WAVED vrs NON WAVED

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d762nato

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Dec 16, 2009
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Ok knife fanatics, i was wondering if anyone has timed pulling out and getting into action a waved folder versus an auto or non waved folder.
What was the outcome or your own personal experience. Also what waved model were you or are you using.
 
I would speculate a waved folder is the fastest method of deployment for a pocket knife period. As soon as it clears the pocket it's open and ready to go, with an auto you have to pull it from your pocket and then deploy the blade. No way is an auto faster than a waved folder.
 
The waved folder only opens when you are able to move a certain way. If you are on the ground, or elsewhere when you need your knife, you're more likely to accidently cut or stab yourself with a half opened knife than you are to properly deploy your knife.

I love my Emersons, but usually carry a Spyderco without a wave for consistency.
 
As fast as it is to physically open, you'll still have the same re-orientation issues as you would with an auto. While it will open the knife faster than an auto, once it's opened you are still holding the handle scales in a pinch grip. The comes the fine motor movements as you have to re-orientate your hand around the handle. The Wave is quite a design, but isn't quite the 'folding fixed blade' some make it out to be. A folder is a folder...But the Wave is a cool way to open a folder.

Testing wise, I had a friend time an auto versus myself with some Spyderco models, and a few non-waved folders that I could wave with the thumb studs. The blade was always out faster with the wave, but getting your hand around it to use it cuts down the time difference a bit. If it's for 'Hey, isn't this cool' moments, it's a lot of fun. For defense...I don't trust how specific the motion has to be, the fact it's tough to get out in tight quarters or against anything, nor the fact it can miss the pocket and you're stuck posing with a closed knife.
 
I don't know, I guess I'm just lucky to live where the tape, strings and cardboard I have to cut aren't charging. Hmmm....
 
As fast as it is to open, the knife it's attached to(Emersons) generally seems to be crap quality. I mean, titanium LINER. The one that seems to be opened with any sort of regularity and not actually used has the liner moved almost all the way to the right. I'm sorry to say, but I sincerely doubt Mr. Emerson's knives are hard use or even fit for regular use.
 
RatDrall said:
The waved folder only opens when you are able to move a certain way. If you are on the ground, or elsewhere when you need your knife, you're more likely to accidently cut or stab yourself with a half opened knife than you are to properly deploy your knife.

I love my Emersons, but usually carry a Spyderco without a wave for consistency.
Click to expand...

You know i had'nt really thought about being on the ground and trying to get said knife into action if need be. Those are some good points to think about. Thanks,
 
I have an Emerson CQC-10 with the wave. I like the wave mainly for easier opening with a gloved hand. I don't particularly like the way the knife can partially open when drawing from the pocket. It has bitten me a couple of times and it is very sharp. For a dedicated defensive knife I prefer a compact fixed blade in an IWB sheath. For a general use knife I would prefer to not have the wave. I can open it while pulling from the pocket faster than with an automatic or assisted opener. The biggest problem with that is not catching clothing or my own flesh in the process. If it was possible without damaging the blade I would have the wave on the Emerson removed.
 
In theory, the wave should be hands down the fastest way to deploy a blade. That doesnt mean it always will because I highly doubt you can always catch the wave on your pocket to deploy 100% of the time in a high stress/pressure situation. I still think the manual thumb deployment is the best because it has the least variables involved.
 
My "primary" carry knife is always a waved mega folder.

[youtube]Zh65NWnhpwg[/youtube]
 
Knifestyle said:
As fast as it is to physically open, you'll still have the same re-orientation issues as you would with an auto. While it will open the knife faster than an auto, once it's opened you are still holding the handle scales in a pinch grip. The comes the fine motor movements as you have to re-orientate your hand around the handle. The Wave is quite a design, but isn't quite the 'folding fixed blade' some make it out to be. A folder is a folder...But the Wave is a cool way to open a folder.

Testing wise, I had a friend time an auto versus myself with some Spyderco models, and a few non-waved folders that I could wave with the thumb studs. The blade was always out faster with the wave, but getting your hand around it to use it cuts down the time difference a bit. If it's for 'Hey, isn't this cool' moments, it's a lot of fun. For defense...I don't trust how specific the motion has to be, the fact it's tough to get out in tight quarters or against anything, nor the fact it can miss the pocket and you're stuck posing with a closed knife.
Click to expand...

You also hit on some good points. Myself being a lefty and having carrired a knife with a hole in the blade for 20 years i doubt a waved knife would be any better for me. I was just wondering why so many were drawn to the waved models and though i might try one out. Thanks for your advice.
 
As a lefty, you'll have to draw forward from your left pocket. See my vid. I wouldn't be surprised if I have done 10,000 wave openings in my knife career. It's pretty natural to me.
 
Charlie Mike said:
As a lefty, you'll have to draw forward from your left pocket. See my vid. I wouldn't be surprised if I have done 10,000 wave openings in my knife career. It's pretty natural to me.
Click to expand...

Yes CM i just watched your vid you definately have skills with a waved folder. Pretty cool to watch someone who knows how to use one. Well i was just looking around at different emersons and giving it some thought. Thanks brother for the cool vid and imfo.

Doug
 
Charlie Mike said:
As a lefty, you'll have to draw forward from your left pocket. See my vid. I wouldn't be surprised if I have done 10,000 wave openings in my knife career. It's pretty natural to me.
Click to expand...

That would depend on if he could find (or modify) a knife with a lefty clip.

Mattohn said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZivRcSnPyw

the demonstration starts at 5:40

Can you deploy your waved knife from a laying down position being stomped on or someone possibly on top of you? in a headlock?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can deploy a waved knife while suppine.

The people in that video are a joke.
 
Last edited:
stealthchaser13 said:
That would depend on if he could find (or modify) a knife with a lefty clip.



Yes, you can deploy a waved knife while suppine.

The people in that video are a joke.
Click to expand...

I doubt i could do it i have no experience with a waved knife. I think it would depend on the experience of the operator while being in a high stress situation.
 
Any normal Emerson off the shelf can do a forward draw when carried and drawn left handed. I personally can't stand the "normal" clip placement. I carry my right pocket folder with a left handed clip placement. I'd rather draw my SD knife and have my momentum going toward my target.
 
Mattohn said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZivRcSnPyw

the demonstration starts at 5:40

Can you deploy your waved knife from a laying down position being stomped on or someone possibly on top of you? in a headlock?
Click to expand...
Me? I honestly doubt it.

While a waved knife can(in certain situations) be deployed as fast as a fixed blade, the fact that a fixed blade is simpler by design will forever cement its position as #1.

One more thing to consider is a secure grip. When pulling out my Emerson CQC-7, the knife is in my fingers even if it's only for half a second. But when I pull out my Pink Izula, the handle is seated deep in my palm with all 5 fingers firmly wrapped around it at all times. A minor detail to be sure, but it's one that sticks out to me. The only folding knife that somewhat seems to circumvent that is my Emerson Super Karambit, as my index finger is looped inside the ring hole at all times(but that really only works for a reverse grip, which has a small chance of having the blade open in your pocket).

And while you can design a folding knife to be 99.9% of the reliability of a fixed blade, irony dictates that the remaining 0.1% will rear its ugly head right when you need it most.
 
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