How important is a folder that can be deployed quickly?

Not important to me in the least.

But then, I'm happy with my edc sak or Case slip joint pocket knife. I'd rather have a couple of blades to choose from than one hand opening. And how well it cuts is more important to me than any speed. Somehow I've made it through 70 winters to be an old man, and haven't had a quick draw contest with my pocket knife yet.

Carl.
 
kickplate69 said:
Sometimes people get so caught up in how fast a blade can be whipped out. It's kinda like the knife version of the quick pistol draw that will save the day. Me, I like a blade that comes out with minimal effort, but I don't get too hung up on a knife that takes a little longer to get out ( like the cold steel spartan, for my hand size, it's not comin out fast- but I like the blade and it sees time in my pocket for rotational edc ).
How do you feel about slower deploying blades? Are they a deal breaker for you or no big deal?
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Mind you, this answer is coming from a guy who does most of his cutting with a stockman, but, no, fast deployment of a one-hander is not something I care about. Since I only use a knife as a tool, how fast I can get it out of my pocket doesn't make any difference to me. The work would still be there waiting to be cut even if it took me 30 seconds to open the knife.
 
I think practice wins over speed....being able to deploy a blade in a stressful situation can be one of the most difficult things you may ever have to do. CWL said it best.."Like any martial art, you first learn how to do something slowly, then smoothly. The speed will occur naturally with practice and development of muscle memory."
 
Thanks for all your posts, guys. Great thoughts all. And now I know to be on guard of attacking squirrels. ha ha. I also like to look at things from a humorous point of view. Thx again
 
I don't carry a knife for defense, so speed of opening doesn't matter to me.

If I did, I suppose it could.
 
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More important to me is the one handed open and close - I've been doing some work on the outside of the homestead and more than once I was up high on the ladder and needed to safely and securely pull my folder, open it, use it and safely close and put it away while holding something with my other hand.

Speed does not really concern me.
 
I do not carry a knife for self defense. Accordingly, one hand and speed of deployment are not important to me.

I do not see myself as a knight in shining armor or see an attacker behind every bush.

Regards,
Jerry
 
kaosu04 said:
That is interesting as I had never even considered that they were invented as a/one of the first one handed solutions. I chose the wrong word as dangerous objects are obviously never a toy. I've never slipped off a thumb stud or opening hole before, but can imagine a situation with wet gloves or something making it difficult, though I would think something like a spyderco hole is pretty safe. In my opinion these are sort of a far stretch. And if one were inclined to need a folder when in a wet/messy environment I would imagine they wouldn't want an auto or ao mechanism that could be gunked up.
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It has been said that autos have been responsible for saving the lives of seamen that needed to cut a rope or net fast in an emergency. I suppose that is only when they do work but whatever the case a slip joint would not be fast enough and a fixed blade would be preferable to any of the above in my opinion.

That being said some or perhaps a lot of autos are quite reliable when properly carried and cared for.
 
My pocket knives are cutting tools and are not intentionally chosen for self defense purposes. So the deployment speed is not real important to me. The one handed feature could be pretty nice for a survival knife where your other hand is injured. I have some very fast knives. I like my SOG Mini Vulcan a lot which is very fast and it is big enough to handle cutting chores. For me, it makes a good EDC for woods carry. The SAK that I carry every day is not a one hander and I'm perfectly comfortable with it. I do like some of the Spyderco one handers but for me, they are mostly "fast" two handers.
 
There is a difference beteen speed and ease of opening. I have use of only one hand, so ease is essential for me. There is absolutely nothing I do with a knife where speed makes the slightest bit of difference at all.
 
When I was much younger, I thought one-hand opening and speed of deployment were important. As I got older, I learned to plan ahead. Now by the time I need a knife, I already have it out and open.
 
Not very important to me at all. I usually carry a GEC Easy Open Jack with the warncliffe (sheepsfoot?) blade, and 99% of the time I don't miss one handed opening. However, I'd never complain about the extra convenience of a one handed opener every once in a while, variety is the spice of life after all.
 
I'd say the importance of deployment speed will depend upon your intended use. If you use your knife for package opening, sandwich cutting, box break down then speed is not crucial. If you anticipate possible SD use then speed of deployment assumes a greater importance.
 
I carry a clipped-on folder because it is easy to deploy, as compared to a Case stockman or similar slipjoint that rides in the bottom of the pocket. But deployment speed for me is only because it makes life easier, like a cell phone on the belt instead of in the bottom of a Man Sack. I also place all folders in the same speed category, whether its a "slow" Cold Steel Lawman or a "fast" assisted opener. Its just an ease of access thing for me.
 
singularity35 said:
I'd say the importance of deployment speed will depend upon your intended use. If you use your knife for package opening, sandwich cutting, box break down then speed is not crucial. If you anticipate possible SD use then speed of deployment assumes a greater importance.
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I suppose that's true, but aside from nine weeks of boot camp in the mid-1970's, I've carried one or more knives every day since 1964 without once needing to use one as a weapon.
 
yablanowitz said:
I suppose that's true, but aside from nine weeks of boot camp in the mid-1970's, I've carried one or more knives every day since 1964 without once needing to use one as a weapon.
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Exactly. All of the hoopla about using knives for self defense is horribly over blown. The only conceivable SD purpose I would use a knife for, would be with it closed and used as an impact tool. For me, how quickly I can deploy a blade, is a non-issue.
 
Its nice for one to open fast, but reliably and smoothly is much more important to me...I dont rely on a knife for self defense, thats what one of my many guns are for..Ive saw a inmate beat another shank wielding inmate near to death with a mop ringer...
 
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