Kind of an appropriate request for Mother's Day...

D

DeadManWalking

Joined
Apr 3, 2004
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This is kind of appropriate to post today since it is Mother's Day I suppose...

Problem: 47 year old mother of three with a mild phobia of sharp objects (seriously) and a nasty case of arthritis needs a safe, locking blade. There are five issues here:

Compactness - Small is good here for many reasons. She doesn't need a large blade at all for what she's going to do. This knife will reside in the bottom of a purse so it doesn't need a clip.

Appearance - Black plastic, wood, stag or G10 handles are out. No "Combat Monsters". No black blades, no serrations. Think colors or stainless steel.

Lock/durability - must lock up good and solid. I was thinking a short fixed blade may work better but then realized she'd never touch it (like I said mild phobia of sharp objects). I realize I'm not going to get a Sebenza here but it needs to hold an edge fairly well as the only maintenance it will receive is when/if I am asked to sharpen it when I visit.

Accessibility - She has arthritis which makes it impossible to open anything one handed (not that she'd try anyway). She can generally get something like say a traditional lockback open, but then she has the problem that she can't depress the lever enough to unlock the blade and close it. Liner locks just aren't going to work here I'm afraid. I even tried to see if she could operate a Chive once since I figured the flipper and framelock were easy targets and the assisted opening would help that much more. That idea went down in flames awful fast as she could not even depress the flipper hard enough to deploy the blade.

Price - this is a knife that may be left on a roadside somewhere.

I'm stumped... any ideas?
 
If you have to have a folding knife, maybe a balisong will work well because of the arthritis. Less finger movement...
 
Kershaw Vapor? Stainless, small, frame lock is easy to disengage. Price is right for leaving at the side of the road ($20 at Wal-Mart).

The only problem I'd see is whether she could open it -- maybe two handed opening grasping both sides of the blade at the stud. Maybe make your own stud with a longer bolt, washers and nut so it would protrude from both sides of the blade.
 
Mini-Griptilian with colored handles? It's fairly small and she could use her thumb and fore finger to release the Axis lock. It's got to be one of the easiest to release locks available as far as spring tension is concerned and it's not going to fold up on her either. My other immediate thought was something from Spyderco, their little lockbacks aren't very stiff and there are a variety of colors available on some of them. Then there's always the mini Protechs; ;) . JK, although they would be great if it weren't for the mild phobia you mentioned. Good luck!
 
She may not go for this since it could be taboo in her mind, but a small auto with button open/button close is the easiest for someone with arthritis or long fingernails to open and close. There are a number of small ones available in multiple colors. If an auto is out, there are even a few folders that use the button plunge lock. Or you could always remove the spring from an auto.
 
kERSHAW SCALLION...in one of the new sheeple friendly colors.Speed safe assisted opening and it locks closed so no fear of opening in purse.Once unlocked it can be opened with the flick of 1 finger....my 2 cents. :)
 
I agree with the balisong suggestion. One Stop Knife Shop still has a few Benchmade Model 10's available. It latches closed so it won't open in her purse, won't accidently close on her fingers while she's holding the handles, and she can slowly and safely use both hands to open or close it.

Jim
 
I also suggest a (yellow or purple) Benchmade Mini-Griptilian. The model 556 has dual thumb-studs, and the model 555 has an "opening hole"...Either way, she can use both hands to open and close it if needed, and the Axis-lock is smooth and very "user-friendly". Also, the 440C steel is fairly maintance-free, holds a pretty good edge, and is easy to resharpen when needed. The only "problem" is that they usually come razor-sharp.
 
Since you didn't say exactly what she would use a knife for, (cutting string, opening letters/boxes, maybe?), I'll toss out a small Texas toothpick slipjoint. 3" closed, 2" elegant, people-friendly blade, and easy to open and close. You can find them with very attractive scales, like pocket jewelery, for around $30 at many places online. Case is the first brand that comes to mind, but there are others.

Just a thought.

Bill
 
how about a leatherman micra. it's small, mom friendly in appearance and mom's love scissors! the blade(s) don't exactly lock, but they cannot close on her fingers either.

todd
 
pipedreams said:
how about a leatherman micra.
Click to expand...

I think Todd has a great idea to get over the phobia component, and the Micra has other useful tools as well (the scissors rock). Very good idea.., and then she can move on to something else if the need arises...
 
I've never handled one of the "Juice" models, but what about one of those? The micra might be too small for arthritic hands to safely grip, and on top of that, the Juice comes in pretty colors.
 
Two more possibilities:

1. Spyderco Cricket because it's small, stainless and very easy to open and close.

2. Give up on the lock and get a Spyderco Pride slipjoint. Non-threatening, non-"tactical" easy to open and close 2 and 1/4 inch blade. Not too expensive either.
 
Here is one case where I will recommend an Opinel. Finger nick open, easy to use lock, comes in lots of sizes, wood handle, cheap. It's like a folding kitchen knife, or "picnic knife".
 
I got my wife a Pink Spyderco Jester with a plain edge. It's everything you asked for, small, cute, lock back and relatively cheap. It should fit the bill perfectly.

John
 
Spyderco Stainless Kiwi, small, sharp, easy to use, classy, engraveable.
 
Blue Spyderco Rescue or one of their other rescue knives that
are in colors. Or maybe a Blue Delica?
 
Did she ask you for a knife . . are you just trying to share your hobby?

Maybe just buy her a nice pair of scissors. The "I'm trying to buy a knife for someone with a knife phobia" thing raises a red flag. Sort of like saying "I'm trying to buy a snake for someone afraid of snakes - help me out".
 
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