Just cut myself trying to open my umnumzaan one-handed, suggestions?

[James Y]

I had some initial difficulty in unlocking mine, but no longer now. Mine was born Sept. 29, 2011, and although there is a bit of resistance to opening, I've never had a problem getting mine open. I simply hold my thumb there a split second before pushing it open. I'd rather have that than have it come open when I don't want it to.

I really don't think having some initial questions about the Zaan mean someone needs to "man up." I've owned countless knives, including frame/integral locks, and this was the only one that (initially) caused me actual pain to unlock. It's more a matter of a slight difference in technique, is all. Once I got used to it, the Zaan has grown on me, and it's my main large EDC knife now.

I also find that the edge on my Zaan is ground nice and thin, from the heel to the tip, about the same thickness throughout. My older Sebenza's edge was ground much more thickly from the belly to the tip.

Jim

 

[Bluesummers]

It's not hard to open at all. It is slightly different feeling compared to a Strider or Spyderco for example.

Opening an Umnumzaan is like using the thumb studs/blade stops on a Strider to open the blade. You can do this sure but using the hole feels more comfortable imo.

 

[David_Parker03]

I love the lines of the Umnum, and the design, however, have had a number of issues with the knife as well.

In regards to exclusively putting only CRK lube on the knife, I highly disagree. These knives are simple, hard use knives. Just because I'm out of teflon lubricant of a specific viscosity, shouldn't entail my knife being difficult to open or close or function. I personally have tried a number of different lubricants, and have found that MPro7 works ideally as well.

But also to be fair to his design and my lack of ease of using the knife, my previous carry was a Microtech Socom, tip-down, and a different (although somewhat standard) pivot function. While I would like to try out one of the newer Umnum's just to see the ease of the larger locking bar, I still regard the knife as extremely nice and functional. His machining tolerances are rarely copied in skill, and his design for handle ergonomics and blade profiling are most impressive.

In the end, when thinking about what I would describe the Umnum to someone, I would say that you love it or you hate it. And I love my Umnum.

 

[ableman]

I cannot for the life of me understand why the umnumzaan is so rough on the fingers to disengage the lock, and open the knife. There is almost no room between the thumbstud and the scale to put your finger in for opening, and disengaging only gives you a few cm of scale to grip on to as you're fighting the tension with your thumb.

I realize you're supposed to push the blade "up", not "out" but it's nearly impossible to open when your finger is the slightest bit wet. I actually ended up cutting myself trying to open it (thumb slipped)


My question is, should I just man the hell up and keep working on it till my thumb is that of chuck norris? I can't be the only one having these problems

Took me a bit to get the hang of opening my zaan too, I had to loosen the pivot a bit, also I use the back of my thumb nail to help with opening. I place the nail against the thumb stud push my thumb upward, i.e., toward the pivot, opens right up. The thumb act as a wedge between the stud and frame.