife (ie. I know where my fingers are by feel), I have been known to close slippies by pushing the blade closed with my index finger while grasping the knife with my thumb and middle finger and bridging my palm over the spine.

I did notice that on lock-backs, I do have a tendency to close them (almost) boy-scout style. Never got around to knives in my short time in the BSA. Folks have asked me if I was a boyscout Abefore because of the manner in which I handle knives. I have a feeling that my dad must have incorporated some BSA techniques when he taught me knife safety ;)
 
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