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

I've worked in the Fire Service/EMS for over 10 years, and quite honestly sometimes your other hand is busy when you need to cut something. "Thats all I got to say about that."
 
Good thread. Personally, I view one-handed folders' one-handed opening mediums as an evolutionary step forward for folding pocket knives. There have been variations on the theme for a long, long time (thinking of slipjoints with "hook"-like features used to snag on a pants pocket or seam to open), but I credit Sal Glesser for having popularized the one-handed opening folder, and the pocket clip for that matter. Thank you, Sal.

But I'll see your assertion and raise you one... I think that every one-handed folder should be able to be opened with either hand. I'm not saying it should have completely ambi features and be able to be unlocked/closed easily with both hands, just opnened.

Just my .02.

Professor.
 
I agree that it's a convenience for me, doesn't have much to do with speed. Another reason for one hand opening would be; "because it's there". I also like a clipped knife. I don't have anything to hide and would rather be obvious that I am carrying a knife rather than "hiding" it in my pocket. If someone has a problem with me carrying a knife, or my Leatherman clipped in my pocket, then that is their problem,(as long as it is legal and not completely in-appropriate), not mine.
 
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In the United States the only proper answer to this question si "Becuase it's what I want" or at least it should be, no justification should be needed at all in a free society.

With that said I carry a SAK because I love the versitilty of the different options, it would be nice if it had a thumb stud though to open 1 handed.
 
hughewil said:
In the United States the only proper answer to this question si "Becuase it's what I want" or at least it should be, no justification should be needed at all in a free society.
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In addition to most of the answers given already, ^this!
 
I run in to situations all the time where I can't devote both hands to opening a knife. I also like the warm fuzzies I get from flicking a sharp pointy thing out at the speed of light. ;)
 
This will probably put me in the minority here, but I'm a liberal democrat. With that in mind, I see one-hand opening knives as absolutely essential tools, as well as having a purpose as weapons, if one is so inclined (not judging, it's an individual choice). I'm repeating a lot of what's already been said, but my own reasons include:
* I'm using my non-dominant hand to hold what needs to be cut
* Cutting a strap caught on my leg after falling off my bicycle in traffic
* In some ways, it's more discreet to quickly pull out a one-hand opening knife, cut what needs to be cut, then put it away, than to mess with opening a two-hand opening knife.
* If you're somewhere precarious (atop a ladder, for example) a two-hand opening knife can be a liability (make you lose your balance).
 
Some of ya'll have got waaay too offended. I just asked a simple question. Geez. I'm not looking down on people that carry one handed knives. I was just curious. For the fire fighter responses, I am also a full time firefighter and a honorably discharged Marine. I mainly asked the question mainly to see why more people do not carry small fixed blades and in non-emergency situations use something less "scary." Thanks for the non ignorant responses. :)
 
LedZep13k7 said:
Some of ya'll have got waaay too offended. I just asked a simple question. Geez. I'm not looking down on people that carry one handed knives. I was just curious. For the fire fighter responses, I am also a full time firefighter and a honorably discharged Marine. I mainly asked the question mainly to see why more people do not carry small fixed blades and in non-emergency situations use something less "scary." Thanks for the non ignorant responses. :)
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I have recently (in the last 6-12 months) started EDC'ing small FBs, mostly due to some hand dexterity issues. I can grip, but I've been having trouble doing some more detailed operations like opening folders, so I switched over to FBs. I'm actually very glad that I did. If I hadn't had to do that, I probably wouldn't be using them as EDC knives. Now that I've lived with them for some months, I'll never go back to carrying just a folder. If I carry only one knife, it'll be a FB. ESEE, Bark River, and several other companies make outstanding smaller FBs that have proven to be just as competent for my needs as a folder, even a larger-bladed one. At work I carry an Izula 2 in their factory sheath. Steppin' out calls for a Bark River City Knife in a small Pocono pocket sheath. Weekends in the woods are handled by a Bark River mini-Fox River.
 
I haven't read every post yet but you all seem to overlook the fact that a one hand opening knife is just plain fun. we are for the most part knife nuts on this forum aren't we.
PS I own over 40 slipjoints they're fun too in their own way. but so is my p'kal
 
Pretty much every time I've needed a knife in a hurry, my other hand has been occupied, leaving only one hand with which to open my knife.
 
i like to use them at work just for the utility aspect of them. the 14mm spyderhole works well with gloves on and wet hands. it's also nice not having to dig in your pocket to find a knife. dont get me wrong i still love slipjoints, after work and on the weekends it's what i carry.
 
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. :)
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Why do you need free speech? Identifying yourself as a conservative is all well and good but that question is the sort of thing I'd expect out of any liberal or out of anyone indoctrinated for long enough by liberals in the public school system. I need a one hand opener because I am an American and I say so. To heck with any despot that disagrees.

If you want fewer 'ignorant' answers, ask fewer ignorant questions.

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Beckerhead #42
 
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I don't see the point of carrying a slip joint knife when you can have a one handed opening , one hand closing, lock blade knife that you can find in any configuration you could want. Even Victorinox has one handed opening lock blades now. Slip joints can be beautiful works of art and very useful but they are the muskets of folding knives IMHO.
 
I don't, it is a convenience and people have lived thousands of years without onehanded folders. There are occasions where it is useful though such as, car accidents, self defense(i will not employ a knife in this role unless I have no other option), working on a ladder, working around rope that can entangle and trap you, and basically any job where one hand is in use. A fixed blade will do just about all of those jobs better.
 
This is ironic, yesterday at work I found myself without my one handed opening blade and needed to struggle with my little case pocket knife for 2 more hours holding it in my mouth like a pirate because it took to long to get out, open, use and close back up again. I think I'll go and wright my thread about the experiance later tonight when everyone is sleeping, but to make it short here, I need a knife for work I can get out of a tool bag or off my climbing harness and open and close with one hand with a death grip on it because I might find my self a hundred to several hundred feet up in high winds trying to hold something with one hand, another thing in my mouth, and still need to open and close and put away a knife with one hand.
 
So much more convenient. I don't think I would even consider something I needed two hands to use.

And, like it or not, knives can be used as weapons if necessary and it's not going to be effective as a weapon if you need to use to hands just to make it dangerous.
 
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