Are knife safeties a good idea?

Dknight16

Dknight16

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My first exposure was on the tiny Kershaw Chive which has a sliding block safety because it has Speed Safe opening assist. I tolerated it, but never actually engaged it. I also had a Kershaw Leek with the same. Then I had a Benchmade Emissary that also had one due opening assist - never engaged it. My most recent was a Protech TR-5 Auto which I bought due to its size (I like 3- 3.25 inch blades for EDC carry). Unfortunately, this model debuted with a safety.

I’ve sold all of them as I just can’t seem to accept the manual safety - despite having the option to not actually engage it.

No open assist or auto knife has ever opened in my pocket despite 15 years of carrying many examples. Perhaps it’s due to tip up clipped pocket carry. Regardless, I’ve decided to never own another knife with a manual safety.

Am I alone in this intense dislike?
 
IMHO The "best" knife "safety" is located between your ears.

It's a shame a lot of folks don't seem to engage it ...
 
I do know from experience that sometimes knives do open in people's pockets. I had it happen most often with cheap and mid priced liner locks 3 times.Luckily I was not cut. Just because you have never had a knife open in your pocket does not mean others haven't. This is one reason why I stick with lockback or frame lock design now. No need for safeties which imo just adds more parts to go wrong. Unfortunately though we live in a Sue Sue happy world. And I suspect this is one reason companies are making ridiculous safeties.
 
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I had a Kershaw Leek that opened in my pocket, sold it ASAP. It was partly my fault for not carrying tip up against the pocket seam. I just decided if a knife needs a safety to keep from opening, there is something wrong with it's design. I just stay away from assisted openers, I'm still capable of opening my knife with out an assist.
If you use the safety, what's the point in having an assist.

I'd get another Leek if Kershaw would add a detent so I could remove the safety and de-assist it.
 
The only modern knives with safeties that I own are SOGs and I can live with or without the safety. I seldom engaged the safety mechanism, so I guess I vote "no safeties". It is not a deal breaker in terms of choosing a knife. The relative importance level to me is about 2 out of 10.
 
Makael said:
It's like seat belts. Protects us from ourselves.
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I would have a dead mother had it not been for a seat belt.
Dean51 said:
I had a Kershaw Leek that opened in my pocket, sold it ASAP. It was partly my fault for not carrying tip up against the pocket seam. I just decided if a knife needs a safety to keep from opening, there is something wrong with it's design. I just stay away from assisted openers, I'm still capable of opening my knife with out an assist.
If you use the safety, what's the point in having an assist.

I'd get another Leek if Kershaw would add a detent so I could remove the safety and de-assist it.
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You made a good point in your post.
 
Anything which can launch itself with the slightest of touch requires great care in handling and storage. I figure pocket misfires occur as a result of having accidently applied pressure to the triggering spring. It could be that too much of a tight squeeze in close fitting pants makes for a bad auto/assist folder prepositioning choice. Locks maybe a hinderance to speedy openings, but imo its well worth the few split seconds more with a lock than to risk possible injury.
 
I don't get knife safeties. Design your knives properly and there's no need for one. Safeties make me laugh because we all seem to like fast opening knives here, but knives with safeties require you to fumble around with a safety switch before you can get to that fast opening.
 
I don't mind the safety on my Leek or Benchmade. I don't engage them and the Leek is easy enough to tighten the safety in the open position so no issues at all.
 
I don't use them. They don't bother me if they're out of the way and stay put like the Leek or the spine mounted Benchmades, but the big ugly ones on the presentation scale are a deal killer.
 
marrenmiller said:
I don't get knife safeties. Design your knives properly and there's no need for one. Safeties make me laugh because we all seem to like fast opening knives here, but knives with safeties require you to fumble around with a safety switch before you can get to that fast opening.
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Uhh no, people like to sue. I don't blame knife companies for putting safety devices on their knives.
 
Makael said:
Uhh no, people like to sue. I don't blame knife companies for putting safety devices on their knives.
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That's a possible reason, though I think it's more likely that they're just meeting customer expectations for some types of knives, and those customers don't know a safety isnt necessary. From a user perspective I dont think they serve a purpose other than to get in the way. I remove mine on knives that come with them.
 
Ideally, all folders should be designed and built to operate safely with only the primary lock . But if the knife is unsafe without an added safety , then better to have one then to get hurt . I generally avoid these and prefer locks like the Cold Steel Tri-ad , that don't need any extra help to be strong and safe . :)
 
I don’t mind them. I’ve dropped many different folders by accident and quite a few opened after hitting the ground.

I don’t actively search for and only buy knives with safeties, but I don’t mind them either.
 
I hate to say it but there is only one saftey that I know of that is truly ingenious and its on a freakin’ clone of the Microtech Halo. Its the same clone @Charlie Mike has posted before.

Here is a picture of it so you can understand the genius. The little tab prevents the button from being pushed but will slide when you put your thumb on the button.

ETA: It appears this safety actually shows up on the real deal HALO VIs

img-microtech-halo-vi-09.jpg
 
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DocJD said:
Ideally, all folders should be designed and built to operate safely with only the primary lock . But if the knife is unsafe without an added safety , then better to have one then to get hurt . I generally avoid these and prefer locks like the Cold Steel Tri-ad , that don't need any extra help to be strong and safe . :)
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Does cold steel pay you to mention them every thread that pops up? Autos SHOULD have a safety as well as hair trigger assisted knives. Manuals generally don't have a safety. Enough cold steel shilling already. Criminy.
 
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