Quickest High Quality Folder Deployment Using Thumb Stud?

Jailhack said:
So, as a counter to the flipper thread, my constantly overthinking brain came up with another "which one" thought.

In today's market of semi-custom (mid-tech) and/or custom folders, which particular knife do you feel has the quickest thumb stud deployment?

Parameters being..............
1. Not assisted
2. Not a Flipper
3. Not a Wave (had many Emersons until I got sliced reaching into my pocket due to poor detent?)
4. Not a "Spydie" hole
5. Must be a Frame lock
6. Less than 4" blade

So basically, a Titanium frame lock of high quality, that locks up as it should and is quick to deploy.

Also, not looking for an overbuilt beast of a knife that is hard to EDC because it is as thick as a Dagwood sammich.

Note that I have a large Sebenza, and while a superb knife, it most certainly is not quick to deploy.

And no, I'm not looking to be Rambo Jr. in case you were wondering. :p
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For me it was my Microtech Socom Elite. Damn thing fired like a rocket.
 
Jailhack said:
First part you have above is correct.

I don’t play with my tools, I use them. Right front pocket carry. And just like a pistol, quickest way to get on target is the one with the least movement.

And yes, I understand you don’t have to keep your whole hand open when flicking, but fact remains that you do have to reposition. There really is no way around it, as you grip a knife with fingers, not thumb.
Click to expand...

Not to derail the thread but this got me thinking and trying both deployments with my thumbstud knives. For me, thumb and middle finger flick are damn near equal. With thumb deployment one still needs to "pinch" and keep the fingers out of the blade path. For me, this actually puts the knife in a slightly rotated position that has to be corrected. When I middle finger flick I have to move both my thumb and fingers farther to grip but I don't have to rotate the knife to get a standard grip. Same with pocket or picking up from table.

My fastest are BM Anthem and Hogue EX01. My only framelock is Sebenza...already discussed.

Maybe an Elishewitz custom button lock could be the ticket?
 
Wowbagger said:
I had to try that one.
I failed miserably with a 710 and a Griptillian.
Something for me to keep in mind . . . hmmmmm . . .
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I thought it was just me. :p

Even putting aside muscle memory from years of thumb stud opening, I just can't come anywhere near opening and indexing a dual stud with strong side middle finger via normal grip. Hand just isn't in the right position.

But hey, if Scooter can do it that way, more power to him!

If nothing else, it certainly has made some folks think about new/different ways of doing things.
 
I've tried a variety of thumbstud knives and don't find that any of them are very quick, and more importantly most of them are not 100% positive. If you are in a hurry there will be times when your thumb will miss the stud or slip off of the stud. So you have to slow down in order to be closer to 100% positive. The only thumbstud knife I've used that was 100% positive and therefore reasonably fast was the Kershaw Blur. The shape of its thumbstud plus its sharp edges means that your thumb won't easily slide off of it. I find that Spyderco knives with larger blade holes are the most positive for opening. It is easy to find the hole with your thumb and your thumb won't slide out of it. I'm talking about the larger openings in their knives such as the PM2 and Military. I've found that other brands such as Benchmade that have used the blade hole don't do it right and they are not nearly as positive as the Spyderco.
 
I personally think the thumb plate opening on my ZT0620 is pretty quick. Since it one washers I used a healthy dab of high moly grease and it shoots open like oiled glass.

Sort of think the original idea of this thread is silly. Pick the fastest opening knife using thumb studs but not sypderholes? And only frame locks? That seems a bit overly specific.
 
H0kieengineer said:
Sort of think the original idea of this thread is silly. Pick the fastest opening knife using thumb studs but not sypderholes? And only frame locks? That seems a bit overly specific.
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A. Yet you felt the need to post anyway.

B. Overly specific? When you start your “which knife” thread, maybe you can be more generalized.

C. Thanks for playing though. :rolleyes:
 
Forget thumb studs. Get yourself a Benchmade 737 Aileron.


More contact equals more control.
 
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Jailhack said:
So, as a counter to the flipper thread, my constantly overthinking brain came up with another "which one" thought.

In today's market of semi-custom (mid-tech) and/or custom folders, which particular knife do you feel has the quickest thumb stud deployment?

Parameters being..............
1. Not assisted
2. Not a Flipper
3. Not a Wave (had many Emersons until I got sliced reaching into my pocket due to poor detent?)
4. Not a "Spydie" hole
5. Must be a Frame lock
6. Less than 4" blade

So basically, a Titanium frame lock of high quality, that locks up as it should and is quick to deploy.

Also, not looking for an overbuilt beast of a knife that is hard to EDC because it is as thick as a Dagwood sammich.

Note that I have a large Sebenza, and while a superb knife, it most certainly is not quick to deploy.

And no, I'm not looking to be Rambo Jr. in case you were wondering. :p
Click to expand...
My sebenza is pretty quick to flick out.
Otherwise I really recommend the ckf sohkoi 2.0 it's on dual row bearings. It's really fast. Though large blade size, forget if it's at or over 4".

Kizer t1 is a nice budget option. Super cheap for what ya get and pretty fast due to bearings and look bar tension that's not really strong.
 
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