Trouble Opening Slip Joints

P

pete1958

Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
12
Hello All,

With the onset of older age (Arthritis, brittle fingernails), I have been have trouble opening a lot of my slip joints! I know you can use a knife pick, but for me I am afraid to use one because they could mar the finish on the blade. I'm just trying to open them up so I can make pictures to possibly sell and the knives are new and stiff.
Does anyone have a idea I could use. My EDC is well worn and I can open it up just fine, but the newer ones I have collected over the years are pretty stiff.

Thanks :confused:
 
A pair of needle nose pliers that has had the jaws either dipped in plasti-dip or wrapped in electrical tape would work for opening blades you can get pliers around, and you could use something like a plastic crochet hook or even just a thin shard of lexan or other stiff plastic to get the ones open requiring use of a nail nick.
 
I like the idea of making a pick out of wood or plastic.

I'd use a polymer like G10 or Micarta (not home made stuff) because they are tough materials. I've made small tools and implements from Micarta that have held up well.

A very hard wood like ebony or ironwood might be suitable to make a pick. I'll see if I have some scraps that I can test and see how well they hold up. I have a Buck Stockman that would be a good one to use for testing, it has a good stiff back spring. Using wood could be a nice whittling project too.

Ric
 
Google search "rough rider blade opener" and you'll find some for cheap. I saw one for under $10 so that's not bad at all.
 
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One company makes a "steel thumbnail" seems to work especially well for many folks with difficulty opening knives with a super strong pull.
 
Being a person to not spend money I don't have to, I would grab a neighbor kid or use a small hobby sized pair of needle nose pliers with something on the pliers to protect the knife (maybe the goop stuff to do quick patches on waders).
 
Thanks for the ideas. I carry a Kershaw Zing because my nails can't handle a slip joint every day. I would carry one of my Vic Soldiers more if this was not a problem.

What can you guys tell me about this "steel thumbnail?" I also have never heard about knife pick. Who makes those?
 
Queen, Remington among several others made pocket knife blade openers. I think Case still makes one as does Rough Rider (fancy ones with wood/bone handles). They were commonly give aways by various companies. A watch case opener would work as well - see your local watch repair/jeweler. Also, the bottle opener side of an old fashion "church key" would work. Another idea, the flat screwdriver blade of one of those "star" shape key chain screw drivers. Or, or course the back side of a key - something you always have with you. Using any type of blade opener, be sure to be careful and keep your other fingers out of the way. Other types, Google "knife pick".

Rich
 
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Rich S said:
Queen, Remington among several others made pocket knife blade openers. I think Case still makes one as does Rough Rider (fancy ones with wood/bone handles). They were commonly give aways by various companies. A watch case opener would work as well - see your local watch repair/jeweler. Also, the bottle opener side of an old fashion "church key" would work. Another idea, the flat screwdriver blade of one of those "star" shape key chain screw drivers. Or, or course the back side of a key - something you always have with you. Using any type of blade opener, be sure to be careful and keep your other fingers out of the way. Other types, Google "knife pick".


Rich
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Gotcha. Thank you.
 
As an aside to the good suggestions offered, perhaps look for an Easy Open model pocket knife. Has the nice notch to pull the blade open, no nails involved. Other traditional models can be had as well where the blade sits high enough to be easily pinched to open. I'll carry an Easy Open on days when my joints are being particularly bothersome. And they're a nice pocket knife to carry anyway all the time.
 
I don't see why the tip of a small spoon or butterknife wouldn't work. You shouldn't need exotic materials to be able to pry open a pocket knife without scratching it. Popsicle stick, chopstick, thin wire over the blade tip, pliers and tape, etc.
 
RX-79G said:
I don't see why the tip of a small spoon or butterknife wouldn't work. You shouldn't need exotic materials to be able to pry open a pocket knife without scratching it. Popsicle stick, chopstick, thin wire over the blade tip, pliers and tape, etc.
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Nothing exotic about a thin piece of steel one can hold onto to open a knife, it's been around for decades. It might be more of a burden walking around with a spoon in your pocket. Given the choice, I'd rather have something on my keys that I can use.
 
RevDevil said:
Nothing exotic about a thin piece of steel one can hold onto to open a knife, it's been around for decades. It might be more of a burden walking around with a spoon in your pocket. Given the choice, I'd rather have something on my keys that I can use.
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The OP needs to open his slipjoints for pictures so he can sell them. It doesn't sound like he'll ever carry them.

And the materials I was referring to were micarta and G10, suggested in post 7.
 
pete1958 said:
Hello All,

With the onset of older age (Arthritis, brittle fingernails), I have been have trouble opening a lot of my slip joints! I know you can use a knife pick, but for me I am afraid to use one because they could mar the finish on the blade. I'm just trying to open them up so I can make pictures to possibly sell and the knives are new and stiff.
Does anyone have a idea I could use. My EDC is well worn and I can open it up just fine, but the newer ones I have collected over the years are pretty stiff.

Thanks :confused:
Click to expand...

Hello,

I can relate to arthritis and old accident injuries. I have strong fingernails but I always keep them at a medium to short length with clippers.

Years as a widow, I took a needle nose plier and put an older, soft, white t shirt over the metal and opened up some older knives that belonged to my late husband. I did not want to make marks on any of them even if they were 'used' regular pocket knives and military ones. Later on, I had some of my friends help me open them when they stopped over to my former house back east. I gifted some of those knives back east, including two that I carried for a LONG TIME, and later on out here too. I did not try to pick them open with any other object. The needle nosed pliers worked fine with the t shirt.

In the past and especially now, if 'I' have trouble opening a pocket knife due to my arthritis, I GIFT it to my MT husband, to a friend, to a relative or I donate it to a charity.

I do NOT keep a personal knife that I can't open/close or USE easily. My hands were sore on Saturday and I carried my smaller BUCK fixed blade knife in my fanny pack when I worked outside a bit.

I will keep the Buck 110 folding knives (Two of them.), the Buck '55' and maybe one other folding knife (?!) if I decide on getting one (A traditional CASE one.) for my 65th birthday this summer. Everything else will be a FIXED blade for me - no doubt about it.

My husband went through his folding and fixed blade knives, he KEPT specific ones, gave the rest to me and some old straight razors. He told me to keep, donate or sell what I do not want. So there is a small group of them here in a sorted pile and I know what will work for ME (Three FB knives!) and the rest of them will go bye, bye. I keep asking him if he is sure about those knives and he tells me to get it done!

Use those pliers or get someone to help you open/close them up!

Best wishes to you.

Old Lady Cate
Typo - added more.
 
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