Long pull and a nail nick. Why?

sogflash

sogflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
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Once in a while I see knives with both a long pull and a regular nail nick, and it makes me wonder why. Why not choose one instead of both?

In my eyes they're not aesthetically pleasing, but that's just my opinion.
 
I agree that they are ugly when combined. I have no idea why some knives have both.
 
Double nicks were often used on Toenails and big folding hunters to give leverage. I think of them as an added feature meant to help the function of opening.

Best regards

Robin
 
This old Platts needed two nicks and and easy open cutaway to get it open.:D

Regards

Robin
 
I have a elephant toenail with this feature. The nail nick adds to the ease of opening. Especially with a pinch open. It just plain works. You will typically see it on heavy work knives with a strong pull.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I have a elephant toenail with this feature. The nail nick adds to the ease of opening. Especially with a pinch open. It just plain works. You will typically see it on heavy work knives with a strong pull.
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I understand that, but why both? Can't you just use the nick?
 
sogflash said:
Once in a while I see knives with both a long pull and a regular nail nick, and it makes me wonder why. Why not choose one instead of both?

In my eyes they're not aesthetically pleasing, but that's just my opinion.
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Gotta have some thing to complain about. If one is not complaining they aren't happy. (At least that's how it was in my eight years in the air force.) ;)
 
I like the long pull on sheepsfoot, wharncliffe, and spear blades because it adds to them, particularly when they add the match strike feature for lighting the blue tip matches.
 
On a Platts toenail you can add a thousand bucks to the value of a good clean knife for the second nick and likely another grand for the easy open option. For a toenail collector it's the holy grail. Each to their own.

Regards

Robin
 
STR said:
I like the long pull on sheepsfoot, wharncliffe, and spear blades because it adds to them, particularly when they add the match strike feature for lighting the blue tip matches.
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Definitely a long pull on the spear blade. It just looks so much better along the swedge.
 
I'm with sog and Mark, makes no sense to me to have both. You can't use two at a time, and when would you ever use the one that didn't work as well. Besides, I'm not a fan of a nick inside a swedge, which many double pulls have. To each his own.
 
Pipeman said:
Double nicks were often used on Toenails and big folding hunters to give leverage. I think of them as an added feature meant to help the function of opening.

Best regards

Robin
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:thumbup: This is exactly why...leverage. It is about function not aesthetics when opening a large blade with a 3/16 thick back spring when you have cold or bloody hands while field dressing a deer you just shot.
 
Is anyone in favor of double nicks (or nick and long pull) actually saying you would use both at the same time? I can't see how that would work.

If it's a matter of leverage, then only one of the two nicks would provide the most leverage, so why ever use the other one?
 
From a makers perspective...you go with tradition normally. Not saying you can't do whatever you want but, for example, a coke bottle pattern with clip blade often has both. If you look at some of Tony Bose examples he uses a double nick quite often. My 2 cents. I think they look great on some patterns.

John Lloyd
 
I respect tradition, and value those (knifemakers and collectors) who preserve it.
Yet, today or 100 years ago, I see no point in a double nick (evidently, as Jeff said, one works "better" than the other), and aesthetically I find it quite unpleasant (personal taste of course). :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Yes, the aesthetics certainly weigh against it and it's a vital aspect, ruinous to the knife's appearance in my estimation.

Ever heard of a Modern with Thumbstud and opening hole.....(yes it may exist!):confused::barf::D
 
willgoy said:
Yes, the aesthetics certainly weigh against it and it's a vital aspect, ruinous to the knife's appearance in my estimation.

Ever heard of a Modern with Thumbstud and opening hole.....(yes it may exist!):confused::barf::D
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I would think that if I wanted to add more grip I would put nail nicks on both sides of the blade in the exact same spot.

As far as the modern goes, look up a Spydie Vallotton, willgoy. ;)
 
Aesthetics: I prefer the clean look of a single pull or nick.

Function: The nick closest to the tip should provide the most leverage, or am I missing something? I don't understand those who write that having both give more leverage.
 
Ugly ugly and ugly. That is all I can think when I see them. Like the others have mentioned, one will work better than the other so stick to that one imo
 
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