Unusual folders, how many ways are there to open a knife?

[451 Detonics]

I am often intrigued by the various method knife makers have come up with to open the folding knife. Not locking methods...that would be a whole other thread but the unusual ways knives have be made to open.

One of the best known has to be the Balisong or Butterfly knife. It is not a style that ever really caught my interest but I do own one example...and I must say it is both a very old knife as well as a very cheap knife. But it does serve to demonstrate the method of opening.



One of my first unusual designs was a "Funny Folder". This method uses part of the handle to both hide the blade as well as being the part that locks it open. The blade slides out of the frame and the center rotates around to lock it in place.



Next is a Barry Woods design. Years ago I had an original but gifted it to a nephew some time back. I still have a Pacific Cutlery Corp (Benchmade's predecessor) version licensed from Barry. This design has the scales rotating around the blade to both close it as well as locking it open. Somewhat slow to open but just about impossible to accidentally close.



Next up is this Camco (Camillus) camming action folder. By sliding the button forward it would cam the blade open using a liner lock to lock the blade in place. It closes like any liner lock.



Another golden oldie is the Benchmark Rolox, this design was later licensed to Gerber and the latest version is from CRKT. You simply pushed down on the jimping on the rear of the blade and slide it forward till it locks. A very easy to use design.



Another CRKT is the Kommer Fulcrum. This knife uses the scales themselves to cam open the blade. With practice it is very fast to open tho not the strongest of designs. A fun knife to carry.



I think that covers the unusual openers in my collection...may remember others later. Show us your unusual openers, I know of several from CRKT, AG Russell, and others I don't own an example of.

 

[BRad704]

I don't think I have ever heard of any of these before... Thanks for sharing this!

 

[hso]

Yep, I have those types in my collection as well as a "wheel".

 

[451 Detonics]

Do you mean something like the Paul Defender when you say "wheel"?

 

[hso]

The old Colt "Revolver" was a wretched example of them and you can find a Boker/Magnum as well as a Petzl currently in production that uses a wheel attached to the pivot as the opening mechanism. First I saw of these was a nice custom AKMA made by French Canadian maker Denis Lemaire (which I bought) and then some folders out of France of FRN and 440C. Both had liner locks.

 

[hso]

Cool images of an interesting design from a French maker Robert Losson (who is a fan of Lemaire)

 

[PTK]

I have one of each of the odd designs in this thread, I think. The only one I don't have is that most recent, from Losson.

 

[451 Detonics]

Which versions of the Wood's and Benchmade Rolox do you have....WE NEED PICS!!!!

 

[PTK]

No pictures, the knives aren't handy. As for the versions, I have a Gerber Rolox with a black micarta (?) handle, I think it had a leather belt pouch at some point, unfortunately that's long since lost.

As for the Wood's design, I have a cheaper Pakistan-made copy of the locking design. I bought it mostly as a novelty.

 

[The Highlander]

Not as interesting as the others, though the knife itself is somewhat notable (early Tuff prototype; the design has since changed a bit) I believe you would call this an integral compression lock:


if you're curious, the newer one is in this vid (after a sick looking black coated bill moran and warrior)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSqQXNdmgQ

edit: and most people are saying that the tuff is going to be in S30v instead of 3V. Somewhat disappointing, but I guess that will allow for a more realistic price point.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I have a Kommer Fulcrum I got off the Ebay last year. I carry it alot on Sunday and other dress events.

 

[Eric Draven]

What about inertia opening? Loosening the pivot pin a bit and using your wrist power to fling it open. Of course that might make it fly out of your hand if your fingers arent strong enough.

 

[hso]

Eric,

Any yahoo with a screw driver can do that. Nothing unusual about it.

I bet you could build a clever folder that didn't depend upon one of the standard opening approaches.

 

[451 Detonics]

I do remember seeing one of these shortly after I graduated from St John's M.A. but no way could I afford one. This ad is from the April 1978 issue of American Blade...

It is a toggle action that worked just like cycling a Luger, was a bit awkward to use...

 

[PTK]

$925 in 1978? Wow. THAT is an expensive piece.