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

Am I the only one who finds the political posturing on this issue amusing?

Anyway- as it relates to the question, I agree with all the ideas presented about plain and simple convenience (and also the matter of choice in a free society...or what is supposed to be one)

But this got me to thinking....if we can say this about one handed opening knives, what about Auto knives/switchblades and the like? Obviously those are also "one hand opening," but it seemed to me that we were talking more about knives with thumb studs and so forth.

I personally carry a small one handed opener (buck lightning I) and I find that plenty convenient for my needs. The real question is, what makes a knife that you can push a button to open any more dangerous.

Ok...no, I suppose the real question is...why do people seem to think it's so much more dangerous? I've never really felt the need or desire for an auto knife, but I don't really see a good reason that they should be outlawed (I live in the United States by the way)

So, in keeping with the spirit of this thread...can anyone think of a good reason that auto knives should be illegal considering the points many of you have made?
This isn't hijacking the thread is it? I hope not.
 
I love all things classic, slipjoints included. In fact, slipjoints "speak to me" on a much deeper level than modern knives. Yet I NEVER carry my slipjoints if I'm going to be doing work because they're just not convenient. I work with my hands, and often have gloves on. Having one hand full, and the other being gloved means you aint getting that slipjoint open any time soon. And the spyderhole trumps all designs for my duties.

The only time I pack a slippie nowadays is for a backup on rare dress occasions (still have a tactical in my waistband), or if I'm going to be doing some wittling.

To be honest, though, my ideal EDC would be a classic style skinner or city knife type fixed blade. Preferrably custom with a nice burl handle and decent carbon steel, something around the Izula's size. That way I could keep my love of traditional tools, yet convenience at the same time. However California says if I have a small fixed blade tucked in my pants I'm a felon, so that's a no go.
 
LedZep13k7 said:
Sorry to hear about that Halfneck. I'm also a disabled vet. I'm just deaf in one ear though. Not serious by any means. I see one guy still a little upset. Don't get your panties in a wad. It was just a question on a forum. wasn't looking down on the whole tactical thing just curious to your answers. Personally I will never own Spyderninjabutterfly 2000xtreme with a steel that "never" needs to be sharpened but thats just my style. Relax people.
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I didn't realize all knives that can be operated with one hand are tactical.

Can I ask why you feel the need to carry a handgun?
 
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How about for handicapped people that only have one hand or an emergency if someone has thier hand/arm caught in something & needs to cut a shirt off quick to become uncaught ? Farmers, hikers, construction workers, EMT's, Firefighters, Law Enforcement & the ordinary citizen all fall into this catagory. Car accidents, cutting seatbelts ect.. Help is NOT always readily available. Ever have to cut down someone who hanged themself ? The list is endless. Some have even used a knife to break a window of thier vehicle to escape a flash flood in a normally desert area. I had a neighbor friend when i was just a kid & his Grandpa (they were farmers) got his arm caught in a silage blower. He actually cut his wrist off with a pocket knife, to save his own life. Everyone else was out in the field & would'nt be back until they filled up 3 more wagons. He applied pressure with a towel & called the FD for help. He had passed out by the time they got there. He had a primitive J-hook with the ability to pinch/hold things when i first met him. He was thankfull to have his life. I don't know, nor do i want to ever find out, if i could do that. He said if he had not been able to open his knife blade against a piece of metal on the blower, he surely would have died. He was the toughest SOB i have ever met.
 
Goodeyesniper brings up a good point. As much as I enjoy using my SAKs, the main problem is that with a relatively strong backspring and if your occupied with another task, a slipjoint can be a dangerous knife to use. My main point is that if I'm doing a task where I can't put down whatever needs to be cut, I would rather pull out my one handed opener and cut the thing without putting any of my fingers at risk. Trying to open a slipjoint one handed for me is pretty dangerous because of their tendency to snap shut at the very beginning of the opening, and closing it without feeling like your going to cut off one of your fingers can be a challenge. As much as I like slipjoints for their simplicity and for how discrete they can be, I really do like the convenience of a one handed folder for all sorts of uses like other people mentioned, like standing on a ladder or opening a box one handed.

Edit: TwinStick brings up a good point. If I were ever in a high stress situation, where I would need to save myself, I would rather have a one handed opener. I would never want to scramble to open up a knife with two hands if I were ever in an emergency where speed is vital.
 
Simple answer is, why not? Why would I restrict myself to having to use both hands to open a knife when I can use my thumb to flick a thumbstud or index finger to press down on a flipper tang?

I like slipjoints and want an Alsdorf custom one day in a doctor pattern, but for the most part I don't see myself owning any beside the Alsdorf and maybe a Swiss army knife. I don't see a point from a utility standpoint to have to use both hands.
 
LedZep13k7 said:
Also I said I'm a believer that a knife is a tool not weapon. ...if you don't know how to fight without a weapon and someone is attacking you, more power to ya, but personally I would rather have something laying around like a pipe or a baseball bat over a 4 inch pocket knife.
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Interesting. So you expect there to be bats and pipes laying around everywhere, and that your attacker is going to let you search around for one and pick it up before resuming an assult?

Also whether or not you "know how to fight without a weapon" ,something like a knife is what's called a force multiplier. It is simply far more effective at causing damage than your empty hands.


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I am very glad I came upon this post.

The other day I posted in it that I "need" a one hand opener for work. Because of the ease and convenience and I am in such a hurry all the time.

I have been very stressed out lately. This thread has inspired me to take up my Case Medium Stockman. So that each time I pull out my knife to cut something I will remember to slow down and take it easy!

Thanks!
 
LedZep13k7 said:
Why do you need a knife that opens with one hand?
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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The question in your post does not match the question in your title.

Slowstarter said:
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.
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If your question is the one in your title, then slowstarter, the first responder to your question, has already provided my answer. If you are actually asking the question in your post, then my answer is "Speed of deployment is not anything I worry about, as for me knives are always tools, not weapons."
 
I've never had any trouble opening my fixed blades with one hand.
 
Tool or weapon...as with many things, it depends. Is a screwdriver a tool or a weapon? Wha about a hammer? Or Facebook? Or freedom of speech? The originator of this thread must be rather naive about the various uses of everyday items. If I'm accosted someplace and all I have is a pen, am I now "armed" with a weapon? If I have a SOG SEAL Knife and I need to chop wood, is this warrior knife a tool or a weapon? Too much getting wrapped up in the words.
 
Like many have said, convience, speed, etc.
I also like the ability to be more discrete when needed. It's nice to be able to slide a knife out of your pocket,open it with one hand, cut what you need to, close it with one hand, and put the knife back into pocket.
 
The first reason that came to mind is if I only had one hand. Paratroopers also use knives that can open with one hand for obvious reasons. I own a Boker paratrooper leverblade that is a very nice knife and doesn't look like the average Italian gangster switchblade. When I was a deck ape in the USN we all used either 110 Buck knives or LB7 Schrades (basically the same knife, I prefered the Schrade+ steel until they started making them in China). Both of these knives can be opened and closed with one hand after some practice. It was important to be able to open these knives with one hand in cases where a line or other object had to be held with one hand and the knife was needed to be used with the other hand, saving someones life may have depended on this skill. Fixed blade sheath knives were banned for deck use by the time I joined because they posed a safety hazzard. Although the odds are against it, if someone was to fall on a sheathed knife it is still possible for the knife to penetrate the sheath and cause injury. Your average Italian switchblade makes a cool letter opener but that's all they are really good for IMHO.
 
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Like Fossil Diver wrote, a folding knife on your person is safer than a fixed blade in a sheath if you fall. Also, it is about the half the length of a comparable fixed blade (when closed in your pocket) so you have better ability to move and bend, something I do a lot of in tight spaces.
 
Convenience, yes. Also, most two hand opening knives are traditionals that don't have pocket clips. I gave traditional knives a fair chance; bought a SAK Soldier, Case Sodbuster Jr, Douk Douk, and a Buck 55. None of them ever saw any substantial pocket time, and I ended up selling them all. I'm just a modern folder guy.
 
crunky said:
I didn't realize all knives that can be operated with one hand are tactical.

Can I ask why you feel the need to carry a handgun?
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Because it would be irresponsible of me not to carry a handgun where I am allowed to.
 
gomipile said:
Because it would be irresponsible of me not to carry a handgun where I am allowed to.
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I don't have a problem with owning or carrying firearms. I wasn't asking why he chooses to exercise his right to bear arms, I was just wondering why he likes the the convenience of a pistol. Probably the same reason why I prefer to carry a modern folding knife rather than a fixed blade 99% of the time.
 
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