nail breakers?

The only nail breaker I had was a Rough Rider small sunfish/elephant toenail. I did not like the way it fit in my hand, so I traded it off for a pre-war(?) jack knife, no name, but "Made in USA" (the pawn shop wanted $10 for the knife) and a small/medium Case belt sheath for a folding knife (they wanted $10 for the sheath). I keep my large Rough Rider sunfish in that sheath. I think I did ok, $20 in merchandise for a knife that cost me $12.
 
I think some people just need to toughen up their nails. :D Nail breakers is a subjective term and I use it too. Hence, the relative opening scale of 1 > 10. But, if I have trouble opening a knife, it will not be carried ever. No time for such nonsense when you need to cut something.
 
I have an old Wards that used to be a bit of one. Some K1 Kerosene took care of it though.
 
22-rimfire said:
I think some people just need to toughen up their nails. :D Nail breakers is a subjective term and I use it too. Hence, the relative opening scale of 1 > 10. But, if I have trouble opening a knife, it will not be carried ever. No time for such nonsense when you need to cut something.
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:thumbup::thumbup:

I once had a scout master who told us that if a knife was a bit hard to open at the store, it was going to be a lot worse with cold or wet hands. Going by that, I always stayed away from knives with a heavy pull.
 
Zemapeli said:
I have an old Wards that used to be a bit of one. Some K1 Kerosene took care of it though.
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Please tell me that you used the kerosene to lube your knife, not torch it! (Just kidding.) :)

Seriously, though - I have a couple nail-breakers too. When carrying them I don't mind keeping a penny in my pocket to open them with.
 
I love a strong pull, including those that most consider nail breakers (or un-openable).

I have a few that literally tore the nails off of my friend. He is a bit tall Sheriff (former swat). He handed them back and said they were impossible to open. I can open them with a pinky nail if I am careful.

I had one that was "unopenable" because it had rusted mostly shut. A little cleaning and oiling and it is ok now.
 
Kerosene works if a knife is rusted pretty badly. It is a petroleum product that many don't have at home much anymore. Otherwise, I'd use a thin gun oil personally. I'm a RemOil person. And no, I am not particularly concerned about getting a little oil into my system if I cut an apple or something. There are degrees of everything however, but generally speaking I just wipe the oil off and they're fine as far as I'm concerned.
 
jackknife said:
:thumbup::thumbup:

I once had a scout master who told us that if a knife was a bit hard to open at the store, it was going to be a lot worse with cold or wet hands. Going by that, I always stayed away from knives with a heavy pull.
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I usually haven't minded hard pulls on folders, as my nails have luckily been pretty strong. BUT, trying to open a stiff-springed blade with water-softened nails is a painful experience. I've noticed this occasionally when washing a knife in warm, soapy water and exercising the pivot to flush out dirt & such. My thumbnail gets softened up in the warm water, and has then tried to fold backwards on me when attempting to open the blades. That hurts just a little bit. :eek:


David
 
22-rimfire said:
Kerosene works if a knife is rusted pretty badly. It is a petroleum product that many don't have at home much anymore. Otherwise, I'd use a thin gun oil personally. I'm a RemOil person. And no, I am not particularly concerned about getting a little oil into my system if I cut an apple or something. There are degrees of everything however, but generally speaking I just wipe the oil off and they're fine as far as I'm concerned.
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gun oil, kerosene, etc. just adds a little flavor ...
 
afishhunter said:
gun oil, kerosene, etc. just adds a little flavor ...
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Reminds me of the old Andy Griffin movie "Onion Head" with the lighter fluid being added to their drinks to "add a little flavor". There were two AG movies done around that time with him playing a dope recruit into the "Air Force". Could be the other one. :D
 
22-rimfire said:
Reminds me of the old Andy Griffin movie "Onion Head" with the lighter fluid being added to their drinks to "add a little flavor". There were two AG movies done around that time with him playing a dope recruit into the "Air Force". Could be the other one. :D
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Maybe "No Time for Sergeants?" To keep with a knife theme, I imagine that Andy Griffith used an Army-issue Ka-Bar at some point in the movie.. :rolleyes:
 
I recently got in the Copper Dog's Head Barlow and it was pretty perfect in fit, finish, and pull strength. As said above, I think it came out of CSC.

Not long ago I picked up a GEC Northfield American Jack (#78) in Stag, and it literally took pliers to open. I tried leaving it partially open for weeks on end, and it made a very tiny difference. Finally I just wrapped the blade in leather, and locked on vise grip pliers, and went to work. It's taken many evenings working that baby back and forth, and now can finally open it without breaking nails. But I do still dent my thumbnail if not very particular how I position and open. I should have just sent it back for a little tweak, but I kind of enjoy the personal time with blades that I really like. Someday it will be just right and I'll want to carry the heck out of it. But for now, I stick with easy openers.

In the bargain lines, most of my Rough Riders and Colt's have pretty medium pulls that break in nice and quick. But while I like them and have a bunch, I prefer to carry a little nicer. Although one of my favorites to carry (still on the cheaper side of price) is one of my German Bull Barlow's. They have thinner blades than most, and on the lighter side for pull. But for lighter duty cutting, they are pretty great blades.
 
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