What to think..... The Polarizing Cap Lifter blade!

A Cap Lifter?

  • A Caplifter? Yes please!

    Votes: 3 75.0%

  • A Caplifter? Absolutely not!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • A Caplifter? Maybe.

    Votes: 1 25.0%
  • Total voters
    4
Woodrow F Call

Woodrow F Call

Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
5,713
I was just curious with all the different discussions for and against cap lifters in general. I would like everyone's thoughts on why or why not a cap lifter. They seem very popular and very unpopular at the same time.
 
I'm happy with my beer scout, but I have at least 3 other knives with a CL, so this is not mandatory. I'd rather have a screwdriver, electrician way. But I'll take what I'll get, don't want to be negative. :)
 
The caplifter is a fine tool, on the right knife. I think a lot of the comments against it lately have been a reaction to the recommendations to throw it on every knife that's brought up whether it fits or not. There are patterns where it makes sense, and patterns where it really doesn't, same as every other blade.
 
I voted for the caplifter, but I agree with Jolipapa as far as prefering a screwdriver, electrician way, as I find myself using the screwdriver more often than the bottle opener.
 
I have no need for a cap lifter at all and i'm not wild about using the screw driver, don't like twisting against the bolster. :o
Best regards
Robin
 
I love my Radio Jack, my Scout Knives, my British Army clasp knives, etc ie patterns that have traditionally had a bottle-opener - Let me just add here, that we say 'bottle-opener' not 'cap-lifter' in Britain, and while I've always 'Americanized' my posts , or so I thought, I'm told by some of our US members, that there are parts of the US where the word 'cap-lifter' is unknown, and they say 'bottle-opener'. However, I regard the constant - and it has only been constant over the past couple of years - demand to add cap-lifters to every pattern available with little short of disgust, and to be honest - hope this doesn't sound too insulting - as short-hand for STUPID :grumpy:
 
Jolipapa said:
I'd rather have a screwdriver, electrician way. But I'll take what I'll get, don't want to be negative. :)
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^^ This. I voted maybe.

I don't drink, don't need a cap lifter, but I do like the utility of a screwdriver or scraping edge in a pinch. Given the choice, I would prefer the electrician style as well, or even a punch (which I do use regularly).
 
Jack Black said:
However, I regard the constant - and it has only been constant over the past couple of years - demand to add cap-lifters to every pattern available with little short of disgust, and to be honest - hope this doesn't sound too insulting - as short-hand for STUPID :grumpy:
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It's like you're reading my mind.
 
I voted yes, I use it for bottles, as a scraper, a screw driver, and a blade opener on stubborn blades that have a long pull if I got apple juice in the action cutting an apple and it's sticky. I agree that they shouldn't be added to every knife though. I really wish I could've gotten in on the 2011 85 with a lifter. If nothing else I hope GEC would run some in the future, not same config as the BF knife of course.
 
Jack Black said:
I love my Radio Jack, my Scout Knives, my British Army clasp knives, etc ie patterns that have traditionally had a bottle-opener - Let me just add here, that we say 'bottle-opener' not 'cap-lifter' in Britain, and while I've always 'Americanized' my posts , or so I thought, I'm told by some of our US members, that there are parts of the US where the word 'cap-lifter' is unknown, and they say 'bottle-opener'. However, I regard the constant - and it has only been constant over the past couple of years - demand to add cap-lifters to every pattern available with little short of disgust, and to be honest - hope this doesn't sound too insulting - as short-hand for STUPID :grumpy:
Click to expand...

I'm going to go home and have a good cry now. Edit: Now that I've thought about it, I'm going to have a Lambsfoot Caplifter made as revenge!!!! Bwhahahahahahaha!!!! :mad:



:eek:

:)

:p





Really though, it just seems that the bottle opener has become like our last several Presidents or current candidates!
 
Only needed on Scout/ Camping knives.

I prefer single bladed knives anyway....
 
I agree with Jack.
I feel we got hit by the bottle opener wave, which is fine for me (considering I have a Bantam in my pocket right now :p) but it doesn't have to be ubiquitous. Also, as other pointed out, a cap lifter looks fine on certain patterns/frames, and weird or plain wrong on others (in my opinion of course).

Fausto
:cool:
 
I think it's a handy thing to have on a knife you carry around at home. I'm not likely to need one at work, out shopping, etc. It's why I frequently carry a Cadet at home, light and handy. I want my bottle-opener (it's what I grew up saying here in St. Louis) to be a combo tool, with a slotted driver, and even better if one edge of the driver is sharpened to act as a coping blade.
 
I'm with the "maybe" crowd. I'm also with the "bottle opener" crowd, as "caplifter" is actually something I'd not seen until it was mentioned in the context of a scout knife. After a moment I thought to myself, "Wait, I've got a couple of those!" For every demo knife, scout knife, and weird little two-blade vanity jack, there's a caplifter, it seems.

Something like a beer scout is a good example of when to include a caplifter. An equal-end pen or a serpentine stockman, perhaps not so much. I will admit that I love the concept of a beerlow, but I'll probably only get one ultimately. :o
 
Woodrow F Call said:
Now that I've thought about it, I'm going to have a Lambsfoot Caplifter made as revenge!!!!
Click to expand...

giphy.gif
 
The original question is very vague. Do you mean in general what do people think about a cap lifter? Victorinox makes a bazillion knives a year with cap lifters. People obviously like them. Otherwise Victorinox wouldn't make tem. By comparison, there are very few from other brands.

Are you talking specifically about knives made by GEC (the unofficial subject of this forum ;) )? All the knives ever made by GEC over the years is probably far fewer than the number of knives Victorinox makes with cap lifters each year.

Or are you speaking about the discussions for the forum knife? Preferences for the forum knife may be due to other factors such as what has been previously made for the forum knife rather than a like or dislike for caplifters.

A cap lifter is just one of many different types of tools. What about clip blades? Or sheepfoot blades? Or Wharncliffe blades? There are LOTS of knives with those blades.

What is ridiculous to some may not be to others. I think a GEC "Whaler" with a caplifter is ridiculous. But I'd also say a "Whaler" is a ridiculous pattern anyway. It's original use is obsolete. But that doesn't stop folks from enjoying them. I think if we're honest with ourselves there are a lot of ridiculous trends in knife collecting... What's with all the love for single blades? What's with the pinched bolsters? What in the world is with the cloud shields? What's with all the saber grinds recently?
 
I can open a beer without a caplifter. To me they are often just gaudy looking, but maybe I haven't seen the right one
 
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