danger of assisted opening

RiverRider · **on:** July 14, 2008, 01:06:27 AM

hey what is the actual danger in assisted opening knives? how hard is it to open in your pocket if you don't have a clip on? Thanks guys

jzmtl · **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2008, 02:40:06 AM

They usually are able to lock closed.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2008, 04:07:53 AM

Yeah, I find assisted opening knives to be very safe...

Spoonrobot · **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2008, 04:10:49 AM

My only AO knife is a SOG Twitch XL. It has a simple sliding lock on the back of the knife; but I never actually used it while carrying. I only EDCed for a few weeks but never had a problem with it coming open in my pocket when I wasn't carrying clipped. Most of the ones I've seen have an excellent balance in force required for opening.

If accidental opening with AO knives is a concern for you check out some non-AO flipper models. A good flipper should perform just as well as an AO knife.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2008, 02:46:26 PM

I have had a few assisted openers, and at first I was pretty paranoid about them too. The torsion bar that fires them open actually holds them closed as well though, and it's only once you overcome that by opening the blade to a certain point that the bar has the opportunity to release and launch the blade.

Then, for added safety, there's the lock mechanism that holds it closed, as mentioned above.

I haven't tried an assisted opener from all manufacturers as everyone and their Grandma has jumped on that particular bandwagon, but the ones I have seen all have similar systems. None of them want to deal with the liability suits or bad press of some large paramilitary wannabee who got neutered while playing Paintball!

Def

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2008, 02:47:45 PM

Quote from: Defender on July 14, 2008, 02:46:26 PM

None of them want to deal with the liability suits or bad press of some large paramilitary wannabee who got neutered while playing Paintball!

Def

, be fun to watch though

David Bowen · **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2008, 02:56:34 PM

I own assisted openers from Kershaw, SOG and one from Gerber....no incidents or problems what so ever.

RiverRider · **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2008, 07:00:16 PM

Quote from: micky d on July 14, 2008, 02:47:45 PM

Quote from: Defender on July 14, 2008, 02:46:26 PM
None of them want to deal with the liability suits or bad press of some large paramilitary wannabee who got neutered while playing Paintball!

Def
, be fun to watch though

don't laugh, happen to my step brother a few years ago. now hes my step sister.

lol

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2008, 07:02:06 PM

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2008, 07:10:15 PM

I had a Kershaw Leek pop open on me when carried lose in a pocket with a SAK...no damage to my bits and pieces, but it was a little scary for a while as I tried to extricate it.

american lockpicker · **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2008, 04:58:49 AM

I use to carry a Kershaw Blackout? (I think thats what it was called) for 3 year and I never had the blade open up in my pocket. Also it had no lock of any kind on it.

jzmtl · **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2008, 05:50:04 PM

Well I have a Leek on order from Marc/edcdepot, he should receive it in a week and me in another. I'll see if it pops open in my pocket.

Hoghead · **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2008, 01:51:29 AM

Quote from: american lockpicker on July 15, 2008, 04:58:49 AM

I use to carry a Kershaw Blackout? (I think thats what it was called) for 3 year and I never had the blade open up in my pocket. Also it had no lock of any kind on it.

Now this is useful information because it's what we want to hear.

I'm just joking, but I have been guilty of this when reading reviews of something I want to buy.

RichardMT · **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2008, 03:55:07 PM

I have a CRKT M4 assisted opener with no safety and have carried a lot during all sorts of avtivities, no problems at all. My mom has a SOG flash that she always carries, again no problems at all.

RiverRider · **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2008, 04:17:13 AM

specifically kershaw knives, im thinking about getting the blackout, and chances are ill juwst throw it in my pocket, any danger? as an EDC?

Leatherman123 · **Reply #15 on:** July 25, 2008, 05:21:25 AM

I have a Blackout and a Whirlwind and I've never had a problem with that.. I used to EDC the Whirlwind as well..

RiverRider · **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2008, 05:29:12 AM

hey, which do you reccomend between the two? do you like them compared to like the CRKT full throttle, a benchmade mininitrous and such?

Leatherman123 · **Reply #17 on:** July 25, 2008, 05:49:21 AM

I like them a lot.. They are decently cheap and very strong. Although, my favorites are the Buck Sirus, Spyderco Delica and Atlantic Salt, BM Ambush, mini and full Grip, and a few other knives.. The Steven Seagal Kershaw knife is very good as well..

RiverRider · **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2008, 07:31:24 AM

im really looking into assisted knives i guess, just seems like fun to me:) but i would actually possibly consider a well weighted solid knife. i just want to make a descision! any knife i get i know will be a huge step up from my curent selection, but i want to make sure im getting my money's worth, and that im not missing out on anything by choosing an assisted knife or not looking farther into it.

jzmtl · **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2008, 07:44:46 AM

Don't worry, you'll end up buying both anyway, just ask anybody here about how they choose their multis.

RiverRider · **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:26:39 AM

lol, but for now, a kershaw blackout is definetly a good choice?

ducktapehero · **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2008, 06:50:20 AM

I'm not a fan of "assisted opening" knives. I bought one a few months ago. I remember right after getting it I put the safety on and stuck it in my pocket. Later that even I pulled it out and it was off safety.

I don't know how it happened, I may have been fiddling around with it but I decided I didn't want that thing going off in my pants. I took it back the next day.

I know other people carry them with no problem but I won't carry one again.

jzmtl · **Reply #22 on:** July 26, 2008, 06:58:00 AM

I've been playing with my new leek all day, never used safety lock and it never tried to fire in my pocket.

RiverRider · **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:16:12 AM

hmm, i think id be pretty comfortable carrying it around, does it feel a little bit like it could pop open?

jzmtl · **Reply #24 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:50:19 AM

Not to me. The blade actually need to be pushed out quite a bit for the spring to catch, and you get the spring to hold it in in addition to the ball detent on frame lock tab. But this for normal EDC, if it's for your rafting trip I'd avoid it since vigorous activity may be different and crap could get inside the mechanism.

RiverRider · **Reply #25 on:** July 26, 2008, 07:52:30 AM

that why i also liked the nitrous, because it was a more open airy format, but i don't think i'll have it in my pocket, more licket strapped to my bag or in a pocket, no problem there, right?

oh yea and in EDC illjust have it thrown in my pocket.

jzmtl · **Reply #26 on:** July 26, 2008, 08:02:56 AM

I honestly don't know. I always clip knives to my pocket so nothing would bump against it. If you do strap it somewhere or keep inside pocket you probably would want to keep the safety lock engaged.

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.

danger of assisted opening

Donations

Community Links