Favorite current-production assisted knives?

Dadpool

Dadpool

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May 18, 2015
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I generally avoid assisted knives, preferring a well-executed manual action, but I recently picked up a Leek again and I'm loving it. The Leek is a fairly "light" assist to close, but snaps open every time. It's a pleasure to use, and unlike some assisted knives I've owned that light closure (coupled with its small size) makes it pretty fidget-friendly.

I generally think of assisted knives as KAI's (Kershaw/ZT) bailiwick, with the other gold standard for me being the ZT 0350. That's more medium-effort to close, but man does it blast open.

I'm also rediscovering my appreciation for the simplicity of hitting a flipper tab without having to think about it, and always having the knife pop open with authority. So I'm curious what great assisted knives out there I might be missing, or just which ones folks really like.

I'd like to limit this thread to knives currently in production. (Lately it seems like everything that catches my eye is discontinued, LOL.)

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Kershaw Leek

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Zero Tolerance 0350
 
The Benchmade Vector, specifically the 496 variant, is hands down my favorite knife ever made. It's pretty much the default knife I reach for every morning. Benchmade's assist mechanism is essentially the same as their auto mechanism and it has spring tension on the blade all the way until it's open, unlike other assist mechanisms. Like you, I appreciate being able to hit a flipper tab, and knowing the knife is open without thinking about it.

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Have you guys tried the benchmade nitrous assist (like on the torrent)? Its a milder assist and feels very good.

I always default to the blur or the ZT0357 for good assists. It seems to make more sense for liner/frame locks...axis lock assist is hard to close.

Havent tried CRKT's assist, I might pickup an LCK and try it...I heard good things.
 
I had 2 axis assists and they both have the same issue.

When you fire the knife using the studs, the lockup is super solid, that you have to pull really hard with two fingers to get the lock to disengage. Yes, definitely need another finger, it's just like an automatic. The way to bypass this is to flick the knife out by pull the lock and giving it a light flip, this way the axis doesnt get force-fed into the slot hard.

It's actually harder to close than most of my protechs lol...so I got rid if them.
 
Although kind of overpriced, theres also the TR5 button lock assist. Great knife, fires harder than the auto version (I kid you not), no hint of button-stick, but also takes hand muscles to close one-handed.

Hard to get though, non-auto protechs are like finding actual good black Friday deals on black friday...
 
Dadpool said:
This is something I hadn't thought about. I usually close Axis-lock knives by pinching the Axis bar with my thumb and forefinger and giving the blade a little flick. With the assist, does a third finger need to join the party?
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I can do it with two fingers. At first it required a little concentration, but I've done it so much it's basically second nature for me now.

First, I pull the axis bar back with both my thumb and index finger, then I hold the axis bar down with my thumb, and use the index finger to push the blade most of the way closed (approximately 45 degrees away from closed). I typically take my thumb off the axis bar and use that to close it the rest of the way, although I can completely close it with just the index finger push.
 
Oklahoma Outlaw said:
Me too, and I’m about to deassist that SOB.
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I tried that once and put it back. Not that it was bad. It's a smooth flipper considering it has washers and not bearings. But I got the 562 and that is so smooth. Beering flippers must be greased with unicorn tears or something because no matter how dirty they get they fire open. It's quicker than any assisted knife I've owned really.
 
Silent H said:
First, I pull the axis bar back with both my thumb and index finger, then I hold the axis bar down with my thumb, and use the index finger to push the blade most of the way closed (approximately 45 degrees away from closed). I typically take my thumb off the axis bar and use that to close it the rest of the way, although I can completely close it with just the index finger push.
Click to expand...
All about that muscle memory! That's a great description, thank you.
 
Kershaw and CRKT probably. I like AO, I love my Hissatsu. I have few low end Kershaw AO knives, the one I like the most are the Shield and Ferrite, both Hinderer design.
Shield's spring broke but after I called Kershaw, they sent new-one and didn't have issues after this.
 
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