Recommendation? Traditional without nail opener

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Oct 21, 2018
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My dad recently had his thumb on his left hand crushed at work. He's healed now but the nail is not going to grow back on it. He always carried a traditional like a Case, but now he can't open the knives he has. I've given him a Spyderco Roadie but he doesn't like the plastic scales.

Any recommendations for a traditional style slip joint that can be easily pinched open. Easily because he also lost some movement in his thumb.

Thanks
 
What about a Case Russlock? It's a liner lock, but it looks like you can easily disengage it.
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Buck 112. Classic wood handles, brass bolster, carbon or stainless steel.
I'll likely pick one up soon.
 
Otter Anker Messer or Drei Nieten Messer, Buck 501, Case Copperlock are a few of mine that I can pinch open.
 
Case trapperlock open very easily.Buck 500,501.Thereare alot of traditional one bladed knives that open easily without using your nail.
 
Case makes (or made) a little lever thing to stick into the nail nick of traditional knives to help you get them open. I don't much care for it, but if I didn't have a thumbnail I'd probably appreciate it.
 
A G Russell's Gent's Hunter in either medium or small size can be pinched open. The medium one can also be opened with the side of your thumb.
 
Case makes (or made) a little lever thing to stick into the nail nick of traditional knives to help you get them open. I don't much care for it, but if I didn't have a thumbnail I'd probably appreciate it.

The steel thumbnail?

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Seems like it would be annoying to use.

I’d go for what’s recommended above and look for traditional knives labelled as EZ open or easy open.

Viper (brand knives) teardrop is a great example. You just pinch the exposed blade and pull the blade open. No fingernails required.

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Alternatively they make “one armed” (one armed jack, one armed bandit, etc.) traditional knives which can be opened by hooking the little notch at the fronr of the blade on the lip of your pocket or something and prying the blade open. They typically leave alot of blade exposed too which can also be pinched open.

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They aren’t all lockbacks

Hope your dad is ok.
 
If he likes the Russlock you can find them with a drop point blade and an easy open notch in the handle. I've got one and pinch opening is super easy.
 
On many single blade traditionals, the "nail" nick helps with pinching the blade open (without using a finger nail). Any brand Sodbuster and most traditional lock backs all open this way. This allows this style of knife to be opened with gloves on.
 
Only traditional, nothing modern? I'd say a flipper on bearings will be the easiest knife on his hands to deploy.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. Ordered the Viper. Hopefully he likes it and I'll be sharpening it a lot less.
 
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