Let's All Be Honest With Ourselves

Lenny

Lenny

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
2,499
I love slipjoints as much as all of you.
That's all I've been buying and carrying lately.
The beauty of a nicely colored and jigged bone handle.
The satisfying click when they open or close.
The choice of more than one blade pattern in the same knife.
All very positive aspects of the slipjoint.
But, when I really have work to do, there's nothing like having a one hand opener with clip
within immediate reach.
How great is it to be able to cut something within seconds, while holding the item with your other hand?
By the time it's cut, and the knife is put away, you haven't even gotten the slipjoint out of your pocket.
I'm not trying to start a traditional vs modern flame war here, just provoking thought on the subject.
Do any of you switch to one hand opening clipped knives when you're doing real work?
Lenny
 
Lenny said:
But, when I really have work to do, there's nothing like having a one hand opener with clip
within immediate reach.
How great is it to be able to cut something within seconds, while holding the item with your other hand?
By the time it's cut, and the knife is put away, you haven't even gotten the slipjoint out of your pocket.
Click to expand...
I figure you might cumatively save ninety seconds over the course of your lifetime. It's certainly fine to appreciate one-hand openers, but in the grand scheme of things time saved doesn't really add up to become a dealbreaker one way or the other. There are certainly applications where one-handed or fixed blade use is crucial, but I would picture most of these in a danger-type or escape situation.
 
Nauplios said:
I figure you might cumatively save ninety seconds over the course of your lifetime. It's certainly fine to appreciate one-hand openers, but in the grand scheme of things time saved doesn't really add up to become a dealbreaker one way or the other. There are certainly applications where one-handed or fixed blade use is crucial, but I would picture most of these in a danger-type or escape situation.
Click to expand...

and how did you come up with that number?
 
What's the hurry? :D
I'm back with a slippie that rides in the bottom of my pocket. A good 'ole pocket knife.
 
i have many one hand open knives with pocket clips but none of them look as classy as a nice traditional.
if i want a real hard work knife, i grab a fixed blade. thats me being honest.
 
I think the "ninety seconds" figure is being used to illustrate the fact that the time saved is not large, when placed in perspective.

For me, at least, the advantage of "modern" knives, with their pocket clips and thumbstuds, is that each feature serves a practical purpose.

The pocket clip ensures that my knife stays exactly where I put it, no matter what else I'm doing. In contrast to this, a knife without a clip tends to move about in my pocket, usually ending up jammed against my leg in the least comfortable way, when I sit down.

The thumbstud allows me to open my knife easily. I keep my nails very short, and using nail nicks is not my preferred way of deploying my knife.

Another advantage for me is that "modern" knives tend to have thicker blades. I may know the rules about knives, but I still like having some insurance!

In this same way of thinking, modern knives tend to have stronger locks, and more hand-friendly grips.

I have tried to find slipjoints that I like, and some out there are nice, but for me, the advantages of a modern locking folder are just practical.
 
I love slipjoints, especially in the Fall for whatever reason. Carry one in addition to modern folder every day. I use the slipjoint around people I don't know well, that's the beauty of them. They don't raise any eyebrows and can do 99% of what and modern tactical folder can do.
 
Are one handed users convenient? Heck yes

Do I often find my self struggling to use two hands to open a slippy? Not really
 
sogflash said:
and how did you come up with that number?
Click to expand...
If it takes me 5-6 seconds to reach into my pocket and pull out and open a traditional, I would have to run into 15-18 separate situations where shaving off 2-3 seconds was really crucial. In the circles I travel, that is never going to happen. In my opinion, carrying a one-hander because it saves time is justifying a remedy for a problem that isn't really there.
 
Slip Joints rule in the work place: Why? I about gave my boss a heart attack when he heard the Click of my one hander opening. Thinking it was something other than a single handed box opening tool. :D

This was before 9/11 and a lot has changed in the work place since then. Slip Joints are looking better all the time.
 
If I need a knife while doing 'real work' where speed is essential, the only acceptable choice is a fixed blade. I worked as a commercial fisherman for almost ten years. Sometimes lines need to be cut real quick. Didn't see too many folders, one handers or traditionals, out on the deck.
 
yes. Clip holds the folded knife in a particular position, analog to a fixed blade in a sheath. One hand opening mechanisms make transitions from drawing to use close to sheath knife speed. Lock prevents the blade from folding, allowing use of forces that would overcome a backspring.

It's an excellent compromise for blade length options, carry options, legality, speed of draw, ease of opening, and form factor when not in use. Any sort of combinations of carry can be discussd, but unless you get into very specific scenarios, one will not dominate. That runs all ways, one hand locking folders are not superior or inferior, same for slipjoints/friction folders and fixed blades.
 
Nauplios said:
I figure you might cumatively save ninety seconds over the course of your lifetime. It's certainly fine to appreciate one-hand openers, but in the grand scheme of things time saved doesn't really add up to become a dealbreaker one way or the other. There are certainly applications where one-handed or fixed blade use is crucial, but I would picture most of these in a danger-type or escape situation.
Click to expand...

I don;t care about time, but I almost completely eliminated slippies in my ife because of the one hand thing. I often am holding something I can't let go of to get my knife out to cut it. A slippies doesn't work well in that scenario... Thats why the only ones I have are my old SAK (first folder) and my LM Juice.
 
Brand new on here so doubt my opinion counts for much, but having spent years buying one hand opening, locking knives, UK knife laws have forced me in the slipjoint direction and actually I am delighted! I have purchased a few over the past few months including a lovely David Taber 'Zulu Spear' and a Ken Coats Sheepsfoot, together with Case's, GEC, Northfield, Tidioute and a number of SAK's; the memories awakened from owning and using these knives are priceless! I also get real pleasure each time I take one out from my pocket and open/close it. With the one handers it's 'out, cut, unlock, away', all too fast and furious.... life's too short as it is, slow down and enjoy your knife.

As for using them for 'real work', depends what you define 'real work' as? Cutting open boxes, paper, animal feed bags, rope/string or whittling wood etc.etc. I would not hesitate to use a slipjoint. So long as the blade 'lock up' was really strong I also would be happy dressing out deer and small game with a slipjoint, but given the choice I'd feel more comfortable doing the latter with a fixed blade.
 
Last edited:
woody d said:
i have many one hand open knives with pocket clips but none of them look as classy as a nice traditional.
if i want a real hard work knife, i grab a fixed blade. thats me being honest.
Click to expand...

Beautifully put! When I doubt the "lock safety" of a slipjoint....I start thinking fixed blade, too. I can't seem to fit the tacticool one-handed openers in my knife scheme. To each his own.

By the way, Lenny, when you say, "Let's be honest, a slipjoint really doesn't compare to a one handed opener in terms of practicality."...you are kinda starting a traditional vs modern flame war. :)
 
Last edited:
Right now I'm carrying both a Kershaw Skyline and a Boker 494 Barlow. I like both of them, but if someone said I had to give one of them up, I would hand over the Kershaw without a second thought. Part of it is that the Kershaw can be easily replaced, but I don't carry a knife for defense. I do carry a knife to cut things that need to be cut, and for my needs, a slipjoint will do anything that a one-handed opener will do.
 
I think a solid one-hander with pocket clip is better for most people who have to constantly (or quickly) cut things, a fixed blade on the hip in a sheath with strapless retention is even better but might not work for your environment.

I also think the youtube generation less likely to get injured with a locking folder in the yard, woods, even living room.

When my father comes over to the house to help me fix up things or install new goodies, he brings an old slipjoint and does very hard work with it. It fits him well as he doesn't mind the extra second or two to relax, catch a breathe, think about steps to take, etc. He has knife skills and uses a 2.5 inch slippie blade as hard as I use the toughest locking folders. Makes it look easy too. You can't learn that by asking a forum what's the best knife under $100 or watching a video where the knife sits on a table and/or gets used by a no skill having goober pretending to be a guide.

Being in a rush often, I like the bubba proof nature of good locks on folders for myself most of the time. Being a back-up weapon/emergency whatever-it-takes tool also brings preferance for a good lock. For regular knife work, I enjoy seeing a slippie being used by someone else or occasionally using one my self.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top