Thumb Hole or Thumb Stud

Knives-R4-Me

Knives-R4-Me

Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
26
Ok, here it is, I have never owned a folder with a thumb hole. Why? Well to be honest, I think the thumb hole would be more difficult to deploy the blade. I am hoping to get some input from others who own both. I have Benchmade Barrage and Rift, Zero Tolerance 301 302 350, SOG Aegis, Bradley Alias plus others, but none with a thumb hole. I have had an itch to buy a BM Onslaught and several Spyderco's, but the thumb hole has me a little spooked. Does anyone have any thoughts on this???
 
Thumb hole by a huge margin for me.
And I'll bet a large majority of others will also pick thumb hole.
It's just easier, more intuitive, and you can do it with gloves on.
Another plus is that there's no stud to get in the way of sharpening.
Lenny
 
I have both. Both work well. When I got my first Spyderco it took a few days to get used too, but I'm good with both now. I actually prefer an elongated hole, like Strider uses, but rounds work fine. Thumbstuds do seem to get in the way while sharpening. Holes dominate with gloves. I generally stay away from studs in glove weather.
 
Better to push a hole than flick a pole!














Or in english, Spyderhole all the way, but thumbstuds do tend to make for better looking knives.
 
I think the way a blade opens is less important than the blade itself. Either way it's openable by one hand; beyond that it's merely personal preference and practice of technique. Maybe you prefer a stud, but if Spyderco came out with a knife with the perfect blade, I'm certain you can learn. And of course the opposite is true. All things being equal, I personally prefer a thumb stud, but that's just my preference. It's easier to flick open quickly. But then a hole is easier to open with gloves or cold fingers. It's rare when identical blades are available with both opening methods.
 
This would be great with a poll option!

But Hole just the same, never much liked fingering studs.
 
I prefer studs simply because they look better imho... they are also easier to flick while holes are easier in general...
 
Depends. If there is sufficient clearance between the handle and the blade, the stud can be as easy to use as the hole. If the hole is sunk low and near the handle or is partially obstructed, such as left-handed use of the Spyderco PPT, it more or less sucks.

The stud can obstruct sharpening at very acute angles, or cutting near the handle, if it is wrongly placed. I strongly prefer the hole :)
 
Lenny said:
Thumb hole by a huge margin for me.
And I'll bet a large majority of others will also pick thumb hole.
It's just easier, more intuitive, and you can do it with gloves on.
Another plus is that there's no stud to get in the way of sharpening.
Lenny
Click to expand...

:thumbup: +1
I work in gloves every day and the hole is much easier and more positive for me than most thumb studs. My Rift is the exception. The studs are well placed and adequately sized for me to use it wearing gloves.
 
The two folders I use the most are a small Sebenza with a single stud and a MiniGrip with the elongated hole. I notice no difference in ease of use with bare hands or gloves. They both work equally well for me.
 
Neither, get a flipper or even better one that you're able to open with a flick of your wrist.
Axis lock deployment also works well. Just not too crazy about holes on blades in general.
I wouldn't mind on hole on a LionSpy though. :)
 
Hmmmm....... I like both :D

23m801i.jpg


At the same time ;)
 
TxSxB said:
Hmmmm....... I like both :D

23m801i.jpg


At the same time ;)
Click to expand...

So you go both ways? :p I actually resisted the thumb hole for a long time because of aesthetics but now prefer it. I have both though and try to evaluate each knife individually. I've got some really smooth knives with studs and some with holes.
 
Thumb hole, always! I think a thumb ramp or thumb disk is preferable to a thumb stud, unless it's a very well thought out thumb stud. by well thought out, I don't necessarily even think the stud itself matters as much as its location, and if the handle is scalloped to allow for easier access to it.
 
It depends on the design of the knife - but Spyderco designs their blades to work with the Spydie-hole very well. Some of their knives just melt into your hand they work so seamlessly.

TedP
 
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