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spyder hole vs. thumb stud

Hate holes, don't like studs. CRK studs are the best.

I hate holes because I appreciate the looks of a knife when it is closed as much as when it is open, this has little to do with utility, only aesthetics. As to utility, in my climate in winter with gloved or insensible hands, the hole works very poorly.

I don't like studs because they can catch on things, foil slicing and may also ruin the look of a knife if not done properly. Companies like CRK and BM have gone a long way toward making knives that are practical and still having (to my eye at least) "good lines"...even when closed.

Maybe it's just me, but I prefer a folder that has a blade longer than the width of the closed knife! The need for a hole, in most cases, determines the design. Studs, on the other hand, are almost an afterthought, the design would work as well with a nail-nick.

For example, CRK knifes are 1:7, this is to say that they are 1" wide when closed and 7" long when open. A knife that is 2" closed and 7" open looks (and feels) like a **** to me. YMMV.

I have many commercially made one hand knives that fit this ratio, more or less, the Camillus EDC, most BM's, all the CRK's, some of the CRKT's.

Screw the hole, thumb your stud.


Steve-O
 
(Your Mileage May Vary)

Always liked the Spyderco hole. Loved it. Best thing going. Finally bought a Sebenza. Played with it for awhile and, honestly, can open it just as well as the Spyderco hole. I like the Sebenza better than any other folder I've ever owned. I MIGHT like it even better with the hole though...but, it would screw up the blade to handle ratio in the closed position. I think you can get used to either one and as long as the rest of the knife is of good quality, you are set.
 
What many have said, it all depends on smoothness more. But For quickness, nothing beats a FLIPPER. Most blades with flippers by design have thumb studs that act as the stop-pin against the bolster, so they are well out of the way when opened. It also gives the option of opening the knife with the thumb-studs.

I have a peculiar opening method using my index finger to flick the thumb-stud to open. It just doesn't work on holes. Spydies with holes are more comfortable to wear because nothings bearing into my love handles... ;) Jason.
 
Like Jason said. Nothing beats a well-designed flipper. Just push and wrist flick.

The thumb disk is next - it doesn't put as much pressure ripping out the flesh under my nails as I don't have to angle the thumb too much.

Then the spydie hole.

Design-wise, nothing beats the spydie hole. I like the look of the blade having an "eye".
 
Originally posted by enkidu
Blade studs have always struck me as being an inelegant design "hack" which interferes with both the aesthetics and the utility of the blade. Plus, it's just another thing to snag. Holes and nail-nicks seem to work better for me from an ergonomic and aesthetic point of view.
Click to expand...

Of all the responses, this is the one I agree with most. I would add that I don't like thumb studs nearly as much as I do thumb holes, particulary from a minimalist point of view: I don't like the fact that with a stud, the blade is essentially a two-piece entity. There's the blade, and the hole drilled into it, and the stud screwed in, right? I don't know how many knives have a stud that is cast or milled into the blade, but I imagine they are rare.

What I know is this: a thumb hole can never loosen. A thumb stud can.

That ends the issue for me, although I have to say that I like my Vapor and Vapor II with studs pretty well in spite of the studs.

Now, can anyone say that he would not spend whatever it took to get a Chris Reeve Sebenza if it had a HOLE?! That, I have to say, is the ONLY thing that keeps me from shelling out $250-300 for a folder. Love the knife, hate the fact that it's a stud-opener.

---Jeffrey
 
I'm taking the path less traveled and throwing in with the Thumb stud lovers. I have a few knives with the Sypdie hole, and a BM 806D2, and a lot with thumbstuds (almost all BM's). I'll take the stud every time. I can flick open a knife very smoothly with any of BM's studs, even the ones on a small knife like the 770. I can't for the life of me get the 806 to open nearly as quickly, and forget opening at all with a round hole. :barf:
 
I have a SnG and it has the hole and stud. I find myself using the hole because its easier. The finger can slip off the stud but doesn't ever slip out of the hole.
 
wow, thanks for all the input. sounds like the "holes" win this debate :)

i knew it would be a matter of personal preference, but i was just wondering if it could be "flicked" as fast... and boy did i even get my question answered.

can't wait to get my hands on a Spydie of BM w/ the "hole"

thanks again for all the input.
 
I say it depends on several things:

The hole must be large like the Spyderco Delica or even larger. Small holes, like on the Wegner Jr., are just no good for me.

And if the blade has a thumb-hole, it should also have the "hump". A flat-spine blade makes the thumb-hole harder to use.

Studs are generally good if they are not placed too close to the pivot. And they should not be so abrasive that they tear your thumb flesh (the CRKT M16 series is an example of very rough thumbstuds).

I've never owned a thumb-disk knife, but I have fallen in love with the "flipper"!
The flipper is simple, safe, and fool proof.

Imagine a Sebenza with a flipper...

Good luck,
Allen.
 
what is the flipper????

Edited to say nevermind... It's like the CRKT thing. I think that thing is treible in the pocket.
 
Originally posted by Knife11
what is the flipper????

Edited to say nevermind... It's like the CRKT thing. I think that thing is treible in the pocket.
Click to expand...

the flipper is also found on many high-end customs. I've never had a problem with it opening in the pockets.
 
.....wandering into this thread caused me to remember obtaining my first modern production folders just four years ago. Between my son and I, that meant a dozen, give or take, mostly Benchmade and Spyderco models.....the stud versus the Spyder hole. I'd never had a "one hander" before. Way over 20 years ago I saw some after market ambidextrious stud attachment on an Buck (110 model?)....I felt a mild curiosity, but didn't follow up on it. Other than butterflies and "switchblades" I wasn't really aware of the convenience. I was living in a world where it took two hands to open your folder. The moment I first flicked a blade into a locked position with one hand, I'm sure I had a grin on my face. I guess my opinion is that either is better than neither.
 
Originally posted by spyken
the flipper is also found on many high-end customs. I've never had a problem with it opening in the pockets.
Click to expand...


Interesting that you should point out it's problems with in pocket opening, I just meant that I don't like the way they feel in my pocket cause they ride a little over because of the flipper.

IMO it's harder to use my index finger on the flipper then to just use my thumb on the stud...especially since my thumb ispreety much there all ready and the finger I have to move to the back of the handle and then re-grip after.

I really liked peacefuljeffery's minimalist argument almost make wish I had the spydie hole on the BM in my pocket.

Oh well can't have it all :cool:
 
I worked for several years with a knife, often having to hold something with one hand and produce an open knife with the other quickly and without looking.

I developed a great preference for studs because #1 my fingers are very thick and I find most holes to be just a hair too small for me to get a good solid "grip" on #2 it's easier and quicker to "feel" the stud out... at least for me.

Also I don't like holes because on some knives, I feel like I'm having to stretch my thumb out so far from the rest of my hand to push the blade open I can often drop the knife or once I even managed to cut myself. Granted I was dangling from a rope and in a very awkward position when I cut myself, but that little episode soured my opinion of holes even more.

Studs do have some disadvantages such as getting caught on clothing, but that's never been a real problem for me.

Studs work for me; holes don't. Flippers are even better than studs imho. I think this is a personal thing really.
 
ok i guess i'd have to say

a very well executed thumb stud, like one on the sebenza
spyderhole (although i don't really know which one i like better)
a nice da otf auto
flipper
disc
a poorly executed thumbstud

Pete
 
The shape of the Sydeco blade with the hole makes peeling a fruit uncomfortable but I do prefer this over many other blades with studs becasue the stud is usually located above the cutting edge.

One knife that has the stud in a good position is the Sere 2000. It doesn't interfere with the cutting edge. For example if you were to slice a tomato. But this may not be a consideration to some people.

I find opening a Spyderco faster and more confident than most one handers. The Sere 2k is also quick to dely except I feel it's too heavy for an EDC.

Cheers,
Collecter
 
I haven't slipped using the hole; I have using a stud. I like my
fingerprints where they are. Safety first says Spydie holes, IMO.

Chris
 
19 spydies in my collection, 2 more on order from local.

my only stud opener I have is the CS Ti-lite(ti version).

what's that tell yah. This is a 14yr hobby and I only have 1 stud opener. hate the disk on top, studs catch. holes and nail nick's always work.
 
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