Pros and cons of the half stop

I like both and a half stop or not doesn't enter into a purchase decision. I would think that a half stop takes a little more skill to get right so that the back spring is flush in all three positions (closed, open, half open) which we seem to expect even though in a non half stop the spring is flush in only two positions.
 
Peregrin said:
A post from 2009 by Kerry Hampton, a friend and protégé of the late Tony Bose. Tony passed this bit of knowledge on to Kerry. Whenever a half stop discussion starts up I think of this post. I also think of our departed friend Ron, @Half/Stop.
I can go either way, on the half stop question that is, although a poorly executed half stop is a no go for me.
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Based on the "rule of thumb" in the Kerry Hampton post that Gary quoted, I suppose I should prefer knives without half stops, since I tend to like knives with rounded bolsters better than those with square bolsters. But my perception is that half stops themselves don't bother me except on big, strong-springed knives.

- GT
 
I honestly have alot of appreciation and get more use out of locking blades personally BUT I like a half-stop alot on non-locking knives. Ive seen it said above and I will agree tho, never a deal breaker. Its almost more of an "oh, nice it has half stops" kinda deal when I land on a blade I like and handle it for the first time to find it has a nice half-stop.

Matt
 
For me there isn’t so much pros and cons as just an opinion- I generally like a half stop. As mentioned by a previous poster- some knives have both and that is perfect! My GEC 59 has half stops on the secondary blades but the main is a cam.
 
It doesn't bother me 1 way or the other, then again I lke friction folders😊
It's such a personal choice, you really need to get your hands on some & try yourself.
Maybe a store you can go to? If you can check out Swiss Army knives, quality & cheap to start out with for slipjoints.
Good luck
 
I like a half stop because it allows me to take my eyes off the knife, yet still know where that blade is within the closing cycle. You push it past a point and it slings into one of 2 positions.

With a cam tang I find myself needing to be more mindful of my fingers lol.
 
A half stop has 3 positions? Unless the batteries are flat on mine!?
Half stop is open, closed and halfway, a cam design is open or closed.
I dont like half stops, people bang on about 'em like its a safety feature🙄
Every half stop I have tried will bite you if your fingers are anywhere near the path of the blade when the spring brings it into position, a cam design lets you change grip at any point once the spring is disengaged and keep your fingers clear.
Maybe I am spoiled by well designed liner, frame and axis locks, but to me a half stop is like a tapered tang its more about showing a makers skill rather than a functional design that makes a slipjoint any safer.
 
elasmonut said:
A half stop has 3 positions? Unless the batteries are flat on mine!?
Half stop is open, closed and halfway, a cam design is open or closed.
I dont like half stops, people bang on about 'em like its a safety feature🙄
Every half stop I have tried will bite you if your fingers are anywhere near the path of the blade when the spring brings it into position, a cam design lets you change grip at any point once the spring is disengaged and keep your fingers clear.
Maybe I am spoiled by well designed liner, frame and axis locks, but to me a half stop is like a tapered tang its more about showing a makers skill rather than a functional design that makes a slipjoint any safer.
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Even then I might say it's only as much a sign of skill as any other intentional feature, including a cam tang. Three polished slightly concave surfaces seems easier than a large polished convex radius.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Con:
They can be unpleasant on the thumb nail when the blade stops.

Imagine you're pulling the blade open with your thumb nail and a sharp abrupt stop happens before you could switch to a pinch grip of the blade, you tend to get strong springs and real snap on knives with half stops and it took me a while to get used to changing my hold on the blade before the half stop .

You may or may not know what I mean, I'm not sure I've described it the best.

This is something you can get used to though and It's only an issue on knives you can't just pull open with a pinch grip, that's the only con I can think of and it may just be a personal thing as I've never heard this complaint from anyone else.
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I experience this with my GEC pocket carver as well as the wife’s case mini trapper. The pocket carver, especially the large blade is bad about it and is discomforting to my thumbnail.

It isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I don’t like half stops much. It’s a distraction when opening the blades during whittling or other tasks. It hasn’t ever saved my finger or caused an issue though. I am more careful when opening a half stop knife however.

Personally I think it is a design feature to allow easier display of the knife with blades open. Congress pattern for example benefits here.
 
Jsega51 said:
I like a half stop because it allows me to take my eyes off the knife, yet still know where that blade is within the closing cycle. You push it past a point and it slings into one of 2 positions.

With a cam tang I find myself needing to be more mindful of my fingers lol.
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yes but that cam tang is so pivotal to that scene in silence of the lambs when he scoops up that pocket knife. Hannibal goes "ready when you are sargeant Pembry" and closes the knife in a slightly menacing manner. (that pun earlier was unintentional)
 
elasmonut said:
A half stop has 3 positions? Unless the batteries are flat on mine!?
Half stop is open, closed and halfway, a cam design is open or closed.
I dont like half stops, people bang on about 'em like its a safety feature🙄
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My post said that during the closing cycle, the blade has 2 positions to go into. When closing the knife, the blade has to already be open, so when closing the blade snaps into the half stop (position #1), then it snaps closed (position #2).

I’m also not banging on it has a safety feature, I’m saying that for me it’s a positive indicator of where the blade is in the closing cycle. The bit about me having to watch my fingers with a cam tang is because 99 % of the slipjoints I own are with half stops.

When I do decide to carry a cam-tang, it’s a little unfamiliar action. I hope this helps you un-roll your eyes now 😂
 
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I don’t mind half stops as much on pinchable blades, but I definitely prefer cam tangs, especially on blades I have to use a nail to open. Having said that, the majority of my knives seem to have half stops, so I guess it’s not a deal breaker!
 
Jsega51 said:
My post said that during the closing cycle, the blade has 2 positions to go into. When closing the knife, the blade has to already be open, so when closing the knife, the blade goes snaps the half stop (position #1), then it snaps closed (position #2).

I’m also not banging on it has a safety feature, I’m saying that for me it’s a positive indicator of where the blade is in the closing cycle. The bit about me having to watch my fingers with a cam tang is because 99 % of the slipjoints I own are with half stops.

When I do decide to carry a cam-tang, it’s a little unfamiliar action. I hope this helps you un-roll your eyes now 😂
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Exactly my thoughts on it. Most of my traditional knives have half stops. It's what I'm used to. If I carry one with a cam tang I have to think about it, or I might get bit.
Typically I'll ease the blade closed from the half stop.
 
So many helpful posts! As I think on the various attributes of both styles it helped me to analyze what I like in my own slipjoints. The walk and talk on a half stop has such a satisfying auditory and tactile feel, but in regular use I think I may prefer the cam tang (if I’m getting my nomenclature correct) and it’s continuous smoothness during closing for my own personal uses.

So much to consider!
 
I much prefer a non half stop. I only have two knives that have half stops. My late moms Camillus 709 and the pocket carver gifted by a forum friend. It’s not a deal breaker, but if I had the choice between two knives, identical except for half stops, I’d take the round tang ever time.
 
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