Pinchable slip joint for one hand opening.

[SharpieB]

Here is the technique that I've used for years. It's easy or hard like a stick shift is. Once learned, it becomes second nature. But, just as driving a stick in stop and go traffic annoys some people, this would get old for jobs requiring near constant access to a blade.

Primary feature needed is a main blade that can be pinched.

Most traditional lockbacks can be opened this way. Closing them one handed is more perilous depending on their execution.

1) Hold the knife with the butt end out and pinch the blade.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Pinch the blade firmly.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Open knife slightly by pushing down with 3rd finger.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

4) Hook the butt of the frame on your thigh to open the knife fully.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

5) Press butt on your thigh to reposition your hand.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

To close the knife...
1) Grasp knife frame with fingers clear of the blade well
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Press spine against your thigh
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Close the blade
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

Seems like a lot of work.

I’d rather use 2 hands than one hand and one leg.... or just buy something that can be opened properly with one hand.

 

[SpySmasher]

Here is the technique that I've used for years. It's easy or hard like a stick shift is. Once learned, it becomes second nature. But, just as driving a stick in stop and go traffic annoys some people, this would get old for jobs requiring near constant access to a blade.

Primary feature needed is a main blade that can be pinched.

Most traditional lockbacks can be opened this way. Closing them one handed is more perilous depending on their execution.

1) Hold the knife with the butt end out and pinch the blade.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Pinch the blade firmly.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Open knife slightly by pushing down with 3rd finger.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

4) Hook the butt of the frame on your thigh to open the knife fully.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

5) Press butt on your thigh to reposition your hand.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

To close the knife...
1) Grasp knife frame with fingers clear of the blade well
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Press spine against your thigh
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Close the blade
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

I usually leg-close lockbacks like this; I imagine I could open one as described as long as there was enough exposed blade.

 

[shinyedges]

Craytab is the lord of the inter webs. I may consider changing my username to zucchini out of respect.

I'll pay the 10.00 if you're serious...

 

[pinnah]

I'll pay the 10.00 if you're serious...

Snork!

Ah heck... I'm the one who should be buying a round. It was a stunning move.

 

[craytab]

Here is the technique that I've used for years. It's easy or hard like a stick shift is. Once learned, it becomes second nature. But, just as driving a stick in stop and go traffic annoys some people, this would get old for jobs requiring near constant access to a blade.

Primary feature needed is a main blade that can be pinched.

Most traditional lockbacks can be opened this way. Closing them one handed is more perilous depending on their execution.

1) Hold the knife with the butt end out and pinch the blade.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Pinch the blade firmly.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Open knife slightly by pushing down with 3rd finger.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

4) Hook the butt of the frame on your thigh to open the knife fully.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

5) Press butt on your thigh to reposition your hand.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

To close the knife...
1) Grasp knife frame with fingers clear of the blade well
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

2) Press spine against your thigh
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

3) Close the blade
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

That does seem like a lot of work! I suppose if I practiced with the right knife I could get it down. With the traditionals i currently have it would take a few bandages though. I don't think it would be worth figuring it out given what I own. Maybe there is another way but I doubt it. Curious to find out.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

There’s always the Brownie Pop/Drop (?)

I forget exactly what the argument was about it.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Not sure how "traditional" they are, but for one-hand opening slipjoints, the Viper DAN 1 & 2 series are great.

 

[Velitrius]

Way back in the day I had a couple of Schrade USA Old Timer knives that I opened one handed. Don't know the models.

One had a clip point and a brass(?) liner lock. The other was a real wide drop point blade, with a backlock.

Anyways, the knives were large. Big enough that they each had a leather belt sheath for carry. And heavy.

So you could pinch the blade, with the tip pointing away from you, and flick your wrist downward. That heavy-as-hell handle fell away from the blade and pivoted all the way open. Now you had the knife open, holding onto the blade spine, and you just kind of pointed the tip down and relaxed your grip so that the knife handle slid into your hand.

I don't have either knife any more, and won't get another one. Too many great one-hand openers from which to choose.

 

[jc57]

Interesting. Seems very involved though. Not for me but I'm sure some like it. And yes, not a slip joint.

The Case Russlock is most assuredly a slipjoint - it has a backspring which maintains pressure against the blade tang during the entire opening process. It ALSO has a liner lock to prevent closure. If the liner lock were removed, it would still have the backspring, which would resist closing until you overcome the spring pressure on the tang. I have several of them.

The Case Trapperlock, on the other hand, is a true liner-lock knife that uses a detent on the liner lock to keep the blade closed, and what looks like a backspring is just a spacer.

If you are specifically looking for a non-locking knife, then you are correct - neither of them fit the bill.

 

[91bravo]

OK I got my GEC to the half stop. I just nearly cut myself 3 times and maybe popped something.

I've seen the vid from collector knives where he just pushes the blade open by pressing the ball of his thumb against the bare edge. I guess I better harden up!

That was a lionsteel with a way softer pull though. I'm gonna try it. If I'm not back in 5 minutes send band-aids.

I stopped by their booth at Bladeshow last year and bought a Bullnose from them. He was opening all of the blades on the table by pushing it open from the edge side with his thumb. Beats all I ever saw. I felt the edges and they were all sharp! Craziness I tell ya!

 

[SpySmasher]

So you could pinch the blade, with the tip pointing away from you, and flick your wrist downward. That heavy-as-hell handle fell away from the blade and pivoted all the way open. Now you had the knife open, holding onto the blade spine, and you just kind of pointed the tip down and relaxed your grip so that the knife handle slid into your hand.

I've also done this but I'm always a little worried that I'm going to throw the thing at the floor.

 

[miso2]

I stopped by their booth at Bladeshow last year and bought a Bullnose from them. He was opening all of the blades on the table by pushing it open from the edge side with his thumb. Beats all I ever saw. I felt the edges and they were all sharp! Craziness I tell ya!

Whenever I watch his video, my spine gets chilled.
Was the edge sharp!?
Oh, my......

 

[Lapedog]

Whenever I watch his video, my spine gets chilled.
Was the edge sharp!?
Oh, my......

Thick calluses my friend.

 

[Velitrius]

I've also done this but I'm always a little worried that I'm going to throw the thing at the floor.

Oh yeah, SpySmasher, it ain't foolproof by any means.

Damn thing hit the deck plenty often. I'm just sayin' that I did it that way... not that I perfected it or anything.

 

[miso2]

Thick calluses my friend.

I still wouldn't do that on my edges, unless the callus is an inch thick.
It may be fine with a factory edge.

 

[craytab]

The Case Russlock is most assuredly a slipjoint - it has a backspring which maintains pressure against the blade tang during the entire opening process. It ALSO has a liner lock to prevent closure. If the liner lock were removed, it would still have the backspring, which would resist closing until you overcome the spring pressure on the tang. I have several of them.

The Case Trapperlock, on the other hand, is a true liner-lock knife that uses a detent on the liner lock to keep the blade closed, and what looks like a backspring is just a spacer.

If you are specifically looking for a non-locking knife, then you are correct - neither of them fit the bill.

So it has both. Thanks for the correction.

 

[22-rimfire]

Lionsteel Opera. I have the small version.
Fox Elete- thin liner lock and pinch open is the only choice. Very slip joint like blade.

 

[kniferbro]

Whenever I watch his video, my spine gets chilled.
Was the edge sharp!?
Oh, my......

He disables comments on his videos because EVERYONE would ask about the pushing the blades open with his thumb, lol.

 

[jstrange]

Probably not a popular method, but I sometimes use my teeth as an assist. If the slip-joint has a lanyard hole, I almost always tie a fob to it. Its not very efficient, and I wouldn't open it this way every time, but for an emergency situation, you can bite down on the fob and pull the blade open with one hand. This works better with knives with a large exposed area of the blade that is pinchable. A good example is a Douk Douk.

 

[JPD1998]

The AG Russell Cowboy knife can easily be pinched open.
It's like a sod buster , but has a very wide blade and a light spring.