To wave or not to wave . . .

[eel]

My only concern about the wave (and its not probable) is if I were asked to empty my pockets by an LEO, In a stressful situation I may forget and let it open creating the wrong impression in a highly caffinated armed, but otherwise probably freindly individual.

Yeah it's definately not very probable that you will accidentally open a waved knife. Since you have to consciously make it hang up on the top corner of your pocket. BUT If for some reason you did manage to let it hang up, you could always yelp out: "Oopsies! Didn't mean to do that Officer! That was an accident! Please don't pop a cap in my ass!". :thumbup:

 

[tirod3]

O|||||||o

:d

well, nobody said this was a dimbulb response . . . . (ref to driver's side)

Yes, it does occur to me the short time I carried the kerambit I could draw forward to keep the wave from working. It kept a few blonde cell phone users from wetting themselves when they came in to buy an air filter for their SUV.

Shoulda sent their wife in and got free installation.

Still and all, I'm putting this innovation with the others I have no need for - tantos, partial serrations, and chisel grinds. What's funny is I have a BM CQC 7 - no wave, and it's a great design, love the knife. If it was waved, so much the better - but I'd never carry it.

It's certainly a signature combination of features that has done a lot to establish a makers reputation - I guess I don't really need that much self defense in one knife. 99% of knife use is utility, so I let that drive the priority list.

 

[Kaizen1]

I have waved and non-waved knives. When carrying the waved knives, I rarely use the feature and it doesn't bother me to open them without the wave. I never accidentally wave the knives open. So as far as I'm concerned, it's another feature that's usable (and not superfluous) and has no compromises for my purposes.

BTW, I like the wave for potential SD purposes. You're right, for EDC stuff, it doesn't seem necessary, but it is fun.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Never tried a waved blade, but as WadeF notes, Benchmade's Axis lock blades are pretty fast. I believe I can flick open my Mini-Rukus faster than I could deploy one of the assisted-opening blades from Benchmade.

I feel it's difficult to appreciate the wave until you've stress-tested it. Standing in my living room, wave vs axis lock (or whatever) doesn't seem to make a huge difference, I just go by whichever knife I like better overall. Take some knives out with your training buddies and work some high stress scenarios, and that opinion changes a ton. Get your buddy to come in swinging, spend some time fighting him off (so you're tired), then make the time & space to draw your knife, and try to draw while he's storming in to pop you (so you're under a ton of stress). All of a sudden, the wave looks to be in a whole 'nother category from anything else ... just grab knife and PULL! I, like all the guys I've trained this with, have moved to waves. Man, trying to find that little thumb stud or axis button on my 710 under that kind of stress, very difficult. In fact, I had to give up opening that way and just wrist-flicked my 710 open to get the speed I wanted, but that is still slower than the wave and when tired & stressed you risk throwing it.

So, again, for general use, the wave doesn't provide a huge advantage, and at least for me, is a pain because I have to pay such close attention to make sure the knife doesn't wave itself open when I don't want it to.

For defensive use, for anyone who has stress tested it, the wave is in another league.

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Does spyderco Make a Waved Trainer, I would love to try it in practice, I have a waved delica on my list to buy as a trial/offhand back up toy.

 

[SIFU1A]

and not at other Jeeps . . . .

Emerson's wave feature is another innovation in opening blades, which should prove to any switchblade-phobic sheeple the complete stupidity of trying to outlaw technology. Holes, studs, discs, assisted, even holsters will speed the opening of a knife. No doubt the idea of allowing the "pocket holster" to assist the opening of a blade can be attractive.

And I defend your right to have one.

I just find it interesting that a lot of supporters in threads tend toward the "whip it out" school of thought that requires fast deployment in an Every Day Carry knife. I'm not talking SD, military, covert, or other users towards which Emerson apparently designed and markets his knives. I'm talking nail cleaners like most of us.

Perhaps you can clear up some misconceptions I have, and tell why fast opening and "instant" presentation is important to you - and how reliable it is.

have ya ever tried a waved knife??

i have several, for one thing if ya dont wanna wave it open ya withdraw it from a pocket and open like ya would any other knife, or ya can wave it open, i have never had one inadvertantly open on me when i was drawing it, or any other time for that matter, not ever.

so, ya can choose to use it, or choose not to.

 

[gcs]

I may be a bit dim, as I never heard of this wave thing till I found this forum last month, and I carry two knives on me at all times,lol
But... I just picked up a Cara Cara, and put the ghetto zippy tie "wave" thingee through the hole, that I saw on someone here's pictures. Wow, all I can say is "that's really neat", but it's usefulness in everyday work?...
It DOES make a statement though if you need to grab someones attention.

 

[mmarkh]

I have an Endura with the wave but prefer most knives without it.

 

[tirod3]

Yes, Sif, if you read my posts, you'd see I do and have.

Thanks, Joe, gross motor skills are about all thats left under stress, and it's helpful to be reminded that's where the Wave stands out.

Of course, the fixed blade guys would point out their blades deploy open 100% of the time, so there is room to consider that a partial "open" is acceptable to the wave user, like it or not. It will happen.

 

[coop1957]

I seem to practice drawing my edc blade all the time. Pants pocket's wear out way to early. I know that under duress things change. My first draw when the SHTF will not be my blade it will be my 45acp projector. Anyway the Wave blade just looks to funky for my tastes.

 

[Monocrom]

Does spyderco Make a Waved Trainer, I would love to try it in practice, I have a waved delica on my list to buy as a trial/offhand back up toy.

Better get one soon, it's so popular that Spyderco is back-ordered 3 months on that model. Internet dealers might decide to charge more for the ones they have in stock.