What is your favorite Opening Action?

[allenC]

I hardly every carry one, and it's certainly not the fastest or most efficient, but a butterfly knife is just so much fun to open and close.
So it is my favorite...even though I usually carry thumb-stud or Spyderco or nail nick folders.

 

[000Robert]

OTF.

 

[The_Knife_Man]

Flipper (ZT)
Thumb stud (CRK)
Spydie hole (PM2)
OTF (Microtech)

 

[Handwrecker]

Spydie hole gets my vote, followed closely by nail nick. Less is more.

Thumb studs, flippers and autos are great. Just not my first choice.

 

[afishhunter]

I guess "other".
All my folding knives take two hands to open.
Since my hands/fingers still work, and I'm not in any hurry, I don't have (and to be honest, don't want) a one hand opener, assisted opening or otherwise.
If I ever get to the point where my hands or fingers don't work, and I need a one hand opener, I'll just carry my Mora Number 1, or Western L66, or possibly Buck 877 (white handle made in the USA) fixed blades. Presuming of course that my hands/fingers still work good enough to hold a knife.

 

[Velitrius]

Balisong FTW.

I suck at it, but it don't matter. Fun as hell to open, close, drop on the floor etc.

 

[Prester John]

1- old fashioned two-handed, using nail nick, long pull, or simply pinching the blade;
2- Italian stiletto switchblade push button; and
3- out-the-front switchblade.

I hate thumb studs, holes, and "flippers."

 

[jonnieb27]

I have multiple CRK knives, but I have to admit, the spydie hole flicks out with the best of them. My GB and GB2 are amazing.

 

[Catdaddy2]

Another vote for Spydie hole

 

[Peter Hartwig]

front flipper

 

[Old Biker]

I detest thumb studs and spydie holes. Flipper is just OK, but I don't carry one. Butterfly is illegal here. I don't have enough experience with the bottom three to comment on them. So that leaves other.

O.B.

 

[DangerZone98]

Spydie hole takes the #1 spot for me. Thumb studs are second and the Cold Steel thumb plate is a close third.

 

[sharp_edge]

Flippers are cool but my favorite is pulling back on the Axis lock studs
and flicking the knife open. I also like the way the blade drops shut on Axis
lock knives. Tighten the pivot to adjust them which ever way you like.

Axis lock is probably the most difficult lock to achieve drop shut action while eliminating any side to side blade play. Don't get me wrong I like Axis lock folders.

 

[GatorFlash1]

For opening a knife it is hard to beat the unique German Paratrooper Gravity Knife. Never heard of it?

 

[Blackf77t]

Balisong FTW.

I suck at it, but it don't matter. Fun as hell to open, close, drop on the floor etc.

I am the same way. I can't find a balisong introduction video slow enough to follow, but I am slowly getting better.

 

[CarsonWayne]

I'm okay with anything other than thumb studs/disks. I find them crude and uncomfortable, and they add an unnecessary concern to the sharpening process.

I'm a Spyderco fan, so the round hole is a winner, but I often carry a Case Large Stockman with the old-fashioned nail nick. Flippers are cool, too, and have their place.

I don't consider the Axis Lock an opening mechanism, even though you can deploy the knife that way. Same with a button lock (autos aside). Those knives almost always come with a hole, stud or flipper to act as the primary opener. Please don't get me wrong, though, I like the Axis lock and love a well-executed button lock. They're just not 'openers' in the literal sense.