Help me understand a nail nicks...

R

RipD

Joined
Dec 10, 2014
Messages
894
I generally don't like nail nicks. Other people seem to like them. Some even prefer them. I find them hard to open, always requiring two hands, and a little bit fiddly. What am I missing?

I grew up with an old-school, two-bladed classic pen knife. I liked it as a kid. Hated the nail nicks and opening my knife was always the thing I liked the least about it. (That the blades didn't lock was another issue, but I didn't know that was an option back then.)

When I'm at home or in the office it's fine to use a nail nick. I don't prefer it, but it's usable. But if I'm hiking, or fishing, or have an issue in my car, and need a knife when I least expect it, why would I want to fumble with a nail nick? Dark, wet, maybe snowing, maybe muddy... doesn't seem very helpful.

So many people like them I have to believe I'm missing something. Is it a simplicity thing? Just more classic? I prefer manuals to assist or auto, so it's not that.

Thoughts on what I'm not getting?
 
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I'd have to agree with all you've stated Rip.
Especially at work. I find I only have one hand free when I need my knife.
Joe
 
I would say it depends a bit. 99% of the time i will not buy a knife that is not one hand open. But i can make an exception, for example. There is a dealer exclusive traditional in m390 comming soon and i reserved one for myself. Gotta say though... Ive become addicted to spydieflicking my spydercos :)
 
Some people just love traditional knives. SAK's too. I have to say I like em once in awhile too, not as a main carry though
 
Carry both and use the appropriate one. I'm on my third traditional in about six weeks and I have three more coming, they're silly convenient to have around.
 
I like a lot of variety in my knives, some modern and some traditional. In most cases traditional knives are pretty slim, and they are great cutters and slicers too. If you have a traditional there's no rule that says you have to use a nail nick, but in most cases you'll be lucky to open it otherwise.

Sure I like one hand opening, locking knives, have quite a few, they are great when you only have one hand or are in a hurry. Most of these type knives are great for cutting or SD, but their blade profile doesn't lend it self to finer work such as getting into tight spaces, whittling or carving etc.

Locks on knives are great, it helps me to trust a knife a little more, but if you are following knife rules 101 then locks are not needed as much or even at all. I know all about the "I saw so and so stand on a knife and the lock didn't fail," and it probably won't, but depending on what your doing with it added to your complacency from stabbing or prying or what have you your just increasing your odds of getting cut.

I don't like Autos much, assisted is okay but I would rather have a manual personally.

Lots of different knives, lots of different uses for them.
 
Opening can depend on the knife, there are nail breakers, and there are also knives like the case sodbuster that's easy to pinch and pull open. There are also lockbacks which have nail nicks but require little force to pull open.
You also have different types like your standard nail nick, a long nail pull, a match striker nail nick, and a match striker nail pull which can also affect the ease of opening.
 
I use and carry both traditional knives and modern folders. My traditional knives get used for more of the every day task like opening mail or boxes, and they are also the ones I am more prone to whipping out in front of a crowd of sheeple. Also, natural handle materials are just appealing to me for some reason, it adds a character the modern folders with synthetic materials just can't match. However, if I need to do some heavy duty work in the yard or break down a bunch of thick boxes I'd rather have something that locks. So my modern folders see the heavy duty cutting tasks, or when I simply need to access a blade one handed. Also, don't forget fixed blades! When you need to chop something while camping or hiking, or skin something while hunting, it's better to used a fixed for those purposes.
 
Not a fan of nail nicks myself. The only two knives that I carry that have them are SAKs. I had some GEC, Case, Queen, etc back in the day but sold them. I appreciate the tradition of the folding knife but I prefer a lock (SAK excluded) and one handed opening.
 
I carry both one-hand openers and traditional knives with nail nicks. Usually one of each at the same time.

I find that I use the traditional for 90-95% of my cutting chores, because usually I don't need a one-hand opening knife.

I also find that knives with nail nicks usually have more than one blade. That allows me to have multiple blade shapes, each optimized for a specific type of cutting.
 
I usually always have a slip joint on me and either a modern or a fixed blade. Most of the time I'm not in a rush to get my knife out / don't need one for a super heavy duty task that would require a locking one, but it sure is nice to have one when you do.
 
I like to pinch-open my traditionals, but if i am using a traditional, it usually isn't to get at something quickly, so the nail nick or long-pull tends to be a purely aesthetic choice. I like to carry my traditional knives because they are pretty, and I carry a one-handed modern folder in a stainless steel as a tool for anything that needs to be cut quickly.
 
Velitrius said:
Nail nicks defy understanding.

We cannot help you.:D
Click to expand...

Like Dizzy Gillespie, who defined "rhythm" as "You either got it, or you don't"

Seriously, though, different strokes for different folks. For my needs, and a lot of other people, a nail nick does just fine. The modern one-hand openers are really just there for fun. But I get by on a 2.5"-3" bladed nail-nicked slip joint (including my CRK Mnandi in this because it has a nick, although I can open it with one hand) for pretty much everything except making dinner, and there's a kitchen knife for that.
 
I've always disliked nail nicks, mostly because they are ugly.

And unnecessary.

This Resolza has almost a 5-inch blade. It has nothing to aid in opening. Normally, it's a two-handed opener, just like a regular slip joint, but I can open and close it easily with one hand.

I love how nothing detracts from the beauty of its blade -- no nicks or knobs or holes or plates. Just the pure function of clean lines.

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_2a2_zpslmth03pv.jpg
 
Use the right tool for the job. If you need quick access in your mentioned scenarios, then your best bet is a fixed blade over even a one-handed opener. I too carry a traditional and a modern folder but I've never had a problem with the nail pull.
 
Thanks for all the great replies. Could be I just haven't tried the right ones. Didn't realize that EO was a real thing - though there were just some you could muscle your way through. I really did want to figure out my blind spot, not just complain about nail nicks.

Boxer .45 said:
I like a lot of variety in my knives, some modern and some traditional. In most cases traditional knives are pretty slim, and they are great cutters and slicers too. If you have a traditional there's no rule that says you have to use a nail nick, but in most cases you'll be lucky to open it otherwise.

Sure I like one hand opening, locking knives, have quite a few, they are great when you only have one hand or are in a hurry. Most of these type knives are great for cutting or SD, but their blade profile doesn't lend it self to finer work such as getting into tight spaces, whittling or carving etc.
Click to expand...
I get that having a smaller, less intimidating knife could be good. I'd like to have something smaller for work (office) that doesn't make people's eyes bulge out but that can still cut up a pear. Traditional pen knife would fit. I hadn't considered whittling.

thegeneftw said:
Also, natural handle materials are just appealing to me for some reason, it adds a character the modern folders with synthetic materials just can't match.
Click to expand...
So me too. I like that classic look. I'll see what I can find that is one-handed and classic looking.

popedandy said:
I don't think it's that big of a deal. Carry what you like and don't worry about it.
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Yep. Really just wanted to understand.

Velitrius said:
Nail nicks defy understanding.

We cannot help you.:D
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Whether you meant this as "you're beyond helping" or that "nobody understands them" it's a great response. Thanks for that.

Twindog said:
This Resolza has almost a 5-inch blade. It has nothing to aid in opening. Normally, it's a two-handed opener, just like a regular slip joint, but I can open and close it easily with one hand.
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Nice looking knife. Something like that could work.

PNWJimbo said:
Can always go with an EO 😜
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Again, hadn't considered it. Am now doing so.
 
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For those of us who might bite or pick off their fingernails (juvenile, I know), it's nice to have a one-hand opener. I'm a big fan of flippers, but studs and spydieholes are fine also.
 
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