Problems with Finger Nail Opening Knives

C

Cyber_Demigod

Joined
May 1, 2016
Messages
128
So I got a few knives, a Case, a Rough Rider, an Opinel, a few others that are old and have no name available atm.

I'm not exactly a massive guy, but my hands are not small. I cannot seem to get a strong enough grip on the tiny amount of blade available. I get a terrible purchase, and when I use my nail it snaps the nail back and hurst like hell, I just ripped off half my thumb nail thanks to a Case knife.
What is the ideal nail length? I just cut my nails and now I cannot get a purchase with them at all.

Any solutions to my problem would be greatly appreciated, and would save me from some very undo pain just to enjoy my knife collection.
 
They also make things to act as a nail in place of your to help with opening one, it's almost like a guitar pick but in more of a shape of a nail to grip the nail nick. I can't recall what's it's called though. If no one on this sub forum knows what it's called ask on the Traditional sub forum they will know.
 
Or get yourself a Key Sergeant. It'll be cheaper, lighter, and do more things when you're not opening your knife with it.
 
The fix for the Opinel is to carve or Dremel a scallop in the handle to expose more blade.

Zieg
 
Cyber_Demigod said:
That just looks perfect, lots of other great suggestions too thanks, would like to know about what Bob said as well.
Click to expand...
What Bob was referring to is a "Steel Thumbnail" sold by AG Russell. Case also makes a knife opener, their item #7585. Both are under $10. GEC made a "blade key" for a while with different cover materials. Priced a bit higher. There is also a GEC "tube popper" which includes a pointy end for blade opening. Under $4 at some dealers.

I have a lot of Case knives and none of them have actually damaged my thumbnail. Most have a relatively easy pull and aren't a problem. I do have a GEC that is a nail-tearer if I am not careful.

Some of it is technique. You put your nail in the nick and lever it against the handle a little until the blade is up out of the frame just enough to get a pinch grip between the thumb and forefinger. I also am coming up at an angle with the thumbnail so that instead of the nail being perpendicular to the blade, I am pressing upwards with the edge of the nail on the underside of the top of the nail nick, maybe at a 45 degree angle.

Some thing else that can help is focusing on just holding the blade still, gripped between your left tumb and forefinger, and using the right hand to rotate the knife open at least until it's about halfway open, and then when the backspring starts to work in your favor, you move the left hand too.

I never really gave it that much thought, I just sort of open the blade. But I stopped to look at the process just now to describe it.

I tend to keep my nails rather short. Maybe 1-2 mm of nail extending beyond the nail bed.
 
The Zieg said:
The fix for the Opinel is to carve or Dremel a scallop in the handle to expose more blade.

Zieg
Click to expand...

13427896_10208166307108942_2810466292448468382_n.jpg
 
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