Spyderco - Ease of Opening?

J

JMaher

Joined
Mar 26, 2001
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69
What Spyderco knives are the easiest (or most fun) to open and at the same time are just great knives?

I have recently gotten back into the world of knives and have been selling off knives I no longer love or that are difficult (or not fun) for me to open. Like many (if not all) of us. My hands suffer from some sort of minor arthritis as I have grown older. Many thumb stud knives seem less fun to open frequently. I found my way into the world of flippers and I am having fun so far.

So far:
Ferrum Forge Falcon (Massdrop) - very impressed for the price but sometime hard to flip if I grip the knife too tightly. More of a leaning curve than a real problem but still an issue.

Reate Wave - very impressed at any price I thought it might be too colorful based on photos but actually a beautiful knife in person.

I have a few more flippers on my want list but thought I might try the Spyderco method as well and there seem to be no local stores with them.
Jim
 
Most Spydies are quite easy to open, but some have larger holes than others. I find the blades with bigger "humps" open easier than the ones with more traditional designs. Also, some locks are smoother than others (for instance, lockbacks have more pressure applied on the blade than linerlocks).

You might want to try something like a Paramilitary 2.
 
My easiest, and most fun opening Spydies are Domino, Southard and Advocate. Most fun due to many opening methods.
Para 2 and Manix are very easy and fun also.
Joe

PS......lock back Spydies, Native, Endura etc are not easy one hand opening, but are great knives.
 
While it is discontinued I find that the Lil' LionSpy I have will fly open and generally does so with ease. I do find the lockback Spydies easy to one hand open but they don't flick open it requires a dedicated full rotation with your thumb to open them.
 
I think the PM2 would be a solid knife for you. The Manix is a great knife(I'd personally choose it over a PM2 for myself), but the CBBL could potentially be difficult for you to operate. Their compression lock is much easier to disengage, as long as you're able to pinch your index and thumb together, you can close it with ease.

The PM2 also has one of the largest Spydieholes compared to the rest of their line up. That could also be a big help for you as well.
 
palonej said:
My easiest, and most fun opening Spydies are Domino, Southard and Advocate. Most fun due to many opening methods.
Para 2 and Manix are very easy and fun also.
Joe

PS......lock back Spydies, Native, Endura etc are not easy one hand opening, but are great knives.
Click to expand...

Endura not easy to open? Your thumbs need to man up sir! :D

They're definitely not as much fun as some others though. I'm not much of a flipper guy, so I just prefer the larger Spydie holes. The Military framelocks are my favorite, followed by any of the compression locks. The PM2 is probably the most widely heralded of them, but I've never found it compelling enough to keep one around for long.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Endura not easy to open? Your thumbs need to man up sir! :D

They're definitely not as much fun as some others though. I'm not much of a flipper guy, so I just prefer the larger Spydie holes. The Military framelocks are my favorite, followed by any of the compression locks. The PM2 is probably the most widely heralded of them, but I've never found it compelling enough to keep one around for long.
Click to expand...

Cannot toughen the thumbs up Bryce!!! I need them flexible for pool!!
:D
Should’ve said non flickable.
 
PM2 is my go to fun knife. I recently received a fluted CF Native 5 and its running on the same bushing pivot as the PM2. It'll drop free with the lock disengaged. I can thumb flick it open with some wrist and it'll spydie flick about 50% of the time... (still practicing with it)
 
palonej said:
Cannot toughen the thumbs up Bryce!!! I need them flexible for pool!!
:D
Should’ve said non flickable.
Click to expand...

Yeah, unless you've got some seriously tough thumb nails (I do) or a middle finger much longer than mine the Endura would be impossible to flick open. The Delica is even harder being as small as it is.

This is my new favorite fidget knife:

20180323_180713.jpg
 
I am trying to middle finger flick my szabo folder. So far no go. :oops:
 
The Southard has a great action on it. While not as snappy as ZT flippers it has a great softish action. It still flips reliably as long as you use proper flipping technique. As in it doesn’t have a weak detent that causes the blade to flop out weakly. But it has a unique feeling flipping action. Atleast mine does.

Also I love the way it’s framelock feels unlocking. Mine has a unique barely perceptible lock stick that actually feels good.
 
PirateSeulb said:
b00n b00n I can't middle finger flick my Lil' LionSpy but I can flick it with my thumb so might be easier to flick with thumb than middle finger.
Click to expand...
Well, it is less technique and more strenght vs the spring detent. Thumb works okay. But it's a weird big a$# knife. Plus the spydiehole is fairly sharp.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Yeah, unless you've got some seriously tough thumb nails (I do) or a middle finger much longer than mine the Endura would be impossible to flick open. The Delica is even harder being as small as it is.

Which model is this?
This is my new favorite fidget knife:

20180323_180713.jpg
Click to expand...
 
My PM2 opens with the slightest flick of the Spydiehole, thumb or middle finger.
 

Don't add your question in the middle of the quote. I saw your post three times before noticing the question.

It's the fluted titanium Military.

Edit: J JMaher Lol, it also won't allow me to quote you when your post is just a quote.
 
Thanks - just learning here. LOL

Will take a look at the Military and there seem to be lots of recommendations to try the PM2.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Sage 5 which seems to have similar characteristics to the PM2?

Jim
 
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