Emerson Wave Opening Feature

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

After sixteen years of carrying Spyderco knives (and one Benchmade Skirmish) in tip down mode, I have decided to convert over to the tip up carry mode in conjunction with the Wave opening feature on the Emerson Commander knife. The change was primarily due to my Kali classes in which I noticed that the chances of my old carry mode getting the knife out and deployed in time for use were not very good...and I am fast!

Back to the Emerson Wave feature...am I the only person in the world who ends up with the knife in a less than secure grip when drawing the knife?

I usually end up with the butt of the knife in my grip and the blade locked back about 50% of the time and the blade almost locked back the other 50% of the time.

Can someone shed some light on the finer points of drawing an Emerson knife with the wave feature so that I end up with the knife in a secure fighting grip once the blade locks into place?

Thank you for your input.

 

[auschip]

Draw it faster, and push down slightly while pulling back. This will make it lock open more reliably. I also found that adding a small lanyard helped when I couldn't make a full grip.

 

[Aka Zero]

Drawing with a pocket catch depends a lot on the knife, and technique. I carry mostly thumbhole knives with a zip tie pocket catch. (benchmade griptilian is a great knife for this)

But some knives you pull out of the pocket almost all the way, then flick the blade open. Others pivot open on the draw. But either you have to re position your hand slightly, depending on your grip while drawing. Unless you spin the knife and hold it blade down.

Just play around with it lots. Get to know the knife, and then buy more knives and play with those.

I have modified a few spyderco byrd series knife by cutting off part of the thumbhole to make a big catch. And it works very well. If you want a cheap Knife and don't mind power tools. The top left in the picture has a rubber band as a catch, and actually works, the one next to it my modified byrd crossbill, and a close up of the catch.

 

[conw]

Zero, you did the wave on the crossbill yourself? Very nice.


OP, why not consider a fixed-blade pocket carry or IWB knife??

 

[Leadhead]

This doesn't really help you anthony but anyone with a spyderco waved knife should check out On Scene's "Speed Dialer"
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel/speeddialers.htm

 

[conw]

IWB config is very cool. Although not having tried out a waved knife I can't say if it offers any benefits over typical carry methods.

 

[RamsHead]

Get your thumb way down in your pocket and try catching the clip with your middle finger instead of your index finger, also a slight twist of the knife, wave toward pocket lip can help as can lubing the pivot with some tri flow or backing off the pivot a touch. Auschip's advice is solid too. At the end of the day fixed beats folded for strength and speed.

 

[DeftwillP]

Here's my crkt m1.


I have it tip up in my right pocket. When I draw it out, my hand makes a fist with a reverse grip and the blade hanging out of my hand.

 

[high voltage]

You may have to adjust the pivot to find the sweet spot. Also twist the knife slightly as you draw. Using the wave will never be as dependable as a fixed blade, but you can get pretty consistant with practice.

 

[Aka Zero]

When I draw it out, my hand makes a fist with a reverse grip and the blade hanging out of my hand.

I find a few of my zip-tie knives do this the fastest. it's a strong, but not ideal grip, unless stabbing.

And the modded crossbill is the best knife I have ever used with a catch. The curve on the back edge just slide the edge of anything right into the catch. Far better than I thought it would work. Was a $25 experiment that turned out great. Also have a stainless handle Cara-Cara, does not work as well, but still very good.

 

[mercop]

The only way to have confidence in it is to get a trainer and do it during force on force where your attention is on the attacker not the tool.- George