Let's see some penetration

[Shmackey]

I've seen a few posts recently that make me wonder if some folks aren't using the Spydie hole the way most of us do. A couple of people have mentioned that their thumbs "slip off the hole." I guess if you tried to use the top inner ledge of the hole like a thumbstud, this might happen. But the Spydie hole is vastly more secure and reliable than a thumbstud (YMMV, etc.) if you go ahead and stick your thumb in it and rotate the blade out. I don't mean the pad of your thumb--I mean the tip of your thumb, so some of it is sticking out the other side. I can't imagine how there could be any slippage like that (unlike a thumbstud, which I find difficult to "ride.") This kind of gross motor movement is easily replicated no matter if you're sweaty or in a hurry.

I'm sure this is obvious to 95% of you, but I'm thinking that there are a few would-be Spyderfans who just need a little penetration to be converted.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

A couple of people have mentioned that their thumbs "slip off the hole."

Good point. For those who can't follow your instructions, they should get a Spydie with the cobra hood!

 

[Walking Man]

I guess I have to be different. I HATE rubbing my thumbnail up against the metal of the hole, it's like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. That's why I like the Spydercos with the slightly smaller holes. Maybe the other 5% are just like me, I never claimed to be normal.
Also, I just noticed that with many of the smaller holes you are not able to stick your thumb through.
Having said all that, I really like Spydercos and have no problem with hole slippage.

 

[Slvgx]

I guess I have to be different. I HATE rubbing my thumbnail up against the metal of the hole, it's like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. That's why I like the Spydercos with the slightly smaller holes. Maybe the other 5% are just like me, I never claimed to be normal.
Also, I just noticed that with many of the smaller holes you are not able to stick your thumb through.
Having said all that, I really like Spydercos and have no problem with hole slippage.

I feel your pain. I prefer smaller holes as well, they also tend not to have as large of a hump or rough spots to scrape your hands if you have to get into the pocket.

 

[Artfully Martial]

Both thumb studs and spyder holes are best used with your finger nail and flicking. Once you've mastered a variety of techniques, both are completely obsolete. I can open knives with just my wrist even when holding the knife upside down (and opening it blade down), and there are even a variety of methods for that.

I prefer the thumbstud for flicking, but the spyderhole compensate by having a slightly slimmer profile and it doesn't get caught on fabrics.

 

[underaged!]

I've been doing the ziptie/wave thing. It's pretty cool, you can wave it out but you can open it w/the hole and the ziptie can act as a thumb stud. Best of all three (count em 3!) worlds

 

[spydutch]

I feel your pain. I prefer smaller holes as well, they also tend not to have as large of a hump or rough spots to scrape your hands if you have to get into the pocket.

The hump on the blades of most Spyders is one of the main things I like so much(aestically speaking) about the knives.

I have no problems with small holes though. I can open my FRN Calypso just as easily as my Pacific Salt.

 

[Slvgx]

I don't mind how the hump looks, I just don't like it taking up all my pocket space

I tend to stick with 11-12mm holes, 14mm is a bit much for me usually.

 

[Planterz]

I think it's more a matter of the design of the whole knife, rather than simply if it has studs or a hole. I've played with knives with studs that would threaten to slice my thumb away if I didn't open them carefully. But then, there's knives with studs that seem safer than any knife with a hole. Although generally speaking, holes are probably safer, so long as they're not too small. The hole on the Kopa or Calypso Jr is about as small as I can see it safely being. What I don't like about the hole on some of these knives is the brooooaaad opening arc. It's way broader than I would like on my Atlantic or Pacific Salts, which is why I usually flick them open with inertia or drop them open in reverse grip.

 

[kbog]

I used to be an exclusive thumb stud guy, but I do like the 14mm holes on the Manix and Scorpius I own.

Interestingly, I recently checked out the Skirmish and mini Skirmish and found the hole very hard to use. It was machined slightly to soften the edge. I had so much trouble, I ruled the blades out. They were VERY nice blades though.

 

[Shmackey]

I used to be an exclusive thumb stud guy, but I do like the 14mm holes on the Manix and Scorpius I own.

Interestingly, I recently checked out the Skirmish and mini Skirmish and found the hole very hard to use. It was machined slightly to soften the edge. I had so much trouble, I ruled the blades out. They were VERY nice blades though.

I think you really need the hard-right-angle edge on the hole. The thumbstud equivalent to a chamfered hole, like that of the Skirmish, would be a round, polished thumbstud.