What's with "The Hole"??

Two words:

Design elegance.


Think about it. The first concession to ease-of-opening was probably the fingernail crescent (is there a technical term for this?). As far as elegant designs go this wins style points, but it lags in practicality.

Somewhere in there we added buttons and springs and mechanics to assist opening the knife. Thumbstuds and disks and bars and whatnots were added as well to 'manual' knives.

The point though is that they were ADDING stuff to the knife. The thumbhole is elegant because you are taking stuff away, and achieveing an end result that is arguably just as practical.

Yeah yeah, we can argue that point until Y3K. Its also true that you do have to alter the knife design to work with the Hole (hey, you also have to design stud-openers with the studs in mind, too). But hey, no advance is perfect.

All IMHO,

Mike


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Hey! Uncle Sam!

(_!_) Nyah nyah nyah!

Refund! You lose! :)


 
I have a Gerber folding Hunter to which, in 1978 or so I added what was called a Flickit. It was a friction fit stud to be added. It nearly got me arrested at O'Hare Airport in 1979, but then helped me and my son when we were accosted by an injured and probably high individual one night. That was the first assist to opening that I had seen.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh
 
RJT, take a step back, take a deep breath, and chill out.

Everyone, including you, is entitled to their own opinions, so don't get angry with the other members for expressing them.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
It's a Zen thing,

Nothing becomes something if you look at it the right way.

The utility of a cup lies in its emptiness, and so it is with the hole.

The hole is indestructable. Unlosable. Unsnaggable. Sublime...
 
I agree with RJT(though obviously not quite as strongly
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). It really doesn't matter because IF there is any difference in performance, it is extremely miniscule. I simply made this post to adress those who think that holes are so much better and that any other opening device is inferior.

If it'll make anyone feel better, I will probably be getting a G-10 Police model within the next couple of weeks. Why? Because I love Spydercos!!!
 
The hole also allows for the knife to be hung someplace and even more accesible...

Besides, "Man's goal in life is to fill holes"
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Lookit, Spoonslayer, you asked those of us who were "converts to the hole" to express why we felt it was superior. We responded:

1) Reliability
2) Ease of use
3) Snag-free, both drawing and cutting
4) Comfort
5) Speed
6) Easy indexing
7) Simplicity
8) Appearance

We didn't say "this is why thumbstuds suck," or "please tell us how you feel we are wrong." We just laid out our reasons for preferring it, and judging it to be overall the superior opening method, even if you don't care to "drop" the knife open. It drives me crazy that this single great idea is the property of one company alone (though more power to 'em; I paid their patent fee for private makers and I think everyone should).

Now, if you disagree, that's fine. But maybe start a thread called "why the hole doesn't matter" or "why I like a thumbstud" instead of contradicting everyone who answers your request for input.

-Corduroy
 
I like the pure simplicity of the Spydie Hole, but for everyday use I prefer a single, reversable, thumbstud...it don't hang up like duals, and it is easier for me to open...I guess because my fat thumbs don't fit well into the average hole. I do like the way that on some knives, the hole facilitates "choking up" on th blade, my Ascent is like that. Another reason I likethe thumbstud is that gunk doesn't collect in it loke a hole...well most of the time anyways...I had an old SOG autoclip that had a couple years worth of grease and peanutbutter collecting in it's little blade hole...

Another reason I like thumbstuds is that they can be more easily placed on the blade to facilitate opening with out having to dislocate your thumb. Holes tend to have too wide an arc for my thumbs...but so do some studs...so far the Axis has the best placed thumbstud I have found...My VG requires a Basketball player's thumb to open it...thank God for inertia..

The hole VS Stud thing is like Ford VS Chevy...it is, and will always be, a never ending argument....to each their own..

Then agan, I wristflick my knives most of the time, so I guess it don't really matter...

YeK

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God is dead. -Nietzsche
Nietzsche is dead. -God
ICQ#29020619
 
Corduroy:

Sorry if I came across in that way. The thread was meant to be directed to the individuals out there who DO believe(and I have talked to several) that holes are the best and discs and studs suck.

Also, I didnt' mean to sound rude by asking for input and then contradicting it. My purpose in contradicting some of these reasons was to simply show that the advantages of the hole and disadvantages of the discs/studs aren't nearly as great or definate as some think.

Honestly, though, I do appreciate the input and meant this only as a friendly discussion.

Brock
 
Well Spoon...
You've been around long enough to see that folks have their favorites, and the best one can hope for is acceptance of alternatives.

Example... I thought Spydies were totally butt-ugly and just a marketing ploy. I could accept that, but still thought they were "less" and would never have one. Over the months I've learned that they are not only decent but indeed are quality blades...and I still don't own one but intend to get a couple models.
My point is that we can all learn and if some people are fanatics about certain makers or manufacturers, so f.....ing what? My only liner-lock is a Junglee Shenzai (disc) and I like it despite the heat I've gotten. There are a bunch of folders that I intend to get and they cross manufacturers/makers and types. If the blade works to my satisfaction then I am happy. That's all and if folks are enthusiastic about something, more power to them...they are happy and some outfit pleased them.
 
All one hand opening methods are good, just different.

Brock - nothing wrong with playing "devils advocate". That is called dialectic. Socrates used it to learn the "whole truth", just as we forumites use it.

The Spyderco "hole opener" came out in 1981. It was the first production one hand open knife since the auto.
sal


 

All worship The Hole! Become one with the emptiness and lose yourself in the wonders of the void! Ohhhmmmm Ohmmmmmmm!
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(If Spyderco ever publishes their history in a book, will it be "The Hole Bible?"
..And in those days the mad prophet Glesser did come unto the knife knuts, and He did speak of The Hole, and the knife knuts did see that The Hole was good, saying "Yea, and verily shall we carry holes all the days of our lives!
TOO funny!
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Coronach,
The techincal term is "Cuticle/matter separator interfacing system" LOL! Nail notch?
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As far as why the hole is better,
I use my knife at work probably a hundred times a day. (no exageration) I've tried thumb studs, disks, the One Armed Bandit, the flickit, etc.
The HOLE is the only one I can open wearing HEAVY protective leather work gloves. It is ALMOST as easy as opening without gloves. I mean just damn near. I can open and close one handed while wearing leather welding gloves! That's quite an accomplishment for one little hole!
DC,
I can think of all sorts of funny things to say about Man's goal, but...
biggrin.gif

(You Genderist!)
LOL!!!!!!!

I can't believe I blew my 250th post on this!
I was SAVING it for something GOOD!
LOL!!!!!

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I cut it, and I cut it, and it's STILL too short!

 
spoonslayer,
It's just a matter of different strokes for different folks. I can't understand why anyone would want a chisel ground folder (no replies please, I'm merely trying to make a point). You seem to love your CQC7, as do many other people. I have knives with studs, ambi studs, holes, disks, and i've even seen, and handled, knives with depressions, toggles, humps and oversized thumb nicks for one hand use. Some work better than others for me but the others seem good for those that like them. I'm not going to go into why I prefer the Spyderco hole. It's been said above and really doesn't make any difference. Buy what you like and what works best for you.

Why do some prefer revolvers while others would never own anything but a automatic?
Why do some people buy diesel cars while others abhor that engine type?
Why do some people use smilies
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while others never do?

PERSONALLY, I like smilies!
wink.gif


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Paul
Keep Em Sharp


 
Thank you, Sal. It's nice to know that despite approaching geezerdom, some parts of the memory bank are still intact.

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Live free and buy. It's the American way.
 
General comments on the hole.

The usability varies from knife to knife. Obviously the larger Military hole is going to be easier to deploy than a Ladybug.

Given that, with a decent-sized and well placed hole, I find Spydercos to be more reliable in being able to deploy under adverse conditions.

Try sticking your hand in a bowl of ice water for about 10 minutes, where dexterity is completely shot. Then compare opening a Spyderco to a stud/disc opener.

Now do the same comparison with gloves on. Start with something thin like Nomex flight gloves and work your way up to a heavy pair of gloves designed for extreme cold weather.

Take the gloves off and stick your hand in some motor oil (or some other lubricant). Try comparing again.

I could go on with other tests.

Granted, most people aren't going to be using their knives in harsh, non-urban environments. But through testing and years of actual experience, I've found the Spyderco hole to be the most reliable one-handed opening device for a folder. (But hey, what works for me might not work for you.)

I've always wondered what the knife landscape would look like today if Sal hadn't patented the hole. My guess is, sans licensing fees, studs and discs would be in the minority.

Joel
 
Coronach: the fingernail crescent is the nail nick.



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Frank
jqsurf@worldnet.att.net


 
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