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The size of the hole

Yo Mama

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
6,221
I'm so used to the oversized hole on the Manix 2 and Para 2, that when I went back to my little Native the hole just seemed different. I'm not used to the smaller hole, the oversized is IMO just right.

How about you?
 
I'm new to Spydies and just getting used to that whole hole thing. Lol. I have a Persistence and a Caly 3.5 coming today. I've been flicking the crap out of the Persistence and have to say I've become a hole different person 😜I'm loving it.
 
I prefer the bigger hole also. Obviously some models cannot have a hole that big, but I say when it can be done it should.
 
I think some knives have a giant almost oversized hole. It is functional, but on some models it is almost exaggerated in its appearance. For example the Vallotton has a huge hole, doesn't appeal to me and I never bought one. The hole on the Southard on the other hand, is much more appropriate. Same with the Leafstorm, Wenger, Centofante, WTC, Lil' Temperance, Calypso, etc.
 
Given that the Military was designed for, well you know, military personnel who probably wear gloves. It is no surprise that the hole is just a little large for my thumb. It doesn't really bother me though. I just have to catch one part of the hole when opening.
 
I like the bigger holes. The holes on my Delica and Gayle Bradley are a little smaller than what I like.
 
I'm fine with smaller Spyderholes on models like the Kiwi, but I prefer a large (14mm) Spyderhole on full size folders. I do wish Spyderco would include Spyderhole size as part of the dimensional data in the online catalog.
 
I have to admit, I love my Spyderco knives (and I have a pile of them), but I'd love them quite a bit more if they came with a 0mm hole.
 
From the standpoint of esthetics, I don't like the hole. So the smaller the hole, the better. From the standpoint of ergonomics, I love the hole. So the bigger the hole, the better.

If it appears I'm conflicted about the hole, it's because I am. :)
 
I prefer a larger hole and the older I get the more I appreciate it. The best example for me of how function trumps form is the chaparral. In terms of how it looks a little smaller hole might be more pleasing, but I don't know if I would be able to get it open.
 
My only real complaint about the hole is the amount of real estate it consumes. Fortunately, as RD pointed out, Spyderco makes enough low profile knives that I can get by. But my Sage 2, while a terrific knife and ridiculously easy to deploy, sees very little carry time because of the amount of room it takes up in my pocket.

PS: I'm carrying my Centofante Memory today. :)
 
The Para 2 and Manix 2 feel just about right to me. I like them a lot more than the smaller ones, but even the smaller ones do work. The Southard doesn't really work for me, but I always flip it anyway. I'm not sure that the hole on the Southard was intended to be functional, especially since it's rounded off a bit. The functional holes are always finished with a sharper angle so you can get traction.
 
One of the reasons I prefer the larger hole is it makes the middle finger flick much easier. For the thumb slow opening, the size of the hole matters little, but the bigger hole really matters in a flick opening. Admittedly, when actually using my Spyderco's I typically do a slow thumb open. I do like to play with them and appreciate the mechanics though.
 
In use I tend to prefer the larger holes. These days I've narrowed my Spyderco population down to 3, a PM2, a Salt 1 and a Caly 3.5 CF. It's easier and faster to open the first two, but I appreciate the compact dimensions on the Caly 3.5, smaller hole and all.
 
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