Safety features of traditional knives

J

Just Tom.

Joined
Apr 24, 2019
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I noticed when browsing the General Knife Discussion section of BF that there is usually lots of talk about the various safety features of modern knife design, and it occurred to me that more traditional designs were already rich in features which would appeal to the safety-conscious among us. I made this handy infographic to showcase a few of them:
 
GaiusJulius said:
I mean ….yeah.

If you use it carelessly it will bite you. And it only takes once to learn never to do that again! Pretty safe in my book.
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To be clear - I use that knife quite a bit and of course it is perfectly safe If handled with care. I was just poking a little fun at both myself and at folks who seem to think traditional knives are amputations waiting to happen.
 
I came close to getting bit this year with a type of sodbuster. I was attempting to pierce a rubber hose to drain the fluid before replacing it with a new hose, it almost got to the half stop and I retreated in time. I ended up slicing through and getting fluid all over my hands. I think for piercing, the lower the tip is on the axis, viper style for example, the safer a slipjoint is for piercing.
 
Just Tom. said:
folks who seem to think traditional knives are amputations waiting to happen
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Forgetting that their ancestors used friction folders from 600 - 500 BC/BCE Oldest knife and slipjoints since they were invented in the 1500's I believe it was.
(No doubt the older generation of the time were carrying on "Backspring?! We don't need no stinking backsprings! Why complicate things?!? We've gotten along just fine without them for 2,000 years!")
without amputating any of their parts using their knives.

I guess those who "fear" traditional friction folders and slipjoints (AKA: "Spring Knives") don't know how to use a knife properly, fail to realize the normal cutting action forces the blade open ...

I notice they are mighty concerned about "lock failure", too. If they're that afraid of their knives, why don't they get a small sub 4 inch fixed blade? ("It can't split firewood, be beat through a tree trunk, or limb ..." I wonder how often those who are worried about being able to fell a 1 ~ 4 inch sapling to make a shelter, split firewood, start a fire with two sticks or a Ferro rod (ever hear of a lighter or matches? Either will start your campfire a lot quicker and easier) etc. actually leave the city ...)
 
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I'm of the personal belief that the more 'idiot-proof' the knife seems to be, with beefed up locks and such, the more likely is the risk of 'Ten Feet Tall and Bullet-proof Syndrome', which makes people make poor decisions sometimes. Kind of like alcohol in that regard. Doubly bad, when both are involved in the same poor decision-making processes.

This is not to be construed as critical of such beefed-up knives, or alcohol. I'm a fan of both, to some degree. I'm just well-aware of the need to use each responsibly, hopefully in isolation from one another. 😉

This is why I like Traditional knives more, though. They're very unpretentious and definitely NOT cocky in the elegant & practical simplicity of their designed purpose. They keep me humble. And safe... most of the time, anyway. :)
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I'm just well-aware of the need to use each responsibly
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Well said! 🤠 :thumbsup:
Peregrin said:
icipSHo.jpg
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If those fold on you... you've definitely done something wrong. 🤣
 
euroken said:
I'd say that is a great advice ONLY if you are wearing safety goggles and wearing gloves lol. I had one pop up and land in my hair once, and then when I tried to brush it off, it 'poked' me in my hand. 🤣🤣🤣
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Now that's a once in a lifetime moment right there.

I call the thin blades a safety feature because it makes one think twice about abusing them in that way, that modern stuff is often designed to take abuse and takes it well until doesn't then you've got a bad day.
 
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