New with a question!

D

DylanC

Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
3
Hey all! New here have been into knives for a while now and look forward to meeting new people that are as crazy about knives as my wife says I am!

quick question

So I have carpal tunnel syndrome and when it is flaring up it can be very difficult and painful for me to open a manual knife one handed. I use a knife constantly for work, is it possible to have a doctor sign off that I need an automatic knife due to the condition? It is much easier and less painful for me to use a simple button press auto vs using a knife with a thumb stud deployment.
 
I don't recall reading any exceptions for special situations regarding knife carry laws.

What one handed knives have tried? Have you tried a 'wave' opener?
 
I agree. I would try a wave opener or an assisted opening knife. These are faster and easier than an auto as there is no safety to disengage prior to opening. Plus, they are legal in most places.
 
DylanC said:
I use a knife constantly for work, is it possible to have a doctor sign off that I need an automatic knife due to the condition?
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It would depend on your state laws, but I've never heard of that. A fixed blade might be a better solution - easier to obtain, less expensive, and more likely to be legal (again depending on where you live).

Welcome to Bladeforums!
 
I've looked into the Emerson wave by kershaw, any one have some experience with it?
 
It's pretty hard for people to say what is or is not legal for you to carry if you don't say what state you are in (presuming you are in the US).

I know that here in California it is legal to carry an auto as long as the blade is under two inches. And while a blade less than two inches doesn't sound like much, I imagine that it's plenty of blade for what many people use a folding knife for.

There is an entire industry of "California legal" autos, so there's a large selection to choose from.
 
I'm in Nevada and come over the hill quite often to CA. Autos were just legalized in NV so I carry a presidio auto right now, but travel out of state often for work so lookin for something I can carry almost anywhere without worry, that has a good deployment method.
 
DylanC said:
I've looked into the Emerson wave by kershaw, any one have some experience with it?
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Check out message # 19 in this thread about lanyards. It's a Charlie Mike video and he covers how a wave knife works. He's our wave go-to guy around here.

Edit: Link removed. CM posted video in this thread.

Mike
 
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Reco an Emerson with the Wave feature, or a Spyderco Endura with the Emerson Wave. You use the lip of your pocket to flip the knife open as you draw it. VERY easy; very quick. Solid opening method.
 
DocT said:
I agree. I would try a wave opener or an assisted opening knife. These are faster and easier than an auto as there is no safety to disengage prior to opening. Plus, they are legal in most places.
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Not all autos have safeties.

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If you really want to give it a try I'd suggest getting your doctor to write up a description of your condition then taking that to the police and asking them if there is a special permit you could get. But before doing that I'd check state laws, as others have said.

Off-topic, but have you tried Handeze gloves? That worked for me. The wrist brace my doctor recommended just made things worse, but those gloves healed my RSI.
 
[video=youtube;9b4vj4r_Qdw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4vj4r_Qdw[/video]
 
How does your carpal tunnel work in closing a knife, automatic or not?

I'm not a doctor; I'm just trying to think this through. The best bet I would think is to use a fixed blade knife.

Second to that would be an assisted opening flipper which would legally not be an automatic. But with this, I still think you have the issue of closing the knife when your carpal tunnel is acting up.
 
Another vote for a fixed blade in this situation.

I've been banging on a Mora Companion this summer. Also have the HD version that I got last year.

I mention this because the sheath is made for the working man. It goes on and comes off a belt easily and allows for easy removal and replacement of the knife.

This would allow you to keep it in you bag/locker/whatever, clip it on for work and the take it off when not working. All this with no need to open or close.
 
Emerson CQC-14 sounds like exactly what you need, the blade size is legal anywhere a knife is and the wave opening means the only time you have to manipulate the knife is to close it.
 
I have hand issues as well... both hands now as I age. Some is arthritis and some is an RSI issue from years of "keyboard captivity". I've gone to a small FB for my go-to user. I still carry a folder for the times I need to use it and appear "housebroken" in public, but the FB is what I prefer to use. The ones I carry are just under 7" OAL and ride horizontally on my belt or in a pocket sheath. They're very easy to pull, use, and re-sheath using gross (rather than fine) motor skills and mostly my shoulder & elbow rather than my wrist or forearm.

Bradford, Bark River, and Dozier make some very nice and functional designs for everyday carry & use. There are also a lot of great makers on BF who can do something tailored for your needs and tastes, and very reasonably priced.
 
I rotate a Bark River knife (modified Imp) as an EDC blade, depending on attire. I utilize it in a pocket carry pretty easily.

I did speak with an in store customer who was partially disabled who said he had an auto knife and some type of paperwork to go with it. I didn't ask him any more about it, but that was the main point he brought up. I would assume it would be like a person with a pacemaker getting an exemption from wearing a seat belt. You'd have to check the state laws you'd be traveling to.
 
Get a small Mora fixed blade. They don't look intimidating at all and you won't have to worry about opening.
 
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