Assisted opening knives

[Grizfire]

I'm in the market for a new knife. I like the assisted opening knifes such as the Kershaw lineup, especially the LEEK.

Are there any other similar products I may be missing? I don't want a full on auto, and I'm just looking for an everyday knife to handle every day chores.

 

[hso]

Welcome to THR, Grizfire.

Plenty of companies make assists these days (matter of fact almost all of them).

Just google the name of a manufacturer and "assisted opening" and you'll get endless options from Randall King, Gerber, SOG, Timberline, Paragon, Lone Wolf, Myerco, ...

 

[Grizfire]

how is "assisted opening" defined? Extra umph from a spring, torsion bar, or is it something as simple as a thumb stud with no extra spring forces included?

 

[J. Villarreal]

i have an assisted-opening buck sirus and like it a lot. basically, once i get to a certain point as i'm opening the knife, a little spring takes over and flicks the knife the rest of the way open and locked. it's called asssisted because you have to physically start opening the knife before the spring/s take over and finish the job. i think automatic knives usually just have a button that opens the knife (think switchblade) and i'm pretty sure they're illegal unless you're military or a police officer.

jason

 

[.cheese.]

J. Villarreal - depends on the state. For example, here in Florida they were illegal, but to my understanding, not anymore.

 

[pdowg881]

Can't you just use a folder that can be opened by a flick of the wrist?

 

[Mannix]

Can't you just use a folder that can be opened by a flick of the wrist?

That would fall under the Fed. definition of switchblade, which is also used by many states.

(b) The term “switchblade knife” means any knife having a blade which opens automatically—
(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or
(2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.

AO knives skirt this definition by having the "button" on the blade, either by having a "kicker" coming out of the spine of the handle or by using a thumb stud.

By federal law, the only thing that is illegal is taking switchblades across borders while engaging in commerce. Many states(but not all) restrict or ban possession to some degree. Florida, Ohio, South Dakota, and Arizona, IIRC, allow unrestricted carry, most states ban them outright, some restrict manner of carry, have length restrictions, require the person to have a license, or only allow them to be kept in the home as curios.

Some municipalities have restrictions beyond those imposed by the state, so check your local laws in addition to your state laws.

IANAL

 

[Corndogg]

IMO kershaw has the best assisted opening, so just browse their models...

 

[RyanM]

Note that Michigan has outright banned Kershaw Speedsafe knives. It's possible that a few other states have, as well. They're a definite gray area here in PA. Check your local laws.

 

[pdowg881]

Knife laws must be just as rediculous as gun laws.

 

[Grizfire]

Yeah, here in Idaho, the only knives that are outlawed are those used for stabbing...triangular profile such as dirk knives, daggers, etc. when concealed

No mention of auto's or assisted opening.

I think I will narrow my search down to; 1) assisted opening 2) all stainless (or other metal, 3) pocket clip

 

[hso]

Note that Michigan has outright banned Kershaw Speedsafe knives.

Please provide a reference for that.

 

[wuluf]

Crkt

has an AO knife by Brian Tighe (My Tighe) that opens very quickly and smoothly..my daily carry.
http://www.crkt.com/mytighe.html

 

[Corndogg]

p.s. i didnt like the SOG assisted opening (on the Flash II)

 

[ihopewewin]

"Corndogg IMO kershaw has the best assisted opening, so just browse their models..." I agree kershaw has some REALLY nice AO I love mine.

 

[RyanM]

http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/mi.txt

- 750.226a. Pocket knife opened by mechanical device...
Any person who shall sell or offer to sell, or
any person who shall have in his possession any knife
having the appearance of a pocket knife, the blade or
blades of which can be opened by a flick of a button,
pressure on a handle or other mechanical contrivance shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor...

No specific case law on Kershaws linked there, but I'm positive I've read that Kershaw Speedsafe knives are illegal, according to case law.

PA state law has very similar phrasing, but no court rulings yet, as far as I know.

 

[357wheelgunner]

You seriously need to check out a waved Emerson knife. Here's a few of mine:

My Commander:



My Super CQC-7 (the Super has a 4" blade, normal '7 has a 3.3" blade):



The little hook above the thumb stud is the wave. It catches your pocket as you draw it out and snaps the blade open in an instant. It appears that you have a fixed blade knife in your pants pocket, it opens so quickly. The best part is that there is no mechanism that opens the blade so there's no question that it isn't an "auto" technically. All Emersons are razor sharp, I especially like the chisel ground tanto CQC-7.

Definately try one! A CQC-7 can be had for $130 shipped from knifeworks:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10285

Oops that link is to the non-waved version, here's the proper one:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10288

Spyderco makes a waved endura, my wife carries one, it's razor sharp and a good knife too:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7595

I prefer G10 handles so I like my Emersons more. Try one out!

 

[Exmasonite]

Note that Michigan has outright banned Kershaw Speedsafe knives. It's possible that a few other states have, as well. They're a definite gray area here in PA. Check your local laws.

Ryan-

do you have any links or info on this? i've been looking at getting a kershaw leek and seeing as how EVERY wally world in michigan sells them, i find it hard to believe that they are illegal. thanks!

 

[hso]

An assisted opener does not "open" by the mechanism. You open it manually and when the blade gets to about 30 degrees the mechanism takes over to complete the opening cycle. All of the mechanisms I'm familiar with actually bias the pressure to keep the blade closed until the 30 degree point is reach. As such, it does not open by mechanical contrivance.

 

[poor_richard]

+1 on the Emersons. Nothing is as fast as the Wave, except a fixed blade. Spyderco also employs the Wave on some of their knives, and some even think it works better than the Emerson.

 

[Timthinker]

Before Hso provided a definition of an assisted opening device, I would have included the "flicket" in this catagory. The flicket, for those who never heard of it, was a small stud that could be attached to a folding knife blade, thereby enabling the user to open it with one hand. Years ago, people attached flickets to Buck 110 folders converting them into one-handed openers. Although this device falls outside of the strict definition used in this thread, it certain merits consideration.


Timthinker

 

[Newguy1]

I bought a Commander from Ernie when they were still pretty new, I just bought one of the Spyderco versions. I really like both of them, but be aware that the wave feature will cause your pants to wear out pretty fast.

 

[mercop]

Assisted openers are great for utility knives. Kershaws are awesome and have great customer service. For Primary Self Defense Folders I don't like assisted openers, autos or waved knives. Assisted openers and autos are worthless if the spring fails. I prefer to draw my PDF closed and hammer fist so as not to fumble deployment and allow me to hammer fist if deadly force is no longer appropriate or I don't have room to open the blade. The Wave does not allow me to do that.

 

[George Hill]

Another vote for the CRKT My Tighe. I've got one and I love it.
I've got a Kershaw Boa and it spoiled me for years, but the My Tighe opens so much faster and slicker... a more refined blade.
The Wave feature mentioned earlier... it does indeed rock and it is faster than any assisted opening blade. In fact, it's faster than everything else.
I've got a Cold Steel AK-47 knife that I customized... it has that wave feature... and as it turns out, I carry it more than the assisted opening knives now. To customize the AK, I took it to a grinder and cut off the weird hook feature, then I used a metal file to round off the G-10, contour it out, and fit it to my hands. I've been packing it exclusively ever since I did that and normally I rotate the knives.
But a package just arrived today for me... a Gerber Applegate Combat Knife. Wow, I like this knife too... but it doesn't have that wave type feature so its slow. Cool, but slow. Slow... but it's so cool. I'm conflicted.

 

[Rich K]

I just picked up a CRKT M-4 assisted opening. So far, so good.