Assisted opening.

irishpunk

irishpunk

Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
41
Hey all, I have a question about assisted opening knifes. Why do some not prefer assisted ? I 've read reviews where some have removed/disabled the assisted opening feature. I have a modest collections of knifes, both fixed and folders, and cannot see a disadvantage of assisted opening.

Thanks in advance for any info on this subject.
 
Over here it would not be wise to leave your home with an A/O ,just in case .I like them but it’s not worth the risk.I had a cryo and asked if the A/O could be removed.Turns out you can’t.Shame as it’s a great knife considering the small cost.
 
Yep, I'm curious about this too. I have a mini griptillian and it seems to open really smooth. I haven't had the chance to handle any assisted opening benchmade's yet, but I'm anxious to do so next time I'm in the states. I want to believe I will like that feature but its kind of rhidiculous to speculate since I have never held one.

There is one thought on the a/o that will probably keep me happy with what I've got...I live in the tropics and learned long ago that down here, less is often more. The weather is tough on metal and machines down here. Often times the simpler things with less moving parts are better. Some blade steel is fairly resistant to rust and corrosion...whatever tricky little springs inside an a/o knife? Probably less so. Then add in the "safety"...mmm, I don't know. More little moving parts. Seems like there would just be more chance for trouble. In my environment. But again. I'm just speculating.
 
I personally like both assisted and unassisted but prefer unassisted. When I go out in public I take a non assisted knife because I don't want it being confused with an auto by unknowledgeable people, its a lot harder to do a controlled slow open with an assisted. When Im at work I take either, I like to switch it up. I know there are some people out there that don't like assisted at all because its just one more part that could break and don't want to risk it in an emergency which I understand but very unlikely.
 
I think that my Kershaw leek is just as fast as any auto/switchblade knife is. it is made out of really good steel so I can sharpen it up really fast.
 
I don't dislike assisted openers (I have several), but my preference is manual. I like being in control of how the knife opens. I have discovered that I can deploy an AO against my leg or arm so I can keep it quiet when I need to.
 
Daddyo16 said:
I like being in control of how the knife opens.
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this is why I prefer manual as well. if you get a flipper with bearings you don't even need assisted, I love my zt0561 for that. I can do a slow controlled open and a tap of the flipper and its out faster then an assisted
 
I think the reason why most people don't like them is they really want to have one handed closing capabilities. And using your leg is just too much for them... I have a BM Barage and love the knife. Carried it yesterday and probably today too. I don't see them as any advantage though more of a fun novelty.
 
I have had many AO knives and have come to prefer unassisted not only for reasons already listed but others as well. I enjoy manually opening most of my knives slowly and love how smooth some of them are. I also enjoy flicking opening a few of my spydercos using my index finger, a feeling that no AO knife has granted me. I almost forgot the buttery smooth action of the ZT 0550 that gets me going every time.

On the other hand, all of my friends prefer AO and find it odd that I don't. My preference towards AO would be in smaller knives if any.
 
I don't like them when the assist mechanism serves as the detent. If the mechanism breaks, you have a knife that can easily open in your pocket.
 
I have a BM 581 that I really like ( axis-assist) I like it even better since I removed the assist, mostly due to the closing, I can still flick out just as fast as it would open with the assist (not that speed of opening matters to me, especially when we're talking hundredths of a second, as long is easy and one handed) but now I can close it just as quickly and easily as I can open it instead of using my other hand or leg and meeting resistance, in my view AO gives you something unnecessary/unuseful in exchange for making it more work/time to close. It's also the reason I'd probably never buy or carry a side opening auto or single action OTF, I would get a double action OTF though
 
More to break.

Increases cost.

Doesn't help people not see your knife as a weapon and unless you have some kind of disability they are completely needed.

And finally... closing the knife. Why the hell would I want a spring on an axis lock knife that keeps me from closing it with the axis flip?
 
Styg said:
More to break.

Increases cost.

Doesn't help people not see your knife as a weapon and unless you have some kind of disability they are completely needed.

And finally... closing the knife. Why the hell would I want a spring on an axis lock knife that keeps me from closing it with the axis flip?
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My thoughts exactly.
 
Styg said:
l
Doesn't help people not see your knife as a weapon
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If they freak out over a knife, I'd hate to see how they react to the HK on my hip then....
Whats funny is they wouldnt realize that those(firearm and knife) are tools, the human carrying them is the weapon.
 
vdub5818 said:
If they freak out over a knife, I'd hate to see how they react to the HK on my hip then....
Whats funny is they wouldnt realize that those(firearm and knife) are tools, the human carrying them is the weapon.
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While I agree with you entirely, I also think that it is generally intelligent not to needlessly antagonize people. I know that knives and guns are tools because I was raised that way. Someone else who has only experienced them through video games/movies/TV and doesn't really do much outdoor activities is very likely going to, at best, raise their eyebrows when you whip out a larger sized folder. Having it be assisted opening is that much worse because it's really hard to justify or explain.
 
I prefer non-assisted knives as I like control both when opening & closing. Big knives with assist aren't bad but some of the little guys can jump out of your hand!
 
I prefer Flippers over anything else.

But I like both assisted and manual knives.

I have many assisted and depending on my mood is what dictates what I carry for the day.

My ZT 0350 and HTM Snap are two of my fav EDC knives and both are assisted.

I can open plenty of my manual knives just as fast, but a assisted knife takes less of a flick to do so.

It all comes down to personal preference and I love having a diversified collection.
 
I don't like how it can break and wear out, and I don't like how it is the knife's detent...
 
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