Siren: flawed design or am I just dumb

[LazyOutdoorsman]

I got the siren in lc200n during the November factory seconds sale and I have a love/kinda hate (especially rn) relationship with it. I really love the steel, blade shape, length, and a lot more.

However, I've continuously ran into problems when opening/closing it. One of which is the sharp heel nicking my knuckle. On the opening, the hole is a bit obstructed and the thumb ramp is a little to thick and obtuse. This likely caused or played a strong role in slicing the pad of my thumb when trying to flick it.

So my question about this knife: is it a dangerous design for one handed and somewhat quick operation, or is it just me? Should I have any trust in it when fishing on a rocking boat?

[jegred2]

It’s definitely one you have to be careful with since it doesn’t have a choil or heel like most of the other lock backs. I wouldn’t call it a design flaw, just that it’s purpose built and needs to be treated differently than Spyderco’s other lock backs.

[Wartstein]

I got the siren in lc200n during the November factory seconds sale and I have a love/kinda hate (especially rn) relationship with it. I really love the steel, blade shape, length, and a lot more.

However, I've continuously ran into problems when opening/closing it. One of which is the sharp heel nicking my knuckle. On the opening, the hole is a bit obstructed and the thumb ramp is a little to thick and obtuse. This likely caused or played a strong role in slicing the pad of my thumb when trying to flick it.

So my question about this knife: is it a dangerous design for one handed and somewhat quick operation, or is it just me? Should I have any trust in it when fishing on a rocking boat?

Closing one handed:
I´d say just use another one of the several good ways of doing so and not the "let the blade / heel drop on the finger"- one.
Or, if you still want to stick with "the drop": Place your finger close to the front end of the handle when closing the knife

Opening:
Flicking open in a controlled and efficient manner (so not "flashy show off flicking", which is a totally different story) actually is my preferred opening method, I usually choose it over slow rolling.
Can´t recall that my Siren ever gave me problems when doing so... and actually "slicing the thumb"? Can´t picture how this happened, could you elaborate?
But, while as said I usually prefer flicking, slow rolling works perfectly fine too of course, so I would just do that if flicking gave me any problems on a certain folder.

[zhyla]

when trying to flick it.

Then don’t flick it?

[Wartstein]

when trying to flick it.

Then don’t flick it?

Yes... without any offense to the op, that´s what I´d say too.
And this as a guy who actually prefers flicking open over slow rolling, but the difference between the two methods is just marginal. No need to flick or stick with that method when slow rolling exists.

[vivi]

there's more than one way to close a lockback.

If you're cutting yourself with one method, try a different one.



there's two methods that worked fine for me on my siren.

as far as opening, maybe don't flick it.

you could also try the reverse of the last method shown in my video....depress the lock with your index finger and wrist flick the blade open. works great.

some users have modded their handle to expose to opening hole more, that's another thing you could try.

lovely design overall, just small for my tastes. I'd be first in line for an xl.

[Jeb]

Here is my Siren after I sculpted the scale to gain better access to the thumbhole. I also enlarged my thumbhole to the 14mm size...

[Paul Ardbeg]

Here is my Siren after I sculpted the scale to gain better access to the thumbhole. I also enlarged my thumbhole to the 14mm size...

You sculpted the Siren into a Chief

[Manixguy@1994]

Here is my Siren after I sculpted the scale to gain better access to the thumbhole. I also enlarged my thumbhole to the 14mm size...

You sculpted the Siren into a Chief

This is too funny! Dan

[Jeb]

Here is my Siren on top in this pic of my NC. I actually sculpted both of these knives, and pretty heavy. There are a few differences still but you are correct lol...



Soon after another quad Expresso I am getting ready to break these new Keen boots out and see how the fit my really fat feet. Just got them in yesterday.

Me and my little Leopold are out in the shop this morning and are getting ready to attack something, neither of us no what yet lol. We'll the Leopold has already been working on me lol. I should say I don't know yet what I am going to attack lol...

[LazyOutdoorsman]

when trying to flick it.

Then don’t flick it?

Yes... without any offense to the op, that´s what I´d say too.
And this as a guy who actually prefers flicking open over slow rolling, but the difference between the two methods is just marginal. No need to flick or stick with that method when slow rolling exists.

Yeah, you're right. I'm used to flicking because 90% of my edc is either para3 or a manix, which has significantly smoother action than my siren atm.

I got the siren in lc200n during the November factory seconds sale and I have a love/kinda hate (especially rn) relationship with it. I really love the steel, blade shape, length, and a lot more.

However, I've continuously ran into problems when opening/closing it. One of which is the sharp heel nicking my knuckle. On the opening, the hole is a bit obstructed and the thumb ramp is a little to thick and obtuse. This likely caused or played a strong role in slicing the pad of my thumb when trying to flick it.

So my question about this knife: is it a dangerous design for one handed and somewhat quick operation, or is it just me? Should I have any trust in it when fishing on a rocking boat?

Closing one handed:
I´d say just use another one of the several good ways of doing so and not the "let the blade / heel drop on the finger"- one.
Or, if you still want to stick with "the drop": Place your finger close to the front end of the handle when closing the knife


Opening:
Flicking open in a controlled and efficient manner (so not "flashy show off flicking", which is a totally different story) actually is my preferred opening method, I usually choose it over slow rolling.
Can´t recall that my Siren ever gave me problems when doing so... and actually "slicing the thumb"? Can´t picture how this happened, could you elaborate?
But, while as said I usually prefer flicking, slow rolling works perfectly fine too of course, so I would just do that if flicking gave me any problems on a certain folder.

My siren's action a little tight and not very smooth rn. When I opened it, I used the pad of my thumb, not the nail. It all happened so fast, but at some point, my thumb fell off the hole, down the bevel, down to the edge, and with the upwards and lateral motion, it sliced into it.
But, yeah, this was entirely preventable if I opened it in a more controlled manner.

[Wartstein]

when trying to flick it.

Then don’t flick it?

Yes... without any offense to the op, that´s what I´d say too.
And this as a guy who actually prefers flicking open over slow rolling, but the difference between the two methods is just marginal. No need to flick or stick with that method when slow rolling exists.

Yeah, you're right. I'm used to flicking because 90% of my edc is either para3 or a manix, which has significantly smoother action than my siren atm.

I got the siren in lc200n during the November factory seconds sale and I have a love/kinda hate (especially rn) relationship with it. I really love the steel, blade shape, length, and a lot more.

However, I've continuously ran into problems when opening/closing it. One of which is the sharp heel nicking my knuckle. On the opening, the hole is a bit obstructed and the thumb ramp is a little to thick and obtuse. This likely caused or played a strong role in slicing the pad of my thumb when trying to flick it.

So my question about this knife: is it a dangerous design for one handed and somewhat quick operation, or is it just me? Should I have any trust in it when fishing on a rocking boat?

Closing one handed:
I´d say just use another one of the several good ways of doing so and not the "let the blade / heel drop on the finger"- one.
Or, if you still want to stick with "the drop": Place your finger close to the front end of the handle when closing the knife


Opening:
Flicking open in a controlled and efficient manner (so not "flashy show off flicking", which is a totally different story) actually is my preferred opening method, I usually choose it over slow rolling.
Can´t recall that my Siren ever gave me problems when doing so... and actually "slicing the thumb"? Can´t picture how this happened, could you elaborate?
But, while as said I usually prefer flicking, slow rolling works perfectly fine too of course, so I would just do that if flicking gave me any problems on a certain folder.

My siren's action a little tight and not very smooth rn. When I opened it, I used the pad of my thumb, not the nail. It all happened so fast, but at some point, my thumb fell off the hole, down the bevel, down to the edge, and with the upwards and lateral motion, it sliced into it.
But, yeah, this was entirely preventable if I opened it in a more controlled manner.

Thanks for elaborating, appreciate it!

- On your "accident": Really bad luck, just tried to deliberately "replicate" how this could have happened with one of my lockbacks and honestly couldn´t... neither with flicking, nor with slow rolling.
Generally one thing that I like about a good, efficient flick is that the knife always stays so firmly in hand, no repositioning of the fingers on the handle needed at all, just one single efficient and controlled motion of the thumb.
But I think like with many techniques also with "flicking open" there will be more controlled and more "daring" ways of doing it...

Anyway, as with both stated: If a knife just does not feel suited for this technique, slow rolling is just as good and actually not really differing a lot.

[Wartstein]

...
you could also try the reverse of the last method shown in my video....depress the lock with your index finger and wrist flick the blade open. works great.
...

As far as I can recall : The method Vivi is mentioning here (depress the lock bar with the index finger) worked particularly well with my Siren, both for opening and closing, see the second of these (old) clips I took once for closing (method shown one time slow, two times regular speed).
And since I am already at it, the first one shows another alternative to "letting the blade drop on the forefinger".

Sidenote: This vids also happen to illustrate what I mean by efficient, good and safe flicking as I am used to do it.
Really not that much difference to slow rolling, both work just fine.

[zuludelta]

there's more than one way to close a lockback.

If you're cutting yourself with one method, try a different one.

The first technique shown in this video is the only way I close backlocks & liner/framelocks (or any lock that isn't a Comp Lock, CBBL, Axis Lock, or Button Lock). I never let the blade drop freely, I always guide it closed with my index finger or middle finger. I nearly severed a tendon in my finger a few years ago, and as someone who likes to draw/paint/play guitar & just do stuff with my hands in general, I prefer to minimize the risk of an injury that would permanently degrade my manual dexterity.

[Wartstein]

...
The first technique shown in this video is the only way I close backlocks & liner/framelocks (or any lock that isn't a Comp Lock, CBBL, Axis Lock, or Button Lock). I never let the blade drop freely, I always guide it closed with my index finger or middle finger. I nearly severed a tendon in my finger a few years ago, and as someone who likes to draw/paint/play guitar & just do stuff with my hands in general, I prefer to minimize the risk of an injury that would permanently degrade my manual dexterity.

Funny you´d say that:

I have also always been "in need" of "functional fingers" (climbing; playing piano, guitar, bass; and more) and back when I got into backlocks I had literally no idea how others close them or what would be the "usual" method.

So I came up with several own solutions, that work perfectly fine for me.
Perhaps "unconsciously" (for keeping my fingers safe??) the "drop on the forefinger" method never even occured to me and I was actually very surprised when I learned of it later and on top of it that exactly THIS is apparently the "default" backlock closing method.

[riclaw]

I chose to add a sharpening choil. It moves the edge far enough out that it doesn't close on my finger. No need to change how I go about closing a backlock knife.