First assisted opener?

elkins45

elkins45

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
4,090
The first of the Kershaw/Onion assisted openers was the Random Task, and it is probably the knife that popularized AO. Right?

But was it the first? I seem to recall some sort of kludgy Blackie Collins zytel design that used a coiled spring on the torsion bar that preceded it by a couple of years. Right?

So what was the first commercial production knife using a similar mechanism that al the AO knives use today?
 
The first AO I recall seeing in stores was the Kershaw Whirlwind. Can't remember when, but it was a pretty long time ago.
 
The Meyerco owned by Blackie Collins has this ad on the blade magazine for like years and claimed that it has the very first assisted folder introduced to the market?@ Don't know if the claim is true as I always think Ken Onion is the first? Anyone can calrify the mist?
 
I don't know if I can clarify the mist, but like KeithAM, the first AO knife I remember was the Kershaw Whirlwind - around 1998 or so.
 
Chuck Buck has stated that AO s were over 100 years old in design. I don't know the details, but Buck has made them for awhile now too and I think he would not claim that unless it was true. For the modern run of them I agree that Meyerco brought the concept back and Ken Onion made it very popular.
 
Meyerco claims to be the first company that patented and produced an A/O. Blackie Collins won the 1997 Blade shows "Most Innovative American Design" award with this knife called Strut'N'Cut. So Kershaw maybe came in second but very close to Meyerco cause Ken Onion joined Kershaw in 1998, 'Speed-Safe' already in his pocket.

Concerning the mechanism: There are several A/O mechanism on the market, e.g. Benchmade Nitrous, CRKT Outburst or SOG S.A.T. They all work in a different way, are different solution to the same problem. I hope that helps a little.
 
tom19176 said:
Chuck Buck has stated that AO s were over 100 years old in design. I don't know the details, but Buck has made them for awhile now too and I think he would not claim that unless it was true. For the modern run of them I agree that Meyerco brought the concept back and Ken Onion made it very popular.
Click to expand...

That statement is not true, has been disputed and proven inacurate. I invented the first AO hands down.
 
I believe Mr, Onion has a patent on his AO design. There were certainly other auto or spring knives ( AKA switchblades)way before that patent was issued. AO's are not switchblades and I guess somebody should produce a patent earlier than his for a AO if they were first?
The rest is just advertising.
 
I suppose, in a way, that the original Buck 110's could be considered "AO's"...Since they had the decreasing radius lock surface, and could be flicked open one-handed with a bit of practice...
 
A lot may depend on how you define "assisted"...normal switchblade knives open with assistance from a spring after the release is pushed.

Those have been around well over 100 years.

Is there a link to Mr. Buck's statement?
 
Mr. Onion,

If you don't mind my asking, what was the first A.O. you designed?
 
The first production knife was the Mini Task by Kershaw. The first custom was never given a name but was a little micarta handled teardrop handled gent folder which I still have.First custom sold was the precurser to Whirlwind
 
I heard Kershaw placed lawsuite on Buck and United Cutlery on the assistance open knives.What happen on this?I think both Buck and United still make and sell.
 
To Ken Onion, I'm sorry to see that some people have decided to use this forum to beat you up. Where would Kershaw be without your designs? I have several Kershaws and they're all a/o. A switchblade or a flipper aren't assisted opening. Did you also coin the term?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top