Spyderhole vs. Thumbstud

love4steel

love4steel

Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
666
After owning several spyderco's and several thumbstud knives(sebenza,benchmade etc.,) I really think that the spyderhole works better. I've found that sometimes(very rarely)when trying to open quickly, I can loose the thumbstud with my finger - making the opening process two-step. Believe me Im not about to sell my Sebenza because of it... but the hole just seems to offer a more positive,
every-time, cant miss opening. Agree/Disagree ?
 
Disagree, at least with my limited experience. All the thumb stud knives I have are Benchmade Axis locks. I can flip every one open in a flash if I want to. Now I've practiced more than a little bit. My wife would say a lot. :p

I've picked upa few Spydie hole knives and a couple Benchmades with the "void" in the blade and I just can't get used to them. Slow, at least for me. Probably not a fair comparison because I haven't sat on the couch and practiced like I used to when I first got my BM705.

Bruce
 
I agree but I would also say that it hasn't entered into my knife buying choices. I own more knifes with studs.

And as for the other universal internet question, 9mm or .45, I'll take the 10mm.:p
 
I have never been a fan of the hole, I love the thumb stud on my Benchmades, very quick opening. JMHO:D

.45 all the way
 
A Spyder hole done right is the only thing that could make my Sebenza any better.
 
Spyder-hole every time.

It's just so much more positive in the hand, especially when your hands are cold and or wet, as you loose considerable feeling in your fingers.
I have a number of knives with studs, and ever one of them I wish had a hole.

I would qualify it by saying that they have to be round holes. I've got a couple with lozeng shaped holes and there is a certain amount of thumb travel as the blade is opening which you just don't get with a round hole. It's very, very slight, but once you notice it, you keep noticing it.

I don't think the argument that thumb studs are OK because the Axis lock makes it easier is really relavent to this question. I have an axis lock, few knives with the Spyderco compression lock (almost as slick as the Axis) and a couple of frame locks that are just about as easy to flick open as the axis. So for these knives you could say that both studs and holes aren't needed at all.
 
The problem with holes is that by design they're farther away from the very front end and handle of the knife. The overall arc of motion is usually greater because the hole isn't placed as near to the front end, and the thumb has to move farther to hit the hole because the hole is farther out.

I've got small hands, so sometimes using a hole-opener is a reach.
 
I like the hole, especially the perfectly round Spyderco hole. The ovals I don't care for as much. I've had thumbstud knives that work great and some that I had trouble using. The best is the Sebenza, but I still feel more positive with the hole.
 
I like em both, my only problem with thumb studs is if the thumb stud is too big it sometimes catches on my pocket on the draw and partialy opens.
 
There was another long thread on this very subject not that long ago.

You'll find it if you search for it.

I did a quick and dirty count after quite a few posts and got the following results. Keep in mind that this was only from those that bothered to post in that thread and is in no way a large scale accurate survey.

Most people seemed to favour holes over studs.
A lesser number were relatively equally happy with either method.
A much smaller number favoured studs.

Make of that what you will.
 
I agree that the hole configuration, be it Spyderco or another maker, does offer better purchase when opening the blade. However, the difference is not profound enough to make me carry only knives with a hole. It just means you have to put a tad more thought into the opening process.
 
I have Spydercos, Sebenza, a Leek, etc. Nothing compares to the BM Axis lock for speed of opening and CLOSING. Some I can open almost as fast, but non can be closed as fast. The Axis lock keeps your fingers away from the blade at all times. Any time you have to disengage a liner lock or intergral lock you put your fingers in the path of the closing blade. I have yet to try other brands' versions of the Axis lock, so they may work just as well.
 
i like them both. however, holes make the knife wider (distance from blade back to handle back) and harder to carry IMO. that said, spydies have a fond place in my heart and EDC rotation.
 
Originally posted by notos&w
holes make the knife wider (distance from blade back to handle back) and harder to carry IMO.
Click to expand...
True except with my old Benchmade AFCK. Very smooth in and out of the pocket, no studs to snag, and still quite slim. :)
 
The hole all the way. I prefer the round (and large round like on the Spyderco Military Best)over the Benchmade Oval. Oval looks better. I don't dislike studs as long as they don't have an edge on them.

About my least favorite is the disk on top of the blade. It always seems to catch on my pockets.
 
Neither. I like thumbdisks, ridges, cobra hoods, and other crap like that, they look better and they work better. IMO, of course. Unfortunatly, there aren't many folders like that, but there aren't many people like me either. :eek:
 
I do like the hole also..., also I do own many other knives without the feature.

Also.., not much doubt about the Axis lock..., I agree with all the comments made. Really slick!
 
I like thumb disks or studs for tip up carry and holes for tip down.
.357 keeps 'em down!
 
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