Assisted Openers? Dislike? Why?

Buck_Fan

Buck_Fan

Joined
Oct 14, 2008
Messages
1,219
Hi all,
I believe I told my story before on here. I am a traditional guy that has caught the Kershaw bug. (I wish I could change my user name.) I got a Mini Cyclone and love it. I carry it just about everyday. Along with a traditional slipjoint of course. I love the assisted opening of this knife. But I have read that some do not like ao knives. Can I ask why? I can see no reason to not like it. I am sure I am missing something, or it is just we have different taste. But I wonder why someone would not like it. Inform me please.

Thanks,
 
some just don't like the little extra complication it adds to disassembly/reassembly and that extra little bit of potential for problems.
 
Well I'll step up and say I don't care for ao. I suppose it has a cool factor, but it's just not something that appeals to me.

I carry a knife to use as a tool. A traditional gets the job done. A one hand opener lets me use both hands to position the item to be cut, then use one hand to hold it while I remove the knife from my pocket, open it and cut, then close and replace the knife in my pocket with the other hand. Assisted open doesn't add any advantage, so I have no use for it.
 
Anyone whom uses a knife at work andopens and closes it 5-10 times a day likes assited openers kind of hard to hold something and open the knife at the same time
 
i love my kershaws for the ao...but it scares the heck out of sheeple. you can be a little more discreet with an unassisted one-hander. the tension on the blade can make it more difficult to close one-handed, too, and that has led me to a couple near-drops.
 
I actually don't like AOs because I like how a manual knife works. My favorite knife is a smooth manual knife, but if its assisted, it feels clacky. I dont also like feeling like the AO will eventually wear out.

I avoid AOs now.
 
I have had several ao type knives since they appeared. But when the spring broke on a Leek that was less than a year old, I decided not to buy anymore of that type.

Yeah, I could have sent it back. it was easier to give it away to someone who does not know any better.

No more ao types for me.
 
Hi,

I'm another traditional guy who also kind of likes to carry an AO once in a while. I like them because as a lefty they are a bit friendlier to use than a generic manual thumb opener. And I'm partial to Kershaw's Onion designs.:D

Reasons not to like them are, as already mentioned, more complicated and prone to breakage. And there is a sizable number of people who like tip up carry. A slightly more risky proposition with an AO than manual. I carry tip down only, because it's safer. And the safeties are a bit of a pain to use also if carried that way.

dalee
 
I took a look at the AO's a few years ago, was not particularly impressed with them and moved on. In the last year or so I became interested in the newer models from Kershaw, gave a couple a try, and to make a long story short my EDC in now a Kershaw Blur.

I'm starting to show signs of arthritis in my hands and find the AO knives to fit my needs well, they open very easily. Not to change the subject, but I've been trying to learn a few balisong moves and believe me, the old fingers have a hard time keeping up. :D

Tom
 
I like quick opening, but I don't like to have to overcome spring tension when closing.

My preferred opening system is a smooth flipper like the RAM. It opens AND closes quickly and effortlessly.
 
I have a Leek, but don't think i want another assisted opener. Here are some reasons why people might choose not to get them:
1. In some parts of the country or with some LEO's they might be considered illegal switchblades.
2. There is an extra part that can break.
3. Esp. with thumbstud models, the kick from opening can make the knife hard to hold on to (at least Ive found it can)
4. many people prefer spyderhole, assisted doesn't work with hole
5. Many peopel like the backlock, assisted does not work with backlock.
6. You can't open it slowly, as someone before me said, the smoothness of a one-hand opener feels great.
7. Can offen be pricier than similar non assisted models.
8. Do you really NEED to open your knife so fast? If you are doing something that requires fast access there are better options, like a waved knife or a fixed blade, and if you aren't the assisted opening is no better than a OHO
9. Can (rarely) open in pocket
10. Can be unnecessarily unfriendly to un-knife people, ie coworkers, friends...

I like having a simple OHO far better, but I guess its personal preference.
 
My biggest complaint is the same as Phillip's, that they are harder and more awkward to close than non-AO knives.
 
I like the Kershaw Scallions. I have a few of them. The AO can be handy at times, but like another poster said the torsion bar will wear out over time. You can go on Kershaws site and get another for free (waranty). I guess it is really up to the person using it to decide if he or she likes it.

That being said I can open my Benchmade's and Spyderco's just as easily with one hand.
 
I have a couple (Leek and flash 1), but I'm not a huge fan. I generally don't buy a knife FOR the AO, but it's not a deal breaker either... it's just one other feature.
 
I'm perfectly okay with other people having them and I can understand the cool factor, but for me I've never seen the advantage. My Spydercos and other one-hand opening knives open plenty fast enough for me and ao knives are overly complex and imo more prone to something breaking.
 
AO equipped knives are clever "switchblade workarounds" and fun gadgets, but IMO, AO is no substitute for a non-assisted flipper with a silky low-friction pivot coupled with a strong, crisp blade detent.

Once you've used a well implemented IKBS flipper from someone like Todd Begg, AO seems pretty superfluous: overcome the detent's resistance and the blade *snaps* out like an auto/AO; no wrist action required; no resistance whatsoever when closing one-handed, and no fragile, fatigue-prone parts.
 
I don't like the having additional crap that can go wrong. Besides, waves are faster :D
 
Ive spent lots of time with the leek, and i think its all about the coolness factor when it comes to AO knives, its just fun to sit around and flip open over and over, not an awesome edc, in my opinion...
 
I like them and I don't, I like them because sometimes it makes the knife easier to open and their fun to play with. I don't like them for all the reasons above but the thing I dislike most is the position your hand is in when the knife opens. This applies to flipper styles more though.
 
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