wave knives - yeah or neah ?

9

97guns

Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
138
i checked out some video on youtube and im a little interested in maybee picking one up, just wondering what the conscensious of the forum is on them.
 
You'll get a lot of opinions on these.

IMHO - I do not like them. That wave watchamajigger thingy gets in the way for me.
 
Get one.
You'll wear out the corner of your pants pockets you'll play with it so much.:D
For defense, well, differing opinions on that. No method of opening is 100% other than a 2 hand opening, although blade-hole does really well.
I'd suggest a Spyderco Endura 4 or Delica 4 with wave; not too much money if you DON'T like it, and you can use the wave on those models to open beer bottles.:thumbup:
Every knife knut should have at least one waved model, if only so they bitch about it if it's not their cup o' tea.
I find the wave works great for me except with certain jeans, and then a reverse grip opening works well.
 
97 guns there are pros and cons to Waved knives. I posted this elsewhere already but I'll put it here on this forum for your convenience.

Wave advantages and disadvantages vary according to who you ask I guess but I see it like this.

Disadvantages:
1) Accelerated Pocket wear and even holes formed from use.

2) Changes the view and purpose of the folding knife from being that of a tool to instead being that of a weapon in the eyes of many including Law Enforcement.

3) Is not 100% reliable.

4) Makes using your weak hand thumb to guide the blade in push cuts uncomfortable if not near impossible on many Waved knives.

5) Most Waved knives don't work well with a low rider clip.


6) Will drive your spouse absoutely nuts because you use it all frickin' day everyday 8 days a week! :D


Advantages:

1) For those that cannot carry an automatic due to legal reasons this is a legal alternative in most all states.

2) Supports a really decent and honorable human being that patented it (Ernie Emerson) and another that asked for permission to use it. (Sal Glesser)

3) Its a lot of fun to use in front of friends not familar with it, especially when you see their eyes widen big and hear them say they want one after seeing yours work!

4) When deployed off the pocket or the body of an intruder or attacker it can bring a weapon to the party right quick for self defense.

5) Theoretically at least the Wave can be activated or not activated off the pocket if you just want to pull it out normally like any other folder.

6) Will drive your spouse absoutely nuts because you use it all frickin' day everyday 8 days a week! :D

STR
 
Just got one, woops, two - I like it, but it is unnecessary for a utility knife - does open very darn quick.

All in all, I like them.
 
The Spyderco Wave, (my only experience), has a wide, rounded 'wave'. Translation-no noticeable pocket wear....yet. Maybe if you wear the same pants every day? I love mine...I feel like a billy bad-a$$ 'waving' open a bag of chips at the speed of sound. STR seems to have the pro/con thingy sewn up, especially #6 and #6. If nothing else, a relatively cheap toy, er tool.
 
Haven't tried it.
Am not likely to.
All I want is a knife I can open one-handed. The speed with which I can open it makes no difference to me. As STR aluded in his very nice post, if you see a knife as a tool only, then there is little benefit in the wave. I see my knife as a tool only.
YMMV.
 
I like em. I hate auto's (except some otf autos) and assist is nice but waves are best for me. Try one, alot of people are suprised at how well they work.
 
love the Spyderco waves.

i have autos for the gadget factor, and just because i can, but the wave is a better overall option.
 
I like them ok, but I think they make the knife look ugly, so I don't buy them.
 
BJE said:
I like them ok, but I think they make the knife look ugly, so I don't buy them.
Click to expand...

Yes, I didn't think it was possible to make a spyderco any uglier, but they sure found a way. That beind said, however, the waved delica is my favorite edc folder and the wave feature works great for me. As already mentioned, it works great as a bottle opener.
 
In my opinion, the wave is faster than an auto because it is open immediately after leaving the pocket. Granted, in a SHTF situation, you may experience a failure to open, but having owned one myself, I would say that failure rate is very low. Others may have more or less and I would say that the type of pants you are wearing does play a role. However, if it does fail, you are still just a thumb flick away from an open blade. Put it this way, if you're going to be totally reliant on the wave feature with no backup plan that's just not good planning. A knife should be a last ditch effort in a self defense situation. If you really feel you are going to need it, I would suggest a fixed blade. Fastest draw and the blade is always out. On the other hand, carrying a fixed blade is illegal in most states so just get yourself a CCW.

As for pants wear, if you wave a lot then it will wear them out a little faster, but I find that any knife clipped to my pants eventually wears away at the pocket. Heck, even my pen that I keep clipped in my left pocket does that.
 
Actually, flakjacket, carrying a fixed blade IS legal in most states, even Illinois (my state) and California. As for my opinion on the wave, I feel that it is a cool toy, but beyond that, I have no use for it. If you showed me two identical knives, one with the wave, and one without, and told me to pick one, I would pick the one without the wave.
 
True, if you're carrying a fairly short blade, but most cops will give you a hard time, with any large knife, especially a fixed blade. I know more than a few people who have had knives, even folding knives, confiscated by police officers who used the good old "length of the palm" test to determine that a knife was illegal, even though it wasn't. It can be a very "gray" area. Some states laws are worded such that if an officer deems it a dangerous weapon, or felt you had illegal intentions, then you have committed a crime.

The wave is a fun feature, but I wouldn't purchase a knife based solely on that feature. If you like the overall design of the knife and it fits your budget and has the wave to boot, then by all means go for it. Otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it.
 
If you like the look, get one.
I liked waved knives just after the first use.

Some knives have it ( or something similar ) .. Cold Steel AK47, CRKT desert cruiser ( the one with the double guard ), Fox Karambit, ...... for example.
 
imho they work great, w/a little practice a knife can be drawn & opened as fast as any auto can.
 
I got a Spyderco Delica Wave and its my EDC. Fun knife, you gotta have at least one in your collection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top