Why do you need a knife that opens with one hand?

L

LedZep13k7

Joined
Mar 21, 2011
Messages
184
Let me first say I'm an American, Conservative at that. But I am also firm in saying that knives are tools, not weapons. I've only ever carried fixed blades, slip joints, and traditional lock backs(I'm a traditionalist). I'm not trying start an argument, just curious of all your answers of why you need to have a knife that deploys faster than the speed of sound. :)
 
Well... often I find myself in places or situations were I only got one hand free. Standing on a ladder and need to cut something, having a package I need to open in my left hand and don´t want to put it down. And it won´t kill your nails. It´s more convinient with one hand opening.
 
Speed is something you acquire, being able to operate your knife with just one hand simplifies the task of opening it. Sometimes both hands are not always available.
 
One-handed opening is not the same thing as rapid opening, I just need to make that clear at the outset.

I work construction and use a folding knife at work. Some times it is vital to be able to open a knife one-handed while the other hand is occupied. For example, while doing ladder work it is sometimes good to hold on to the ladder or the building with one hand while opening the knife and cutting with the other. A fixed blade is faster and more reliable, but bulkier and far more dangerous if you fall, as compared to a folded folder. I love the convenience and safety of a one handed folder, and the relative speed.

That said, I am not into super fast opening, because it is less safe for me, harder on the knife, and not something I really need. Two of the knives I use at work are waved, which open very fast if whipped out of a pocket speedily, but I use them for the convenience, not the speed. It saves me a step.
 
Why do most pants have zippers instead of buttons? Would drawing a fixed blade from a sheath be less lethal than a folder that can be opened with one hand? It's simply convenience. The answer is all in the name; it opens with one hand!

Take fishing for example. I really appreciate being able to draw my knife from my right pocket, open with my thumb in the Spyderhole, cut some line, and put my knife back into my pocket. It would be a pain to drop the knot I was tying to open and close a little folding knife.
 
The previous posts nailed it: it's about convenience far more than speed.
 
Most of the time I'm holding what I realize needs to be cut in one hand, so its nice to be able to open a knife with the other, and not have to set down the soon to be cut item.
 
I think I'll have to agree with most everyone above. It really is convenient when your working to be able to cut something while holding the item in your other hand, then putting away your knife without having to put the item down.

I work at a fish and chips place during the summer, when I'm off from school, and using the tiny razor blades there is very annoying and time consuming. I could have a box of the fish open in my hands while getting to the fridge, or I have to set it down on the ground, push out the tiny razor blade, cut the box open, then have to put the razor blade away, then finally pick up the box of frozen fish pieces to put in the freezer. One handed opening and closing really cuts down on the time the box of fish spend on the floor. Also, my thumbnail doesn't get destroyed by repeatedly opening a SAK.

Also, the slightly paranoid side of me thinks it might be good idea to have a knife I can deploy quickly and safely in case something might go bad for me. I've had knives pulled on me twice before by drunk college guys trying to be tough, so in case something goes badly, I would rather have a knife I can bring out and hopefully get the other guy to think about what he's doing, instead of pulling out a knife i have to use two hands to open while this other guy wants to screw me up.
 
Because I'm usually holding what I'm going to cut with the other hand.
 
I think you have speed of opening and one hand opening confused because I just can't believe anyone could be against opening a knife using only one hand. I write with one hand, I suppose I could use two hands to write, but one will do the job:)
 
In the bizzaro world that I live in, the speed of a pocketknife is measured by how fast you can close it and put it back into your pocket, rather than how fast you can take it out and open it. :p

If you test this, you will see that a "one hand closing slip joint" is faster than a modern one hand opener that uses a pocket clip -every time.:cool:

The biggest flaw with modern one-hand openers when compared to traditional slip joints is that they have to be clipped back onto the rim of a pocket. This takes more time than a slip joint, which can be closed with one hand and literally be tossed back into a pocket. Sometimes, a modern folder's pocket clip even requires TWO HANDS to attach it back onto the pocket rim smoothly. Yes, a one hand opener can be a TWO HAND finisher:p.

The job isn't done until you have your knife back in your pocket, right?

For non-work related casual EDC uses, I think my point here can seriously be applied.

PS- Dont worry guys, I haven't "lost it" just yet. :D There have been some great responses so far. Obviously there are many great reasons to have a moder one hand opener. I just wanted to throw in something a little different.
 
The Government said:
The biggest flaw with modern one-hand openers when compared to traditional slip joints is that they have to be clipped back onto the rim of a pocket. This takes more time than a slip joint, which can be closed with one hand and literally be tossed back into a pocket. Sometimes, a modern folder's pocket clip even requires TWO HANDS to attach it back onto the pocket rim smoothly. Yes, a one hand opener can be a TWO HAND finisher:p.
Click to expand...

If you can toss a slipjoint in your pocket, why can't you do the same with a clipped knife if the situation makes it difficult to clip it back on? You at least have the option.
 
shunsui said:
Because I'm usually holding what I'm going to cut with the other hand.
Click to expand...

This ^ :thumbup:


The Government said:
If you test this, you will see that a "one hand closing slip joint" is faster than a modern one hand opener that uses a pocket clip -every time.:cool:

The biggest flaw with modern one-hand openers when compared to traditional slip joints is that they have to be clipped back onto the rim of a pocket. This takes more time than a slip joint, which can be closed with one hand and literally be tossed back into a pocket. Sometimes, a modern folder's pocket clip even requires TWO HANDS to attach it back onto the pocket rim smoothly. Yes, a one hand opener can be a TWO HAND finisher:p.

.
Click to expand...

Not at all true. ^ I can close most of my locking folders just as fast with one hand as any slipjoint, and I can slide it back into my pocket, clipped and all, in one smooth motion. And as stated before: if you are for some reason uncoordinated enough to manage that, you can always just drop it in your pocket like you would a slipjoint. :)

As for the OP's generalized statement of " I am also firm in saying that knives are tools, not weapons" is false. You can say that YOU choose not to consider their potential function as a weapon, but that doesn't change the fact that many knives are quite capable as such. (being a convenient potential weapons that is)

Yes of course knives make great tools, and are used as such more often since most of us haven't had a need to use one on another person. (and hopefully never will) But the "tool only" claim is about like saying that handguns are only toys and paperweights since I've never used my gun to shoot someone with, and likely never will :p
 
I love slipjoints.
Yet I rarely carry them. At work, I would say an average of 10 times in an 8 hour day I need to use the knife. Usually opening boxes, cutting a piece off a box to make a list........
Now I have enough practice with my one hand opening knives that I can close them and put them back on the rim of my pocket without looking or thinking about it.

Even though it is easier to just drop it in the pocket, you have to reach in further to find it while you are pulling it out.

If I only needed my knife 2 or 3 times a day I might just carry a slipjoint.
 
LedZep13k7 said:
Let me first say I'm an American, Conservative at that. But I am also firm in saying that knives are tools, not weapons. I've only ever carried fixed blades, slip joints, and traditional lock backs(I'm a traditionalist). I'm not trying start an argument, just curious of all your answers of why you need to have a knife that deploys faster than the speed of sound. :)
Click to expand...

First you ask why one would need a knife that opens with one hand, then you move into a comment about how FAST a knife may be deployed.

These are not the same thing.

I use my knives for work. I'm not a kid who plays with knives because I'm too dumb to figure out a yo-yo. When you are 20' up on a ladder trying to cut something which is flapping in the wind or which has to be held in place while being cut, it isn't the time to figure out how to open your slippie with your teeth.

Andy

ETA - Oh, and good luck getting most slippies open while wearing gloves.
 
You said you've carried fixed blades, so let me ask you... Why do you carry a knife that doesn't need to even have the blade opened at all? Maybe because there are times when you have something in your hand that needs to be cut, and it's much easier to cut said object without having to put it down first so you can open your knife? Same thing with folders that can open and close with one hand. It's just more convenient.
 
The Government said:
The biggest flaw with modern one-hand openers when compared to traditional slip joints is that they have to be clipped back onto the rim of a pocket. This takes more time than a slip joint, which can be closed with one hand and literally be tossed back into a pocket..
Click to expand...

Says who? You think just because a knife has a pocket clip on it, that's the way it has to be carried? Besides, every knife I have slips back into my pocket, with clip over pocket just as quickly as it can be dropped in completely. Knives without pocket clips take more time to dig out of said pocket, especially when fishing it out from amongst other items like a wallet or loose change. Loose change is another issue... as it not only has a tendency to find its way into the space between blades, it also tends to scratch up the knife, another plus for keeping the knife clipped to the pocket. Unless you dedicate a pocket solely for carrying a pocket knife, and nothing else, it's MUCH faster to grab a knife clipped to your pocket, because it's always in the same place, and oriented the same way, unlike a knife that's tossed into your pocket, which can be pulled out in any orientation, making opening it slower.

Sorry, but your logic is completely flawed, and obviously biased towards traditional folders. I've carried both traditional slipjoints as well as one-handed clipped folders, often at the same time, and there's no question in my mind that the one-handed knives are not only more convenient, but they're faster deploying as putting away when finished.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top