What's better thumb stud or oval opening?

B

Bladeswinger

Joined
Jul 1, 2001
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I will go with a BM AFCK. But, which is better the oval opening or the thumbstud? Is is a matter of visual preference? Does one open quicker than the other? I have small hands, so which one is better for me? Please respond, I need the help:confused:
 
probably comes down to personal preference more than anything.
i prefer thumb stud. for me its faster and more convenient. now if i had started out w/ a hole, then...
note: a blade w/ a hole can be zip tied to operate like a waved knife. for more info on this do a search.
 
Which ever works best for you based upon the size of your hands and the level of your dexterity. In addition, the subject critera of "what feels good."
 
If you don't have a local cutlery store, keep an eye open for knife/gun shows in your area. The only reliable way to answer this type of question is to try these knives (or similar models) out for yourself. We will all give answers on what works best for ourselves, but those opinions may not hold for you.

FWIW, I much prefer thumbholes to thumbstuds. Having said that, five people will respond that thumbstuds are better...:)
 
For me I prefer the hole over the stud although it also depends on the knife. On the AFCK I like the hole.

Quickness and ease of draw is the same for me. I can't tell the difference in quickness for either.

I think the hole has a nicer, 'cleaner' look to it. It's part of the knife as opposed to an extra piece of steel 'add-on'.
 
I'm wondering if there's a Freudian influence on the choice between studs and holes...hmmmm....think I just switched to holes, (but really prefer studs)
 
The hole in the blade works best for me of the two choices you mentioned, but I actually prefer the disc on top of the blade. Like on the Terzoula custom folder.
 
Perhaps this will help.

I used to have a Gerber Gator with a thumb stud
opening, and it seemed like a great thing.
Nothing wrong with the fact that it was
a Gerber, or a thumb stud -- but I carry
in one of my front two jeans pockets, and
it seemed like the thumb stud always got
hung up when I reached in to retrieve the
knife - thus, it would start to open at
worst, or take some monkeying around to
remove it from my pocket at least.

Perhaps that was a sign that I need to buy
jeans that are less tight, or that I need
to lose weight;) , but in either case, it
was annoying to have a folder take longer
to remove from my pocket because the thumb
stud was hanging on to the edge of my pocket.

So, I much prefer holes for opening. Don't
own anything else now.

If you were to carry in a sheath, this would
not be an issue.
 
I tried the BM griptillian with the oval hole and I don't like how it works. To me it's either round hole or thumbstuds.
 
I feel the oval is better for a lockback or a linerlock knives. But BM thumbstud paired with a axis-lock is the fastest configuration.
 
If the knife is a tip down carrier than the hole is definitely the quicker draw. If it's a tip up carrier than IMO it would depend on the type of thumb stud vs. size of hole. I used to carry the AFCK quite a bit and it is one quick draw coupled with nice ergonomics and a liner lock that is tucked away with no interference with the grip. A good entry level carrier ;)....until your ready to step up to a MT :) . No really, I think this is the best BM folder out there...now they have them with the axis lock :p .
 
I think it depends on how you are going to open the knife. If you want to flick the knife open a thumb stud is definitely a better choice. On my Spydie it is very hard to give the blade a good flick with my thumb to open it.

On the other hand if you don't need/want to flick it open the thumb hole is a better choice. It's easier to use because it's large and also works well with gloves or fatter fingers.
 
i'd go with a opening hole all the way, its just bigger and easier to use then a thumbstud, the downfall of thumbstuds is it's position, sometimes it too close to the knife sometimes too far or whatevers but the hole is fairly large so positioning is not as tricky, and i prefer a oval hole to a round hole
 
Thumbstuds can break and come loose, thumb holes cannot break. Also, if you are talking about thumbstuds for BM, they are only meant for right handers. Although I am right handed, I like the option of carrying my knife on either side. That is my preference.
 
hotswat, you are absolutely right! hole works well with linerlocks and lockbacks (I love the spydie-hole)......studs - axislock, arc-lock....
 
Originally posted by David1967
If you want to use a full lenght of the blade the hole should be your choice.
Click to expand...
Yes, good point the thumb stud can get in the way of slicing if you like to use the blade close to the handle, this is where you have greatest leverage after all. On AFCK I would have to agree with "oval hole"- it was originally designed with hole opening, and it "makes more sense" and works better on this knife than a stud.
martin
 
Depends on the knife to me, easier to sharpen a knife with the thumbhole though and can use more of the blade when slicing also, But I don't care for BM's oval hole it feels wrong after using a Spyderco, I prefer the round hole. Knives with the 'wheel' on top are harder to get a purchase on when your not used to them though.
 
My preference is a ROUND hole. BenchMade seems to be using the oval hole so that they can get around Spyderco's patent on the use of a hole as an apenning assist, since Spyderco apparently patented only a round hole. I see this as questionable ethics; it may be legal but it sure is not what I would call ethical.
 
For me, I *thought* I prefered the oval on the BM555 because it seemed easier to open, plus there's less drag on your pockets when you draw your knife (especially considering the "grippiness of the Noryl GTX handles), but after handling the BM556, I think the thumbstud is easier to use when when opening the knife. I really think it depends on the knife (e.g. shape, size of the hole and placement), because there are some knives that I actually prefer the hole... hope this helps
 
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