First assisted opener?

PG5768 · Jul 27, 2008

chickentrax said:
Do you have the patent number??? Seems like no one has a pic...

A simple search at the US Patent website returned this information:

Check the filing date. Jun 11, 1998.

Brilliant idea that obviously deserved a patent.

Tonie Nichols · Jul 27, 2008

I remember seeing a speed safe tethered to the counter at a local knife shop some time around 98 or 99.

I attended a Jim Keating seminar about that same time and he was passing around this brand new knife that had this unique assisted opening system that was not a switch blade. Several people nicked themselves as they attempted to thumb open the blade.

KenOnion · Jul 28, 2008

popcornpicker said:
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?

Thanks,and yes I did.

KenOnion · Jul 28, 2008

DVM said:
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.

True,and United is out of business. Buck has a license.

KenOnion · Jul 28, 2008

Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
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?

And manual openers open with the assistance of my thumb. Whats your point?

Trace Rinaldi · Jul 28, 2008

popcornpicker said:
Where would Kershaw be without your designs?

They would probably still be making those little Buck 110 clones with the synthetic inserts..

but most likely out of business..

I dont mind saying Ken made Kershaw what it is today, and you just cant argue that fact.

Im not saying that just cause he's a bud, its the absolute truth.:thumbup:

JD Mandrell · Jul 28, 2008

KenOnion said:
And manual openers open with the assistance of my thumb. Whats your point?

I had no point Ken, I was just trying to get some clarification from folks as to what terminology they were using, since I had not seen any actual quotes at the time I typed that.

No need to be confrontational with me.

Thomas W · Jul 28, 2008

Trace Rinaldi said:
They would probably still be making those little Buck 110 clones with the synthetic inserts.. but most likely out of business..

Well let's not minimize the history of fine products produced by the Kershaw brand name from the 70's thru the 90's Trace. I think if you take a close look, there were some of the finest Japan could produce. IMO, the Kai Corp as a whole has a lot resources, and have no doubt we would still be in business today.

I dont mind saying Ken made Kershaw what it is today, and you just cant argue that fact.
Im not saying that just cause he's a bud, its the absolute truth.:thumbup:

I'll say that it's been the largest and most successful collaboration between a manufacturer and maker ever, and to everyone's credit, a new category (AO's) been spawned for all to enjoy. :thumbup: What an incredible run it is!

To add, IMO Ken is no doubt the "Father" of AO's

elkins45 · Jul 28, 2008

1. Kershaw made nice knives before their AO offerings, but there's no doubt that AO made a huge difference in their share of the market.

2. How cool is it that Ken Onion himself has contributed to this thread?

enderwiggin · Jul 28, 2008

elkins45 said:
1. Kershaw made nice knives before their AO offerings, but there's no doubt that AO made a huge difference in their share of the market.

2. How cool is it that Ken Onion himself has contributed to this thread?

I think it's incredibly cool. I'm glad that somebody posted the patent. Otherwise, due to forum rules, Ken Onion would now has to fight Random Task to the death, to prove he invented the assisted opener:

Seriously though, that's one of the reasons I love posting here. Where else would you get definitive answers from the some of the biggest knife makers in the biz?

grins000 · Jul 30, 2008

Greetings, Mr. Onion, did you ever recover the knives that were stolen from you at the airport?

The_Monkeyboy · Jul 30, 2008

Whoa. Cool. Ok, I hate to come across as a fanboy here, but I have to thank you for coming up with your knives. I have carried one of your 1620's with me every day for years. School, work, camping, hunting trips, you name it. Between the size, the AO and the safety, I can't think of any other knife that could ever replace it for me. So, again, thanks. It is one of the best knives and tools I own. I never leave home without one.

-Mb

KenOnion · Jul 30, 2008

enderwiggin said:
I think it's incredibly cool. I'm glad that somebody posted the patent. Otherwise, due to forum rules, Ken Onion would now has to fight Random Task to the death, to prove he invented the assisted opener:

Seriously though, that's one of the reasons I love posting here. Where else would you get definitive answers from the some of the biggest knife makers in the biz?

Funny! I love that movie. Wasn't his weapon of choice a shoe? I think I could take him

Thanks !

2brothers · Jul 30, 2008

KenOnion said:
Funny! I love that movie. Wasn't his weapon of choice a shoe? I think I could take him

Thanks !

I believe it was his hat Ken.

mike

SPXTrader · Jul 30, 2008

Jethro Bodine had a hat like that...kept knocking himself out every time he put it on!

P.S.: Keep up the great work Ken! :thumbup:

2brothers · Jul 31, 2008

*Edited by me for a comment I shouldn't have made.*

mike

vjb.knife · Jul 31, 2008

First assisted opener - Kershaw Random Task designed by Ken Onion. They first showed up in the Cutlery shoppe spring of 1999 catalog. I have had a couple and they are still hard to beat today. This is the last one I have.

nate3993 · Jul 31, 2008

wow, i didn't ken onion was member here...that's so cool

elkins45 · Jul 31, 2008

vjb.knife said:
First assisted opener - Kershaw Random Task designed by Ken Onion. They first showed up in the Cutlery shoppe spring of 1999 catalog. I have had a couple and they are still hard to beat today. This is the last one I have.

Yours looks a darned sight better than mine----I subjected it to the worst user-mod possible. I didn't think there was enough relief to hit the thumb stud, so I whipped out the Dremel tool and started relieving the scales below the stud.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was hollow under there....oh, so that's how it works! I actually too a little nick out of the torsion bar before I discovered what I had done. Now I have the only Random Task with a ventilated AO mechanism!

It still works great, but it's going to have to be put out to pasture soon because 2 of the clip screw holes have stripped and the screws have fallen out, leaving only 1 screw to hold the clip in place.

I can't imagine how Kershaw would laugh if I ever sent it back to be repaired!

SPXTrader · Jul 31, 2008

vjb, does yours have the flat-head clip screws? As I understand it, that's a good indication its one of the first ones off the line.