Thoughts on assisted opening knives?

[Rux]

What are your thoughts on assisted opening knives?

I ask as about 3-4 months ago I bought a Barrage 581. Beautiful knife. I liked the idea of assisted open on paper but after carrying it for a while, I find it severely overrated and more cumbersome than convenient. Especially since the axis lock opens and closes so fast and smooth anyway.

With the Barrage, I have to use my pant leg or other hand to close the blade. I've thought about deassisting it (removing the AO spring) but that would void the warranty. It'll either be a safe queen or I'll end up selling it. I'm not quite a collector of anything yet, so still on the fence.

Your thoughts and experiences?

[Syph007]

I have a couple, but they are more just toys for me as I dont find the assist all that useful.  I can flick open my non assisted benchmade griptilian just fine.

[sawman]

I have limited experience with AO knives but have owned a SOG Flash which implemented it very well. I also own Benchmade and Spyderco knives which do just fine without it. Not familiar with your knife however.

[comis]

I too do have a couple, and like the Kershaw assisted knives most.  But other than fiddling factor, it really doesn't have any practical use for me.  In fact, some of them have their AO spring so strong that the unexpected sprung open could be a little dangerous.

[Rux]

Well sawman, being a Benchmade fan yourself, you're completely aware of the ease of opening and closing an axis lock knife. Either by flicking the thumb stud or bringing down the axis lock and flicking it.

The Barrage, being assisted open, requires barely a touch to the thumb stud to deploy. Considering how easily a Benchmade flicks open via thumb stud, kind of moot.

Closing on the other hand, is a bit of a PITA. You need to compress the spring down either using your other hand or closing it against a pants leg.

When working and having one hand holding onto something, closing the blade after making a cut is annoying.

Still might just remove the assist spring.

comis, you're right. I've been kind of wary of it deploying on it's own since the thumb stud requires so little pressure to deploy. It comes with a safety, but it's yet another button to activate and another mechanical part to fail.

[sawman]

Well sawman, being a Benchmade fan yourself, you're completely aware of the ease of opening and closing an axis lock knife. Either my flicking the thumb stud or bringing down the axis lock and flicking it.

Then Barrage, being assisted open, requires barely a touch to the thumb stud to deploy. Considering how easily a Benchmade flicks open via thumb stud, kind of moot.

Closing on the other hand, is a bit of a PITA. You need to compress the spring down either using your other hand or closing it on against a pants leg.

When working and having one hand holding onto something, closing the blade after making a cut is annoying.

Still might just remove the assist spring.

comis, you're right. I've been kind of wary of it deploying on it's own since the thumb stud requires so little pressure to deploy. It comes with a safety, but it's yet another button to activate and another mechanical part to fail.

Many years ago, I had a BM auto come open in my pocket and almost got a bad personal injury from that. Secondary to it coming open in my pocket, I nearly cut myself trying to retrieve it from my pocket. That knife had a safety that easily engaged and disengaged just from anything hitting it.

I never thought of auto knives the same after that...

[comis]

Many years ago, I had a BM auto come open in my pocket and almost got a bad personal injury from that. Secondary to it coming open in my pocket, I nearly cut myself trying to retrieve it from my pocket. That knife had a safety that easily engaged and disengaged just from anything hitting it.

I never thought of auto knives the same after that...

^^^^^This^^^^^^

I hate any knives that has the tendency to do that, either a weak/bad detent, or overly active safety, or auto-self-opening, the thought of it from the past just remind me how cautious I should be for putting sharps in pocket.

[jerseydevil]

I've carried an AO Kershaw off an on since about 2002 when I got my first Scallion.  I've never had an issue with any of them.  Removing the torsion bar in a Kershaw won't void the warranty in any way btw.  I've never had one accidentally open in my pocket, though that might have to do with the fact that Leeks and Scallions are right hand only clips and I'm a lefty.  In my left pocket the blade is against the seam of the pocket, so there's nonwhere for it to go if it did open.  There is a sliding safety on those knives that can be tightened or loosened to your taste.  If you want to try an AO, grab a Leek and give it a try.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[Styerman]

Fun to play with , but why bother . Not all Coppers are 100% on all areas of the Criminal code , so I think they are an invitation for trouble .

Chris

[dks]

I have some somewhere... I think they were designed to get past the legality issues of having an auto knife in some areas, countries.. however most people will still class them as automatics. A proper auto is more fun and a flipper or axis or other oho knife will be just as fast in practical terms to open and easier to close.
A nice auto opening and closing knife will be even faster but these once popular knives have nearly dissapeared nowadays.

taaaaaaapaaaaaaas

[Kampfer]

I was going to purchase a BM AO today.

[sawman]

I was going to purchase a BM AO today.

What model?

[Kampfer]

I feel itch if I don't but a BM every other week.
It is going to be a 890. Just love the look of it.

[JAfromMn]

I got a love hate thing going with assisted opening knives.

I'm still not sure how I feel about them.

I do know

it bugs the Smurf out of me that they are legal and autos are not.

stupid knife laws.


i believe every kind of knife should be legal.


if you're gonna hurt someone it doesn't matter what kind of knife or whatever it is.

[Kampfer]

I got a love hate thing going with assisted opening knives.

I'm still not sure how I feel about them.

I do know

it bugs the Smurf out of me that they are legal and autos are not.

stupid knife laws.


i believe every kind of knife should be legal.


if you're gonna hurt someone it doesn't matter what kind of knife or whatever it is.

Amen, same goes for gun laws.

[Kampfer]

To me, AO is a "cool" factor, but impractical.
OP is right, there is no point having AO on Axis lock, that is why I like it on 890's liner lock.

[JAfromMn]

People don't normally commit crimes with quality knives.

why spend good money on something that you are going to get rid of or have taken by the police.

a screwdriver or a rock can be just as deadly where's the ban on them

[bmot]

I don't have much useful to say on assisted knives, as I never had one...


Just wanted to add, it annoys me that AO could mean both assisted opening and automatic opening

[Rux]

Just wanted to add, it annoys me that AO could mean both assisted opening and automatic opening

LMAO!!! I never considered that. Hahaha

[sir_mike]

I just received my BM 586 Mini Barrage with the M390 steel and so far I am on the fence about it.  I cannot open my Spyderco's that quick but when you take into account that I have to release the safety lock first to open it, then I am not sure it is any quite mer to deploy.
I don't see any issue with the lock that keeps the assist from opening up and if I keep it, I will carry it in right hand pocket with blade by the seam.
I might just keep using a PM2 or my Salt 1.

[Aloha]

I have some Kershaw assisted opening knives and love the coolness factor but in reality I never need to open a blade super quick.  I've not had any issues with them opening in my pocket or any unintended openings.  I agree closing them requires a thoughtful approach but I try to be thoughtful when closing any knife I own.  I get along fine with my SAKs and MT blades but enjoy the coolness of a AO.   

[Kampfer]

IMO, if you want fast, "Wave" is faster.

[nate j]

I'm not a fan of assisted opening knives.  I prefer to know that a knife will only move when I move it, and not under its own power.  Also, with simply a wrist flick, I can open most of my (unassisted) OHO knives as fast as any AO (especially the ones with fiddly safeties).

[AimlessWanderer]

I have used one, and wasn't a fan. I like to feel I'm in control of the blade the full time, and didn't with the AO I tried (some sort of Kershaw, but not sure which). I also don't feel it gives any form of benefit either. A standard OHO knife opens perfectly fast enough for me, and I've never had to try and gain an extra 0.1 of a second when sharpening a pencil 

To me they are gimmicks, but again it all comes down to personal taste for the user

[Rux]

I got a buyer for a decent price of my Barrage 581. Going to use the funds to buy a Tom Bihn bag for EDC.

Here's a pic of the burlwood grips I had done if anyone is interested in seeing it.

I might have to give the Kershaw Leek a try. A friend on Instagram highly recommends it as well.

[dipti]

With my experience on Assisted Opening knives I have concluded that they are cool to have but at the same time they should be handled with care as compared to the non assisted ones. Since the lock is automatic so you never know when it will hit you.

[Mike 208]

I have a co-worker who used to carry AO knives at work.  One day while patrolling his area, his AO knife (a BM, don't remember the name/model number) came open in his right pants pocket without him knowing it.  The blade cut through his uniform pants, and was sticking up approx. 1".  While driving, he put his right hand on his leg, over the blade.  A few moments later, he said he felt something "wet and sticky" on his hand, and he pulled his hand up and saw blood squirting out.  The knife was so sharp, he didn't feel the blade go into his hand.   I have a few AO knives and carried some of them at work, but I now will not carry them due to this incident.  It's just safer (and in many cases quicker) to carry a manually opened folder.