lock back one handed closing?

[Walking Man]

Darn, mine doesn't do that.

It would if you loosened the pivot. (I'm not sure if it's possible on that model)

 

[stevekt]

I fail to see what difference it makes, but if you do that's fine with me.

I meant in terms of describing a knife itself, not so much describing the action of opening and closing a knife. A liner lock with a thumbstub I consider a true one handed knife because it can be opened and closed safely and easily with only one hand with little or no practice. A knife such as a Buck 110 can be opened and closed with one hand with some effort and practice but I wouldn't call it a one handed knife.

 

[Gryffin]

I meant in terms of describing a knife itself, not so much describing the action of opening and closing a knife. A liner lock with a thumbstub I consider a true one handed knife because it can be opened and closed safely and easily with only one hand with little or no practice. A knife such as a Buck 110 can be opened and closed with one hand with some effort and practice but I wouldn't call it a one handed knife.

OK, fine, you can define it as you wish, for your own use. It's a free country.

But think for second about why you want a one-hand closing knife? Odds are, it's so you can close it when your other hand is unavailable. In that case, a leg, other body part, etc. seems quite appropriate.

I grew up with slipjoints, and I still close them against my leg when my other hand is busy. I then graduated to a lockback (Schrade LB7), and learned to do the same thing. It just works.

 

[Walking Man]

Odds are, it's so you can close it when your other hand is unavailable. In that case, a leg, other body part, etc. seems quite appropriate.

I grew up with slipjoints, and I still close them against my leg when my other hand is busy.

Consider this scenario. You are working in a warehouse and you've just picked up a decently sized box. You now need to use your knife for something else, perhaps cutting shrinkwrap. You get your knife out. Okay, now what. If you have a liner lock you can easily close it and put it back into your pocket. If you have a lock back, and you can't see your leg, or other body part, I'd be a little concerned about how I was going to close it. Same issue if you're working in enclosed spaces. Same issue if your sitting or standing at a bench or work area and you have another tool in your other hand. You can always say this or that, but the fact is for many people a TRUE one handed opener and closer is the most useful.

 

[Gryffin]

Consider this scenario. You are working in a warehouse and you've just picked up a decently sized box. You now need to use your knife for something else, perhaps cutting shrinkwrap. You get your knife out. Okay, now what. If you have a liner lock you can easily close it and put it back into your pocket. If you have a lock back, and you can't see your leg, or other body part, I'd be a little concerned about how I was going to close it.

I'd probably close it on the edge of the box, if I had to.

Same issue if you're working in enclosed spaces.

Well, in an enclosed space, by definition there are plenty things to use for that little bit of leverage to close a knife! Hell, if nothing else is available, just grab the front bolster between thumb and middle finger, and push the blade closed with your forefinger. This ain't rocket science, really!

You can always say this or that, but the fact is for many people a TRUE one handed opener and closer is the most useful.

Listen, I'm not trying to say there's no value to a true one-hand closer, just that I think it's not as important as some folks seem to think.

No matter where you are or what you're doing, there's gonna be some way to close yer damn knife. In the last thirty-some years of using slipjoints, I can't recall a single time when I found myself unable to close it.

Sure, a liner-lock or frame-lock or Axis lock could be more convenient. Keep in mind, though, the next time you find yourself in one of those awkward situations you list, that closing a liner-lock or frame-lock one-handed involves putting a thumb or fingers in the path of the closing blade! Is that really an improvement in safety?

 

[Walking Man]

Sure, a liner-lock or frame-lock or Axis lock could be more convenient. Keep in mind, though, the next time you find yourself in one of those awkward situations you list, that closing a liner-lock or frame-lock one-handed involves putting a thumb or fingers in the path of the closing blade! Is that really an improvement in safety?

As far as safety goes, yes I think it is. IF you hold the knife correctly there is no need for your fingers to be in the way of the closing blade. Even if the the pivot is extremly loose there are two ways you can hold the knife that will let gravity prevent the blade from closing on your fingers.
BTW.....Gryffin. I'm not saying that your argument has not merit, I'm just putting in my .02. I respect your opinion!

 

[stevekt]

What if you just cut something and your blade has chocolate, fruit juice, grease, oil, or blood on it. Would you still close it on your pant leg? What if you had really nice pants on at the time?

 

[Mahoney]

I hate folding a knife closed when the blade's dirty, so if nothing else was handy, I'd probably wipe it on my pant leg. And there's a reason I rarely wear nice pants.

Back on topic though, it's not that hard to learn how to "one hand" close a lockback, but now that I've tried the axis lock and the ball bearing lock, I prefer them.

 

[Gryffin]

As far as safety goes, yes I think it is. IF you hold the knife correctly there is no need for your fingers to be in the way of the closing blade. Even if the the pivot is extremly loose there are two ways you can hold the knife that will let gravity prevent the blade from closing on your fingers.

True, but my point is, in an awkward situation, you might not close it just right. Not that it's more dangerous, but IMHO there's a roughly equal danger, and hence an equal need to pay attention to what you're doing.

I'm not saying that your argument has not merit, I'm just putting in my .02. I respect your opinion!

Ditto!

 

[Gryffin]

What if you just cut something and your blade has chocolate, fruit juice, grease, oil, or blood on it. Would you still close it on your pant leg? What if you had really nice pants on at the time?

Good point!

I hate folding a knife closed when the blade's dirty, so if nothing else was handy, I'd probably wipe it on my pant leg. And there's a reason I rarely wear nice pants.

Sounds like me. I much prefer to wear jeans, and I'm not too concerned about keeping 'em spotless, either!

Seriously, though... I wipe the spine of the blade against the side of my leg to close, not the edge; I'd hafta get the blade pretty dang gunky for the spine to get gunked up! But I too don't like to fold a knife when it's that filthy; I'll wipe the blade on something else first, if possible.

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

Thought I would finally bow to peer pressure and get a Spyderco knife - decided on a delica 4 with a serrated edge (now in the post). The one thing that has put me off this before is thinking I couldn't close a lock back one handed - but is this so - I hear you can do it but how?

OMG it's never been an issue!

A two-step procedure that is simple and safe to accomplish:

(For right-hander) I choke back on the grip, engage the lock with my thumb while extending the last digit of my index finger up just below the tang. I press the lock and press the spine of the blade against my leg until the blade is about 90 degrees (perpendicular to the handle), using my index finger as a stop for the tang. Then I switch to pinching the handle as though I have a mitten on (thumb on left side, fingers on right) and press the spine against my leg again, bringing the blade to fully closed.

-Jeffrey

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

many thanks guys, I was used to older lock backs with two handed opening only and look forward to trying out your tips when my delica arrives

Enjoy your knife!


First Spyderco, everyone! Somebody has to pie this guy!


-Jeffrey

 

[Vivi]

You guys are really over complicating this simple procedure. Yes, liner locks and Axis lock are easier to close one handed, but most anyone that isn't physically disabled should be able to close slipjoints and lockbacks one handed. If you don't want to use your pants leg, then try the method I use with all my Spyderco lockbacks:

http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=1zn8j21

There you go, video demonstration. I hope this shows that it really isn't rocket science to all you nay-sayers.