Has this ever happened to anyone else? Finger injury from spyder flipping...

[lonerider1013]

So never really ever cut myself with a spyderco. But I did wear a hole nearly thru a fingernail...

So I've been using my middle finger to flick the blade open. Tried it this morning and "ouch" it hurt. Looked at my finger. Turns out there's a dent worn in the fingernail halfway up to where it meets the skin -- apparently corresponding tot he edge of the spyderhole.
Guess I'm fiddling with them too much while watching tv or reading or whatever.

Has this ever happened to you? How to prevent it? The whole thing is weird...

Lonerider

[Sharp Guy]

What model are you trying to flick open?

[lonerider1013]

Well I been alternating between Delica, Endura and para3 this past week... lately the endura...

[Sharp Guy]

Well I been alternating between Delica, Endura and para3 this past week... lately the endura...

In general, back locks aren't very flicking friendly. It's doable but it takes a really strong flick. No wonder you wore out your finger.

I don't even bother with trying to flick open back locks. Even when I can flick 'em open I think it's hard on the lock and a good way to induce lock rock prematurely. It's not worth it to me.

[lonerider1013]

Thanks! Glad to find this out now rather than later... fingernails grow back, lock mechanisms don't!

[steelcity16]

Well I been alternating between Delica, Endura and para3 this past week... lately the endura...

In general, back locks aren't very flicking friendly. It's doable but it takes a really strong flick. No wonder you wore out your finger.

I don't even bother with trying to flick open back locks. Even when I can flick 'em open I think it's hard on the lock and a good way to induce lock rock prematurely. It's not worth it to me.

+1 Dang, you have a strong middle finger! I don't really practice or fidget with flicking much, buy my Para 3s are the only ones I can flick with semi-regularity. I get scared im going to slip and slice myself so I rarely do it anyways. I can't even come close to budging any of my backlocks with my middle finger.

[The Meat man]

I've accidentally flicked my Advocate clean out of my hand trying to do the middle finger open. Fortunately didn't harm anything. I have since stopped trying to middle finger flick open that knife. It has a flipper for a reason. :rolleyes:

I can flick open my Native 5 and my Pacific Salt, and of course my Military. But, I prefer to open them in a more controlled way. Having the knife slam open all the time probably doesn't do the locking mechanism any good.

[lonerider1013]

Well... back in spring I had some injury to my right side. I'm lefty but I've used a knife with my right hand for decades. I've been trying to reteach myself to be lefty with a knife.. and I gravitated towards Spydercos because they are so easy to open using those holes. I guess I regarded fiddling with it like physical therapy. Maybe I did it too much lol. But I'll be damned never thought it was bad for the lock... or would hurt my finger.

See the notch worn in fingernail. It hurts!

[Woodpuppy]

Well then. I bet that does hurt! You could break the edge on the hole a little, maybe it would wear on you less. I flick my p3s and pm2s, but my Delicas get spydie dropped, except the salt 2 which is so light I’m afraid I’m going to launch the knife. DF2 is strictly slow thumb open.

[Bloke]

So I've been using my middle finger ...

[vivi]

never had that happen, but I usually stick with a regular thumb opening.

[JonLeBlanc]

Compression locks (and maybe cbbl’s) are the easiest to middle finger flick; I’ve never been able to do it on a back lock like a Delica or endura. However, I did see a vid on YouTube where a guy managed to flick every spyderco he owns, it was several types of lock.

[DBCOOPER]

Spyderco delica and enduras can at times have a really sharp edge around the spydie hole, my vtoku will eat through my finger nail if I flipped it alot

[vgex]

I usually prefer the "thumb flick" the spyderhole as it is more translatable to more knife platforms, particularly thumb studs.

[W7H2O]

Lately I noticed the Delica and Endura holes are sharp. That may be part the problem. I Take a round file to them. Makes my fingers happy.

[Crux]

Do this 3 or 4 times a day and you will be ok.

[The Mastiff]

Has this ever happened to you? How to prevent it?

Seriously? Come on! :)

The hole you have will grow back and even toughen up if you continue. Being as that isn't a natural movement I'd expect ligament issues and even arthritis in the joints if you do it enough.

Thumb opening is more natural and for me as fast but I wouldn't even do that obsessively. Regular daily use is enough to develop muscle memory over time to where it becomes faster and more effortless. I can open my Spydercos faster than my autos without trying from just carrying them daily for a long time. I have arthritis in my hands too. Stick with more natural movements in the long run.

Joe

[Bloke]

... you will be ok.

[Woodpuppy]

Ouch, I’ve done that... stupid curbs...

[pagant]

I am in my seventies and have what my old dad used to call "The rhumaticks" , my Spydie thumb got them long before the rest of me and so i took up with some old Case knives i still had. Recently i found a ZDP Manbug that i still had tucked away and what do you know it seems that if i dont go mad with it i can still flick open a Spydie, so far i have bought a Dragonfly 2 FRN VG-10 , Alcyone and inbound a Chaparral FRN.
So it seems like the thumb injury has moved to my brain and as long as it dont hurt i care not, although my brain may be affected because after watching a chap on Youtube strip and clean his Alcyone i thought i would have a go with mine, but i seem to have cocked it up for after re assembling it now has some up and down blade play, hopefully the Chaparral will take my mind off it.