One Handed Locking Traditional?

S

SOUTHERN WOODS

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Nov 17, 2011
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I'm in the market for an easy open (one handed) locking traditional knife. I'd prefer carbon blades and the knife be stout (can take some punishment)

I'm pretty hard on a knife but I expect it to get the job done. I own a Russlock and to be honest it seems flimsy. Don't get me wrong the fit and finish are great and I've never used it other than opening it a time or two. I just don't think it will work for what I need. I'm looking for something I can open in a hurry to cut fishing line, etc with one hand and something that also has enough backbone to breakdown heavy duty cardboard, etc.

Any ideas on what to look at?
 
Nevermind. Missed the locking requirement.
 
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Case trapper lock is the only thing that comes to mind. If one hand and heavy duty is a must I would strongly suggest a Blind Horse Frontier First Patch knife. I really like mine but it is a small fixed blade so it might not be what you are looking for.


Have a great day,
Jeff
 
There aren't a whole lot of one-handed opening TRADITIONAL knives. So the responses from the Traditional Forum are going to be somewhat limited.

Drop Peregrin or me a PM when you want this moved to the General Forum. Lots of one-handers in that forum.



The only one handed opening Traditional knife I can think of is the one handed Barlow style. But it doesn't lock, so that wouldn't work for you.

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A.G. Russell has at least a couple one-hand-capable knives that come as close to 'traditional' as I can think of, in both 'medium' and small sizes of the 'Gunstock Lockback'. The medium is shown below in A.G. Russell's catalog pic, at 4-1/4" closed:

I have three of the 'medium' version (a pic of my trio, below). Blade is very stout, almost 3/16" thick at the spine, with deep nail nicks on both sides of the blade, giving enough purchase to be thumbed/flicked open one-handed. The 'small' version is 3-5/8" closed, with a 1/8" thick blade. Blade steel is stainless 8Cr13MoV; similar makeup to AUS-8. Takes a very good edge, and thinning/convexing the edge will make it a cardboard-eating beast. Same edge treatment works wonders for smaller & thinner blades as well. :)


David
 
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Both Moki and GEC lockbacks (#72) can be opened one handed as the back springs are weaker than a slipjoint. I'm betting something a bit more rough and ready like a Case or Moormaker locking Soddie will be too.
 
If you're willing to relax the locking requirement (without sacrificing safety!) the Svord Peasant or Peasant Mini could fit the bill. Definitely sturdy, and I have no problem opening one-handed, though I usually use my leg for leverage. Because of the way the tang lays in the palm of your hand, together with a tight friction-fit, I've never felt safer with a knife in my hand.

knarfeng said:
The only one handed opening Traditional knife I can think of is the one handed Barlow style.
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That's an interesting knife. How does it work? Other than the blade tip, I can't see how it is different from a regular barlow.
 
bvik said:
That's an interesting knife. How does it work? Other than the blade tip, I can't see how it is different from a regular barlow.
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The idea is, you hook the blade tip into a belt loop, waistband, shoe, other surface, etc. and leverage the knife open that way. The prevalence of this design-as-intentional is often attributed to the time immediately following the Civil War, a way for one-armed veterans to open their pocket knives. I've also seen it credited to cowboys and the like, who needed to be able to open their knives quickly and one-handed while holding onto a calf, cow, or varmint-- that so many broke the tips off their blades to make this easier, the design followed.

~ P.
 
Boker makes the trapper liner in soligen stainless. I have a smooth red bone version that is very nice. The blade is on the thinner side making it a good slicer. Despite that the lockup is good and overall it's a solid knife.
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There are a number, such as the one's listed here. Also the Mooremaker Roper. Comes in various sizes, locks up, has a carbon steel blade.

My worry is about the heavy use. For extended cutting of heavy cardboard I'm not comfortable with these knives. Some have thin blades, or thin handles, e.g.

You might want to sonsider carrying two knives. One of the one's here for edc, but also a small fixed blade for heavier jobs. I have a small folder for most jobs, but occasionally carry a Blind Horse Knives Brumby Lite as well. If you don't want to wear it on your belt, it fits fine in a pocket.
 
You should look at Moore Maker knives. They don't make them but they offer some good stuff that might fit your requirements.
 
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