Spydie Hole

JerryIsAlive

JerryIsAlive

Joined
Jun 13, 2012
Messages
670
Any tricks to using the Spydie hole effectively? I saw there are a bunch of youtube videos, but figured Id still ask here. It seems a decent amount of people use their middle finger, but wasnt the intended use of the hole to be for the thumb? So far, I am most comfortable using my thumb, but cant get it to flick open like so many people make look so easy. Im using a Dragonfly 2. Maybe the size of the knife is making it more difficult for me to open it quickly.
 
The D2 is very hard to flip open due to the light blade and pressure from the back lock. I'd try a tenacious or something with a linerlock. Those work best.
 
A few Spydie owners I know or with whom I've exchanged messages practice opening and closing a lot before they become comfortably proficient in handling their knife. Frequently they line the edge with black tape or use a trainer version of the knife to prevent cuts while scaling that learning curve, which isn't too steep but involves development of muscle memory. Some take the knife apart, when they find it necessary, to oil and/or polish the pivot to make the opening and closing actions smoother. I've never done this myself, preferring rather to wait out the normal "break in" process through frequent use and operation of the knife. I too, however, prefer to use the thumb or the "spydie drop" than the middle finger for opening the blade.
 
What Mr. Seelow said. Some Spydies are easy to flick (once you figure it out), and others not so much. I also tend to adjust my pivots just a mini-micron loose (almost imperceptibly) for easy flickability.
 
I only own the endura 4 in ZDP. (great knife btw) And it was a learning curve thing for me. As they say, it's all in the wrist. I had to learn how hard to flip with thumb, then how much wrist to open. I could see on a small knife maybe loosening the pivot a bit, but I haven't done much modding-wise with mine.
 
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JerryIsAlive said:
Im using a Dragonfly 2. Maybe the size of the knife is making it more difficult for me to open it quickly.
Click to expand...

JerryIsAlive, I very recently obtained a Dragonfly2 (in ZDP) and I know where you're coming from with this question. The size of the Dragonfly2 doesn't make it as easy to deploy the blade compared to larger models, and the lockback mechanism has inherently strong blade retention, so that doesn't help either for flicking.

I suggest you start by breaking in the knife by opening and closing it ad nauseum. I did this mindlessly while watching dozens of Spyderco reviews on Youtube over one night in order to fast-forward the process :D. That should loosen up the blade. You can add lubricant to the pivot if you're not satisfied. When you are satisfied, it should be easy to do the One Hand Opening as shown in Spyderco's Edge-U-Cation. I find that the diminutive size of the Dragonfly2 means I need to wrap my fingers around the knife as far as possible from my palm in order to get the proper leverage. I also find it's not the fastest deployment of my Spyderco knives, but it should be smooth and almost effortless.

If you want a speedier deployment with a Dragonfly2, you can do a Spydie Drop as I'm sure you've seen in many videos. The mass of the handle on this model is extremely light, and you need to break the retention force of the lockback, so you may need to emphasize the whipping motion in your arm with a lot of flick in the wrist. Pinch the Spydie Hole lightly so that the entire knife can swivel, but securely so that you don't make your Dragonfly actually fly. Also, "practice makes perfect."

That's my advice based on my recent experience. As I said, I got this model recently so I'm still learning more about it. Hope this helps!
 
As mentioned earlier, models with lockback would be difficult to do middle finger trick due to tension is there througoiht. Models with liner/frame lock & compression lock should ve easier.

I do index finger instead of middle finger flick though ;) on my Resulience.
 
The hole wasn't intended to be used to "flick" the knife open. Its intended purpose is to allow one hand opening. Placing the ball of your thumb against the hole and rotating it in a smooth arc accomplishes that, and is 100% reliable. The fact that folks can get other methods to work, at least some of the time, doesn't make those methods something that everyone can do with every model.
 
Its not that you cant flick the D2 open its just that the blade it so small. it doesn't get the same momentum from the mass. lockbacks are also stiffer, (Than compression, liner or caged ball)
 
It helps to oil the Dragonfly2, loosen the pivot screw a wee bit, and have a protruding thumbnail, but it's still difficult to reliably flick open. The stiff action arguably makes it less dangerous since the blade will not continue flying open, so a failed flick means the thumb likely does not catch the edge because it's still located past it. Actually, it's just that you need to flick it quite far just so it's not incomplete.
 
How many you guys seen this video? you can fast forward to 3:11 for the cool opening trick!
I wonder besides Dragonfly, what other models can play like that?

[video=youtube;l5r3bnUZlXs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5r3bnUZlXs[/video]
 
I find it easiest to put the very tip of your thumb in the hole so the nail is touching the hole. Then flick your thumb like you were shooting a marble. Also flick in line with the handle and not perpendicular. Another trick is to put your pinky on the spine of the blade and put some pressure with your thumb so when you let go with pinky and flick at same time the blade is 'preloaded' and pops out quicker. The same technique works with thumb studs and I can flick even really stiff knives open without wrist assistance. It can be hard to hold onto the knife while doing this, especially small ones, so I also will use my ring and middle finger to hold onto the pocket clip. A picture would help explain but if you try it you will probably see what I mean. Good luck.
 
Forget about flicking back locks. Even the Native 5 with the larger blade and pivot bushing is difficult. This is why I HATE back locks. My Dragonfly 2 and Native 5 were both sold because I couldn't get beyond it.

Regarding flicking, I prefer middle finger flick.
 
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