The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Tactics and Training

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 1, 2012, 11:15 PM   #1
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
Happy I train with both hands...

... since I took my strong hand out pretty well last night.

Important safety tip: If you have a spring-assist type knife, it might be a good idea to keep it in a sheath instead of a pocket. My SureFire knife opened up on me last night in my front pocket, without my knowledge, and I cut the heel of my hand right below the thumb when I went to adjust a belt holster.

Several stitches later, I have no effective grip in my right hand, probably for the next few days at least.

Left hand holster is being broken out.

I usually shoot about 25% of any given range session left-handed, so while my abilities are slightly downgraded, they are still pretty good.

I can't write all that well, of course... good thing I mostly type.

Don't ignore training with your weak hand - it might just be the only one you can use in a given instant.
MLeake is offline  
Old June 1, 2012, 11:36 PM   #2
JohnKSa
Staff
 
Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 24,929
First rule of folding knife safety. All folding knives are always open.

Ok, just kidding...

I'm guessing that they didn't find any nerve or tendon damage or you would have mentioned it. That's good and means a full recovery is almost certain. Nothing left to do but heal quickly...so get to it!
__________________
Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
JohnKSa is offline  
Old June 1, 2012, 11:39 PM   #3
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
No, I cut the meat below the base of the thumb. If I had to get cut, that was probably the best possible spot. No near-surface tendons, ligaments, or major blood vessels.

Still bled pretty nicely... but ultimately not a big deal.

Only concern now is avoiding infection.

Thanks for the well-wishes.
MLeake is offline  
Old June 1, 2012, 11:49 PM   #4
egor20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,824
MLeake

Quote:
Happy I train with both hands...
I'm good with about 10% weak handed.

Won't talk about Italian switchblades in the back pocket, while being stationed in Naples. OUCH.

Hope your OK..
__________________
Chief stall mucker and grain chef

Country don't mean dumb.
Steven King. The Stand
egor20 is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 02:02 AM   #5
BlackFeather
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 2009
Location: West Coast
Posts: 450
Assisted? Was it tip up or tip down carry?

My only assisted knives are tip up, if they open it's in the pocket. While there are more vitals there, you'll know it opened before it gets serious. Hope it's a quick recovery.
__________________
"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men." - Miyamoto Musashi

[Insert random irrelevant religious quote here]
BlackFeather is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 02:39 AM   #6
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
Tip down.

Blade opened about 90 degrees, and just cleared the top of my pocket.

Thanks, I think the recovery should be fine and relatively quick. My only worry is that a friend contracted a MRSA strain here last year. So far, no signs of a problem, but the doc and I will be keeping a close watch on it.

Edit: Meanwhile, went looking for a decent knife pouch today. Didn't find what I wanted, but did find a nice 8 Hook tool (with pouch) for cutting straps, etc. Figure I'll pair that up with my 5" SOG Spec Elite folder, and just avoid the spring-assist issue entirely.
MLeake is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 05:16 AM   #7
stephen426
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2005
Posts: 3,840
Ouch... Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I think situations like that are why I don't carry assisted-opening knives or auto-knives. I own a few of them to round out my collection, but I don't feel comfortable carrying them. An employee of mine had his assisted knife open up in his front pocket. It cut a hold in his pocket and boxers. I'm guessing it could have been much worse!

Assisted opening knives that have to be opened with the thumb stud make me really uncomfortable. It is impossible to have a firm grip on the knife as it opens and blade snapping open makes the knife want to slip out of my hand. I also feel that the blade is going to snap open and I will slice my thumb off as I continue the motion of pushing the thumb stud. The only exception is flipper styled knives which allow me to have a better grip and open the knife with my index finger. The problem with those is they also tend to open up accidentally if the flipper gets pushed.

My issue with auto-knives is that many of them have safeties that can be accidentally activated or difficult to deactivate quickly. Many of them also require the release button to be depressed completely. I have a Benchmade and Microtech that are both like that. Auto knives are also hard to close with one hand.

I have gotten so used to opening my manual knife that I can do so as quickly as an automatic knife or assisted knife. I usually carry a Benchmade 710 which uses the Axis lock. It is easy to flick open but will not open accidentally. It is also very easy to open and close one handed.

__________________
The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!
stephen426 is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 05:36 AM   #8
dayman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: The Woods
Posts: 1,197
If you're looking for something that isn't spring loaded, but can open fast, I'd suggest looking at the crkt m16 line. The flippers make them open like an assisted, but there nothing to make them open on their own.
I cut the same spot with a benchmade auto 5-6 years ago.
It definitely sucked, but now it's just one more road on the map.
Don't push it, and feel better soon.
dayman is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 08:40 AM   #9
Frank Ettin
Staff
 
Join Date: November 23, 2005
Location: California - San Francisco
Posts: 9,471
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

And thanks for reinforcing my inclination against assisted openers.
__________________
"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper
Frank Ettin is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 11:31 AM   #10
Glenn E. Meyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 20,064
1. My assisted opener - opened in my luggage. So now it is just a tool around the house.

2. I totally agree with training with both hands. I broke my wrist. I was scheduled to do two classes, so I did with my other hand.

Fortunately - the first one was for injured shooters - how convenient.

The second was Mas' LFI-1 Stressfire component. What bugs me is that sometimes I shoot better with the other hand.
__________________
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Glenn E. Meyer is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 12:20 PM   #11
TheNocturnus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,097
Ouch, hope it heals quick. My pocket knife is an assisted opener but it has a lock on it so that it does not open in the pocket. It's a Gerber, might look into that in the future.
__________________
My EDC:
Gun
Wallet
Brain (Use this one the most)
TheNocturnus is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 12:58 PM   #12
PADefenseTrainer
Member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2011
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 48
I keep mine clipped inside my waistband SOB. Maybe I should rethink that

Actually I miss butterfly knives. I could open it with one hand and I never had an accident.



Since they are illegal now, mine are relegated to wall decorations.

Anyway, here's to a speedy recovery.
__________________
NRA Life Member | NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle & Shotgun Instructor | NRA Chief Range Safety Officer

".. a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular individual citizen..." - Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C. App.181)
PADefenseTrainer is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 08:41 PM   #13
JohnKSa
Staff
 
Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 24,929
This kind of thing isn't exclusive to assisted opening knives. I've had a typical slipjoint folder open up while being removed from a pocket. The tip of the blade was just a tiny bit above the blade channel in the handle. Just enough so that the tip caught on the material of the pocket and since the knife was small and the spring wasn't very stout, that opened the blade as the knife was withdrawn from the pocket. I ended up holding the opened knife in my hand which was something of a surprise. I used a small file to cut a bit of metal off the choil to make sure the blade set deeper into the channel when the knife is closed and that fixed the problem.

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine, but his knife was larger and the spring was stiffer. He felt the blade opening and he let go of the knife. Unfortunately that allowed the blade to snap closed on his finger and he suffered a minor cut.
__________________
Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
JohnKSa is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 10:03 PM   #14
Hank15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2009
Location: California
Posts: 437
I've never had a spring assisted pocket knife opening up in my pocket.

However, since it does happen (as evident by your post), I make it a habit to constantly check the tension of the pocket clip + make sure that the blade is resting HARD against my pocket.

The Kershaw Tactical Bump and Zero Tolerance 350 are renowned for their clamp like pocket clips. You might have a little more faith in those 2.
Hank15 is offline  
Old June 2, 2012, 10:31 PM   #15
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
As noted, I have a Spec Elite SOG with Axis lock, so I'll just use that for a cutter, and I've picked up a BenchMade 8 Hook for cutting belts or straps. No more spring assists for me, unless in a dedicated pouch...

Meanwhile, one of the safety guys at work has just given me the new call sign, "Slash."
MLeake is offline  
Old June 3, 2012, 07:29 AM   #16
Tactical Jackalope
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 2010
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 6,429
Morgan! Sorry that happened brother! Glad you train with your left. Remember when I broke my finger? Same darn thing...terrible..


Get well soon.
Tactical Jackalope is offline  
Old June 3, 2012, 08:24 AM   #17
mavracer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Location: midwest
Posts: 4,209
Hope you heal fast. How are you with the knife southpaw? Often it's simple tasks that'll give you trouble.
__________________
rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
Quote:
originally posted my Mike Irwin
My handguns are are for one purpose only, though...
The starter gun on the "Fat man's mad dash tactical retreat."
mavracer is offline  
Old June 3, 2012, 01:04 PM   #18
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
Nice thing about aikido and arnis - equal time practicing with both hands. (Except, of course, for bokken, as all Japanese swordsmen are right-handed by tradition.)

I can't write or throw left-handed (at least, not well). Tying my shoes is a bit more challenging.

OTOH, I can fly from either side of the cockpit. (Left is better, now, as that lets me grip the yoke with the left, and only worry about levers with the right.)

Again, thanks for the well-wishes.

Cheers,

M
MLeake is offline  
Old June 4, 2012, 06:35 PM   #19
output
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 15, 2008
Posts: 294
If you want a good looking and functional knife sheath I would take a look at Lifters Leather. He custom fits each knife to its sheath. He does pocket sheaths, IWB, and OWB variations. http://www.liftersleather.com/
__________________
"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." -Winston Churchill
output is offline  
Old June 11, 2012, 06:54 PM   #20
MagnumWill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 18, 2009
Location: Central Colorado
Posts: 1,001
I have *always* been worried about that. I carry a tip-up automatic in my back pocket next to my wallet, and I have formed a habit of checking it CONSTANTLY. I notice when I don't have it with me, everyone probably thinks I'm wearing a thong for the amount of times I "fix" my behind in a day. I've poked myself with it a couple times, but nothing like that.


FWIW, I think an automatic knife is just sweet compared to a good assisted knife, it really becomes an extension of your body when there's no fiddling involved getting it open. Tip-up autos are the way to go
__________________
Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...
MagnumWill is offline  
Old June 11, 2012, 10:48 PM   #21
ms6852
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 3, 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,394
That is an economical way to get neutered. Hope you get well soon. Glad to here you practice weak hand shooting. I am an avid practioner of practice with both hands. I like to shoot between 200 to three hundred rounds of 22lr on my buckmark with my weak hand than only shoot about 3 magazines out of my 1911 with my weak hand, that way I always remember the recoil. This also allows me to use the rest of my ammo on my strong hand.

Speedy Recovery.
__________________
ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.
ms6852 is offline  
Old June 11, 2012, 10:54 PM   #22
orionengnr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 9, 2004
Posts: 5,172
Sorry to hear of your mishap.
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

And we can all learn from this incident--I certainly need to spend more time shooting with my left hand.

Best regards, Rich
orionengnr is offline  
Old June 11, 2012, 11:32 PM   #23
dcobler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 30, 2008
Location: Oklahoma, America
Posts: 286
Maybe this happened to give the rest of us that dont train offhand a warning. Hope you have a speedy recovery and I will heed your warning and work on my offhand!
__________________
"Be kind, be courteous, and have a plan to kill everybody you meet."
dcobler is offline  
Old June 12, 2012, 02:29 AM   #24
BlackFeather
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 2009
Location: West Coast
Posts: 450
Bleh, new posts reminded me of this thread. Depending on the use of the knife, general use or defensive, you may want to consider a kydex sheath that holds it open, or even one that holds it closed on your hip. Not trying to be tacticool, but it's an option that others have used.

I have a CRKT Heiho and have, fortunately, never had this issue. An old friend did once, simply because the knife was too sensitive and was tip down. It takes time to retrain for a tip up knife but it may be a consideration....

Though, you sound like you've found your ideal carry...
__________________
"Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men." - Miyamoto Musashi

[Insert random irrelevant religious quote here]
BlackFeather is offline  
Old June 12, 2012, 01:28 PM   #25
pax
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2000
Location: In a state of flux
Posts: 7,520
Training is good & necessary.

Also good & necessary: a carry method that works for your non-dom hand. I have a lefty holster & practice with it regularly. If I bust my right arm tomorrow, as soon as the drugs wear off I'll have an excellent left handed holster on my hip -- not in the mail or on backorder.

pax
__________________
Kathy Jackson
My personal website: Cornered Cat
pax is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07320 seconds with 10 queries