One Armed Openers

draggat

draggat

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I just got the GEC #15 one arm opener. I chose the single blade version, primarily because I figured that if a one armed person really were to own this knife, why would they want a secondary pen blade with a nail nick that they probably couldn't open anyway? Anyone have any history on original one arm openers? Did they really come with a secondary blade that had a nail nick or is this just a nod to the past with a presumption that folks who choose the 2 blade version aren't one armed?

This knife has a few firsts for me... It's the first one arm blade I've come across in new production; I usually hate jigged bone, but I like it on this one and third, the handle is borderline too short, but somehow seems bigger than it is. Overall a winner.

Anybody know of other one armed openers that are currently available?





 
Charlie did a big write up on them - and with massive interest he included the story of his Late Father -in-Law/ friend Stew, who had courageously fought in the war, lost an arm - so Charlie has had a TC " Stews Blade" made in honour and to do what he has done with the other older Traditional knives-has re-awakened the pattern again to be appreciated once more.
 
I will seek out that write up. Unfortunately, even though I was keeping an eye on the TC Barlows, they disappeared pretty much instantaneously. I'm still wondering why GEC hasn't just done a standard run of them. They seem to be much more popular than the standard 15. I would've picked a TC up instead if one were available. Oh well, I am happy with the one I got.
 
I recently obtained a #15 with the one armed razor myself. I did a little research on similar blades that have been made recently and this is what I found:
Queen makes a #19 Easy Open Trapper. It's a two blade knife, with a california clip as the other blade. They also made a #25 barlow with a one arm razor as recently as the 90s. Case has made them off and on since at least the 60s. The most recent ones I've seen were made in 2008, but you might be able to find some on the secondary market. Boker made a One Armed Jack as recently as 2006, again secondary market would be the place to find these. Rough Rider makes a one armed lockback.

That's all of them that I can recall finding. I'm sure there's others out there. It's an interesting blade, and the 15 is a great frame. However, I ended up trading mine away due to the fact that I didn't like carrying it in pocket. It was a bit too pointy when closed for my liking.
 
This one is a Case Bros. I bought it last year at a local Case dealer, made in 2007 but still in stock. The main blade on the Case version isn't quite as pointy as the GEC. OH

Case_62005_RAZ_SS_-_2007.jpg
 
draggat said:
I will seek out that write up.
Click to expand...

Draggat,

Charlie's homage to his father-in-law, in word [and resulting in the Stew's Blade knife] begins here.

Another thread that may be of interest, (including a picture of my own Silly faux Russell!) displaying razor-esque blades that are not true one-handed openers (style over substance):

One Armed Patterns with the Cut-out at the Tip of The Blade-- Useful or Silly?

One point being, there's no way Charlie (and thus GEC, with the Boy's Knife running alongside) would have produced a knife that was not fully functional as a one-handed opener, various production models from other companies through the years "in the style of" notwithstanding.

Esav Benyamin said:
Great picnic knife, slice off a piece and use the tip as a fork. :)
Click to expand...

Absolutely!

Here's mine with 100% gen-yu-wine GEC Picnic Patina® that I used exactly in that manner the day I bought it in Titusville:

IMG_4804.jpg~original


:D

~ P.
 
Here's the 85 frame with the first run of the Stews blade, a grail Charlie knife IMO.

Best regards

Robin

 
Cory Hess said:
I recently obtained a #15 with the one armed razor myself. I did a little research on similar blades that have been made recently and this is what I found:
Queen makes a #19 Easy Open Trapper. It's a two blade knife, with a california clip as the other blade. They also made a #25 barlow with a one arm razor as recently as the 90s. Case has made them off and on since at least the 60s. The most recent ones I've seen were made in 2008, but you might be able to find some on the secondary market. Boker made a One Armed Jack as recently as 2006, again secondary market would be the place to find these. Rough Rider makes a one armed lockback.

That's all of them that I can recall finding. I'm sure there's others out there. It's an interesting blade, and the 15 is a great frame. However, I ended up trading mine away due to the fact that I didn't like carrying it in pocket. It was a bit too pointy when closed for my liking.
Click to expand...


I had one of those Queen one armed barlows. Nice knife, but it was (or at least it felt) huge compared to other barlows. Very thick.
 
Here's mine with 100% gen-yu-wine GEC Picnic Patina® that I used exactly in that manner the day I bought it in Titusville:

IMG_4804.jpg~original


:D

~ P.[/QUOTE]

Nice Knife! ;)
 
Do the GEC one handers have half stops? It looks like they do. Do you think if there were no half stops it would make the one handed opening action easier? Or the half stops don't make a big difference ?
 
I thought that it opened pretty easy with the half stop. In fact, I thought that it was easier to control when it wanted to snap to the half stop than blades with nail nicks are. The tips on both sides of the cut out are pretty sharp, so as the blade starts opening the tip on the edge side of the blade will dig into the surface you're using for leverage and stop the knife from snapping on you. That was my experience anyways.
 
I was lucky enough to trade Cory out of his one hand opening 15 and it is a real joy to carry and use. When I first traded for it I just wanted to add a #15 frame to the collection and I thought the blade was interesting and I had never had one. That it had my favorite handle material, ebony, was just a bonus.
I didn't figure it would be a serious edc knife, just a interesting one to have around. As usual I don't know what's best for me. Heck I have carried it everyday since I got it. I love the #15 frame and tho I usually just open it with two hands it opens easily one handed when I need or want it to. Great knife, I am very impressed with mine.

Jim
 
Awesome to hear that you're enjoying it, Jim. It really is a great knife, just not the one for me. I did have fun opening it on my pants, shoe, fence posts, the table, etc., etc. while I had it. ;)
 
Thanks for all the info everyone. I decided I like this pattern so much I bought a second one in ebony
 
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