I just don't get the OTF craze ?

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SharpDog

SharpDog

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I've been looking at collectable pocket knives recently (because of some of you ... you know who you are :) )

I really like Microtech and have one of their early autos.

But every time I went to look at autos I've found an assisted just as good for 1/2 the price (or less).

Now the OTF's come and they want 2x the money for an out the front vs. an auto.

I just don't get it. I'm really a fixed blade fan and I bought two nice semi-custom Bark Rivers for the price of a Microtech OTF. Just as good steel and you're not going to sell me that an OTF is as strong (or even as quick) as a fixed blade.

Now I recently had to go to a folder for discrete carry at work but I found unassisted for 1/8 of the price as the OTF and I'm 100% sure I can find a really good assisted opener for 1/4 the price of an OTF.

I have a hard time justifiying a Philosophy of Use that values an OTF over a sidewinder (I'm coining that term :) ) let aone over a fixed blade.

As a collectable, prolly gotta have one at some point. But it's way, way down the list unless I walk into a great deal.

I think it's a gimmick, what say you ?
 
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They're expensive because the mechanisms are complex compared conventional folders. To make those complex mechanisms reliable requires high machining and assembly cost. The biggest advantage, at least to double action designs the Microtech Ultratech, is that they can be opened and closed very quickly with a button push, regardless of handle orientation, all without ever placing one's fingers in the blade path. In that respect they can offer a big safety advantage. The disadvantage is that even a Microtech is never going to be as reliable as even a less expensive but comparable quality, conventional lock mechanism folder.

Now, assisted openers are something that I'm completely over. I own a couple, but I won't buy another. They have zero advantage over a properly implemented manual flipper with a good pivot and detent.
 
SharpDog said:
I've been looking at collectable pocket knives recently (because of some of you ... you know who you are :) )

I really like Microtech and have one of their early autos.

But every time I went to look at autos I've found an assisted just as good for 1/2 the price (or less).

Now the OTF's come and they want 2x the money for an out the front vs. an auto.

I just don't get it. I'm really a fixed blade fan and I bought two nice semi-custom Bark Rivers for the price of a Microtech OTF. Just as good steel and you're not going to sell me that an OTF is as strong (or even as quick) as a fixed blade.

Now I recently had to go to a folder for discrete carry at work but I found unassisted for 1/8 of the price as the OTF and I'm 100% sure I can find a really good assisted opener for 1/4 the price of an OTF.

I have a hard time justifiying a Philosophy of Use that values an OTF over a sidewinder (I'm coining that term :) ) let aone over a fixed blade.

As a collectable, prolly gotta have one at some point. But it's way, way down the list unless I walk into a great deal.

I think it's a gimmick, what say you ?
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Not a gimmick to me, and I don't get knives for collectable value. Side opening autos have been bad for me, I had 3 different Protech blades bounce off the stop pin and fail to lock up. Got rid of them in favor of OTFs and have not looked back.

OTFs carry slim, and have replaced my other blades due to the weight savings. A good OTF will lock up reliably and be able to perform most edc tasks other than food prep. A great video is where Bladehq did a hard use test on an Ultratech and it did fine, much more use than I'd ever do in my normal cutting tasks.

Price of an OTF is in the internals, you're getting tolerances that need to be tight to allow for minimal play which comes with the style of knife. Also with the increase in locations that are now auto friendly demand has raised prices, with MT also announcing a price increase again this year.

The Bark River custom is amazing to you, holds 0 interest to me, so different strokes for different folks!

If you want to try an OTF and not spend a lot of cash, definitely get a Taiwan Lightning and give it a whirl.
 
ugaarguy said:
Now, assisted openers are something that I'm completely over. I own a couple, but I won't buy another. They have zero advantage over a properly implemented manual flipper with a good pivot and detent.
Click to expand...

Agree, I never got assisted openers, and also feel that they are the most unsafe of all designs. The Kershaw Link is the one I kept though, one of the best budget blades of all time.
 
Yo Mama said:
Not a gimmick to me, and I don't get knives for collectable value. Side opening autos have been bad for me, I had 3 different Protech blades bounce off the stop pin and fail to lock up. Got rid of them in favor of OTFs and have not looked back.

OTFs carry slim, and have replaced my other blades due to the weight savings. A good OTF will lock up reliably and be able to perform most edc tasks other than food prep. A great video is where Bladehq did a hard use test on an Ultratech and it did fine, much more use than I'd ever do in my normal cutting tasks.

Price of an OTF is in the internals, you're getting tolerances that need to be tight to allow for minimal play which comes with the style of knife. Also with the increase in locations that are now auto friendly demand has raised prices, with MT also announcing a price increase again this year.

The Bark River custom is amazing to you, holds 0 interest to me, so different strokes for different folks!

If you want to try an OTF and not spend a lot of cash, definitely get a Taiwan Lightning and give it a whirl.
Click to expand...


Got these two for less than the price of a single Benchmade or Microtech OTF. Same general blade size, CPM3v steel. I think they open quicker, 'lockup' is 100% and zero moving parts. 2.8 oz. each. :). but hey, I agree 100%, different strokes for different folks!

mini-kephart-3v-purple-red-and-natural-elder-burl-dlt-269.95__65206.1508182613.1280.1280.jpg

mini-kephart-3v-blue-and-gold-maple-burl-dlt-269.95__88793.1489778019.1280.1280.jpg

Conversely, if I needed to get a knife that conceals in my pocket I could get 5 Buck Vanguard Pro's (S30V @ $85 ea.) 7 of the Kizer Kesmec (VG10 @ $60 ea) which is what I got for this application:

download.jpg
 
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SharpDog said:
Got these two for less than the price of a single Benchmade or Microtech OTF. Same general blade size, CPM3v steel. I think they open quicker, 'lockup' is 100% and zero moving parts. 2.8 oz. each. :). but hey, I agree 100%, different strokes for different folks!

View attachment 788107

View attachment 788108

Conversely, if I needed to get a knife that conceals in my pocket I could get 5 Buck Vanguard Pro's (S30V @ $85 ea.) 7 of the Kizer Kesmec (VG10 @ $60 ea) which is what I got for this application:

View attachment 788115
Click to expand...

Look I got em all. They all have a place. If you like budget blades great. No way I'd take 5 vanguards or 7 kizers over a good otf but that's mostly because when the collection grows your wants and needs change. I'm not saying I'll never buy a fixed or manual again because I definitely will but it would have to be a very special offering for me to bite.

I used to despise the idea of spending 250 on an automatic, now they are all I look at. I remember the first good knife I had was a spyderco native 3 at 60 bucks and I babied it because I never imagined I'd spend gun type money on a knife.....but I did and love them.

Speaking of steel MT has been using m390 exclusively in the ultratech which is one of my all time favorite steels. Much better than the elmax they were using imo.
 
I have a Benchmade Phaeton, which I mostly bought because autos became legal again just recently in my state. It's my carry-at-home knife. Lightweight, easy and fast to use, compact, and lefty compatible. However, if I weren't specifically looking to buy an auto, I would have found a better value option. And I generally prefer fixed blades for general purposes.
 
SharpDog said:
you're not going to sell me that an OTF is as strong (or even as quick) as a fixed blade
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No one should be trying to, but other people like the complexity of them and the difficulty in making a good one. You can't beat a fixed blade unless you need a smaller package and some pick and OTF if someone puts the work into ensuring they're well done (like Hogue).
 
hso said:
No one should be trying to, but other people like the complexity of them and the difficulty in making a good one. You can't beat a fixed blade unless you need a smaller package and some pick and OTF if someone puts the work into ensuring they're well done (like Hogue).
Click to expand...


When I said 'you' it was rhetorical, many folks are trying to convince me/us to buy OTF ... Microtech, Benchmade, Knifecenter ...

And I have no problem with anyone's preference for an OTF, I just said that it doesn't make sense to me.

Paying for nice stuff happens all the time, folks will often buy items for their designs and engineering alone. Look at people buying the Dyson bladeless fans for $400 (I don't have one).
 
SharpDog said:
When I said 'you' it was rhetorical, many folks are trying to convince me/us to buy OTF ... Microtech, Benchmade, Knifecenter ...

And I have no problem with anyone's preference for an OTF, I just said that it doesn't make sense to me.

Paying for nice stuff happens all the time, folks will often buy items for their designs and engineering alone. Look at people buying the Dyson bladeless fans for $400 (I don't have one).
Click to expand...

What folks are trying to convince you to buy an OTF? I have to admit I'm a little bit more confused now.
 
Cocked & Locked said:
Benchmade Phaeton OTF, Case XX Stag Stockman, and CA Bulldog .44 make for easy carry and have most bases covered...for me.

View attachment 788220
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That's just such a contrast! What would lead you to pick a revolver and an automatic knife ? btw I also have a CA Bulldog .44 spl. but I don't carry it.

This is my normal (non-office) EDC:

M11A1_zpspipwsqhp.png

20180503_194142.jpg
 
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SharpDog said:
That's just such a contrast! What would lead you to pick a revolver and an automatic knife ? btw I also have a CA Bulldog .44 spl. but I don't carry it.
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SIG withVZ grips, and camo Kydex look like such a contrast to me paired with that fine looking leather sheathed Russell hunting knife.



Things vary depending on the day!

413843273.jpg
 
I just ordered this nice frame lock ... A La Chris Reeves Sebenza ... Why ? because it's a really nice frame lock similar to a Sabenza. I'll use it for extra-nice carry when I cannot OWB e.g. festivities. Why this one:

- Blade length, geometry and handle shape,

- I've just found out about Kizer, it's 1/2 the price of competing knives of comparable quality. Don't get me wrong, I have many, many USA made knives. I just appreciate functionality.

- It's a frame lock which is easier for me to manipulate than a liner lock, and

- Corrosion resistance (not the best, but acceptable)

Capture.PNG
 
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Where legal a fixed is the way to go. Always there, always open.

Texas recently streamlined the law concerning knives, and you can carry whatever you want up to (or less than, it may read) 5 1/2" anywhere, and any length/anything with restrictions on places similar to handgun carry. So you don't have to worry if it is a "switchblade", or "dagger" or whatever.
 
SharpDog said:
Chris Reeves, zero discount, still less expensive ...
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No. A small Sebenza is $375. A Microtech Ultratech is $250.

You been given answers as to why some people buy OTF autos. Now it seems that you're trying to sway others away from them. I think you're just trying to start an argument now rather gain understanding.
 
I have a Benchmade Auto Stryker, and while the push button opening is neat, I can flip my Benchmade Resistor out almost as fast. However, they are high quality knives and very handy tools.
 
I believe much of the appeal of OTF knives is the "forbidden fruit" syndrome. There are many places where OTF knives are illegal to carry or own. So many want them anyway. My one OTF knife is a Benchmade Infidel. Bought from a retailer inside a combat zone. Normally I carried a fixed blade knife on missions. But as with everything else, full size gear is heavy and takes up space. The little Infidel was a good "want something lighter" on this mission. I still carry it in civilian life from time to time.
 
herrwalther said:
"forbidden fruit"
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They're legal now in most states so much of that cache' is disappearing. The issue is more and more that a good one is expensive. Few of us have a problem with carrying a premium pistol or driving a lux car, but folks have trouble wrapping their minds around a knife.
 
hso said:
They're legal now in most states so much of that cache' is disappearing. The issue is more and more that a good one is expensive. Few of us have a problem with carrying a premium pistol or driving a lux car, but folks have trouble wrapping their minds around a knife.
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A website I just found said legal in 39 states. But some states have length limitations like a maximum of 1.5" blade in Montana and Connecticut. Not much of an auto knife there. Even Benchmade plays legal CYA with a knife acknowledgment form before sending in an auto knife.
 
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