Anybody else's fingers hurt from opening and closing a new knife?

J

JustinP

Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
83
Man. Earlier today I found a kershaw thermite in a bargain bin for 12 bucks and my thumb and index finger are close to blistering. Is this normal or am I breaking my knife?
 
I find each knife has a break-in spot on my either fingers or thumb. Each knife is different... Put it down a day or two and give your fingers a rest before going back to it... You'll see a difference.. peace lol
 
I played with a Thermite for a day and I don't remember the detent being difficult where my index finger hurt that much. But I don't think you are overusing the knife. Your fingers, yes maybe. But not the knife.


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Nope. I'm not a knife fondler.

Is it tough to open? I find with the cheaper knives, I usually have to disassemble, clean, lube, and tinker with the pivot to help with opening.
 
gazz98 said:
Nope. I'm not a knife fondler.

Is it tough to open? I find with the cheaper knives, I usually have to disassemble, clean, lube, and tinker with the pivot to help with opening.
Click to expand...

It's a dream to open and close. I've just done it a few hundred times.
 
I believe the Thermite is a framelock. What is probably happening is you are pressing on the lockbar abit by the way you are holding the knife. This presses the detent ball into the hole it sits in the blade harder, thus holding the blade closed. You have to push the thumb stud harder to get the bar to pop up abit releasing the blade.

On the other hand your knife could just be stiff. Maybe the pivot screw is turned in too tight. You could loosen the pivot screw just a tiny bit and see if that makes opening it easier. Just check for blade play, your screw ahould be tight enough that your blade doesn't play, but only just that tight and no tighter. Or perhaps your thumbs haven't developed any calluses yet.

Don't worry opening and closing your knife will not break it. Congrats becaise the Thermite is a beautiful knife, great Kershaw. I wish I had got one.
 
Nah
my fingers just hurt . . . from splits / winter.
In my mind a properly made knife opens and closes easily, even with intermittent all day use.
If it hurts me; if it causes hand fatigue just from normal use (Cold Steel) then "we have a problem Houston".

This Boker is sooooooo easy to use; even with the tape on and sore fingers. A good knife. If it hurts you mod it or move on I say.

 
Wowbagger said:
Nah
my fingers just hurt . . . from splits / winter.
In my mind a properly made knife opens and closes easily, even with intermittent all day use.
If it hurts me; if it causes hand fatigue just from normal use (Cold Steel) then "we have a problem Houston".

This Boker is sooooooo easy to use; even with the tape on and sore fingers. A good knife. If it hurts you mod it or move on I say.

Click to expand...

Go to Walmart and get some AmLactin Alpha‑Hydroxy . It's a bit expensive but it works wonders.
 
You'll build up a tolerance and callouses and stuff. And (if it has happened to you as it has with most of us) you'll eventually get so fluent with "fondling" your blades that you won't cut yourself either (I know you didn't specifically mention this; but - just sayin)

LOL
 
Yeah it does happen ahah. Ive had pretty bad pain before i got my zt0450 all adjusted (pocket clip came riding omn the frame lock) amd today well my boker urban trapper has me sore from trying to figure out how to flip it best
 
This all sounds like an excellent argument for moving up to better knives with better action and handling characteristics to avoid injury. :D

It's a personal well being issue! ;)
 
Solo si la abres muchas veces al dia, preba co wd 40 e ira mucho mas suave, de todas maneras, cada vez ira mas flojo
 
You're fondling an assisted open knife. That means all the stress comes from closing it, not from opening it. Consider that you're using muscles you don't normally use while knife fondling. If it gets too bad, switch over to a manual thumb stud or spydie hole and use your opener muscles while your closer muscles get a rest :p.
 
Wowbagger said:
Nah
my fingers just hurt . . . from splits / winter.
In my mind a properly made knife opens and closes easily, even with intermittent all day use.
If it hurts me; if it causes hand fatigue just from normal use (Cold Steel) then "we have a problem Houston".

This Boker is sooooooo easy to use; even with the tape on and sore fingers. A good knife. If it hurts you mod it or move on I say.

Click to expand...
Press the lock bar on a Cold Steel using your thumb joint, not the tip...
Its not like a normal backlock with a weak spring and short travel
Sent from the BatComputer
 
Yup, My Kershaw Strobe that I bought new when they first were released sits in the drawer because the detent is so stiff it's a pain to open. I've carried it several times with the intent of breaking it in. Waste of time. Otherwise great EDC knife. $35 paperweight.
 
Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 is notorious for its lockbar access (or lack thereof).

CRKs, the large and small 21 in particular have a particular path that the thumbstud and should travel. If you don't hit the path close, it is Quite a pain (literally).
 
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