Do you like open back knives?

[Ow!Icutmyself!]

So… I keep my knife in my pocket, not using the pocket clip. I have found that keeping it that way may cause coins, keys, and other objects to wedge into the open back. Has anyone else had this issue? Keys and coins are the main culprits here, they easily contact the edge of the blade. I know I’m going to be told to use the pocket clip, but that will not solve the problem since I’m set in my ways and will always keep the knife in my right pocket where my keys reside, along with my fortune in coins. I know the other thing I will be told is to choose knives with closed backs which is what I hope the Manix 2XL Salt has. But does anyone have thoughts on this? I’ve thought of just a piece of tape on the back that would prevent the problem and could be easily replaced. I have only about 6 Spyderco knives and they are the only ones I carry. The back lock is the simplest and solves the problem, but I just can’t abandon the other good buddy blades I have. I guess I’m just whining.

[Danke]

You can easily solve this by using a pocket slip. Keeps the knife more secure to boot.

Not Spyderco but you get the idea.

[Evil D]

I don't dislike them, but I also don't carry loose in my pocket and if I did I would also not carry anything else in that pocket.

Open back is nice for people that use their knives in dirty situations, makes rinsing them out easier. You could also argue that it's another opening to let crud in though so it's all pros and cons.

[cjk]

I second the use of a slip. Buy one or make one or have one made for your knife. It will protect your knife from the other stuff in your pocket and can also help keep the knife closed.

[vivi]

I prefer closed back. More ergonomic and avoids this issue. Even though I use pocket clips when I carry a folder, sometimes I throw them in a backpack.

the manix xl salt will be open back like every other manix xl.

the original c95 manix is a closed back lockback,you could track down one of those.



when I carried spydercos clipless I used to carry them vertical in my rear pocket stood up next to my wallet. that's something else you could try.

[Jeb]

Welcome to the forum,

To answer your question here " is the Manix 2XL Salt going to be a closed back", well it's not...

Now I get what the issue is here completely with the issue, maybe you can try out carrying your knife in your back right-side pocket and use the clip.

After all that clip is a killer way to be able to hang your knife. I carry everyday more than one knife on me and one of mine is a Manix 2XL.

I am going to have me a couple of the Manix 2XL Salt knife soon as they hit the dealer too.

[ejames13]

You can easily solve this by using a pocket slip. Keeps the knife more secure to boot.

Not Spyderco but you get the idea.

What model is this please?

[sal]

Hi Ow!Icutmyself!,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[kobold]

I keep my change in another pocket exactly for this reason :-)

[yablanowitz]

Frankly, I find dimes and sometimes pennies wedged between the blade and handle on my slip joints with closed backs quite often, but not where they could contact the blade edge. Overall, I prefer a closed back, but it isn't a total deal breaker.

[cjk]

The lightweight Manix 2 Salt doesn't have an open back.
The Stretch 2 xl and Native Chief are a couple of big Spyderco knives that don't have open backs. Both have Salt versions.
I was able to find an aftermarket titanium Manix 2 XL backspacer on Etsy. That may solve your specific problem. You'll have to disassemble the knife to install it and be sure to read the lead time in the listing.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/710583206/ ... A710583206

[Ow!Icutmyself!]

Hey, everyone, thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I’ve never thought about a slip for a Spyderco. I did have one for a William Henry automatic that came open in my pocket once just inches from my femoral artery! Always used it after that! Using one with a Spyderco would make it a two handed process. So I think I’m going to go with the aftermarket spacer for my upcoming Manix 2XL. Wish it was available in aluminum or even plastic for less weight. In 1967 when I graduated from high school my mom gave me a bone-handled Swiss Champ.
It was heavy enough to wear out my jeans pocket long before the pants wore out, I went around the world with it in ‘74 along with an Opinel. It was stolen when I got to Hawaii while I was out surfing. I still carry a Swiss Army knife, but man, was my first Spyderco a revelation! One handed opening! I’ve carried one ever since. I used to be a flashaholic, but I kicked the habit cold turkey with only a few relapses.
I’m now a knifeaholic.
Don’t get me started.
Again, thanks for the replies and advice. Glad I joined the forum - it’ll be interesting to talk to other knifeaholics.

[Danke]

You can easily solve this by using a pocket slip. Keeps the knife more secure to boot.

Not Spyderco but you get the idea.

What model is this please?

That is a Northwoods Hawthorne Jack, wharncliffe version.

[Jeb]

The lightweight Manix 2 Salt doesn't have an open back.
The Stretch 2 xl and Native Chief are a couple of big Spyderco knives that don't have open backs. Both have Salt versions.
I was able to find an aftermarket titanium Manix 2 XL backspacer on Etsy. That may solve your specific problem. You'll have to disassemble the knife to install it and be sure to read the lead time in the listing.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/710583206/ ... A710583206

I thought there was about half the back open on the Manix 2XL, you had to buy one of those Titanium space fillers to fix that and one that I got I had to grind in the space for the lanyard tube somewhat for a good fit.

[Brock O Lee]

I like open backs, but I don't have a strong preference. I don't carry lose items in pocket with my knife. I like them because I feel they don't trap moisture as much and dry quicker after a rinse.

But you could argue that moisture gets trapped between the liners and scales regardless of open or closed back construction, so there is that...

Linerless, or especially open back titanium framelocks, for the win on that front.

[Danke]

I used to carry my Spidiechef in a nice fabric slip. Out on a trip right now without it so I'll post a shot when I get back.

[Roefisher]

I prefer my knives with a closed back. Many times something has been skinny enough to go in between the open scales and touch the blade. Having said that, I've only had any real damage done to the knife's edge or the object which went in there once when a coin stuck perfectly between the scales of my Mnandi while I was working and I had to reprofile the edge.

But the time I really don't like an open back is on the smaller knives where I take the pocket clip off and deep carry them. It's in the same pocket as my coins and edc fountain pen/pencil. Of the four knives I carry like this, only the WolfSpyder has an open back. The Dragonfly, UKPK & Lil' Temperance are all closed and I feel happier with them. When I carry the WolfSpyder, although I keep the pen/pencil in there, I take the coins out of my pocket.

Mark

[aicolainen]

Like with other knife features, there's a time and a place for most features. Or like a wise man once said: "all good, just different".

Overall I tend to prefer closed backs, but it's not a hard rule. It really depends on the knife and use case.

The knife I tend to prefer for EDC is a Dragonfly 2 carried loose in my back pocket, without a clip. I'm glad it's a closed back design as it seems more suited for this type of carry, but it's been many years since I had coins or keys in my pockets, so it's not important enough to be a requirement for me.

Like vivi mentioned, (IMO) the main advantage of a closed back as far as edge protection goes, is related to storage and transportation. I put my knives in backpacks, travel bags, fishing boxes and tool bags all the time, and I would hesitate a lot more to do that with open back knives.

I also don't quite buy into the argument that a flow through construction is easier to keep clean. Sure there could be certain situations where that's the case, but just as often I feel the opposite way. If I'm cleaning out a knife with pressurized water or pressurized air, the effect of the water/air hitting the backspacer will create a chaotic back splash that usually hits every internal surface with sufficient pressure to clean it out, whereas with the open back most of my pressurized air or water will just go straight through, with a fraction of it hitting the internal surfaces, and at a very shallow angle at that.

There's some valid arguments to be made for open backs with regards to weight saving, but mostly on higher end knives with fancy materials. Nothing really touches my linerless, closed back, FRN Salts on weight, so there's that :)

[Coastal]

I like them just fine, but I don't have a preference either way. If I carried or packed my knives along with other objects, I'd prefer a closed back for sure.

I clearly remember coins getting stuck in my knives back before clips were invented, and all those were closed-backed designs. It's bound to be even worse with an open back.

[James Y]

I like both open and closed-back knives. It depends more on the model. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I am more mindful of open-back designs, especially in how they are stored, to avoid anything sliding through the back and possibly dinging the edge.

Or if I lay my knives next to each other closed, I keep my open-back models either back to back, or face to face with other closed knives, rather than all facing in the same direction, to prevent the blade spine of one closed folder from sliding through and touching the edge of the closed open-back folder in front of it.

Jim