What is this function of this blade shape for

Vaporstang

Vaporstang

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I'm curious - What is the purpose of the end of the blade on this knife? (This is not my knife.) Thanks!

 
One-arm razor

To be caught on the seam of your pocket on pants as a 'hook' and "wave" it open. Similar to the "Emerson wave" found on modern knives

Halfneck said:
The pattern has always held a morbid fascination for me. As I understand the history, the pattern was made/popularized due to all the returning Civil War Veterans who were missing an arm. This shows how important having a knife was in that time period. It also makes me think that a lot of Civil War soldiers lost an arm. The morbid fascination part is due to me being a Disabled Vet with only the use of one arm. I've figured out how to open quite a few slipjoints one-handed. Might look goofy, & take some time, but it gets the job done. Which then gets me wondering if these old Civil War Vets bought these knives, or just did what I do?

Nice knives.
Click to expand...
 
That's called a one-arm, and it works similar to how an Emerson wave works, where that little hook in the blade shape can be used to open the blade one handed by catching it on your pocket seam, or belt loop, etc.
 
Makes sense once you know the reason. I might have to get me one of these just to try out. Thanks for the info and link everyone! (Interesting read on the linked thread so far - haven't made it all the way through yet.)
 
The origin of that balde pattern may also stem to ancient regulation forbidding the carry of pointed knives in certain working environment, can you confirm?
Here in Sardinia (Italy) that was the case for mine diggers (elsewere, in UK sailors...), they could olny carry pointless knives to cut the lunch bread....
 
stezann said:
The origin of that balde pattern may also stem to ancient regulation forbidding the carry of pointed knives in certain working environment, can you confirm?
Here in Sardinia (Italy) that was the case for mine diggers (elsewere, in UK sailors...), they could olny carry pointless knives to cut the lunch bread....
Click to expand...

Then what's the point if it's pointless
 
Here's the blade style on a Queen trapper:



And on a couple of Barlows made by Boker:

 
Here's a German Bull Barlow variation with the one arm opening razor as a smaller secondary blade. Does not hook as positively as many pictured above, but still doable with a bit of practice.

x1dp8j.jpg
 
All of these with the secondary seem pretty silly. If the point is to be able to open it with one arm, how does the pen or cap lifter make sense.
 
bflying said:
Here's a German Bull Barlow variation with the one arm opening razor as a smaller secondary blade. Does not hook as positively as many pictured above, but still doable with a bit of practice.

x1dp8j.jpg
Click to expand...

That is cool!
 
Razor blades are not one arm open blades. And many of the supposed "one arm" blades have poor design. You need a pretty good "hook" to snag and open a blade with any safety.
 
tdkfm said:
All of these with the secondary seem pretty silly. If the point is to be able to open it with one arm, how does the pen or cap lifter make sense.
Click to expand...

For me the point is that I can open it with one hand when it's more convenient, I'm not sure the target market is actually people with one arm. Plenty of much better alternatives for one hand opening.
 
On straight razors, it's called a barber's notch. Some people believe it makes it easier to shave around the nostrils. When they copied the pattern for a slip joint, they kept the notch. I think it was Parker or Frost that coined "the one arm opener" phrase. If someone used that knife on their pockets daily, they're not going to have any pant pockets for long.
 
Carboniferous said:
For me the point is that I can open it with one hand when it's more convenient, I'm not sure the target market is actually people with one arm. Plenty of much better alternatives for one hand opening.
Click to expand...

I agree - this makes sense. There have been numerous times that I needed to get my knife out of my pocket and open one handed.
 
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