Traditionals without nail nicks

B

bryan123

Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
264
Hi,

I enjoy traditional knives and have a few, my 1967 cub scout knife, some SAK's, Opinels and a Buck 380. The only thing I don't like about them is the nail nicks.

Can anyone suggest a traditional that doesn't use a nail nick to open?

thanks
 
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This is a traditional Spanish knife, called a "navaja." No nail nick, but easy to pinch open.
 
Look for some of the "easy open" type of handles. Since the blades are pinchable, some of those might be made without a nick. I cannot locate a picture.
 
I think most traditional (American-style, anyway) knives have either nail nicks or long pulls. Whether it's a trapper, stockman, barlow, canoe, etc., it's just traditional. And it's usually difficult to open without one. An exception is my Case wharncliffe mini-trapper: it comes with a nail nick, but I usually pinch it open.
My2tALS.jpg
 
if you are not a fan of the nail nick, how about the long pull? or are you interested in a blade with no pulling devices, relying solely on pinch open?
 
Hi everyone thanks for the nice pics and responses so far. To clarify it's ok if the knife has a nick as long as I don't have to use it. I'd like something that can be opened without a nail nick like for example the Spyderco Roadie or the Three Rivers Nomad, only traditional.

Thanks
 
If you go with a GEC many of the patterns are pinchable once they have a patina. I have a 78, for example, that isn't very pinchable when polished, but easily pinchable with a patina.
 
bryan123 said:
I'd like something that can be opened without a nail nick
Click to expand...
Single blades are definitely the way to go then.
The lower the blade sits in the handle, the harder it will be to pinch open.
Specifically, look for one with a sheepsfoot blade style for ease of pinching open.
Other styles will be easy enough too, mainly the ones with Wharncliffe and Clip Point blade styles.
 
Largely depends on how much blade, the width, is exposed above the liners/handle. Low riding Clip blades in serpentines are never going to offer a lot of grip without a nick or cut-out.

Spears, straight edge knives offer more to get hold of, Hawkbills & Pruners offer maximal purchase.

Here are are few to ponder. Starting with a French Pradel in Horn, Laguioles and most Opinels are easy to get open without using a nick.

owocjpc.jpg


The GEC 38 Farmer's Jack is never going to present a problem in opening the master, secondary blade is also quite easy to open if the master is already opened-the beauty of double-end knives over Jacks :cool:

VGcuFRr.jpg


Really, most of these straight edges can be got open without the nick, more decoration in fact.

Wf0Zxm7.jpg


GEC's 56 Half-Hawk doesn't need the EZ-Open notch either

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Lionsteel's Roundhead Spear has nicks both sides but you don't need them, nor is this a feeble spring ;)

AlhdAhT.jpg


Bang up to date Fox Knives from Italy using a Leaf type blade in M390 needs no nick but it's decently sprung.

UH4EqFM.jpg
 
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