OHO! One hand openers, indeed!

RaptureRaptor

RaptureRaptor

Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
306
Howdy, my fellow traditional knife enthusisasts, I hope when you read this you are of good health and cheer.

Fate, unfortunately has played a horrible trick on me and taken the use of my right arm for a while. A mixture of a fractured wrist and a dislocated shoulder, it never rains it pours!

Anywho, I've been having to carry a cheap and nasty "tacticool" black thing with a liner lock in order to have a blade I can use, but even then it's right-hand open so it's a pain. Not only that but the laws of my country frown on a locking knife.

My questions are these, of those of you who own "razor blade" one armed man traditionals, do you find them easy to open, and secondly which company and model would you reccomend? I'm not permanently crippled (thank heavens) but it would be nice to have a traditional friend to carry with me, and it'll add to my burgeoning collection!

All responses are appreciated, cheers.
Sam
 
I LOVE how Charlies Razor barlows open and close. I can handle bear trap springs without breaking a nail, and generally prefer a stout spring, so I may be a bit biased. there are regular single blade Razor jacks for sale for about $65- $70.

Another option is to use an Opinel without a lock ring. I have found that my #7, (on the very bottom, underneath a stock #7) with it's heavy patina, helps with pinching it open, and then almost using the blade stamps for grip, with opening it with one hand.



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I love mine, it opens easily with either hand. Charlies "Stews Blade" has a nice "horn" so it works well.

Get better soon RR.

Best regards

Robin
 
I agree with the above. Give a 15 razor a try, you won't be disappointed!
 
Would the svord peasant work in this application? Seems to me it's like the Russlock without the lock. (or the spring)
Sorry about the arm.
 
Been there and done that!:D

In 2001 when I had surgery on my right rotator cuff and my right arm was out of action for a while, I just went back to the original one handed knife; the sheath knife. I just put a sheathed knife on the left hip and went on down the road. Some years latter when I had some surgery on my left thub joint for trigger finger, I tried different knife styles, but then just went back to hanging a sheathed knife on my right hip. No fuss, no muss.

A compact fixed blade like a small puuko or old timey looking knife should raise no questions. Or like scrteened porch says, a peasant knife would work well.
 
jackknife said:
Been there and done that!:D

In 2001 when I had surgery on my right rotator cuff and my right arm was out of action for a while, I just went back to the original one handed knife; the sheath knife. I just put a sheathed knife on the left hip and went on down the road. Some years latter when I had some surgery on my left thub joint for trigger finger, I tried different knife styles, but then just went back to hanging a sheathed knife on my right hip. No fuss, no muss.

A compact fixed blade like a small puuko or old timey looking knife should raise no questions. Or like scrteened porch says, a peasant knife would work well.
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Thanks Carl, I could get away with it around the house but knife laws here in Aus are pretty strict.

The peasant's quite large IIRC, I love the look of that EO #15, and I have seen a couple of "stew's blade" barlows that started the ol' saliva running, now to just find one for sale.
 
RaptureRaptor said:
Thanks Carl, I could get away with it around the house but knife laws here in Aus are pretty strict.

The peasant's quite large IIRC, I love the look of that EO #15, and I have seen a couple of "stew's blade" barlows that started the ol' saliva running, now to just find one for sale.
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I didn't think of that!

But that kind of leans over toward the smaller peasant knife thought doesn't it. I mean, it's already made "down there" on that underside of the world, so it won't had to be shipped too far.:D

Is the smaller one available with wood scales?

On the other hand, it really is a good excuse to the better half why you're buying the new 15!:thumbup:
 
jackknife said:
I didn't think of that!

But that kind of leans over toward the smaller peasant knife thought doesn't it. I mean, it's already made "down there" on that underside of the world, so it won't had to be shipped too far.:D

Is the smaller one available with wood scales?

On the other hand, it really is a good excuse to the better half why you're buying the new 15!:thumbup:
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Haha my thoughts exactly!

I'll definitely look at the peasant, gotta find where I can order one from, might just use this as an excuse to get my first GEC blade anyway :)

Thanks for all the comments guys.
 
I have a Rough Rider one....good fit and finish for the price, but nowhere near as nice as the examples above. The "horn" needs to be improved / deepened to ease opening but for $12 U.S. and a chance to play with my Dremel tool, it's OK! :D
 
Grown up with friction folders. The right movement will make them very easy to open with one hand.
So Opinels or any other European friction folder will work for you.
Or any pocket fixed blade of course :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
As someone with extremely limited use on my left side, as the result of a rare spinal cord disease, I have been working on this for several years.

Take a look at the razor pattern--many makers have their own version. This was originally designed after the Civil War because of all the vets who had limbs amputated. Pipeman has an example above. You can hook this into a belt or pocket to open it.
 
Another for the Opinels. All of mine are modified to make pinching the blade and being safe about opening more safer. I just got the #8 Garden knife and it needs no modification to get a good hold on the blade. This one is being refinished to be gifted to my buddy back home. In the next month or two I'm going to have to get one for myself. It came a little tight out of the box but baby oil and breaking in helped a lot! This #8GK is also the first one I've seen with a good factory edge!
 
RaptureRaptor said:
Thanks Carl, I could get away with it around the house but knife laws here in Aus are pretty strict.
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Just how restrictive are the knife laws down there?

I guess I'm disenchanted by hearing that there's no more Mick Dundee types walking around. I know I used to see Steve Irwin wearing a large bowie style sheath knife on occasion in his show. Maybe still permitted out in the boonies? In town can you have a decent sized folder?
 
Out of curiosity as a newer user of traditional knives, how does one use some of these blades as one handed openers? Does the Stew's Blade need to be hooked on a pocket or what? And how would somebody one hand open an Opinel?
 
The Higonokami is another interesting option, I think. I have one and love it. That blue steel gets insanely sharp.
 
restrictive knife and gun laws in the land down under
what will the people do when the inevitable kangaroo uprisings occurs. And if they ally with the salt water crocs ya'll gonna be in trouble :D :)
 
jackknife said:
Just how restrictive are the knife laws down there?

I guess I'm disenchanted by hearing that there's no more Mick Dundee types walking around. I know I used to see Steve Irwin wearing a large bowie style sheath knife on occasion in his show. Maybe still permitted out in the boonies? In town can you have a decent sized folder?
Click to expand...
The laws here are very vague, the only thing we are allowed to carry 100% is a multi tool or SAK. The wording of the law lets us get away with anything as long as we have a reasonable reason (which is decided by the officer accosting you). Unfortunately nowadays it's basically a rule that if you carry anything looking remotely dangerous it'll be confiscated and destroyed (as the police are restricted from handing any "weapon" back to the public). I get away with carrying somewhat larger traditionals as I normally have a rehearsed reason for carrying, but even then it's a gamble, though one I'm certainly willing to take.

I too pine for Mick Dundee's days to return, but alas, 'tis not to be.

Rsmith_77 said:
restrictive knife and gun laws in the land down under
what will the people do when the inevitable kangaroo uprisings occurs. And if they ally with the salt water crocs ya'll gonna be in trouble :D :)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the cops would view that as a reasonable cause to carry, but current roo/croc relations are fairly hostile so I don't think we're in any grave danger.
 
You don't even need to remove the locking ring from Opinels to use them one handed.

I open my spear point Charlow one handed.

My sunfish is also a one handed opening knife. Though, the stout spring takes some practice one handed.
 
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