Do you like assisted opening knives?

[Chronovore]

Thanks for the responses folks. Productive discussion so far. On the topic of de-assisting AO knives, I’ve heard that this can kill the detent of the knife. How often does this happen?

I have limited experience with this but it seems to depend on the individual knife. After some tinkering, I decided to keep my assisted knives assisted. I've put up with the extra maintenance. I've acquired what could be a lifetime supply of White Lightning Crystal Grease for the torsion bars. I might as well use it.

These days, I'll only buy an assisted knife if it is really special or fills a very specific role. For instance, I bought the Dividend because I needed a very thin tip-down flipper for shirt and breast-pocket carry.

 

[hstdist]

I used to love them, but have gone to flippers instead, another style that Canada Customs seem to enjoy seizing, even if both A/O and flippers are legal to possess in Canada.

 

[colin.p]

I used to love them, but have gone to flippers instead, another style that Canada Customs seem to enjoy seizing, even if both A/O and flippers are legal to possess in Canada.

I de-assisted my 580 Barrage, soon after I got it 3 years ago, but my OCD drove me mad. Everytime I touched the darn thing it would upset me. I felt it was broken. It was fun putting it back together correctly, so now I am not afraid to take any of my knives apart.

After a few months, I couldn't stand it anymore and re-assisted it back. Even though I'm not fond of the thing, I like that it will soon be rather rare up here in the socialist north. I have plenty more Benchmade knives to get high on axis lock drop shutiness.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Can't see a reason for assisted opening knives since there are so many that you can deploy manually faster and with less mechanical complication.

 

[allenC]

I'm not really in to them these days...but I still love the Ken Onion designed Kershaw Leek and Scallion.

 

[PirateSeulb]

I skipped straight to page 4 and just will say my simple answer is an emphatic no. It is halfway between a manual and an auto and doesn't really bring the satisfaction of either. I feel like it took the worst of each and combined them into something completely unnecessary and just overall generally uncomfortable to use.

 

[zippifish]

Only have the Kershaw M390 Knockout, it's a good knife, great blade on it, good value but would like it even more if it were unassisted with a nice detent. Never say never but most likely wouldn't buy another AO knife.

 

[Kmikaz3]

I used to love them, but have gone to flippers instead, another style that Canada Customs seem to enjoy seizing, even if both A/O and flippers are legal to possess in Canada.

Yea that’s true. What’s within Canada remains legal. But everything that went through customs, they seems to be extremely overzealous. What a shame

 

[MarkN86]

Thanks for the responses folks. Productive discussion so far. On the topic of de-assisting AO knives, I’ve heard that this can kill the detent of the knife. How often does this happen?

First of all I'd like to say I hate them, but I like how well built a lot of the Kershaws are for their price so have a few anyway. I have broken torsion bars in all but one of the assisted Kershaws I've ever owned. They are easy enough to replace but they still do tend to break with heavy use.

Onward to your question about the detent of the knife, most of the Assisted Kershaws don't have a ball detent hole at all. They rely on the assist torsion bar to hold them closed. In the event the assist breaks you are relying on friction, however much or little there may be, to keep that knife closed. It still locks open and works, but it's not entirely safe to carry around.

IMO KVT/bearings or a good polished set of PB Washers on a flipper are better. Otherwise slow manual opening is just fine. Less to break or go wrong and less scrutiny if I travel.

 

[NelsonIII]

I really do, but they break my brain in a way, by that I mean I know they will break eventually and I will be without a knife. So I try to stick to manual knives.

 

[afishhunter]

I have no use for AO. I'm not in a hurry, and my fingers/hands still work good enough to open my traditional multi-blade slipjoints.
If I ever reach a point where I can't open a knife, I'll just carry one of my fixed blades, and hope for the best, being limited to just one blade profile.

 

[rexromic]

I think they're an unnecessary complication. I see no advantage to the AO feature. I don't buy knives that have it.

This ^^^^!

 

[whp]

I like controlled opening of my pocket knives. My two assisted openers, a Bm Barrage 581, and a ZT 0350 were both deassisted by me, and they are better knives for it, IMO.

 

[whp]

I skipped straight to page 4 and just will say my simple answer is an emphatic no. It is halfway between a manual and an auto and doesn't really bring the satisfaction of either. I feel like it took the worst of each and combined them into something completely unnecessary and just overall generally uncomfortable to use.

Couldn't t have said it better. I ll never buy another AO folder, no matter what other features I like about the knife.

 

[TheFactor]

Never been a fan of assisted knives. But with that being said when it’s done right I don’t mind and this Kershaw “payout” has done it right. I actually like it but my personal preference is still and will always be non assisted.
For me it’s not a matter of dependability since there very reliable. But when it comes to the fidget factor I like them to drop free and non assisted are more fun for couch deployment

 

[coinbuysell]

I bought a S30V Blur years ago because I love auto's, they were not legal yet in TX, and I like it but the only other assisted openers that I have bought since TX legalized auto carry are the ZT 0300 series. Of course they all have the rattle and I have yet to actually break a torsion bar but I do like the KVT system better.

 

[Sonnydaze]

My flippers work just great without the assist. Also, closing an assisted knife becomes a bit clumsy, IMO.

 

[PirateSeulb]

Never been a fan of assisted knives. But with that being said when it’s done right I don’t mind and this Kershaw Barenuckle has done it right. I actually like it but my personal preference is still and will always be non assisted.
For me it’s not a matter of dependability since there very reliable. But when it comes to the fidget factor I like them to drop free and non assisted are more fun for couch deployment

The Bareknuckle is a manual not an AO and the knife pictured is the new Kershaw Payout

 

[TheFactor]

The Bareknuckle is a manual not an AO and the knife pictured is the new Kershaw Payout

You are correct I posted the wrong name and Payout it is “corrected”
Thank you for the clarification
But my thoughts for assisted are still the same and BTW love my barenuckle non assisted much more

 

[The Hawk]

I like 'em. They open quickly and I like the sound they make when they open. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I close them by pressing the release lever and pushing the spine against my leg. So far, so good.