Let me start off by saying that the intent of this innovation is self-defense, in case you are attacked and need to draw your weapon quickly.
There are a lot of people who prefer the reverse-grip when fighting with knives. You see it all the time in military movies and training videos alike. What I mean by reverse-grip is holding the knife in the orientation of a stabbing motion, blade down. This is not my preferred method, but that's just a matter of personal preference. This idea is for those who do prefer that method, and to make that method quicker to implement.
One reason I don't like the reverse-grip is that, unless you've got a fixed-blade knife, you waste valuable time pulling a folder out of your pocket, opening the knife (which always opens blade-up) then flipping your grip.
This knife is designed to flip open in the blade-down, reverse-grip orientation. The handle is designed to be comfortable in that grip, as opposed to existing designs where comfort priority is given to the blade-up grip. The only exception (and the inspiration for this idea) I've seen to that rule is a reality-inspired knife made by Jim Wagner, which is designed to be equally comfortable in either grip.-- 21 Quest, Jan 05 2007 Jim Wagner's reality-based folder http://www.jimwagne.../homelinkboker.html [21 Quest, Jan 05 2007] Benchmade Reflex http://www.benchmad...ail.aspx?model=2550Auto opening tactical folder from Benchmad. [Noexit, Jan 05 2007] and then, there is this guy. if I had to choose a new daddy... http://wcbstv.com/h...tory_004172029.html [po, Jan 06 2007] Sorry, can't condone anything to do with street fighting, especially when it involves weapons. Self-defence or not. (-)-- jtp, Jan 05 2007 Can you condone a soldier defending himself on the battlefield? I never said anything about streetfighting. I specifically mentioned military training videos. This would be mainly used for military and law-enforcement, and illegal without a permit like any other assisted-opening knife.-- 21 Quest, Jan 05 2007 Apologies, I made an incorrect assumption. Bone withdrawn.-- jtp, Jan 05 2007 Damn autoboner....-- 21 Quest, Jan 05 2007 Not auto. Just think its a weak idea, and probably obvious to any master of the art.(-)-- Galbinus_Caeli, Jan 05 2007 Oh well, to each his own. Even a master will have to admit that it takes time, however minute an amount, to switch to the reverse grip.-- 21 Quest, Jan 05 2007 By the way, what does 'reality-inspired' mean?-- zen_tom, Jan 05 2007 I don't get it. What makes this idea different from any other assisted opening folder? Just the shape of the blade and grip? Compare your idea to the knife in my link.-- Noexit, Jan 05 2007 //This is not my preferred method//
<scratches head>-- skinflaps, Jan 05 2007 Three key differences:
1) shape of the handle
2) button would be opposite the hinge
3) pocket clip would be opposite the hinge
zen-tom, this is explained in great length and detail in the link I provided.-- 21 Quest, Jan 05 2007 I read as much of that as I could take, but didn't really take anything away other than a bunch of the usual sales-talk. So, I guess, "reality-based" in this context, is a kind of trademark.-- zen_tom, Jan 06 2007 Heh. This world is so over-the-top that I find its sales jargon funny, not offensive, but I can see why it would grate on some. Still, the precise mechanics involved in such split-second devices are interesting. You misdesign a cell phone, customers get annoyed. You misdesign a knife, customers get killed.
21 Quest, as someone who's utterly naive about knives, I don't understand what it means for a folding knife to open "blade up". You push a button, out comes a blade, right? Can't you do that in any direction, as long as your fingers aren't in the way? Maybe give it a little shake or something?-- jutta, Jan 06 2007 Ian, I love you to eeeny eeeny weeeny bits, as I am sure many others here do too.
please do NOT carry stuff that you would fight to the death to keep - it just is not worth it.-- po, Jan 06 2007 hope you feel better soon. <hug>
oops, sorry.-- po, Jan 06 2007 Unchoreographed group fights suck. Get well, and take some time off while we at halfbakery HQ get to work on an attack wallet. *snap* *bite* *nibble*-- jutta, Jan 06 2007 random, halfbakery