Spydie Hole, Thumbstud, or Flipper.

For me, it's the Round Hole first. Thumbstuds are neither a plus nor minus, while I avoid flippers; can't stand them.
 
If I had a choice between those 3 only, I would choose one with an ambidextrous thumb stud. I never liked the flippers and have never used the Spyderhole. If I had my choice, I would rather have the good ol' notch in the blade like on my Buck 110 or Schrade Stockman.
 
I like the round hole so much it has become my first criteria for buying a knife. There are some variations of it that are OK, like that CRKT design with the 'ledge' that catches your thumb or the oval slots some makers use.

Beyond that it's all sort of moot because I have basically stopped buying other types. Of the others I do think the Emerson disk is probably the best, especially when combined with a Wave opener.

Thumb studs are my least favorite---too small a target to find reliably.
 
Flipper,Wave,Hole,Disc,Studs....

I like the fact that the flipper acts as a finger guard on well designed knives.

;)
 
I think they all have their merit, but I also think you get the most for you money from Spyderco Delica4/Endura4 series (in terms of blade steel, features, construction). The Spydie hole seems to work as good any the others IMO.
 
I like to have the option to open my knife slowly when I want to and quickly when I want to. My favorite setup is either the Spydie hole or a flipper with decent thumb studs.
 
flipper or spyder hole. can be worked easily with cold hands or with gloves...cant say that for thumbstuds.
 
Spyder hole for me! I hate it when the thumb stud gets too close to the handle scales... makes it hard to open. How much the blade protrudes from the handle when closed is not a concern for me because I carry tip-down/spine-forward...

First post by the way... Seems like a great group of folks here!

Thanks,
JR
 
Should have added "balisong" to your list of choices, because that's my favorite.
Otherwise, I'm a big fan of the Onion-style flipper.
Stud vs. disc vs. hole = all the same to me.
 
Kershaw's angled thumb stud (Blur), Spyder hole, thumbstud, thumb disc, flipper. This list is only my views on manual action knives. My Blur is manual, I took out the torison bar.
 
I don't like flippers, they scare me. I have almost cut myself with them, numerous times, because they were flippers.

I think the Spyderco Trademark Round Hole is the best, most intuitive, elegant, effective, least likely to get in the way, can't hang up on your clothing. {And if you are smart, and buy a Spyderco, you will be doing business with one of the most innovative and classy companies out there, period}

The others are OK, they work, but I don't prefer them.

But, sometimes, other things make the decision for you.

I am a HUGE Spyderco fan. But, I EDC two BM Rukus. I love the knife, can't help it, they are like old friends, it would hurt me too deeply to part with them.

My Spyderco love mostly expresses itself in the fixed blade. Ah, so good.
 
I find the thumb stud the fastest, but prefer the Spydie hole for carry. I have knives of all three types and carry the Spydercos the most. I like the flipper, but don't like the fact that the motion is completely different than either of the other two.
 
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