One-handed opening: does it matter?

22-rimfire said:
Fixed blade is the original one hand opening knife.

I have an ZT 0770 too and it's a very good knife. It was actually my first ZT.
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A fixed blade is excellent in many situations, but I don't carry a fixed blade at all times. I usually have a folder of some kind with me, and thus it must fill my needs even if a fixed blade would work better.
 
I do have a few SAKs that I try to use but a modern OHO folder is the way to go. For me, at least.

My fingernails just don’t hold up to nail nicks for everyday use.
 
SAK is my primary carry, so in that sense it is not critical.

But if I were carrying a folding knife separately, I would prefer it to be OHO just for convenience sake.
 
On the job, for me, the benefits of one handed opening and closing are many. One hand opening and the pocket clip was revolutionary in that respect.
Off the job, not so necessary, but I still prefer it.
 
DangerZone98 said:
How important is one-handed opening to you? The folding knife market has numerous options for whipping out your bad boy with just one hand: thumbhole, thumbstud, flipper, thumbdisk, thumbplate, your dog’s eyelid, etc. Does it really matter? I love one-handed deployment, but I can’t think of any practical situation where one-handed offers an advantage over the good ole nail nick.

As for me, I’m usually a one-handed opening, two-handed closing kind of guy. No particular reason other than it feels cool to slam that Tri-Ad lock home singlehandedly.
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Automatics and fixed blades all the way! In a few weeks there will be another thread just like this one and I'll say the same thing; and the next time, and the next time, and the next time, etc...
 
glockfire said:
If I am pulling out a SAK or traditional, it's because I want to open a blade two handed and do some sort of menial task. If I pull out a folder, it's likely that my other hand is full. 9/10 times, while I carry a SAK and folder, I reach for the folder.
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This pretty much says how I feel. I usually use a traditional slipjoint, but there are times when my other hand is holding what needs to be cut and a one hand opener is pretty handy.
 
I carry both types simultaneously everyday. One hand openers are very important. Personally I feel anymore, two hand knives are a convenience, not the other way around.
 
For the most part I do not even think about it. Folder goes in my pocket when I get dressed. Modern with a pocket clip. Used for opening bags etc. One handed is way to go. Going to work fixed concealed. Woods fixed exposed. Going to the store just my SAK on a key chain. I live in the Philly Metro area. Legal is always an issue. And I always close a folder with 2 hands.

Rich K.
 
sabre cat said:
I do have a few SAKs that I try to use but a modern OHO folder is the way to go. For me, at least.

My fingernails just don’t hold up to nail nicks for everyday use.
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That’s a good point. Sometimes it can be tricky to use the nail nick on some multitool knives. I’ve learned quite a bit from this thread so far. The world has one-handed openers and some knife nuts, I included, are happier because of them.
 
DangerZone98 said:
A boat? How do you mean?
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Zulus said:
Yes, on a boat too.
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johnnywizzo said:
If you have ever spent time on the salt water or on a large lake or fast water, you appreciate having a knife that opens with one hand, leaving your other hand to hang on with. When you need to cut a line it is often an emergency. And a lanyard loop is nice so you don't lose your knife overboard.
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The usual rule is "one hand for you, one hand for the boat."
 
I use my carry knife every single day at work. I find one handed folders or OTF autos the fastest and most efficient tool for the job. Hold the object to be cut in the left, draw and open the blade with the right, thumb blade closed, drop back into pocket. Very convenient.

I actually find it more convenient than a fixed blade. I usually keep my fixed blade at about 4 o'clock on my hip so that it doesn't interfere with getting in and out of my work truck. Due to this, I find myself having to look back over my shoulder to make sure the blade is hitting the mouth of the sheath when I put it back. It's more dangerous if I miss and my front right pocket is a way bigger target for my folder.

I really enjoy traditional knives. I have tons of them. My favorite weekend bumming around the house knife is my Beer Scout. Just a perfect little tool that has enough blade with a useful sheepfoot shape and a cap lifter for a beer or 6. However, when I'm at work a one hand opening feature is a must for me.
 
johnnywizzo said:
If you have ever spent time on the salt water or on a large lake or fast water, you appreciate having a knife that opens with one hand, leaving your other hand to hang on with. When you need to cut a line it is often an emergency. And a lanyard loop is nice so you don't lose your knife overboard.
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No, not really.

The whole paternal half of my family roots are working watermen on the Chesapeake Bay, on the Eastern shore of Maryland. My grandfather, Uncle, and cousin all owned their own boats for crabbing in summer and oystering in winter. I spent a lot of time growing up down there working on the boats in summer and Christmas holidays and Easter breaks from school. My cousin Barry still operates two of his family boats. I never recall seeing any of them with a one hand opening knife in my life. Almost all their pocket knives were of the modest slip joint size two blade jacks, and some other patterns like Camillus TL-29's and after the 1980's some SAK's.

But, I do recall seeing a lot of 'one hand knives' in the form of various sheath knives worn on the hip. Some of the 10 dollar Rapala fillet knives you see in big box sports stores, some puuko types, and some Swedish Mora's with plastic sheaths that were sold in the chandler shops by the harbors. After the late 1960's to early 70's, the plastic sheath mora's were and still are a very popular knife in the waterman trades. They have the advantage of even with the rubber work gloves on, you can grab the handle and pull out of sheath, cut, and put back in sheath. You can't use any one hand knife with thumb hole/thumb studs with rubber work gloves on.
 
DangerZone98 said:
I think OTFs are cool too, but I don’t think they’re for me. I’m more of a manual knife guy. All the same, I like seeing pics of OTFs here when members post them! :D
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Here's the obligatory OTF pic.

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As far as one hand opening goes, very important to me. Why? Try living one handed. I did it twice in the space of 4 months. I'm ambilefterous thankfully.

November and December 2018 I had 2 strokes, could barely use my right arm. Having to do everything with one hand for three months was rough, even in the hospital and then rehab center. I had finally been home from the hospital and rehab for about a month when I fell and broke my left arm just below the shoulder. Took two months to heal (thankfully I heal crazy fast).

The is why I started buying OTF's. Easy to use with either hand, and my Hogue Exploit is tapped for left hand carry should I need it.

So for me, one hand open is a necessity.

Don't get me wrong, I like traditional and manual too. Carry an sak in my med bag.
 
I carried two-hand opening/closing knives for most of my years but I have come to appreciate Benchmade knives with ambi thumb studs. Spydercos do nothing for me (love their sharpening products though!). So I guess it's been ten years now since I've carried a one-hand knife (usually close them with two hands as I don't frequent malls...). But save for one OHT SAK, all of mine are traditional knives.
 
One issue that hasn't been raised before now: there is a segment of the membership that is disabled. For them, there my be little choice, and one-handed is a necessity.

In my case, my left side became paralyzed twelve years ago. I have more mobility in the hand on that side than the foot, as the result of exercise, but it is still limited. If I'm casually relaxing at a desk, I enjoy a slipjoint folder (albeit one with reduced spring tension), but any other situation requires use of a one-handed knife.
 
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