Somehow my friends managed to get me for Christmas not one, but two of these “rabbit corkscrews”. Which I actually hate. To me they are just a prime example of unnecessarily complicated things. (Yes, I am aware of the “ritual” aspect involved in opening a bottle of wine, but this design inherently invites mishaps).
Anyway, I now have two regular lever-type corkscrews plus one of these “rabbit” contraptions (I already managed to get rid of one). Yet I still don’t have a great, reliable, 100% foolproof model, a “keeper for life”, if you will. Which reminded me of a particular corkscrew I very much admired at a friend’s place: this one. It has all the features I’m looking for (simple to use, totally foolproof and virtually unbreakable). So I did some research on the Net and finally found it. The problem is, I also found this model. It seems to be even simpler to use, and just as solid/foolproof.
Does anyone have hands-on experience with both models? Which one is better, and why?
I’ve used the lever type, and the first type you linked to, and I’m not terribly impressed with either design. I’ve found a waiter’s corkscrewto be virtually foolproof, very effective, and easy to use. Available in different price ranges, but still noticeably less expensive than the fancy overengineered ones you’ve listed.
This is fodder for IMHO. Here’s my input:
If you want simple functionality, here’s the way to go. This type of corkscrew is very common in restaurants that are serious about wine.
Fancier models abound. Most are far more expensive. Many do a fine job and are showier. But none has any real edge over the simple model linked above.
Interesting simulpost. I note that the versions GaryT shows include a short knife blade, which is a useful feature.
Agree with Xema. Once you learn to use a waiter’s corkscrew, there ain’t nothing better.
However, I wish I had the cash to buy one of those Rabbit ones for my mother. She loves her wine, and has arthritis in her thumbs which makes it painful for her to do things with her hands. From what I’ve heard, the Rabbit corkscrews are virtually effortless - is that true?
I have a rabbit, a double-lever, a double spindle, a waiter’s, and even a left-handed corkscrew (cuz I’m left-handed). The waiter’s is cheap, elegant and simple but takes a little practice to get the screw centered and down into the cork so that the cork doesn’t tear when you pull up. Also takes a little practice to drive the cork to the proper depth so as to get maximum leverage from the lever at the mouth of the bottle. I really like the double-spindle, it’s a real-no brainer. It doesn’t take practice to get the screw in correctly, and you just keep turning in one direction until it’s done. But the rabbit is my favorite. Yes, it’s heavy in design, but there’s no turning at all, and in four quick motions I drive the screw in, pull the cork out, then eject the cork intact. It’s the fastest, smoothest of the bunch, although it does require more strength to use, might not be the best choice for a small woman.
You can slap a Rabbit on a bottle of wine and have the cork out in a second and a half.
Then it’s another second and a half to get the cork off the corkscrew.
If you want to open your wine in style, try one of these.
I had always wanted one, but figured I was better off spending the $150 on wine instead of a contraption to open it. Last spring the fates smiled on me though. I was driving through my neighborhood and saw that some kind soul had left one out on the curb. I lept out of the car, stealthily put the opener in the trunk and drove straight home. Of couse, the auger was broken, but one $11 repair kit later, I had my dream opener.
The best part is, the thing will also re-cork the bottle.
I have used the lever type and the waiter model extensively, and while they are good, they do leave room for error. (You may move the bottle, the corkscrew may slip, one may apply excessive force, the screw may not be inserted perfectly, and so on). The beauty of the single spindle model is that you place the bottle on the table, the tool on top of it, and it is not only “self-aligning” in a way, but also it requires very, very little effort. The handle has two positions; first, it covers the screw so that when one spins the handle it pushes it down slowly (no breaking the cork). Once it reaches the lowest position, one flip of the handle allows the screw to pull up the cork, just as slowly and securely. There are minimal forces involved and you can not miss. That’s the beauty of it. The double spindle model seems to work in a similar way, but it looks like it has… well, a double spindle and thus is self-regulating? I would have to try one to know for sure.
My point is, the single and double spindle models are IMO the simplest to use and leave no room for error. You can not break the cork, the bottle, or the tool, no matter how clumsy you are. (then again, never say never…)
[I was hoping one of the models will emerge as a clear winner, based on its features, but it seems it’s a matter of preference… probably IMHO material]
I’m surprised you didn’t like the rabbit, we have one and love it. Before buying it though, the waiter’s corkscrew was the only other kind we had in the house. I’ve used the kind you are interested in at work once or twice, just to see the difference in ease of removal. (My boss asked me to try 4 or 5 different kinds, on synthetics and different grades of natural cork.) For me personally, the rabbit coms out on top, with a waiter’s right behind it. The spindle style were definitely easy, but the turning combined with the size of the tool seemed a little overkill to me, perhaps though because I am used to the smaller waiter’s style.
I have to admit, it did take a couple of times for me to get completely used to using the rabbit, but now, I wouldn’t use anything else, well, unless it’s one of these , which is going to have to wait until we have that dream house with the wine cellar and bar. 
Wine types may find one of these a bit on the spartan side but I have opened more bottles with one than any other tool. Mainly because it’s the only one I could find lying around. I actually prefer the compact-ness of it, though there is a trick to using it without shredding the cork.
The thread is quite narrow and tighter than average wich makes it usefull for extracting damaged corks. Not everones glass of port, but worth mentioning in a corkscrew question.
I’ve used the double-lever corkscrews, and I can’t stand them. Give me a waiter’s corkscrew any day. Oh, well. To each his own. You might want to try a CO2 cork extractor, like the Corkette, which beats anything for ease and ability to remove a crumbly cork cleanly. 
I’ve seen warnings against using air or CO2 cork extractors. If there’s a flaw in the bottle, the thing could shatter or explode from the overpressure.
Can someone explain the principle of the waiter’s corkscrew to me? It just looks like a regular hand-twist screw. How is it any different from this el cheapo model right here?
FWIW, I got one of those rabbit contraptions for Christmas, and I think it’s great. Got it from a relative who must think aeroMrs. and I should be wine drinkers. Never have been, but why not start?
I have one of these, and it is very easy to use. With the one I have though, you’re always twisting the handle in the same direction. You place it on top of the bottle and start twisting the corkscrew down into the cork. When it gets to a certain point, it automatically flips and changes directions to draw the cork out of the bottle. The one I have is not very good quality, but I’ve never had any problems opening a bottle of wine.
The one linked is a simple T - type corkscrew, probably my very least favorite. It requires a little bit of strength, basically you just pull the cork right out.
With a waiter’s cork screw, there is a bottle rest that sits on the lip of the bottle, as the handle is folded towards the bottle rest, the cork is pulled up.
So, short answer is leverage.
Not all corkscrews are creted equally. Check this out. Twlve inches of thoroughbred Italian 
One flaw with the Rabbit corkscrew and its imitators is that once the teflon wears off the screw, it becomes much harder to use. The Rabbit that a friend purchased last month has replaceable screws and actually came with two spare ones. A couple of the waiter-type corkscrews linked to above also had teflon-coated screws, so they may have the same problem.
Also, if you get a chance to watch The Godfather, there is a well-known scene in a restaurant. During that scene, a waiter uncorks a wine bottle using a waiter-type corkscrew and does so very simply and efficiently.
It pivots where the screw meets the handle. It has a bottle-lip arm that also pivots and rests on the edge of the bottle. Many also have a knife to cut the foil off of the bottle neck.
Here is one partly screwed in. It should go down until the notch on the bottle-lip arm is about even with the bottle’s lip, and then the notch is placed upon the lip like this (5th picture down). Another view is here (top right picture). You then lift on the handle from the end opposited the bottle-lip arm, and it pops the cork right out (almost always – if the cork is really crumbly, there may be trouble, but that’s true with essentially any screw-type cork remover).
I’ve been using one of these for years. Cheap and efficient and comes with a foil cutter. My nephew gave me one of the rabbit-ear types for christmas, so we’ll see how it goes.