Assisted knives

I

Ipistol

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So I see assisted knives get a lot of hate. Most people won't buy one unless it can be removed. I feel like this is because assisted knives are to a select few people. I have issues with my hands especially this time of year and an assisted knife makes opening my knife a lot easier and I for the most part get it opened and locked almost every time. Now I would carry an automatic if I could find a place that ships them to New Jersey but so far I've found absolutely none . So assisted is a great alternative.

What is your guys take on this kind of thing? Is assisted for people with hand problems and mall ninjas only or do they have other purposes?
 
I really don't see the hate. Assisted might not be everyones cup of tea but too each his own. My one hand opener of choice is my ZT0301. No problems with it being assisted
 
According to Kershaw assisted knives out sell the manual ones. So you are in a majority but the majority are not knife nuts so hard telling what their reasoning is.
 
I like AOs just because they're fun to open, but I do often find myself wondering when the spring will give out. If it has a detent, then no worries, as it'll still work as a manual. I won't buy an AO without a detent as a result, since I don't have the tools or know-how to install one myself. :thumbup:
 
G. Scott H. said:
I like AOs just because they're fun to open, but I do often find myself wondering when the spring will give out. If it has a detent, then no worries, as it'll still work as a manual. I won't buy an AO without a detent as a result, since I don't have the tools or know-how to install one myself. :thumbup:
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If you buy a Kershaw assisted there's no worries. They will send you free replacement SpeedSafe torsion bars forever I believe.


When I first started collecting I bought a BUNCH of CRKT and Kershaw assisted knives. It seems that other than ZT, as you move up scale in knives that the assisted models almost vanish. I know that Benchmade has a few, but not many. Other than a couple of ZT's, I don't have a single assisted knife that sells for over $100. Nothing wrong with them though. I still really dig Blurs, and am starting to really start searching for some of the rarer models.
 
I personally find a assisted knife to require a lot less effort. I need it on my ZT-0350 because everything is kind of squished together, and I have big hands. So the ability to flick that knife open is not possilbe for me. Now on my CRKT Hisstasu 3.75" folder the spring mechanism is incredibly strong which some how stiffens the blade retention. Most I know can't even open it without putting a lot of effort behind it. I've developed a calayst on my thumb from that knife alone, so I decided to remove the spring and I like it just as good.
 
G. Scott H. said:
I like AOs just because they're fun to open, but I do often find myself wondering when the spring will give out. If it has a detent, then no worries, as it'll still work as a manual. I won't buy an AO without a detent as a result, since I don't have the tools or know-how to install one myself. :thumbup:
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They last a long time. The assist torsion bar on my first 1660CB Leek finally broke after a couple years; I just sent it in and it came back freshly sharpened with a new one installed. It still worked fine as a normal pocket knife until I had a chance to send it in, so it wasn't like it was useless. I am not sure what would happen with my 581 Barrage if the wrong spring broke, though.

KrisOK said:
When I first started collecting I bought a BUNCH of CRKT and Kershaw assisted knives. It seems that other than ZT, as you move up scale in knives that the assisted models almost vanish. I know that Benchmade has a few, but not many. Other than a couple of ZT's, I don't have a single assisted knife that sells for over $100. Nothing wrong with them though. I still really dig Blurs, and am starting to really start searching for some of the rarer models.
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I only think I have one non-assisted pocket knife (then again, my pocket knives are all from Benchmade or Kershaw). Two were $150+. Their main drawback is that they're generally larger/heavier than a regular folding knife.

Also, outside the US, knife laws vary greatly. The assisted opener occupies a grey area in our laws that it wouldn't in other countries. In some western countries knives with thumb studs are illegal, or knives that can be opened one-handed are illegal...

I actually prefer them because they have a positive closing spring, unlike many pure folding knives.
 
I just picked up Spyderco Southard. It is supposedly Spyderco's first flipper. Even though it is not spring assisted, it acts like it is. Perhaps the caged pivot bearings plus a strong detent enable this knife to behave like an assisted knife.
 
ao's are illegal in my neck of the woods, but it doesn't matter because i wouldn't buy one anyway. :D
 
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I like them because you know the lock is always fully engaged. But I'm not big on liner locks...trade offs.
 
You'll find people on both sides of the fence and some indifferent. I think most reasonable people are in the to-each-his/her-own camp though.

Personally, I love the ones in my regular rotation. I'm lazy and well, they're cool, if you have a decent one.
 
I have a ZT0350 in my rotation, it has been very handy as I am the daytime care provider of our little one and she is always close to me when out running errands. It is actually safer for me deploying it one handed while also being able to keep it far out of her quick reach when using it. I can also close it one handed without any difficulty with arm extended out or behind my back, again keeping it far out away from her.
 
I handled a Kershaw and a BM, and didn't care for the 'jump' when they opened. I can open an Axis lock just as fast, with more control. But each to his or her own.
 
IDK, but I guess I just associate assisted openers with the p.o.s. tac-forces I bought when I didn't know anything about knives. They just usually turn me away.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I handled a Kershaw and a BM, and didn't care for the 'jump' when they opened. I can open an Axis lock just as fast, with more control. But each to his or her own.
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Me and my cousin called the 'Jump' a kick when we 'fired' the mechanism.The harder it was the cooler it was. Dont worry though, my mall ninja days are long gone.
 
People have this idea that they break really easy which the font , or they might go off in the pocket which ive never heard happen , and there are vids of "YouTube stars" saying they got cut by them cause they went off or the lock failed cause ites just a line lock
 
That's the great thing about everyone here, I think we all do a pretty good job at respecting others wants & needs. For example, I don't like assisted / autos but if they help you with your hand issues then I think that's great! My thumb opens all my knives just fine but who knows, maybe one day I too will use assisted knives due to hand issues...you just never know. Take care.
 
eric_j said:
They last a long time. The assist torsion bar on my first 1660CB Leek finally broke after a couple years; I just sent it in and it came back freshly sharpened with a new one installed. It still worked fine as a normal pocket knife until I had a chance to send it in, so it wasn't like it was useless. I am not sure what would happen with my 581 Barrage if the wrong spring broke, though.
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Mine broke the first weekend I had it. Its replacement broke within a week. That one's replacement has lasted a year or two now. They're not all made equally in my experience.
 
I regularly carry one-hand opening knives but don't own a single AO knife. I have passed up several AO knives I would otherwise have purchased if that feature weren't present (listening Kershaw?). I find the "jump" unsettling.
 
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