Automatic knife vs swiss army

F

ffp

Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
80
Hi, i'm new to this forum and I wanted to know your opinion on this matter. Recently i bought an automatic knife, very cheap (made in China), to use as a EDC knife as a keychain. It looks like this one:

canivete-tatico-automatico-stainless-com-mini-lanterna-led_MLB-F-3379422723_112012.jpg


It have ~6cm of blade and ~14cm total. I love automatics, that's why i got it.

But, i was thinking that maybe a knife with more tool would be better like this one:

kit-de-ferramentas-11-in-1-emergncia-canivete-auto-defesa_MLB-O-3549447022_122012.jpg


Essential to me are the scissor, saw, bottle and can opener, and of course, the blade. This one have almost the same size as my auto, but it's a lot heavier due to all the tools. This one also looks like cheap made in chian knife.

So my questions are:

1- Which do you prefer (auto or swiss) and why?

2- There is much difference from a cheap knife to a original one (victorinox or smith & wesson)?

3- What's the size of your EDC knife?

As i said, i'm looking for a knife to use as keychain, so i don't want a big blade, something between 6-9cm would be nice. Also, in my country it's hard to find good branded knives, they are rare and expensive.

PS: sorry for my bad english.
 
ffp said:
So my questions are:

1- Which do you prefer (auto or swiss) and why?

2- There is much difference from a cheap knife to a original one (victorinox or smith & wesson)?

3- What's the size of your EDC knife?

As i said, i'm looking for a knife to use as keychain, so i don't want a big blade, something between 6-9cm would be nice. Also, in my country it's hard to find good branded knives, they are rare and expensive.

PS: sorry for my bad english.
Click to expand...

Welcome!

1) I believe you are talking about an "assisted opening" knife..."auto"s open without touching the blade. That said, an assisted opening knife and a Swiss Army Knife are two very different things...like preferring apples over Beethoven...so I guess I don't prefer one over the other.

2) Yes. (Though Smith and Wesson is not much better than a "cheap, Chinese knife")

3) Depends. Though I often carry a Victorinox Classic Swiss Army Knife, and it would be a great keychain knife. High quality, just about every tool one would need, lightweight, and it has to be available where you live.
 
Last edited:
I like autos as well. And every once in a while, one catches my eye at the corner Shell station. I may buy it, but I would never edc one of them El Cheapo specials. It's more than likely going to fall apart on you one of these fine days. I'd buy some kind of multi-use tool instead of relying on that cheap chinese auto. Keep it just to play with until it flies apart on you.
 
marcinek said:
Welcome!

1) I believe you are talking about an "assisted opening" knife..."auto"s open without touching the blade. That said, an assisted opening knife and a Swiss Army Knife are two very different things...like preferring apples over Beethoven...so I guess I don't prefer one over the other.

2) Yes. (Though Smith and Wesson is not much better than a "cheap, Chinese knife")

3) Depends. Tough I often carry a Victorinox Classic Swiss Army Knife, and it would be a great keychain knife. High quality, just about every tool one would need, lightweight, and it has to be available where you live.
Click to expand...

No, he's talking about a switchblade. Don't you see the rrelease button on the side of the handle. Press that and Voila, the blade is open. Them El Cheapo chinese autos are available here, usually at some corner gas station. I have three of them myself, sll still perfectly functioning. One stays in the kitchen for opening things. That knife does not have a flipper or any kind of thumb stud, it's a pure switchblade. The thing in front of the blade is not a thumbstud, it's a safety.
 
Thank you!

Yes, cbxer55 you're right. I'm talking about automatics, and this knife is an automatic, like you said there's a big button to open without touching the blade, and the thing near the blade is the safety lock.
So, according to you there's difference between them, but you have these knives perferctly functioning until today...

I'll add another question then:

4- Which auto knife and which swiss army do you recomend? Remember that's a EDC and even that's no law limiting the blade size i don't want to look like a serial killer carring a 15cm knife everywhere. (6-9cm is ok)
 
In terms of reliability and versatility I'd definitely say the Swiss Army. I carry a cadet along with my EDC and thoroughly enjoy it and use it all the time, much more than I would use an auto. That being said, to each their own.
 
ffp said:
Thank you!

Yes, cbxer55 you're right. I'm talking about automatics, and this knife is an automatic, like you said there's a big button to open without touching the blade, and the thing near the blade is the safety lock.
So, according to you there's difference between them, but you have these knives perferctly functioning until today...

I'll add another question then:

4- Which auto knife and which swiss army do you recomend? Remember that's a EDC and even that's no law limiting the blade size i don't want to look like a serial killer carring a 15cm knife everywhere. (6-9cm is ok)
Click to expand...

To me, most of the difference is in fit and finish, and WAY cheapo blade steel that does not hold an edge if you look at it cross-eyed. The three I have all fire with authority, and they lock up good too, opened and closed. But they are of poor quality, even though they are actually made in the U.S. according to the blade markings. I do not expect to get a great knife if it costs less than $100.00. But there are some exceptions to that rule.

Actually I do not recommend auto's for edc, strictly because they are illegal in most jurisdictions. Not knowing where you live, i would still bet they are no-no's. Just because I can go into a corner gas station and buy one does not make them legal. Here, mostly, unless your doing something to catch the POliceman's attention, they are no big deal.

I prefer to just carry regular one-hand opening knives, preferably with hole in blade. But thumbstuds are okay as well. Also prefer 4 inch plus length, so your mileage may vary.

AS for SAK's, do not have a one. My preference leans to Leatherman multi-purpose tools. Not dissing SAK's, just never particularly cared for them. Prefer a pocket clip, not dropping a big brick in the bottom of my pocket. My Leatherman Charge Ti's both have a pocket clip, even though they are full-sized tools. Never leave home without one meself.
 
I, aside from the legal issues, would not put a auto on my keys for safety. I could see myself accidentally deploying it on my way to work, and having additional moving parts is never a good idea for long term reliability. I have a SAK on my keys, and it comes in very handy. I would give the SAK a big advantage over a small cheap auto in the keychain knife department.
 
why not carry both and have one in your pocket?

The benefit of buying quality is having quality. I've bought cheapo knock off SAKs, and they are just garbage. The blade doesnt hold an edge and the tools just fall apart as soon as I use them.
 
If you get an SAK, make sure it's authentic. (Made in Switzerland by Victorinox or Wenger.) Pretty much everything else, (including, most likely, the example you posted,) is crap.
 
I personally wouldn't want an auto (full auto for the purposes of this thread) on my key chain. 6-9cm....at 9 that's over 3" long. I'm not even going to encourage this. No key chain knife as far as I'm concerned. If you want something small, but assisted opening, perhaps a SOG Twitch II, SOG Blink, or something along that line. It is still very fast to open.

I would suggest a real swiss army knife (SAK) such as soldier or a Tinker and that is even big to me on a key chain. I would prefer a simple SAK like a Victorinox Bantam (blade, bottle opener, tweezers, and toothpick). The Victorinox Classic is smaller and it is frequently placed on a key chain. It contains a scissors which to many is a nice feature. Neither of these would likely be considered a weapon.

What exactly is your purpose of having a auto on a keychain? Keys will get in the way of using it.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

Yes i know they are cheap knives, i was just wondering if the will last much less than an original one.

My country doesn't have laws against autos, so that's not a problem. Also, i have no intention on using in self-defense or anything like that. I just love blades and would like to hae one with me all the time just for fun.
I agree that 9cm is a bit large for a keychain, that's why i got the 6cm in the first place.

i'm looking for victorinox SAKs but the one that have all the tools is the huntsman. Which looks cool but i think is a little too big and heavy. Also, i found a review on youtube that says that it doesnt look the blades very nice, so i'm kinda discarding this option...

And as a auto lover i think i'll keep the one i have until i find a better option. Would be nice to see your opinion of about a good and small auto to carry!!
 
I don't know if Benchmade still sells it, but the Mini Reflex is one heck of a nice little automatic knife. I would not put it on no keychain though. It'd be a shame to limit it's usefulness by doing so. It has a tip-up pocket clip for it's intended carry.

Check it out.

Appears to be still available. I'd post a link, but I do not want to get another infraction or warning for deal spotting. ;-(

Just do a google or Yahoo search, you'll get hits.
 
Because of this threads topic, auto's, I am surprised it has not gotten moved to the Automatic Knife / Switchblade forum, directly under this one. Hmmm.

Wait for it! ;-)
 
Alot of people carry multiple knives. I preffer waved knives over autos. Dont rely on a cheap chinese auto. Save your money for something that will last long enough to put on your keychain and into your pocket.
 
Oh i forgot to say in the last post. My keychain have a lobster claw (?) mechanism that can release the chain with all keys from the knife, so if i really have to use just the knife it's still easy to do.

The Mini Reflex looks too big. The main reason to use it as keychain is to carry everywhere, and i mean everywhere! If i walk around with a big knife like this one people may think i'm a criminal
 
ffp said:
Essential to me are the scissor, saw, bottle and can opener, and of course, the blade. This one have almost the same size as my auto, but it's a lot heavier due to all the tools. This one also looks like cheap made in chian knife.

So my questions are:

1- Which do you prefer (auto or swiss) and why?

2- There is much difference from a cheap knife to a original one (victorinox or smith & wesson)?

3- What's the size of your EDC knife?
Click to expand...

1)Totally depends on the situation. I never specifically need an auto, but I DO often need something that I can easily get to and open 1 handed(a Swiss army knife can't, the auto I assume could), or do I need a variety of tools? For me, I carry both. I carry a folder with an easy 1-handed opening clipped to pocket, and a Victorinox Midnight Manager SAK on my keychain.

2)It depends on the company making them. Cheap Kershaws and Byrd knives are great. Cheap Tac-Force and United Cutlery, not so much. But for the record, Smith & Wesson knives are cheap lower quality knives too, they're not actually made by S&W they're made under license by Taylor, who then stamp the S&W logo on them

3)My EDC varies. Commonly carried knives are the Kershaw Oso Sweet(3 inch blade, overall length 7 3/8 inches, 3.2 ounce weight) or the Spyderco Native(3.125 inch blade, OAL 7 inches, 2.65 ounces), most knives I carry will fall into a similar size range. Then I have the SAK on my keychain, which has a closed length of 2.3 inches(1.5 inch blade, plus a bottle opener/Phillips head screwdriver, nailfile/flathead screwdriver, scissors, retractable ball point pen, and LED light) and weighs 1.1 ounces.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top