folders with the best/smoothest action?

Tom Mayo!
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I would never disagree with TKC, even in the Yard we're blown away by the amazing pictures! Beauti-ous as always ;)
 
BM dejavoo series is definitely the smoothest of the smooth bar none, almost like frictionless. The second would be ANY axis lock BM, 94X series is another good example
 
The Axis Lock is the work of genius.
A little spring tension holds the blades shut so that it won't come open when you don't want it to. When open, the blade locks up like a vault. Everything in between is smoooooth!!

The smoothest Axis Lock knife that I own is my 943 Osborne.
 
The smoothest I own is a U.S.-made Camillus EDC.

The most fun knife I have to open and close, however, is my Benchmade 710HS.

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I'm also jumping on the benchmade bandwagon.:thumbup:Also,would like to add SOG's arc-lock is extremely smooth.;)
 
My Benchmade 610 Rukus HAS to be the absolute smoothest knife to open I have. I tightened the pivot and have the exact amout of pressure down pat to watch the blade fly open but then just ease into lockup mode without pounding the stop pin. It is so much fun to sit and watch TV while doing this. Another knife I have fun with is my Kershaw Tyrade with it's AO action. Again a tight pivot and I'm working on getting it to just ease into lockup like my 610.:D:D:D
 
The smoothest folder I have opend is the BM 940. But if you really like fliking, then go for the bali.
 
I had a BM 940 for a couple of days, and now have a 960. Both are as posted very smooth. I think the longer blade of the 940 helps it open a little better than the 960(flicking), however I own a smoother opening knife than either of these. It is hard to get smoother than an axis lock, but the Spyderco ball lock has this hydraulic pop feel to it. Kind of like an axis lock with power steering. I think this is due to the ball rotating on opening(most of the time). However closing is a little tricky in comparison to an axis lock. You have to detent the ball with your thumb nail or between your fingertip and thumb. It isn't as grippy as an axis lock.
 
This really depends on what you mean my best action/smooth.

For fast, positive opening action just about any SpeedSafe-equipped Kershaw is great and always a blast to open and close. Everything from the Blurs through the Leeks to the Bumps with many others in between.

Real smoothness to me however means a manual-action folder where you open the knife slower but with precisely controlled action by just rotating your thumb. The smoothest knife I have like this is the Spyderco D'Allara, and its ball lock helps add smoothness the way Benchmade's Axis lock does with those.

Somewhere in between are some of the Kershaw manual openers with flippers...the Groove and JYD/JYDII come to mind here and are really smooth and very satisfying to open and close.

Ray :)
 
Anyone here tried a Spyderco Viele? It's the smoothests folder I have ever encountered, Axis lock included,

Chris
 
reholli said:
The smoothest knife I have like this is the Spyderco D'Allara, and its ball lock helps add smoothness the way Benchmade's Axis lock does with those.
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Yeah...the D'Allara has a really nice, low friction action...very smoooooth, and the ball lock helps prevent the blade from accidentally hanging into your pocket. The BM actions are generally very good, but so far the D'Allara has the smoothest action I have in my knife drawer.
 
Most of the responses have been production-type folders, but your original question just asked for the 'smoothest' without qualifier.

The smoothest I have seen yet is my new Darrel Ralph 'Trigger' with his 'Max-glide' bearing system. You can thumb the blade open w/ only a moderate flick of the thumb. Once your thumb learns the appropriate muscle memory, so to speak, opening appears literally indistinguishable from an assisted-opening folder. The blade seems to leap out, with zero wrist action is required. The trick is to push your thumb straight forward, i.e. parallel to the knife handle rather than outward, i.e. perpendicular to the handle.

I've had a few other knives w/ pivot bearings, including several Brad Duncans and a DDR with IKBS. The max-glide definitely raises the ante. I don't claim to have tried everything out there, but I've never seen anything like this. Plus the knife is well-detented enough so that I can carry tip-up with no worries, unlike the Duncans.

I think that most of the DDR 'Triggers' available from purveyors (e.g. True North) did not have the max-glide bearing, so if you want one you probably have to order from Darrel at this point. Also, the Triggers I've seen from purveyors have been tip-down carry only as far as I can tell. Mine is tip up.
 
MCUSTA is the smoothest non-assisted opening I have tried. But to be honest
it is not my carry knife. For real work I like Benchmade. (whatever preference).
A knife is like a boat whatever you get it will be a compromise.
 
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