OUCH!! Need tool to help open knives so won't cut myself (again)

Pointshoot777

Pointshoot777

Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Messages
748
Hi everyone, Im typing slowly because I just cut a nice little chunk out of my thumb pad while trying to open a slipjoint trapper w/ extremely strong springs, (among the strongest I've come across). My first thought was "OUCH" :eek: and the next one was "don't bleed on the carpet" and after that was "better wipe the blade down, its 1095 carbon steel." Anyway, I remember seeing old ads for knives that had some kind of tool for opening up the knife - it was inserted in the nail nick. Know where I can get something that's non-marring & won't scratch the steel surface? Also any ideas for improvised solutions would be appreciated also. My thumb, fingers, and battered finger nails would be forever greatful. Thanks, - - - -
 
This is why I find it hard to go back to traditional folders. They look great, feel solid, but lack the ease of use of modern styled knives. Yours does sound way too difficult though, I have only found this on older knives.
 
I also agree that a knife should not be that hard to open that you need a tool to help. Something is wrong either in the sring or fitting of the pivot. Is this a brand new knife? If so, I would send it back. If not, try a litte post assembly fitting of the tang. I once had to use a flat little jewlers file that had the teeth on the edge, and very gingerly reshape the corner of the tang that was acceseable with the knife open. If you gently round off the corner of the tang that rests against the back spring while closed it will make the knife a bit easier to open. You don't want to take off alot of metal, just re-radius it. After the filing use a bit of scotchbrite to polish it us then some mineral oil worked into the joint.

I have always hated thumb busters. :thumbdn:
 
jackknife said:
I also agree that a knife should not be that hard to open that you need a tool to help. Something is wrong either in the sring or fitting of the pivot. Is this a brand new knife? If so, I would send it back. If not, try a litte post assembly fitting of the tang. I once had to use a flat little jewlers file that had the teeth on the edge, and very gingerly reshape the corner of the tang that was acceseable with the knife open. If you gently round off the corner of the tang that rests against the back spring while closed it will make the knife a bit easier to open. You don't want to take off alot of metal, just re-radius it. After the filing use a bit of scotchbrite to polish it us then some mineral oil worked into the joint.

I have always hated thumb busters. :thumbdn:
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So I'm not the only one who's done that! I reshaped the tang on a kissing crane sodbuster once, was a little over sprung for my tastes, works fine now!

I like strong springs but the few knives I have that take concentration to open, I never carry. It's one thing to just open a knife like that, but not alot of fun to open quickly several times a day as a user.
 
Ade said:
I think the widgets you are refering to are called "nail savers/picks/pulls". Small flat pieces of metal used to open hard sprung knives.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/about4118.html&highlight=nail+saver

If it were me though, I'd send it back/out for repair. It shouldn't be that tough to open.

Take care,

Andy
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Thank you - - I'll check out that link and do some shopping around.
The knife is brand new. I've been opening and closing it and its much, much better now.
The knife has half stops and I wasn't quite used to that. Was a little surprised when it snapped into the half stop position. Came to me wicked sharp. Should have been concentrating more on what I was doing.
Think I'll still look into a nail pick for initial use on those brand new knives with stiff springs, or some of the old ones that need a little help after being closed for awhile - - got a little Case somewhere that is like that.
Thank you everyone for your comments. Regards, - -
P.S. - on another note, I've 'discovered' a little knife opening aid that works well. Wrap a bandaid (especially good are the thick, rubbery surface 'sports' varieties) around your thumb. It gives you extra traction for gripping the blade on those heavy spring new knives. - - And you have your first aid ready if you need it !
 
I have been carrying a pocketknife since i was eight years old. I am now 63. In all that time I never cut myself opening a blade on my knife [ Knock on wood..] So, everyday since this fellow posted his problem I would take a moment to think about, and try and duplicate , how a fellow would hurt himself opening his knife. Boy oh boy, I am getting no where in trying to understand it !!
SO, a while ago I asked my new bride to take out her BUCK stockman and open it's main blade....now close it and open the sheepfoot....okay close that and open the spey blade. Along about now my wife gets the what-is-this-all-about look and I explained it all to her. She thought I had never had a problem because I am ambidextrous. She thought she had never had a problem because she is ambidextrous now from playing her string instruments for the past many decades.
This is also the first time I really noticed that the BUCK stockman is opened bassackwards to all the other stockman knives in my collection !!!
Let me note also when I tried to open a knife with the BOKER blade opener I never did figure out how to do it at ALL.
And so it goes...
 
Hi Wil - - well, actually this was the first time I ever cut myself on a knife while opening it, and I'm a little embarrassed :o - - I have chipped up some finger nails pretty badly, but that's about it. The knife has very strong springs - (much stronger than those on Case, Buck, etc that I have tried) , and half stops (which I wasn't familiar with). As far as I can tell, when I pulled it open I hadnt held the blade firmly, but just inserted my ring finger nail in the nick and when it hit the half stop hard my hand's momentum carried forward where my thumb hit the blade.
I also must admit that I was talking on the phone while doing this and not fully paying attention - always a very dumb practice ! The knife is a # 73 Stag trapper from Great Eastern Cutlery (Northfield version in 1095 carbon steel) and is gorgeous. The blades are nice and firm, but not excessive now. I really like this knife. It also reminds me to Pay Attention ! Now I can appreciate why some companies don't make knives for the general buying public 'knife knut sharp'. I will never loan this out, even for a second or two to a non-knife person.
Thanks for your comments. I'd still like to find a nail nick tool for the initial use on tight new knives and for some of my old ones that need a little help to get started. Am looking at a couple of sources now. Best regards, - -

P.S. - - am looking for a stockman "Cuban" pattern Great Eastern to go with this trapper. Hope it also has good firm springs - will help keep it open under hard use.
 
I've broken fingernails attempting to open some knife blades (Imperial electrician's knife, the wire stripper blade is just impossible; Kamp King a kid asked me to sharpen for him was almost as bad; etc.), I've cut myself bad when I was stupid with a non-locking knife trying to cut a hole in a cardboard box, and twice cut myself opening a knife. Imperial medium jackknife, my first knife ever, I was opening the pen blade with my non-dominant thumbnail, and took a chunk off the joint when my nail slipped out of the nick. Still have a decent scar -- about a quarter of an inch long, by about an eighth wide. Short pen blade on a penknife got away from me once, too, but I was much older, much wiser, and had some experience that told me when the blade started to slip that I'd better stop putting pressure on it, so while it did bleed, the cut was quite shallow and (checks thumb) didn't leave a scar. Cuts are inevitable. I just gave up on using impossible knives, or anything that requires excessive concentration to open and close. I have a beautiful Queen teardrop jackknife that I love, but only carry occaisionally because other knives are so much easier to use. Guess I'm lazy.
 
sixgunner455 - - I found a fellow who makes nice nail nick tools and you can order them with handles in stag, buffalo, jigged bone, or just about whatever you want. Enough length for plenty of leverage & with a lanyard hole for putting them on your key chain. (Check out the allaboutpocketknives link kindly provided above). - - $ 20 delivered. Might be an option to help the Queen get some more EDC time till it loosens up a little for you. Regards, - - -
 
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