[Guitargod1985]

All this talk about automatic knives (aka switchblades) lately got me thinking about getting one. I checked Florida's laws and little did I know, they're completely legal to own or carry here. So I'm going to get one in the next couple of weeks. It won't be anything special, just something that works. I've seen some Smith and Wesson automatic knives, but for some reason they aren't shown on the SW website. Anyone know what's up with that?

[mike101]

They are conversions. They do not come from the factory as automatics. Nor are they made by S$W. They are made in China. They have crappy, loose fitting safeties that engage when you don't want them too.

I would take a look at the Boker Top Locks. They don't have a safety. The Speedlocks do, and it's also crappy and loose fitting. It's a shame, because the Speedlock is a nice knife, otherwise.

I just went through this over the past week. My first auto too. I got a lot of good advice from hso, and the other guys.

[rnr4me]

888knivesrus.com
Boker AK74 Very quick snap, AUS8 steel, great knife for about $40. Good company to deal with too.

[Rexster]

Microtech makes very good high-end production autos.

[supraneurotoxin]

kalashnikov autos are fantastic. bought one, then went back for a few more. they run about $40 on average, which is great for any good quality knife, IMO. they are manufactured by boker. try here (http://storesense.megawebservers.com/HS1701/Categories.bok?category=Boker+Kalashnikov)

[Agent 86]

Go with the Microtech HALO...if you got the cash.

[hso]

I've seen some Smith and Wesson automatic knives, but for some reason they aren't shown on the SW website. Anyone know what's up with that?

I collect autos. I've handled literally thousands of them over the years. Here's my advice.

Don't buy junk autos! When they break you can't get the serviced. At all.

S&W autos? They're junk and Taylor doesn't make them any more.

Same for the Kalishnakovs.

If you purchase a good auto they won't break as quickly, if ever. If they do you have a chance, small, of getting them fixed. In FL the odds of getting an auto fixed are pretty good since the springs are what breaks and most auto dealers there have springs.

[Guitargod1985]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Mike101, thanks for steering me away from the cheapo Chinese garbage. I'm looking for an automatic knife for around $100 or less, nothing fancy. I checked out those Boker knives, and the seem about right and in my price range. While I would like to get a Piranha, Benchmade or Microtech, they are just too expensive for me at the moment, as I am also looking to purchase a new CCW very shortly. I think I'm going to get a TopLock. They look pretty decent.

[lanternlad1]

TopLocks are great, but Boker also has a division called Magnum, who makes cheaper (in every sense of the word) knives. Be careful not to fall for sales tactics pushing these as "Genuine Boker". Although they ARE owned by Boker, the knives are NOT the same, IMO.

[mike101]

I'm pretty sure that the Magnums are the same as a Kalishnikov, with a different grip.

I reluctantly coughed up more $$$, and exchanged the Speedlock for one of these................
http://jaxknives.com/bm14900sbt.html

The Tanto Blade version is even more evil looking. I'd still like to get a Speedlock, one of these days. Good prices at www.jaxknives.com, too.

[hso]

The Speedlocks are good knives, but you didn't loose any money on the Snody.

Stay away from Magnums, S&W, and any no-name junk.

You can find Benchmades and ProTecs under $100. Paragon is coming back to life under new owners and I just saw their redone ATKO-10s. The blades are done by Randal King Knives and are great. Look at Randal's autos also. Excellent quality.

The current CRKT Pharoahs and Anubas's are great as auto conversions also and they're readily available for under $100.

[mike101]

"You can find Benchmades and ProTecs under $100." Do you know of anyplace online that has them that cheap ?

[hso]

M101,

You have to look for blowout sales with the dealers or you need to go to Bladeforums or Knifeforums and look at the For Sale areas. Someone's almost always trying to sell an auto to finance their latest greatest purchase. Kinda like gunnys.;)

[Leadhead]

Nothing against switchblades and I've had a few in the past but I prefer something like my benchmade axis locked folder.
It opens just as fast with one hand and closes easily with one hand as well. It's also stronger then the switchblades I had which were the stilleto style and made in Germany. There are probably stronger switch blades available now then the ones I had but they are expensive and more complicated then my Griptillian!

[Rugerman99]

OK i know there expensive as hell but come on this thing is COOL. http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=3300
My suggestion when buying a knife quality is far more important then price.

[lanternlad1]

The Infidel is awesome... but I'd hate to spend 450.00 on a knife that a cop could take from me if he found it. Its legal (with a CHL) to carry guns in Texas, but not switchblades. I'd never see it again...and I'm PRETTY sure it wouldn't end up in the evidence locker. :)

[sig226]

In order of cheapness, the S&W autos and the Italian stilletto styles are the cheapest - around $100. I haven't seen a problem with the S&W automatic knives, obviously that is not the experience of everyone else here. Smith and Wessons and small Stillettos go for $100 in south Florida.

The Heckler and Koch knives seem to be good. They're next in price. Then you get to Benchmade, which start around $200. Now you're into the good stuff. Microtechs and Protecs are beautiful knives with $300+ price tags. They're worth every penny if you can afford them.

If you really want a good, fast knife for $100, I'd look at Kershaw's Assisted Opening knives - the Ken Onion series. They make several models and most sell for less than $100. You're getting a much better knife for the money than the cheap automatics.

Another note: You can not carry an automatic knife in Florida until you get your permit. You can buy it, but keep it out of your pocket until you have your permit in hand. The law in Florida isn't really clear on how you're supposed to get it home from the store after you've purchased it, either, unless you have the CCW license.

[JR719]

I have a few automatic knives. Great idea, but not practical. I've carried them on duty, had a couple make nice slices in my pants. If the safety is used, just one more step and slow's you down getting it open.

If your looking for a novelty, go for it. Everyone likes to play with them, heck, I like to play with them. I have not carried one for years though.

There are better knives out there and faster. You can buy a spring assisted knife that is faster than an automatic (for practical situations). From pocket to open that is.... And you do not have to defeat a safety. It's either Gerber or Kershaw that makes one that is great. Just a little nudge from your thumb and it swings open, no fumbling for the button, no defeating a safety.

I'll still buy an automatic if I find a good deal. Their just fun to mess with. A novelty for me, not really practical. BTW, the only one that did not pop open in my pocket was a Boker. The one with the button flush with the body. Just a pain lining it up and finding the button with the thumb.

[rbmcmjr]

The Benchmade Automite (3100) is a cute little auto that I have in my EDC rotation. It usually gets the nod if I am wearing or doing something that will treat my custom slipjoints poorly. Shown with a Busse Assault Shaker for scale:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/rbmcmjr/automiteandas.jpg

The interesting thing about the action is that the same mechanism that locks the blade open serves as the lock holding it shut against the spring tension. It is quite an elegant design.

Rick

[hso]

Another note: You can not carry an automatic knife in Florida until you get your permit.

This is incorrect (but not uncommon for folks to have been told it's the law). FL law treated switchblades as common pocket knives until a cunning DA used the ballistic knife prohibition to put switchblades into question. Knife collectors, enthusiasts and manufacturers went to work and petitioned the Governor to clarify the law so that switchblades would not be confused with ballistic knives. In 2005 the governor signed the clarification stating switchblades were not ballistic knives. If things have changed in the past couple of month please provide the cite for the change.

http://www.akti.org/PDFS/AKTIBrochure.pdf