One hand closing

H

Haji

Joined
Feb 10, 1999
Messages
75
I was curious if I'm the only one who closes Spyderco knives in this way: with the knife open and held more or less normally, I put the pad of the tip of my index finger into the hole on the blade. With my thumb I depress the lock. While rolling the knife into an upside down position in my hand, I curl my index finger so as to close the blade, thereby controling it's movement. I developed this technique on my Police model, but I can do it on all the Spydercos-Ladybug included-and most brands with studs on the blades. It works much better on the hole, though. These are the things that knife salesmen come up with when it's slow in the store. I can also open my knife with all the fingers on both hands. But not all at once.
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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
I can open with all fingers too, you don't have to work in a knife store, you just have to be obsseive/compulsive!

I close mine one handed by manipulating the lock and brushing the back of the against my leg as I wipe it forward and into my pocket. Doing it this way allows me to pocket the knife as fast as I can deploy it.
Had a guy see me cut something one time and said, "What was that, where did it come from, and where did it go?" He was whitefaced at the thought of a knife that could be used that fast!
Sheeple,
Can't live with 'em, can't sterilize 'em!
What can ya do?
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I cut it, and I cut it, and it's STILL too short!



[This message has been edited by Ken Cook (edited 12 April 1999).]
 
I usually close my Spydies by putting a finger right underneath the unsharpened part of the blade, then pushing down on the lock. That unlocks the blade, and lets it drop far enough so it won't relock. Then I shift my grip so I'm holding the knife by around the pivot area, and snap it upward, which gets the blade the rest of the way into the handle. Then I put it in my pocket. This only works with the larger bladed knives, e.g., Endura or Police.
 
I'm with Ken on the swipe against the leg procedure. I've used the other two methods mentioned but not as frequently. It depends on if I'm sitting, standing, or what. I also have had people amazed that I had pulled out a knife and used it and pocketed it so quickly. "Is that a switchblade?" Has been asked of me frequently. I'm also amazed at how many people tell me they are illegal just because they are one handed openers! Jeez! You usually can't convince them otherwise and they just shoot you sidelong glances etc. GOOD is what I have to say about that. I don't have too much room in my life for those kinds. I try to educate people about knives but if they can't listen, well....

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Paul
Keep Em Sharp


 
Is this a Zen thing? "The sound of one hand closing....."

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh
 
Haji,

I use your method of closing. I rarely close my knives against my leg anymore. I’m not sure why I ended up adopting this way.

An interesting side note. This same hand position can be used to open your knife without the telltale click. Open the knife most of the way with your thumb, then rotate to the position Haji described, depress the backspring, and finish opening with the forefinger.

 
removed double post

[This message has been edited by Howard Wallace (edited 13 April 1999).]
 
I tend NOT to deploy my knife that quickly in practice, for a few reasons:

1. Like Ken Cook, I carry a Benchmade Amazing Folding Chef Knife*, and it tends to scare the bejesus out of people (large, wickedly pointed, black).

2. I just got the darned thing, so I'm still developing the technique (there is still a decent chance that I'll make myself look like a rube while trying to be slick).

3. I don't see any reason to advertise far and wide that I HAVE that ability. Sure I'll sit around at home and hone the technique to the point that I can whip it out *shnick-SNAP*...but anytime I need it for routine cutting, well...I'll pull it out nice and slow, put my thumb in the hole and manually turn it up to lock. Yawn.

Actually, once I figure out what I want for a utility knife, the AFCK is gonna be 'relegated' to purely defensive status (ie, sharp as hell and ready to use, all the time).

To get back on-task, closing with the AFCK is a real pain, since the linerlock is REALLY recessed (no white knuckle closing here), so one-hand closing has eluded me thus far.

Mike

*Kudos to Tom Marker. Nice name.
 
I rather figured I was somewhat "unique" with my method of closing. I noticed the silent opening aspect, too, but I'm 6'6" tall, so sneaking around is not much of a concern. I've never happened upon a situation where that would be applicable, as I'm a civilian, so that would probably be an issue where, if I were to do that, it would be the commission of a felony for me. After all, I live in the People's Republic of California. I don't like the close-it-on-your-leg trick because I have a neat little smiley-face shaped scar from an Endura. Didn't happen closing the knife, so I 'll save the tale of my idiocy for another time.

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Always have used the "leg swipe" myself. I find it fast, discrete, and safe.

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Live free and buy. It's the American way.
 
Coronach,

I routinely carry an AFCK in the right front pocket (and for Sal and Danelle
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a Rescue in the left) and I find the AFCK feels very natural to close one-handed.

With lockbacks, the "swipe it on your leg" works fairly well. I don't really like this method for the AFCK. Here's what I do instead. Note, I'm a righty using a righthanded AFCK. Follow along with me and let's see if we can't turn you into a folder-flippin' machine. The faster you close it, the quicker you can open it again!
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After I finish cutting lunch the knife is in my right hand in a forward grip: index finger in the groove and thumb on top of the grooved thumb rest.

Rotate the knife clock-wise so that you are now facing the underside of the knife. From this position, pushing the liner to the left will close the knife. Here's how my fingers are oriented on the knife.

Middle finger is resting in the groove at the end of the Benchmade pocket clip. Ring and pinky finger are just below it resting on the side of the G-10 scale. Depending on how big your hands are, you might have to adjust the position of these 3 fingers by sliding them up or down along the clip. Index finger is extended and resting on the blade spine just on top of the blade hole. Thumb is not touching the knife, but is extended instead.

In this position, you should be able to hold the knife without the use of your thumb, and still retain a good grip on the knife. I'm currently waving the knife around the computer monitor without dropping it or fearing for my grip. This is the position I try for, as now I can use my unoccupied right thumb to operate the liner-lock.

From this hand position, slide the top edge of your thumbnail over the right titantium scale so it contacts the SIDE of the left titanium scale's liner-lock. Use the top of your thumbnail to push that liner-lock over to the left.

To close the knife, push on the blade spine with your index finger until the knife closes about 90 degrees, and then use your thumb to finish the closing. Tada! Instantly ready for re-flicking!

The real keys to this are making sure that you can securely hold the knife without using your thumb leaving it free to unlock the knife, and using the top edge of your thumbnail, rather than the pad of your thumb to close the knife.

Let me know if this doesn't work for you.

Ian

[This message has been edited by Protein (edited 15 April 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Protein (edited 15 April 1999).]
 
If that method doesn't work, you're doing something wrong, as linerlocks are cake to open and close one handed. They're also fat, which is why I prefer Spyderco's locking system and my whacky way of closing them. I've seen a number of new Benchmade knives that I like a lot, but the Police Model and the Ladybug on my keychain go everywhere with me.

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Good question,Sal! I'm not sure...if they had put that in "Caddyshack" I would have the answer for you!
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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Hmmmm....thanks protein. I'll have to go over that a few times until I get it right, but it seems to work. I'm sitting at my desk right now and I don't think that my boss wants me flicking around my AFCK, but once I get home I'll work with it.

Mike



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Hey! Uncle Sam!

(_!_) Nyah nyah nyah!

Refund! You lose! :)


 
Swiping on the leg is one of the methods I use.
Howard Wallace: the silent opening method is quite popular as depicted in Paladin Press' "Street Steel" authored by Michael Janich.

L8r,
Nakano

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"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."
 
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