Thumbhole Method

CryoGuy5272

CryoGuy5272

Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
891
So my question is what is your preferred way of utilizing your thumbhole to open your knife? Do you have certain models that use one technique and others that use a different one? I have gotten all my knives to where they are flickable(even my lockbacks) so I pretty much exclusively flick them all using my middle finger. I find it to be the least amount of wasted movement. The position in which I place my hand to flick the knife is very natural, and transitions rather seamlessly to a cutting grip. I started using Spydie drops on my lockbacks but felt like I didn't have enough control of the knife. So what's your preferred method?
 
Yeah I'm a middle finger flicker for most of my knives. Does not work on some models that are designed "right-hand specific" and have the hole covered, like Techno for example. So I just thumbnail flick that.

I middle finger flick so often that I feel like a cabby in NYC, lol... no, but seriously I do it so often that I sometines prefer doing that on my Dice and Dominos over the Flipper.

On Compression lock models I occassionally do the compression drop, or whatever you may call it, to open and close.


Two of the most satisfying to flick, off the top of my head, are the GB and PM2. :cool:
 
Thumb pad or thumbnail flick for me. Almost exclusively, actually, with the sole exception of my Native. But I carry the Native tip-down in the back pocket, so the draw lends itself naturally to a spydie-drop.

Oh and I flip the Southard.

I can pull of the middle finger flick, but I never liked the motion. Felt weird to me. So I stick with what I know, I guess.
 
Middle finger flick or thumb pad mostly. Spydie drop occasionally for rrp tip down carry. To me, flicking with the thumb just feels unnatural with a Spyderco.
 
Guest5160 said:
Middle finger flick or thumb pad mostly. Spydie drop occasionally for rrp tip down carry. To me, flicking with the thumb just feels unnatural with a Spyderco.
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That's what initially started me clicking with my middle finger. Then I noticed the ease and short amount of movement in getting into a suitable cutting grip and I went exclusively to it
 
Traditional carrier. Thumb rotation only. It's the only way that meets my expectation of precision control and safety. I have flippers. If that's what I want it the time I carry a flipper. I don't buy Spyderco for flipping.
 
I,ve cut my thumb way too many times when I flicked rather than smoothly thumb opening with control.... but my Southard does satisfy my flippy needs.
 
Razzle said:
I,ve cut my thumb way too many times when I flicked rather than smoothly thumb opening with control.... but my Southard does satisfy my flippy needs.
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Same lol. I've sliced the hell out of myself doing that. I prefer to use my thumb though because I don't have finger nails so trying to use my middle finger hurts after awhile. I also really don't have any knives that are easy to flip with my middle finger.
 
Controlled openings are the only way to open a knife. If you don't have control over it you shouldn't be operating it.
Learn to middle finger flick like it's instinct and it's perfectly safe. Any operation or motion with a knife has the potential to cut you if you're careless.

Like Cryo said, the middle finger flick results in the knife already being in ready position. While timing is not always an essential aspect of most daily use (other than maybe self defense), but IMO more efficient use of movement definitely is. :thumbup:
 
SpeedHoles said:
Controlled openings are the only way to open a knife. If you don't have control over it you shouldn't be operating it.
Learn to middle finger flick like it's instinct and it's perfectly safe. Any operation or motion with a knife has the potential to cut you if you're careless.

Like Cryo said, the middle finger flick results in the knife already being in ready position. While timing is not always an essential aspect of most daily use (other than maybe self defense), but IMO more efficient use of movement definitely is. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

How is it totally in control if the blade continues the movement by itself? No part of your hand is touching the blade, ergo not totally in control. It's basically a kinetic opening.
 
Thumb pad during the work week...
Middle finger flick on weekends...

:thumbup:

All seriousness thumb pad almost all the time. Middle finger flick sometimes and spydie drop just for hell of it rarely.
 
singularity35 said:
How is it totally in control if the blade continues the movement by itself? No part of your hand is touching the blade, ergo not totally in control. It's basically a kinetic opening.
Click to expand...


Controlled as in consistently and firmly within my grasp and I know the beginning and end points of its travel. Maybe you view it as throwing it out there and just hoping for the best...?
But I definitely have it under control. I never used the term "total", as in absolute, and you'd be correct since I would not have total control over it this way... Total and absolute control would be an illusion anyway since dropping while opening with any method is still a possibility.
But I haven't ever flicked it and in mid opening regretted my decision and tried to stop and reclose, or anything like that.

Like parking a car as close as I can to the handicapped spot and kicking the door open full force and hoping it doesn't reach the car next to me, lol.
I read the situation and try to do as appropriate. And I'm the guy who parks at the back of the lot anyway. :D
 
SpeedHoles said:
Controlled as in consistently and firmly within my grasp and I know the beginning and end points of its travel. Maybe you view it as throwing it out there and just hoping for the best...?
But I definitely have it under control. I never used the term "total", as in absolute, and you'd be correct since I would not have total control over it this way... Total and absolute control would be an illusion anyway since dropping while opening with any method is still a possibility.
But I haven't ever flicked it and in mid opening regretted my decision and tried to stop and reclose, or anything like that.

Like parking a car as close as I can to the handicapped spot and kicking the door open full force and hoping it doesn't reach the car next to me, lol.
I read the situation and try to do as appropriate. And I'm the guy who parks at the back of the lot anyway. :D
Click to expand...

I guess your definition of control is different from mine...
 
Almost always open mine by pressing the pad of my left thumb into the Spyderhole and keeping it there while I rotate the blade open. Aside from "experiments' with other methods, the only exception to that is my Centofante Memory, which requires at two stage approach to open left handed. Open it part way with my left middle finger, enough to fully expose the Spyderhole, then finish as usual with my thumb.
 
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