Christy knife.

cbl51 · **on:** February 13, 2021, 01:53:09 AM

I've been carrying my old Christy knife a lot of late, and its such a great little urban slicer. Small enough to disappear in a pocket, smooth one hand slide out the front opening, and blade locks in three different lengths of open. From box cutter to cheese slicer.

Any other fans of the old Christy knife here?

getahl · **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2021, 04:09:11 PM

I have a couple, they're neat little knives. I like how they disappear in the pocket, and aren't fiddly at all. They don't get carried often, but they're cool.

pipedreams · **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2021, 01:52:29 AM

I have one. It’s a neat old knife. It doesn’t get the pocket knife it deserves.

TonySal · **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2021, 09:49:20 PM

yes sir
Got the Companion, plus one NIB for future gift.
Currently liking the brass Mariner.
Jack Knife on that "other forum' had 2 threads for the Christy.
A YouTube search revealed a new fancy model like Executive?
I heard the found a bunch of tools and parts like originals, if still available, are a bit expensive.

pipedreams · **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2021, 10:29:10 PM

@cbl52 is “Jack Knife on that ‘other forum.’”

cbl51 · **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2021, 10:36:16 PM

Quote from: TonySal on February 17, 2021, 09:49:20 PM

yes sir
Got the Companion, plus one NIB for future gift.
Currently liking the brass Mariner.
Jack Knife on that "other forum' had 2 threads for the Christy.
A YouTube search revealed a new fancy model like Executive?
I heard the found a bunch of tools and parts like originals, if still available, are a bit expensive.

A few years ago, after Earl Christy's death, his son Hal took over and sold the old building and moved the tooling intones garage. He's still making the original Christy knife on the original tooling in a one-man shop, like a hundred at a time. I'm hoping he's doing okay because the end of Christy knives would be a sad thing for the knife world. Lots of unique history there with the U.S. military and some spook agencies out of D.C.

Aloha · **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2021, 10:39:17 PM

I picked one up a while back and had no clue how to open. Its a clever design and very neat knife. Mine is unused and while awesome sadly it's more conversation piece.

TonySal · **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2021, 11:02:04 PM

Quote from: pipedreams on February 17, 2021, 10:29:10 PM

@cbl52 is “Jack Knife on that ‘other forum.’”

oh %@%^!

TonySal · **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2021, 11:03:05 PM

Quote from: Aloha on February 17, 2021, 10:39:17 PM

I picked one up a while back and had no clue how to open. Its a clever design and very neat knife. Mine is unused and while awesome sadly it's more conversation piece.

ya gotta practice...

Jim the Brave · **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2021, 05:02:57 AM

Ok, somebody supply some pictures please?

cbl51 · **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2021, 11:37:28 AM

Quote from: Jim the Brave on February 18, 2021, 05:02:57 AM

Ok, somebody supply some pictures please?

Google the Christy knife company and look over the website. Make sure to read the history to fully understand and appreciate the knife. Its been a long line of father to son operation, with Hal Christy making them in a one-man shop. The neat thing is, the knife is owner repairable and you're able to buy spare parts and replacement blades. Whole knife comes apart wth two screws. And its so small and light you can drop it in a pocket and forget you even have it on you.

You need one. Or two.

pfrsantos · **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2021, 12:49:16 PM

Quote from: Jim the Brave on February 18, 2021, 05:02:57 AM

Ok, somebody supply some pictures please?

Will this do?...

pfrsantos · **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2021, 01:15:15 PM

A little more history on the company.

cbl51 · **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2021, 04:44:38 PM

Thank you for that post, pfsantos.

I'm not good on posting pics, and that interview with Hal is good. The Christy knife has a very very unique history and is in a peculiar nitch in the cutlery world. It was sold in the navy and army exchanges during WW2, and in the 1950's and 60's was used by certain spook agencies out of D.C.

All this aside, its an unbelievable handy little knife when you just have to cut something. Once you get used to it with a bit of practice, the razor like thin blade thumbs out with no effort and when done cutting, slides right back in with no effort. Its kind of like having a magic razor sharp thumb nail.

My dad gave me one when I was like 12 years old, and I've had one around ever since. Aside from an Opinel on occasion, its the only non SAK I carry. Just too darn handy not to have.

Aloha · **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2021, 05:06:31 PM

Thank you for posting the videos pfrsantos. Its a very neat knife thats for sure.

getahl · **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2021, 05:48:28 PM

When I first picked one up, maybe six years ago, I was stumped on how to open it. It wasn't intuitive until I realized the engraved arrow was instructing me to push down the button to unlock the blade. I've carried one off and on since then, but not in the last couple years. It's a neat knife.

TonySal · **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2021, 10:11:07 PM

Yup me too a while ago: push down, push forward, up, to one of the notches you choose for blade length.

cbl51 · **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2021, 11:30:47 PM

Quote from: TonySal on February 18, 2021, 10:11:07 PM

Yup me too a while ago: push down, push forward, up, to one of the notches you choose for blade length.

When I think about it, I can't remember the last time I used the third notch. Almost always I used either the first notch, and just use the knife as a box cutter for opening packages, in particularly those d--m plastic blister packages that are designed to defeat tooth and nail and small charges of explosives. Sometimes I use the middle notch/hole. Very rare I use the last hole, then to cut a sandwich in half or cut a fresh baguette and some cheese.

Thats one of the great beauties of this knife, being able to pick how much blade you want out. Dad taught my sister Anne to have the keychain looped around her little finger with the knife closed and concealed in the palm of her hand. If things got dicy walking to her car, she'd slide out the blade to the first notch, and have the blade concealed under her thumb. One night that saved her from an attack when she turned the table on her attacker and had the blade right across his Carotid. He froze like she told him, then she knee'd him right in the family jewels. He was still doubled up when the cops got there. He had a shallow cut on his throat where Anne held the blade, but not bad.

The Christy can be as dangerous as any box cutter if used that way. But it looks so innocent.

Poncho65 · **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2021, 03:58:34 AM

Very cool little knives

I have seen similar knives over the years but not sure I have ever came across one of these

theonew · **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2021, 05:57:09 AM

Wow, very cool

Had never heard about this knife or the company.
Just ordered one

VICMAN · **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2021, 11:37:40 PM

I have 3 of them.

TonySal · **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2021, 06:44:22 PM

Quote from: VICMAN on February 20, 2021, 11:37:40 PM

I have 3 of them.

theonew · **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2021, 10:28:30 PM

What a fun little knife. Doubt I'll have it for very long after my wife sees it

Also the "surgical" steel needed a quick touch up before being capable of performing surgery. One minute of work though and it is slicing hairs

TonySal · **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2021, 10:56:28 PM

cbl51 · **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2021, 02:17:30 AM

Quote from: theonew on February 23, 2021, 10:28:30 PM

What a fun little knife. Doubt I'll have it for very long after my wife sees it

(Image removed from quote.)

Also the "surgical" steel needed a quick touch up before being capable of performing surgery. One minute of work though and it is slicing hairs

Thats why I ended up long ago buyngmore of them. My wife saw it, then my daughter saw it, then my niece saw it....

I've bought a lot of Christy knives for myself, and then having o replace them when w family member saw saw it.

theonew · **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2021, 02:22:43 AM

Quote from: cbl51 on February 24, 2021, 02:17:30 AM

Thats why I ended up long ago buyngmore of them. My wife saw it, then my daughter saw it, then my niece saw it....

I've bought a lot of Christy knives for myself, and then having o replace them when w family member saw saw it.

I'm fully prepared for that eventuality

pfrsantos · **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2021, 11:51:47 AM

Quote from: cbl51 on February 24, 2021, 02:17:30 AM

Thats why I ended up long ago buyngmore of them. My wife saw it, then my daughter saw it, then my niece saw it....

I've bought a lot of Christy knives for myself, and then having o replace them when w family member saw saw it.

Whoa! What's with girls and these knives?!