Newbie Spyderco Question

P

Pier23

Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
64
Gentlefolk,

As a newbie knife person, I have been pondering the Spyderco hole and been wondering "why"?

I am not trying to start a flame war, but it appears a lot of blade real estate is given over to a rather inefficient way to open a blade. I assume the purpose is to slip part of the thumb through the hole to open the blade.

Is this better than a stud employed by others, or is it more of a brand identifying feature?

Thx!
 
Welcome to Bladeforums.
Why? Trademark first of all. Second, it allows opening with or without gloved hands on most models. Doubles as a thumb ramp for heavier cutting, etc. There are no thumb studs or discs, or anything to snag on material when cutting. I don't like the giant holes on the blade on some models, but there are enough to serve the intended purpose.
 
It really is indeed an efficient opening method. I'm not a fan of the humongous holes/humps either and prefer knives like the Native 5. Still get the hole, but a lot more sleek.

C41G5_L.jpg
 
Allows ambidextrous operation while reducing weight and parts involved. Instead of tacking on a screw and stud, it sheds material. It's also impossible to miss when you're sticking your finger into the blade, as opposed to a thumbstud which can be undersized on certain blades, I'm not talking about flicking either, just regular old swivel openings.
 
I can't beat what has already been said.
Get the hole! That way, you get the quality.
My favorite manufacturer by far...
Nine of every ten knives I've ever owned have been Spyderco.
Great choices; excellent blade-steels, blade-lengths, so many great models...just cannot beat this company.
Don
 
Actually the original opening method came to be known as the Spydie pinch method. The hole was an ingenious approach to one hand opening.
The Clip-it was a tip down carry. You simply pinched the hole with your index finger and thumb. The tension of the Clip-it opened the blade as it was drawn from the pocket.
All these other reasons became evident with time, and are great reasons for the Spydiehole!
 
RevDevil said:
Welcome to Bladeforums.
Why? Trademark first of all. Second, it allows opening with or without gloved hands on most models. Doubles as a thumb ramp for heavier cutting, etc. There are no thumb studs or discs, or anything to snag on material when cutting. I don't like the giant holes on the blade on some models, but there are enough to serve the intended purpose.
Click to expand...
- I agree. My favorite knife is the CQC-10. I'm not a huge fan of thumb discs on Emersons.

CQC10SF.jpg
 
Pier23 said:
Gentlefolk,

I am not trying to start a flame war, but it appears a lot of blade real estate is given over to a rather inefficient way to open a blade. I assume the purpose is to slip part of the thumb through the hole to open the blade.

Is this better than a stud employed by others, or is it more of a brand identifying feature?

Thx!
Click to expand...

Have you used a Spyderco?

While the hole may not be everyone's preference, it is a little naïve to say that it is inefficient. If it was, Spyderco wouldn't be as successful today with nearly every folding model incorporating that design. It is even licensed to others to use.

Like others have said, it is very simple to open with the hole. Thumb studs come in all shapes and sizes. Some work perfect and yet some aren't all that well thought out. The Spydie hole is fairly foolproof.

Yes, it is also a brand identifying feature. They always have a hole, even a small one on their fixed blades.


Bottom line, they may not look all that (eye of the beholder of course) but once you use a Spyderco, you will understand where their mindset was at during design and production.
Spydercos are made to cut and to cut comfortably.
Get one and you'll see why they are popular. Or you wont and that's quite all right as there are many manufactures to choose from.
 
I don't care for the big holes or the big humps made to accomadate the hole on Spydies, but the hole is there if you choose to open the knife one handed. I generally use two hands (pinch method) for the most part. But I can open one handed if I choose to.

It is a trademark thing with Spydercos. Thumb studs catch on things. But it is just another method to allow you to open a knife with one hand.

If you are leaning toward a Spyderco and are uncomfortable with the hump, then I would get some thing like the Sage 2, Native 5, or Manix 2 depending on the size you like. Then you can go from there and make your own mind up about the design.
 
The Spydie hole does offend my eyes, but not my thumbs.

Ugly for sure, but the real beauty is in the use. I only own 5 Spyderco's, with one more on it's way.
 
Now that I have a couple of knives with the spydie hole I actually dislike thumbstuds. They really are the best one hand opening method even if they're aesthetically a bit weird.
 
Haven't seen it mentioned yet that it never gets in the way of sharpening either.

The hole and spyderco designs offended my eyes at first as well. Once you get one there is a short adjustment phase and then you get used to it. You're screwed once you start thinking they look good though, then you're hooked.
82c6c2a3554e732449399e5ecbc3426e.jpg
 
Interesting question. I am an open assist addict, but know a lot of spyderco faithful and am willing to give one a try. What's the worst that could happen? Either way I get a new knife!
 
Historically, I've been a big fan of a thumb stud. I got my first Spyderco because of their popularity here on BF. My first one was a Tenacious- inexpensive and worth the risk in the event that I didn't like it.

Well, I played with it for the better part of the weekend after I received it. Although my thumb was raw from flicking it constantly, the hole grew on me quickly. I now own multiple Spyderco knives, and am really happy with them. Even the "cheap" Tenacious still gets some pocket time, over knives close to ten times the price. If you're not sure whether or not to do it, go for it. If you dont like it, resell it.
 
I'll just chime in with the others here that have noted that the thumb hole is in fact an incredibly efficient way to open the knife. Moreover, it actually provides multiple means of opening the knife for most spydercos:

slowest - pushing open with the thumb
medium - pinching the spyderhole and whipping knife open
fastest - inserting middle finger from backside of blade and flicking open with wrist action

the holes work great with gloved hands, cold frozen hands, slippery sweaty/bloody hands ... if I had to rely on one opening mechanism to save my life, it would be the spyderco hole. plus, once you get used to it, it actually starts to look pretty cool (at least I think so)
 
To paraphrase Sal Glesser, the hole is made for your hand, not your eye.

I prefer it above all other methods to open...
 
I had always owned traditional knives, thumb studs or fingernail slots. When I went looking for a new knife I was looking for another brand. The store didn't have it and who knows why, I asked to see one of the Spyderco knives in the case. It was a Manix 2, and just felt right in my hand. Opening was easier than any folder I'd ever handled. Spyderco is a form over function kind of company mostly. They do make nice looking knives for sure, but once you handle one you'll decide if you like it or not. Most like it. Spyderco wouldn't do the volume of sales they do if the hole didn't work!

I'm a mechanic by trade and the Spyderhole doesn't hook on stuff in tight places or my pocket like thumb-studs can. It's also easier to sharpen without thumb studs in the way. I liked my first (a Delica 4) so much that I bought a Para Military 2, then a Tenacious, and a Manix 2 all in January 2015. I bought 4 in one month, I'd never even touched a Spyderco before January. I'll be buying more this month. Not only do I like the function, but somehow I've come to like the looks too. I've never liked any folder as much as I like my Spydercos!
 
Hole works way better then a stud for me. Found that out in 1989 with the Worker. I was using the Buck 110 with "the stud" added. My thumb slides off a stud or goes over it. With a hole, the thumb catches it all the time.
 
I bought my first spyderco "back in the day". Just like any design feature, it works for you or doesn't.

I've had really poorly designed studs, flipper levers, nail nicks, etc. Any spyderco I've picked up, the hole worked to open the knife in my hand. Period.

I can't say that about any other manufacturer's studs, or levers. All have had models that the studs or levers just didn't work for me.

My knives have all been working knives. Aesthetics take a backseat to how it works.
 
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