Opening Spyderhole folders

H

Habbekuk

Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
185
After a little coaching from the nutnfancy videos I can flick open thumbstud folders quickly now. Push upwarth with my thumbnail and it opens so quick that spectators start looking for the switchblade button.
I cannot open spyderhole folders that quickly. Am I doing something wrong or just isn't it possible to open my Tenacious as quick as my Falllkniven P3? If I just lack technique youtube video links explaining the Tao will be highly appreciated. Even without video links I appreciate tips and tricks
 
I can't flick a Spyderco either. But I can still open it in a flash by using the Spydie hole in a non-flicking manner.
 
I only have one knife with an opening hole...can't flick it open with my thumb.

But if you pinch the hole between thumb and forefinger and flick your wrist downwards the handle will drop open. Then you adjust your grip. It's quite fast with a little practice.

[edit]

This video demonstrates it about 40 seconds in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAVvHQIbG-E

Also...this guy can manipulate his Endura almost balisong style...nifty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfnufQBRFDs
 
Put in the tip of your thumb nail in the spyderhole and flick it the usual way...They flick open as fast as thumbstud folders.
 
I often use my middle finger to flick the blade open on spydercos - simply hold the knife as if you were about to flick open a blade with a thumbstud, but place your thumb on the pivot and use your middle finger on the side opposite your thumb to flick the blade open.

Hopefully I didn't do too bad a job of explaining that...
 
i have done the spyder hole a couple different ways. if you perch your thumb on the edge of the hole you can flick it out but it's easier if you just put the tip of your thumb in the hole you can flick it out. The spyderco lockbacks are harder to open consistently this way but my sage, manix and paramilitary 2 open up smooth as butter.
 
Spyderdropping is a great way to start. With practice you can use the inertia generated by your wrist to open the blade--there are actually a lot of different ways to do this. But the easiest way to learn is probably the gravity drop, where you hold the handle, with the blade being able to open down and away from you. Then make a sort of sharp wave motion with your wrist and with practice, the inertia will pull the blade out.

Be VERY careful when learning inertial opening tricks. You've got to put a lot of energy into the knife, and if it slips from your grasp, you're going to basically throw the knife--and on a gravity drop, you're going to throw it at your feet. Also, when you're beginning, practice over a bed or something so if you do drop the knife (and hopefully miss your feet) it will have a soft landing and won't scratch or bend the tip.
 
With some practice you can get a Spyderco to open as fast as a thumbstud-operated folder. But a thumbstud is more intuitive, and IMHO more logical. It lets you exert all force in the direction you want the blade to go, whereas a blade with a hole in it needs to be pressed down (to get traction on the hole) and then out.
But it's a training issue, nothing more.
 
Wow, so many replies in a short period. Thank you very much. I know about the wristflick motions, I hope to do just thumbflicks. I understand I'll have to practice. A special thank you to Dorito Monk .
I'll do my best and I'll keep you informed. Thanks guys.
 
If your Spyderco(s) is/are lockbacks you are at a design disadvantage for flicking because of the spring tension asserted throughout the opening radius although it's doable with the larger blades that can generate some decent kinetic energy. Most Sypdercos with different locks are pretty easy to flick IMHO.
 
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I've found the Spydiedrop works quite well. Also, with the lock backs (native, endura) I also open them quite fast by pressing down on the lock bar and then flicking it open using a wrist snap.
 
Reeek said:
If your Spyderco(s) is/are lockbacks you are at a design disadvantage for flicking because of the spring tension asserted throughout the opening radius although it's doable with the larger blades that can generate some decent kinetic energy. Most Sypdercos with different locks are pretty easy to flick IMHO.
Click to expand...

A trick with lockbacks is to depress the lock when opening and closing. It relieves the tension and lets you open/close like an axis lock. It's pretty challenging to do though, and very easy to cut your finger when flicking closed.
 
i opened the spydies for years by pinching the hole between thumb & forefinger & flipping it down quickly last year i found with a little practice using the thumbnail you could flick it open with nail only. now for a beginner i would suggest a dull knife or a little piece of tape on the edge. once you get the rhythum it's handier & requires less hand movement. i'm 71 & can do this with my bradley, millie endura & stretch.
dennis
 
Regardless of the manufacturer and opening mechanism and/or style, snapping a knife open with your wrist is not good for the knife. If you'd like to know all of the reasons not to do it, stop by here and ask.
 
SPXTrader said:
Regardless of the manufacturer and opening mechanism and/or style, snapping a knife open with your wrist is not good for the knife. If you'd like to know all of the reasons not to do it, stop by here and ask.
Click to expand...

I sincerely don't mean to be disrespectful, but in principle this would mean all assisted openers and automatics are fundamentally flawed.

I've flicked some of my knives both open and closed thousands of times each and they're all as good as new, barring some low end liner lock knives.
 
Artfully Martial said:
A trick with lockbacks is to depress the lock when opening and closing. It relieves the tension and lets you open/close like an axis lock. It's pretty challenging to do though, and very easy to cut your finger when flicking closed.
Click to expand...

This is how I open my Brnchmade Pika II, depress the locking mechanism and flick out with the wrist. Just remember to let go when it opens it it'll close right away. And definitely be especially careful if closing this way.
 
my b.m. 710 was purchased when they 1st came out. the only way i opened it until recently was flicking it with axis depressed. absolutely no play in knife or mechanism.
dennis
 
Artfully Martial said:
I sincerely don't mean to be disrespectful, but in principle this would mean all assisted openers and automatics are fundamentally flawed.

I've flicked some of my knives both open and closed thousands of times each and they're all as good as new, barring some low end liner lock knives.
Click to expand...

There a world of difference between how an auto or AO works and flicking your wrist hard enough to overcome the detent and using the blades pure inertia to “slam” it open. Like SPXTrader said, it cause increased and accelerated wear on the locking mechanism, and possibly damage to the blade tang and stop pin.

Many knives will seem to “take it’ but its still damaging.
 
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