Fastest folder to get out AND put back?

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wutitiz

Joined
Mar 5, 2008
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What is the absolute fastest folder to get out of the pocket (or sheath), make a cut, close the blade, and put back? My guess would be one of the DA OTF knives (ok perhaps it's not quite a 'folder,' but that would be nit-picking). These knives are such that pushing on a switch pre-loads a spring, and once it passes a certain point, the spring the fires, opening the blade. It works in reverse to close the blade, so it's both auto open and auto close.

Another candidate would be the Kershaw 'Ripcord' of which I've seen video, but never the actual knife. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtQiO6ancU It looks like it could be very fast.

I've also seen video of a waved Emerson being presented and replaced quickly, but personally I cannot reclip a knife with a pocket clip very fast. In fact it tends to require two hands for me.

What other ideas are out there, and which is the absolute quickest? The first person to suggest 'fixed blade' gets an automatic 'F.':D
 
I loosened the clip on my Emerson and I can use it very fast now.Faster than most blades assisted or fixed that I own.
 
I used a Spyderco with a linerlock when I was on the Fire Department. I found that I could open it pretty fast, and close it with one hand. Other than autos, I'd recommend that one.
 
If you practice enough with any decent folder you can get the draw down pretty quick, but I really, really prefer a point-up configuration . I carried an axis lock for around ten years, and found it very fast to close and put back, because you can pull back the lock with your thumb and forefinger and it'll swing back to closed (with a little practice). If I want to put a lockback away quickly, I depress it with my thumb and then lightly "wipe" the back edge of the blade against my leg in a semi-circle to close it.

Heh, it's really fun to do when someone asks if anyone has a knife. I whip it out, cut what needs cuttin', then close and pocket it all in one flowing pattern. Always leaves them with a "Where'd that come from??" look on their faces.
 
well, any otf is going to be really fast butttt not practical imo unless you are military or leo

any knife with the emerson wave feature is going to be super quick (and fun!) to draw, but lockbacks and liner locks (which i believe all the waved spydercos and waved emersons are) are going to take longer to close than an axis lock since you have to disengage the lock then change your grip to close the blade.

axis lock is quick to open and quick to close
 
The fastest knife I own is the SOG Trident.Assisted opening with the arc-lock(axis-lock).

The second would be any of the Kershaw speed-safe knives.


[edited to add] My BM14205 is probably the fastest of all,now that I think about it.
 
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Why do you need to put the knife away quickly :confused:

The fastest knives are ones you can open with a flick of the wrist or waved Emersons and Spydercos. IMO
 
At first I thought the ripcord was a cool concept. Then I got to play around with it in person. Granted it was the older model in that video and not one of the newer ones, but it wasn't that great. It would bind a lot and sometimes not lock properly.


My vote would have to go to an axis lock tip up.
 
Easy, Emerson wih the wave feature is the quickest in my thought. I have the CQC-14 and CQC-7; both are wicked fast and super sharp.
 
Spyderco Delica or Endura w/ Emerson Opener.

1. Draw from pocket
2. Depress lock bar
3. Flick
4. Finish closing blade with thumb
5. Clip to pants

Obviously "open the folder" is skipped because the blade deploys as step 1 is executed.
 
lukthree raises a good point--most of us can't use an OTF due to legal issues. Even at work, I decided against using one. If a co-worker got mad at me & decided to call Human Resources to report that I was using a switchblade, at best it would mean being sentenced to sensitivity classes taught by a fat, angry person of diverse sexual orientation.

Thanks for all the replies, axis lock seems to have the lead so far--anyone else have experience with the Kershaw ET?
 
Dekz said:
Ummmm, this would OBVIOUSLY be the Kershaw ET
Click to expand...

Seriously?


I don't get it.

I have an ET. It is interesting, but clumsy and awkward to handle, and if you aren't holding it just right, you can slice your pinky pretty bad. I have 5 Axis knives. They are fastest, by far. Even quicker than an auto. (Not OTF) Why, you ask? Because, flick, flick, done.
 
H2H907 said:
Explain.
Click to expand...

In Quite a few states the EDC of an OTF or D/A equipped knife is illegal unless you are an officer of the law or in the military, in my home state of NY getting caught in possession of either can get you some hefty fines and/or jail time. At the present time most of these states are trying to pass laws forbidding any knife that that can be "flicked" open.

with a little practice i've found that my kershaw storm II can be deployed as fast as any D/A or OTF knife and returned just as quickly.
 
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