Spyderhole - less efficient way to open a knife?

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tantrik77 said:
I despise the spyderhole. I can't bring myself to buy a Spyderco because of it. I find thumbstuds and flippers to be much faster and easier to deploy. On top of that, I hate how much extra blade width it adds. Almost every single Spyderco would carry much better (slimmer) and have a smaller footprint in a pocket without it. Aesthetically, I find it it be hideous as well. I wish Spyderco would offer some knives without it as they have great designs, materials, and fit/finish for the most part. I just can't get over that damn hole. Your mileage may vary...
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This member's 34th post on this forum contains all of my thoughts on this subject.
 
Knave said:
While I like the Spyderhole better than a Chris Reeve thumbstud (honestly, almost anything besides a nail nick is better), I do prefer a Benchmade-style thumbstud or even the Emerson disc.
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I like the disc because it makes such a secure thumb platform when choking up or in Filipino grip. Much better than any jimped blade spine. More comfortable for long-term use too.
 
With more than one way of opening the knife the spyderco hole is my favorite . There is only one knife that the hole doesn't work for me and I still like the knife the Techno .
 
IMO, the spyderhole is just as fast as anything else. In fact, I've found that spyderholes tend to be more forgiving to my thumb when breaking in a new knife, with a stiff action.
The only problem that I've had with a spyderhole is that when cutting cardboard, it can tend to snag, which is more of an annoyance than anything else.
 
SCWillson said:
The fact your thumb has to travel further with a Spydiehole just illustrates a basic law of physics: The longer the lever, the less energy needed to accomplish the work.

No, a Spydiehole may not be as fast as a flipper (my own admittedly anecdotal experience with a flipper supports this) or thumbstud, but it IS easier and more reliable. My flicker opens about 95% of the time. The Spydiehole is 100% reliable. Likewise I have had my thumb slip off both thumbstuds and thumbdiscs, but that has never happened with one of my Spydercos, even wearing gloves.
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This is my experience. Axis Lock thumbstud knives are way easier to flick open, and flippers are faster, but the Spyderhole is stone cold reliable. I actually don't like thumbstuds because I find my thumbs miss or slide off them fairly often, and it is hard to use a flipper tab when my hands are cold (which is a lot, in Minnesota) or the knife is cold, so having the Spyderhole as a backup to a flipper or even as the sole opening method is preferred.

I actually like the Waved Spyderhole best and wish Spyderco would extend that to more models.

The Emerson disc would be second choice to me, but what would be ideal would be a waved Spyderhole with the hood like on the ATR.
 
Cutlover said:
Haven't used a Spyderco spydie super hole opener since it is way too ugly (No doubt it works though). Makes the blade look like a short, fat, scrunged up hunk of steel. With regard to comments with thumbstuds, I have used them with gloves and they work fine. I prefer flippers because they usually double as a nice choil.
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Interesting point. Could you tell us more about how the flipper acts as a choil? Does it allow you to choke up on the blade, or aid in sharpening?

That is what choils do, right?
 
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marcinek said:
Interesting point. Could you tell us more about how the flipper acts as a choil? Does it allow you to choke up on the blade, or aid in sharpening?

That is what should do, right?
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Some dudes call all the circular grooves on the handle "choils"

However a choil is very specific to being designated to an area on the blade that transitions from edge to bolster/guard/handle not the handle.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Some dudes call all the circular grooves on the handle "choils"

However a choil is very specific to being designated to an area on the blade that transitions from edge to bolster/guard/handle not the handle.
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Which is understandable, because the term "choil" has been so abused by the whole "finger choil" thing. There is no good term for spot on the blade for your finger that is past the grind.

As a flipper extension often puts your index finger very close to the working edge, I think it is reasonable to compare them to finger choils.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Some dudes call all the circular grooves on the handle "choils"

However a choil is very specific to being designated to an area on the blade that transitions from edge to bolster/guard/handle not the handle.
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Thanks. That's the way I always understood it. On the handle is a finger grip, and on the blade is a choil.

Of course, even if the flipper was removed on many flippers, the finger grip would still be there.
 
marcinek said:
Thanks. That's the way I always understood it. On the handle is a finger grip, and on the blade is a choil.

Of course, even if the flipper was removed on many flippers, the finger grip would still be there.
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Does this knife have one choil, or two?
img-choil-example.jpg


In addition to the regular choil, it has a cutout for the finger that is on the blade, not the handle, but has nothing to do with the end of the grind.
 
RX-79G said:
Does this knife have one choil, or two?
img-choil-example.jpg


In addition to the regular choil, it has a cutout for the finger that is on the blade, not the handle, but has nothing to do with the end of the grind.
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it has one finger choil and one finger groove?
 
RX-79G said:
Does this knife have one choil, or two?
img-choil-example.jpg


In addition to the regular choil, it has a cutout for the finger that is on the blade, not the handle, but has nothing to do with the end of the grind.
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One. The small choil at the end of the edge. The rest are not choils

Here, listen to AG Russell...

The cut away area between the edge and the tang of a pocket knife blade and between the edge and the guard of a straight knife. The choil may or may not have enough space for a finger, it's true purpose is to allow the edge to be sharpened all the way to the tang in a pocket knife and to the end of the edge in others. Any reference of choil and finger space or choil and handle is improper.
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But, incorrect use of "choil" is neither here nor there.

Is the Spyderhole inefficient?

No. Inefficient designs aren't long-lasting, industry changing, and wildly popular.
 
Not at all. Spyderhole is fantastic. Try loosening up your pivot, or take it apart and clean/lube all the moving parts.
Best of luck.
 
marcinek said:
But, incorrect use of "choil" is neither here nor there.

Is the Spyderhole inefficient?

No. Inefficient designs aren't long-lasting, industry changing, and wildly popular.
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And aren't still widely produced. It is hard to find a black handled PM2 right now because they can't make them fast enough. This is not the first time either. When I got my PM2 3 or 4 years ago it was in so high demand you couldn't get one new. I had to go to the secondary market.
 
Officer's Match said:
It is all about control. The round Spydie-hole offers the ultimate in deployment (not crazy about that term, makes me think I need a ninja uniform) control. It is also patently simple, sorta' like me. :D
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yes i find the spyderhole to be very reliable which is what i like most about it
 
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