Preferred deployment method

[3fifty7]

Spydie hole with thumb
Flipper
Nail nick
Wave

 

[Ironkid883]

I personally dont collect pocket knives but my missus has a few i only own a bm griptillian tanto mini .i bought her a kershaw with the wave feature and she also has a sw large flipper type the griptillian works qyite well as a gravity type knife albeit with a flick of the wrist with the axis button held down but i figured that out quick also it was bought as a work knife but works quite well as a one hander now tge wave feature im not sold on just havent had the chance to mess with it .the flipper on the sw is great also almost as quick as the bm the only difference is the sw has a linerlock so locks automatically whereas with the bm you need to release the axis lock button at the right time to lock it in .
Cheers jason

 

[gazz98]

1. Hole (more out of habit then anything else)
2. Flipper

MI allowed autos (can't be OTF tho) in late 2017. I still haven't picked up an auto. Like George Constanza once said, "I'm afraid I'll puncture my scrotum".

 

[jceckrosh]

Doesn't matter to me really. I but the knife first, and the deployment is a secondary aspect. I rarely (well, never) need to deploy at light speed. As long as it is well designed and works on/for the particular knife I am good (good example of what I think does not work well are the CRK thumb studs - great well made knife, I just can't figure out why the thumb studs work so poorly, or with such difficulty anyway). Although lately I am enjoying several knives with holes.

 

[kickert]

Wave* > Thumb Studs > Flipper Tab > Hole > Wave* > Thumb Disk > Front Flipper > Nail Nick

Wave really depends on the knife. It is a phenomenal system when you want it, but sometimes you don't to deploy a knife so easily.

In other opening methods:

Balisong > DA OTF slide > Plunge Button Auto > Slide Auto > SA OTF

 

[GronK]

1. Hole
2. Stud
Flipper? Almost never. I hoped the fidget spinner would catch on so the urge to flipper fiddle would go away.

 

[PirateSeulb]

#1 Tang/Front Flipper
#2 Flipper
#3 Thumb Hole
#4 Thumb Grove
#5 Pinch
#6 Nail Nicks/Long Pulls
#7 Thumb Disk/Plates*
#8 Thumb Studs*

*I haven't used disk or plates much but they do seem to work more like holes in my experience making them acceptable alternative but they have their flaws that can ruin them. Thumb studs are so far the worst opening mechanism I have used and very few are designed well and usable. I also have some issues with these 2 as they are often in the cutting path restricting use of the full blade.

I did not include it as I am not certain if it counts but any lock mechanism that when released lets the blade swing from from open to close and vice versa effectively allowing it to be an opening method would be up there near the top. Example would be an Axis lock with a blade that can swing free.

I left Wave off the list as I personally do not like it or anything snagging on my pants the way those do. I also left off automatics as it seemed that isn't what this thread was about and those can be illegal for many.

 

[John_0917]

Spyderhole, flipper then probably disk

 

[kickert]

I did not include it as I am not certain if it counts but any lock mechanism that when released lets the blade swing from from open to close and vice versa effectively allowing it to be an opening method would be up there near the top. Example would be an Axis lock with a blade that can swing free.

Overall our taste in opening methods vary significantly, but when it comes to absolutely favorite, I am with you. An Axis flick is my absolute favorite.

 

[Lee D]

Spydie hole and then a flipper.
BUT, some of my favorite knives open via thumb studs even if it’s kinda annoying when they interfere with cutting something.

 

[Chapp]

Spydie holes or other similar holes like on the grip sheepfoot, for objective reasons.

You can get an immediate grip after opening your knife with a hole, which isn't the case with other mechanism. That alone makes it the best opening. With other mechanism, you have to fiddle a little after opening it in order to have a grip, which can slow you down in emergency situation or make you drop the knife if you're in a hurry. You flick a Spydie hole and you have the perfect position to grip the knife immediately.

That's a more minor point, but it also help to shelve some weight out of the knives with practical benefit. A thumbstud adds weight and geometry, in comparison. The only thing I would like to confirm is if the hole can be a point of fragility on a blade. That would be my only reservation about the Spydie hole.

A flipper naturally adds a guard to a knife, which is safer than having your fingers exposed to the sharp edge. On framelock, it can also help you to close the knife in a safer manner, since the guard will always prevent a bad "drop bite" when closing the knife quickly. Flippers are far from being a fad, they have practical reasons to exist.

I don't have any personal preference myself, I don't even like Spyderco knives that much, but the Spydie hole seems to be the most practical of them all and the best design overall.

All in all, we rarely use our knives for emergency situation though.

 

[22-rimfire]

I try to be flexible. I like flippers, but at the same time I am totally comfortable with a traditional knife (ie totally manual) with either a pinch open or nail nick.

 

[JimMD]

I like regular flippers fine, but I prefer that they have a blade opening hole as well, like the Koenig Arius. If I’m opening a knife actually to use it, using the opening hole puts my hand in position to use the knife immediately, unlike using the flipper tab. Middle finger flicking an opening hole is my preferred method if I’m putting the knife to use and not just fidgeting.

I like front flippers especially when the mechanism improves the handle ergonomics. I have problems finding knives that fit my XL hand well, but one of my favorite knives is the Burger EXK Plus, which has a 2.75-inch blade and a handle length of just 3.75 inches. But since the front flipper design puts no flipper tab in the way of my hand, the entire handle length is available for the grip. Nice!

Of course other opening mechanisms have this advantage, too, e.g., thumb studs or opening hole. But the front flipper doesn’t alter the blade surface, and tactilely it’s enjoyable to use.

 

[JimMD]

Spydie holes or other similar holes like on the grip sheepfoot, for objective reasons.

You can get an immediate grip after opening your knife with a hole, which isn't the case with other mechanism. That alone makes it the best opening. With other mechanism, you have to fiddle a little after opening it in order to have a grip, which can slow you down in emergency situation or make you drop the knife if you're in a hurry. You flick a Spydie hole and you have the perfect position to grip the knife immediately.

That's a more minor point, but it also help to shelve some weight out of the knives with practical benefit. A thumbstud adds weight and geometry, in comparison. The only thing I would like to confirm is if the hole can be a point of fragility on a blade. That would be my only reservation about the Spydie hole.

A flipper naturally adds a guard to a knife, which is safer than having your fingers exposed to the sharp edge. On framelock, it can also help you to close the knife in a safer manner, since the guard will always prevent a bad "drop bite" when closing the knife quickly. Flippers are far from being a fad, they have practical reasons to exist.

I don't have any personal preference myself, I don't even like Spyderco knives that much, but the Spydie hole seems to be the most practical of them all and the best design overall.

All in all, we rarely use our knives for emergency situation though.

I should have read your reply before I posted mine, as I said the same thing regarding the grip and the opening hole. I agree completely. If you’re just fidgeting by opening and closing a knife, probably that doesn’t matter, but if you’re actually going to use a knife to cut, it’s nice that the opening mechanism puts your hand in position to grip it for use.

 

[madcap_magician]

Emerson Wave.

Then comes flipper, hole, and thumbstuds. In that order.

I also enjoy when a knife has multiple deployment methods.

Hard to tune the detent so that all the opening methods work well, though. The Lionsteel TRE springs to mind. Great little knife, but the thumb disc was basically unusable.

... Granted, part of that was that the knife is so small it's hard not to put pressure on the lockbar when you're opening it. Come to think of it that could be mitigated with a slightly larger and wider pocket clip that touches the frame and gives your hand a place to rest other than the lockbar.

 

[Pomsbz]

I like regular flippers fine, but I prefer that they have a blade opening hole as well, like the Koenig Arius. If I’m opening a knife actually to use it, using the opening hole puts my hand in position to use the knife immediately, unlike using the flipper tab. Middle finger flicking an opening hole is my preferred method if I’m putting the knife to use and not just fidgeting.

I like front flippers especially when the mechanism improves the handle ergonomics. I have problems finding knives that fit my XL hand well, but one of my favorite knives is the Burger EXK Plus, which has a 2.75-inch blade and a handle length of just 3.75 inches. But since the front flipper design puts no flipper tab in the way of my hand, the entire handle length is available for the grip. Nice!

Of course other opening mechanisms have this advantage, too, e.g., thumb studs or opening hole. But the front flipper doesn’t alter the blade surface, and tactilely it’s enjoyable to use.

That is one heck of a nice knife and the dimensions would be utterly perfect for me!

In answer to the OP question. Flipper. It's about the only mechanism that I can use reliably one handed due to extremely weak thumb strength due to disability. It's also the cleanest when doing food stuff with the knife methinks? That said I live in an environment which does not like locking knives so I carry slipjoints. The recent CollectorKnives slipjoints made by Lionsteel featured a double sided long pull which was a real joy to open even with my disability.

 

[Wolverine666]

I like thumb studs and Spydie holes.

I don’t like flippers.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

I like regular flippers fine, but I prefer that they have a blade opening hole as well, like the Koenig Arius. If I’m opening a knife actually to use it, using the opening hole puts my hand in position to use the knife immediately, unlike using the flipper tab. Middle finger flicking an opening hole is my preferred method if I’m putting the knife to use and not just fidgeting.

I like front flippers especially when the mechanism improves the handle ergonomics. I have problems finding knives that fit my XL hand well, but one of my favorite knives is the Burger EXK Plus, which has a 2.75-inch blade and a handle length of just 3.75 inches. But since the front flipper design puts no flipper tab in the way of my hand, the entire handle length is available for the grip. Nice!

Of course other opening mechanisms have this advantage, too, e.g., thumb studs or opening hole. But the front flipper doesn’t alter the blade surface, and tactilely it’s enjoyable to use.

That's a beautiful little knife. I might have to grab one.
Thank you everyone for the replies. I've only handled a spydie hole once. But I personally prefer a flipper, and on bearings. I just like the knife to explode open.

 

[Comeuppance]

Flippers aren’t going anywhere; 15+ years isn’t a “fad”. That said, I prefer knives that open without touching the blade and close without fingers being in the path of the blade. So, on pretty equal terms, I prefer button, axis (and similar), compression, strap/scorpion, and etc.

That said, most of the knives I actually like and carry are liner/framelock knives that deploy via a flipper tab, and I have a thumbstud linerlock in my pocket. That particular preference doesn’t weigh much on my actual carry preference; otherwise, my Cold Steel Recon 1 wouldn’t be one of my most-carried knives as it currently is.

 

[sgt1372]

I've seen alot of talk online that the flipper tab is a fad that's beginning to fade. Seeing alot more holes, rather that's a spydie hole or a rectangle or whatever alot in the custom world. So which do you prefer?

I agree w/ Comeuppance . Flippers aren't going anywhere. I prefer flippers to most other opening methods, other than automatics which can be opened w/the push of a button.

I own over 90 Spydercos and have learned how to use the hole to open those knives, which I vastly prefer to knives w/just thumb stubs which often are not placed properly to allow efficient opening of the blade, especially on Emersons which I open using the end of the wave tab instead of the thumb stud. I also like the option to open a knife w/a wave feature but a wave tab alters the shape/design of the blade and knife and are usually only available on knives planned for SD use.

However, my absolute FAVORITE method of opening a folder is with just a wrist flick, due mainly to a relatively weak detent (which many other people abhor). I can do this easily on a ZT0850 and a Spyderco Starmate. I can also do a modified wrist flick w/most compression lock Spydercos which typically have weak detents by gravity opening the knife using an abrupt down and forward motion while holding the knife parallel w/the ground or by releasing the compression tab before flicking the knife and then quickly releasing the tab so that the blade locks in place.

No need to use a flipper or wave tab if you can do this w/a knife and the knife that can do all of these things with is the SydercoTropen, which I can open w/a flipper, wave tab, hole or by gravity or compression lock release, which makes it one of my favorite knives (out of almost 300 in my collection) for this and other reasons.