Advantages/Disadvantages of Assisted Opening Knife

[dipti]

I have seen many contradictions in between advantages and disadvantages of Assisted Opening Knives. Though I found it useful still some of my friends remain disagree with me. So I want to know your opinion like what do you think are the benefits/limitations of this knife. Also why are they illegal in some of the countries like CA?

[Grant Lamontagne]

If by CA you mean Canada, they are legal.  You can buy them here and I have imported many over the years.  Some people mistake them for automatic knives (switchblades) and claim they are illegal, but those people are what I like to call dumb.

To me the advantages of an assisted opener are few- I don't really feel that the blade needs to flash out a fraction of a second faster than I can flick it open with my thumb.  Maybe in the world of professional street knife fighting that would be beneficial, but I really don't see any huge benefit to it other than something to play with.  I really enjoy flicking them. 

As for disadvantages, well, those are few and far between too.  Yes there is the possibility that it will fire open in your pocket, but that is a very rare occurrence.  It has happened to me once, but I had just jumped off of something quite high and the knife wasn't up against the side of my pocket, and to be honest, I don't think the safety was on.  I was lucky though- the blade only poked into me about an eighth of an inch, and it wasn't anywhere I consider vital! 

Honestly I get them because I like them and they are fun to play with, not because of any additional function.

Def

[comis]

Like Grant, I don't actually care for the 'practical use' of 'assisted opening'.  The only time I'd want one is because it is fun to play with, but in terms of long term usage, I find it has more 'disadvantages' than 'advantages':

1) Safety.  I like a knife with good detent, so 'safety lock' is just another layer of assurance.  There exist a few different kinds of assisted opening mechanism, and I must say some has opening spring so strong that I only felt safe to close with two hands.

2) More parts = more parts to fail

3) local law.  Not every law enforcement is knife expert, and in many different countries, the usage of the blade may justify its carrying legality.  In countries where automatic knives are banned, it is hard to convince the officer there is a difference between auto vs assisted opening, meanwhile to justify the need to have 'assisted opening'.

[pfrsantos]

+2

I can open my "normal" knives as fast as my assisted ones, so speed is not an advantage. Non-assisted knives have less parts and less probability of opening when you don't want them to. It also puts more wear on the lock mechanism, since the opening speed is always fast and can't be "adjusted" to a more smooth motion.

[scattergun13]

I'd like to echo what comis, pfrsantos and Grant have said here because I believe they are spot on. Auto openers have a certain cool factor to them but, past that, they provide no real advantage. They are far more prone to failure, especially when needed most. It has also been my experience that on occasion, while opening an auto, the blade could impact something in tight quarters (CQB) and fail to completely deploy. This can be catastrophic for the user in an emergency situation.

Spyderco really revolutionized the industry and made the opening process failsafe. Keep it simple when it comes to these sorts of things, especially for personal defense and you're less likely to be affected by Murphy's law. To that end, I'll take a "spydie" hole all day long over an auto opener or even a thumb stud. I like Strider's pocket open method but if you get it wrong, you still have to go back to manual operation via some sort of thumb stud. Just goes to show that "ambi" manual openers are still a time tested and proven method for success.
Best of luck with your decision,
Stew...

[scattergun13]

+2

I can open my "normal" knives as fast as my assisted ones, so speed is not an advantage. Non-assisted knives have less parts and less probability of opening when you don't want them to. It also puts more wear on the lock mechanism, since the opening speed is always fast and can't be "adjusted" to a more smooth motion.

Also, prfsantos is right on here. With a little practice the difference in opening times between the two methods is negligible. Stay with what is proven and works.
Stew...

[Kampfer]

It is cool to show off, other than that, not much of practical use.
I think "wave" is faster if you are after speed.

[dipti]

It is cool to show off, other than that, not much of practical use.
I think "wave" is faster if you are after speed.

Hi Kampfer

I already have "Dragon Claw Knife" and "Police Rescue Knife" both are good in term of opening speed. But my question is different because despite of this extreme feature still assisted knives are not prefered.

[dipti]

If by CA you mean Canada, they are legal.  You can buy them here and I have imported many over the years.  Some people mistake them for automatic knives (switchblades) and claim they are illegal, but those people are what I like to call dumb.

To me the advantages of an assisted opener are few- I don't really feel that the blade needs to flash out a fraction of a second faster than I can flick it open with my thumb.  Maybe in the world of professional street knife fighting that would be beneficial, but I really don't see any huge benefit to it other than something to play with.  I really enjoy flicking them. 

As for disadvantages, well, those are few and far between too.  Yes there is the possibility that it will fire open in your pocket, but that is a very rare occurrence.  It has happened to me once, but I had just jumped off of something quite high and the knife wasn't up against the side of my pocket, and to be honest, I don't think the safety was on.  I was lucky though- the blade only poked into me about an eighth of an inch, and it wasn't anywhere I consider vital! 

Honestly I get them because I like them and they are fun to play with, not because of any additional function.

Def

First of all thank you for clearing my doubt regarding supplies of these knives in CA because I read out in many articles that they are banned. And yes I agree that its advantages and disadvantages are few and it depends that is why I was curious to know the experience what others had as of mine was somehow same to you.

[dipti]

Like Grant, I don't actually care for the 'practical use' of 'assisted opening'.  The only time I'd want one is because it is fun to play with, but in terms of long term usage, I find it has more 'disadvantages' than 'advantages':

1) Safety.  I like a knife with good detent, so 'safety lock' is just another layer of assurance.  There exist a few different kinds of assisted opening mechanism, and I must say some has opening spring so strong that I only felt safe to close with two hands.

2) More parts = more parts to fail

3) local law.  Not every law enforcement is knife expert, and in many different countries, the usage of the blade may justify its carrying legality.  In countries where automatic knives are banned, it is hard to convince the officer there is a difference between auto vs assisted opening, meanwhile to justify the need to have 'assisted opening'.

Yes I agree to your this point that they are hard to handle and sometimes disappointing to own them. I have wounded my hand thrice and still I love to play around with it while opening and closing with strike and that noise    is something I enjoy  ....

[dipti]

+2

I can open my "normal" knives as fast as my assisted ones, so speed is not an advantage. Non-assisted knives have less parts and less probability of opening when you don't want them to. It also puts more wear on the lock mechanism, since the opening speed is always fast and can't be "adjusted" to a more smooth motion.

Must say that you have good practice and hold in opening non assisted knives if you can open them as fast as assisted one  but since this is not true for everyone, so in general I can conclude that assisted are better than non assisted one.

[dipti]

I'd like to echo what comis, pfrsantos and Grant have said here because I believe they are spot on. Auto openers have a certain cool factor to them but, past that, they provide no real advantage. They are far more prone to failure, especially when needed most. It has also been my experience that on occasion, while opening an auto, the blade could impact something in tight quarters (CQB) and fail to completely deploy. This can be catastrophic for the user in an emergency situation.

Spyderco really revolutionized the industry and made the opening process failsafe. Keep it simple when it comes to these sorts of things, especially for personal defense and you're less likely to be affected by Murphy's law. To that end, I'll take a "spydie" hole all day long over an auto opener or even a thumb stud. I like Strider's pocket open method but if you get it wrong, you still have to go back to manual operation via some sort of thumb stud. Just goes to show that "ambi" manual openers are still a time tested and proven method for success.
Best of luck with your decision,
Stew...

I completely agree to your point that they are more prone to failures but again it depends. Actually till you face
something worst with it, you always feel in love with that thing  ......
Before wounding my hands I was fully satisfied with it but later my thoughts changed and I am now neutral to give any reviews to this knife.

[pfrsantos]

+2

I can open my "normal" knives as fast as my assisted ones, so speed is not an advantage. Non-assisted knives have less parts and less probability of opening when you don't want them to. It also puts more wear on the lock mechanism, since the opening speed is always fast and can't be "adjusted" to a more smooth motion.

Must say that you have good practice and hold in opening non assisted knives if you can open them as fast as assisted one  but since this is not true for everyone, so in general I can conclude that assisted are better than non assisted one.

I'd say that if you don't have the skill to fast and safely open and close a non-assisted knife, you shouldn't use an assisted opening one "because it's faster". That is the reason not to use it. If you can't control a "slow" knife, it'll be harder to control a "faster" one.
Get a simple knife, practice until you feel confortable and secure with its mechanism, then go for the assisted ones, just for the cool-factor.

 

[scattergun13]

+2

I can open my "normal" knives as fast as my assisted ones, so speed is not an advantage. Non-assisted knives have less parts and less probability of opening when you don't want them to. It also puts more wear on the lock mechanism, since the opening speed is always fast and can't be "adjusted" to a more smooth motion.

Must say that you have good practice and hold in opening non assisted knives if you can open them as fast as assisted one  but since this is not true for everyone, so in general I can conclude that assisted are better than non assisted one.

I'd say that if you don't have the skill to fast and safely open and close a non-assisted knife, you shouldn't use an assisted opening one "because it's faster". That is the reason not to use it. If you can't control a "slow" knife, it'll be harder to control a "faster" one.
Get a simple knife, practice until you feel confortable and secure with its mechanism, then go for the assisted ones, just for the cool-factor.




        This was right on the money.......................

[Squinty]

I may be wrong about this, but I have always felt safer with a folding knife that had multiple incentives to stay open. A lock is best, but a spring - either a slipjoint spring or AO spring - is at least somewhat helpful too. A spring is not likely to keep the knife open under the pressure of a catastrophic lock failure, but in the event the lock malfunctions or fails to properly engage, at least the blade can't fall or swing closed on my hand. AO knives have a bias to stay open when opened, and closed when closed, and I feel that is an advantage.

[Steinar]

AO knives wear faster than straight OH, so the knife will not last as long. May or may not be relevant.

I don't know smurf about knives as weapons, but I would assume if speed really was a priority, a fixed blade would be preferable anyway?

[sawman]

AO knives wear faster than straight OH, so the knife will not last as long. May or may not be relevant.

I don't know smurf about knives as weapons, but I would assume if speed really was a priority, a fixed blade would be preferable anyway?

It always hits a nerve with me whenever a knife is considered as a weapon. 

[comis]

I may be wrong about this, but I have always felt safer with a folding knife that had multiple incentives to stay open. A lock is best, but a spring - either a slipjoint spring or AO spring - is at least somewhat helpful too. A spring is not likely to keep the knife open under the pressure of a catastrophic lock failure, but in the event the lock malfunctions or fails to properly engage, at least the blade can't fall or swing closed on my hand. AO knives have a bias to stay open when opened, and closed when closed, and I feel that is an advantage.

I think my problem is when an Assisted Opening knife done wrong/weak detent/design flaw, the assisted opening knife may have a higher chance to swing open itself than a manual opening knife.

Also, one of the biggest precaution I take for using a folding knife is treat every folding knife like a 'slip joint'.  In contrast, I tend to think my dependence on any back spring to keep the blade open could be a false confidence, and always guard myself against that.

If you like a 'double system' when a knife has a 'back spring' to keep the blade open, as well as a lock, then I do strongly suggest to take a look at 111mm Victorinox OHO Trekker(if you don't already owe one ), it has a good liner lock, and a good back spring in case the lock fails.  That is a knife that I trust to keep in pocket, with lesser chance to fail. 

[jerseydevil]

I have never had an AO open up in my pocket accidentally, and I've been carrying them since 2000 or so when I got my first Kershaw Scallion.  When I'm carrying an AO folder, speed, useability for self-defense, etc are not what I'm thinking.  I'm carrying it because I find it useful to have a knife handy, and whatever knife I'm carrying is one that I use and enjoy carrying.  Today I was carrying a Leek.  Why?  Because it is slim in the pocket, feels good in the hand, and is a great EDC blade IMO.  I've carried one for years.  It happens to be assisted, but that wasn't why I put it in my pocket.  It does happen to be a lot of fun to fiddle with too.    I also enjoy carrying and using traditional slipjoints.  No spring assist there!  And one of my favorite carry knives is the Endura.  They've all got a place in my pocket.    Not all at once, of course......

[sawman]

I have never had an AO open up in my pocket accidentally, and I've been carrying them since 2000 or so when I got my first Kershaw Scallion.  When I'm carrying an AO folder, speed, useability for self-defense, etc are not what I'm thinking.  I'm carrying it because I find it useful to have a knife handy, and whatever knife I'm carrying is one that I use and enjoy carrying.  Today I was carrying a Leek.  Why?  Because it is slim in the pocket, feels good in the hand, and is a great EDC blade IMO.  I've carried one for years.  It happens to be assisted, but that wasn't why I put it in my pocket.  It does happen to be a lot of fun to fiddle with too.    I also enjoy carrying and using traditional slipjoints.  No spring assist there!  And one of my favorite carry knives is the Endura.  They've all got a place in my pocket.    Not all at once, of course......

We all know that's only because you need BIGGER POCKETS 

The Delica is my favorite Spyderco. I prefer a small somewhat compact folder for pocket carry.

[Squinty]

I have a oho victorinox that I really like. Fits in watch pocket of my jeans, doesn't need a clip there.
With pocket clip knives I carry tip down and never worried about accidental opening. Knives with flipper opening, I prefer a spring to one where the blade swings freely when the lock disengages.

There has been talk of knives for self defense, so I feel like mentioning that for me knives are not weapons and oho is not a combative quick draw feature, but a convenience. The assumption that fast opening is for knife fights makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes you need to access a knife while your other hand is full holding the stuff you need to cut, or the rung of a ladder, or whatever. In such circumstances I feel like a folder is safer to access and to put back than fixed blade. I would rather stick a closed folder in a pocket than grope one handed to resheath a fixed blade. A co worker once told me about an accident wherein he caught the sleeve of his coveralls in the roller of a motorized conveyor belt. Supposedly he used a oho utility knife - the kind with replaceable razor blades - to cut himself loose with his free hand, thus avoiding a serious injury. Assuming the story was true, it was a good thing his knife opened quickly and one handed. The moral he meant to convey was "pay attention," but a secondary moral was "knives save lives."

Slightly off topic I guess, since it wasn't assisted opening. Sorry.

[VictorLouis]

I really see no use/need for them other than "check out how cool this is" types of displays, LOL. Same with automatics. Never fondled one yet with the rock-solid lock-up one can get with simple lockbacks or liner locks. The blades 'seem' to be of lighter stock, and or narrower dimension, I suspect to get the weight down for the small spring/s to do the/ir job.

Now, my bias stems from the WORST cut I ever got with one of hte first Ken ONion CRKTs I handled. NOT knowing it's operation, I manipulated the stud with the strength it would take to 'flick-it', prompty forcing the pad of my thumb right down onto that nice factory edge as it continued moving forward after the blade had swung open.

[Styerman]

I've owned some top notch ones ( ZT 302 , and 350 ) - never had an issue with saftey or reliability . I can deploy a Wave , Thumb stud , Spyder hole , or thumb disk , just about as fast .

Whats the point , why pay for an extra spring , and sometimes a weaker detent .

That said , they are cool .

Chris

[sawman]

I once owned a SOG Power Assist and that spring mechanism took up the space of about 3 tools. Insane, when a simple thumb stud would have sufficed!

[scattergun13]

I have never had an AO open up in my pocket accidentally, and I've been carrying them since 2000 or so when I got my first Kershaw Scallion.  When I'm carrying an AO folder, speed, useability for self-defense, etc are not what I'm thinking.  I'm carrying it because I find it useful to have a knife handy, and whatever knife I'm carrying is one that I use and enjoy carrying.  Today I was carrying a Leek.  Why?  Because it is slim in the pocket, feels good in the hand, and is a great EDC blade IMO.  I've carried one for years.  It happens to be assisted, but that wasn't why I put it in my pocket.  It does happen to be a lot of fun to fiddle with too.    I also enjoy carrying and using traditional slipjoints.  No spring assist there!  And one of my favorite carry knives is the Endura.  They've all got a place in my pocket.    Not all at once, of course......

Have you ever had a Kershaw Select Fire open in your pocket? Me either! Sorry, had to be done my brother...

[jerseydevil]

I have never had an AO open up in my pocket accidentally, and I've been carrying them since 2000 or so when I got my first Kershaw Scallion.  When I'm carrying an AO folder, speed, useability for self-defense, etc are not what I'm thinking.  I'm carrying it because I find it useful to have a knife handy, and whatever knife I'm carrying is one that I use and enjoy carrying.  Today I was carrying a Leek.  Why?  Because it is slim in the pocket, feels good in the hand, and is a great EDC blade IMO.  I've carried one for years.  It happens to be assisted, but that wasn't why I put it in my pocket.  It does happen to be a lot of fun to fiddle with too.    I also enjoy carrying and using traditional slipjoints.  No spring assist there!  And one of my favorite carry knives is the Endura.  They've all got a place in my pocket.    Not all at once, of course......

Have you ever had a Kershaw Select Fire open in your pocket? Me either! Sorry, had to be done my brother...

  

[scattergun13]

  I deserved that one...Well played sir.

[jzmtl]

If I recall they were designed for the poor folks who can't play with auto because fat pigs who mistaken hollywood for real life. They are fun to play with, but once the novelty wears off I always go back to regular knives.

[nervium]

only advantage is to make show to your girlfriends, a spyderco endura, gerber evo, leatherman crater; you can open them as fast as an italian switchblade.

[Millhouse]

I've only handled one assisted opening knife, a Sog Flash.

I didn't find the assisted opening really made that much difference. I'd had Benchmade and Spyderco knives and was quite happy with their opening.

Niggling in the back of my mind was having the Flash open by accident in my pocket. The knife had a safety catch to prevent opening. With this engaged, the act of disengaging it, negated any advantage of the assisted opening.