Knife accident--warning

ExMachina

ExMachina

Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
497
Yesterday, in an attempt to get 2004 off to as promising a start as possible, I gave myself a nice 5-inch long, 1+cm deep laceration on the front quarter of my lower right leg. No nerve damage, but a real beauty of a wound which is now sealed and embellished with 18 stitches.

What had happened was that my Microtech LCC had opened up slightly in my right front pant’s pocket (I guess when I took the pants off on Friday). Yesterday, while getting dressed, my leg encountered the knife's point and stabbed in above the right ankle to a depth of about 1/2", and then sliced longitudinally up my leg with a diminishing depth of cut (knife was angled so that its spine prevented further penetration). As the blood began pouring out of what I had at first thought was a scratch, I remember being impressed with how painless a cut from a sharp knife can be.

In the past, I had noticed the LCC "spontaneously" opening one or two times, and in hind sight should have stopped pocket carry right then. The LCC is the only knife I own that I’ve ever had open up in pocket.

We spend a lot of time focusing on how strong a folder is held open. This incident reminded me that staying closed is a nice feature to have in a pocket knife, too.

-Dave
 
Ouch! Hope you heal-up quickly. Truth be told, I've always harbored a Murphy-related concern over an auto opener doing just that in my pocket. I even experienced my Spyderco Harpy sitting partially-open in my pocket when reaching in to get something. Now, my Harpy is no weak-springed set-up, so obviously something I did caused enough inertia to the blade to get it started.
 
"WEll didnt the ball bearing detent do it's job?"

You're speaking of the LCC, right? The Harpy is a lock-back design. Blade is retained in closed position by traditional resistance of the backspring.
 
Yeah, I shoulda quoted him. I was indeed refering to the LCC, which I do believe(?) has a ball bearing detent, as I know the clone does.
 
Shame on you for forgetting knife knut rule #1. Always take your folder out of your pocket and put it on your nightstand when you get undressed. How else are you going to be able to play with it while you watch TV or read or have sex or do whatever you do before you fall asleep? :)
 
Originally posted by ExMachina

What had happened was that my Microtech LCC had opened up slightly in my right front pant’s pocket (I guess when I took the pants off on Friday). Yesterday, while getting dressed, my leg encountered the knife's point and stabbed in above the right ankle to a depth of about 1/2", and then sliced longitudinally up my leg with a diminishing depth of cut (knife was angled so that its spine prevented further penetration). As the blood began pouring out of what I had at first thought was a scratch, I remember being impressed with how painless a cut from a sharp knife can be.
Click to expand...

Get into the habit of emptying the contents of your pockets when you remove your clothes, especially knives since they'll do you no good if they're not in reach. You're lucky you got cut that low. Had you gotten those pants up any higher, you could've hit the femoral artery (which probably would've bled you unconscious in @ 20 sec.)or given yourself a "Bobbitt"!. :eek: I've know lots of people who have ruined or lost personal effects leaving stuff in thier pockets. Imagine if you threw those pants in the washer with a bunch of clothes. Great way to make ribbons in the spin cycle.:D

Dayuhan
 
Hi...

Your not the only one it's happened to with the LCC..

I've been poked twice with mine.. :(

ttyle

Eric....
 
I've only had that happen with an auto, a BM Mini Reflex.

I now carry autos without locks with the spine against the pocket seam.:cool:
 
Eric, Have you tried sending your LCC back to Microtech? That's on my to do list for the week--I think a deeper detent would solve the problem
 
To be certain, I too don't advocate leaving anything in pants' pockets when you're not wearing them...but I know that we all do it from time to time :)

Also, the in-pocket openings in the case of my LCC had nothing to do w/ the auto feature, just a weak retaining detent.
 
Love my LCC's but a weak detent is consistant with them...no way they would accidently open with the auto feature though. As you know they are some of the sharpest knives as well! Glad it was not worse, hope you heal quickly.
 
Originally posted by TorzJohnson
Shame on you for forgetting knife knut rule #1. Always take your folder out of your pocket and put it on your nightstand when you get undressed. How else are you going to be able to play with it while you watch TV or read or have sex or do whatever you do before you fall asleep? :)
Click to expand...

But . . . it's so much quicker in the morning when I just slip on my pants for wear #2 (or 3 etc.). Besides, that's what the knives that stay on the nightstand are for. ;)

Then again, none of my knives have a tendency to open in my pocket. I fear that day, for I know I shall carry any number of knives in these pockets.
 
I currently carry my knife in a holser on my belt. These tales of knives "popping" open will definitely make me think twice before sticking an auto in my pocket.
 
Speaking of washing machines, a friend of mine had his commander disassemble in the wash, while it was in his pants. His clothes did not fare so well..Joe
 
I also had BM Mini Reflex open (twice) in dress pants. Didn't know it was open till I happened to look down and saw the blade protruding from the fabric. Didn't cut me and the fabric was dark so I was able to fix it without too much of a blemish. Only play with it now. Can't trust it.
 
Had that happen with a mechanical pencil. When I put on my pants, the it sharp point went through the pocket into my leg and i have a nice 7inch gash.
 
Ouch!! I had a CS UltraLock get me 7 stitches worth just above the knee several years ago. Hope you heal quickly.
 
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