Given the ever more superb spring-assisted flippers and thumb-studders available, do automatics still provide a real functional advantage?

Benchmade 495 is the only assisted opening I've kept. It feels exactly the same as the auto side openers they make, as far as the mechanism. It's certainly as well made as any other Benchmade Axis lock I own. To call it "superb" or not would be a personal opinion and would probably be influenced by your experience (or inexperience) with knives.
 
I've been happy enough with my kershaw leek... only opened on me once when dropped on a hardwood floor, thankfully nothing was damaged

I intend to de-assist it, since people here have been doing it for quite a while with good results.
 
IMO, autos don’t offer any practical advantage (besides fun factor) as far as how quick you can open the blade. A/O or bearings are just as quick. My biggest gripe about assisted opening is that they can be a PITA to reassemble...
Just like previously mentioned, the quickest deployment you can get is with the wave.
EDIT:
on another note, has anyone ever disassembled a Launch 3 or anything similar? I have one that I like except the button sticks half the time, meaning the blade doesn’t lock up (oil didn’t help).
I was thinking of sending it to kershaw but I’d rather fix it myself if it’s not too difficult.
 
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jill jackson said:
Benchmade 495 is the only assisted opening I've kept. It feels exactly the same as the auto side openers they make, as far as the mechanism. It's certainly as well made as any other Benchmade Axis lock I own. To call it "superb" or not would be a personal opinion and would probably be influenced by your experience (or inexperience) with knives.
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My 496 and I agree with you.


Funny this thread should pop up, as my girlfriend and I were just talking about this yesterday. Here in NY all knives are legal if you are carrying them in the right context. Fixed and folding and spring-assisted are all legal as long as you aren't carrying them with intent to harm others (vague, I know), and autos are allowed if you are fishing (because we've all been mugged by a fish and learned our lesson). A well-made spring assist is just as functional as a side-opening* auto, so we were speculating as to why one would want to carry an auto when there is no practical difference besides legality.



*You OTF auto people are weirdos and your goofy circus knives don't count.
 
I hate thumbstuds, thumbholes, and flippers. Auto's are my choice, except for fixed blades.
 
Knives&Lint said:
The one exception is the AXIS lock, where I have always disliked autos (and even more so spring assist for that matter), due to the functional disadvantage of eliminating easy one handed closing, defeating half of the purpose of such an ingenious and well-designed lock (IMO).
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This.

I personally see zero need for autos or AO knives in my life right now.

A well made modern knife works just fine.
 
Stahlmann said:
Given the ever more superb spring-assisted flippers and thumb-studders available, do automatics still provide an actual functional advantage? Are they worth the premium price in terms of functionality?
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Slow down, champ. As others have said, there’s a problem with your question. Please provide specific examples of these new “superb” AO knives. I’m not personally aware of any new “superb” AO knives. There’s a crap-ton of 8Cr though…

When you’ve done so, we can then compare against, for instance, Microtech. Until you do, this is a waste of time.
 
tony281sc2 said:
IMO, autos don’t offer any practical advantage (besides fun factor) as far as how quick you can open the blade. A/O or bearings are just as quick. My biggest gripe about assisted opening is that they can be a PITA to reassemble...
Just like previously mentioned, the quickest deployment you can get is with the wave.
EDIT:
on another note, has anyone ever disassembled a Launch 3 or anything similar? I have one that I like except the button sticks half the time, meaning the blade doesn’t lock up (oil didn’t help).
I was thinking of sending it to kershaw but I’d rather fix it myself if it’s not too difficult.
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The launch series is super easy to work on.
It's just a blade with a spring and the button which had another spring in it.

The problem is that there isn't much you can do about lock bounce on the Launches. New springs can help, but it's sort of a built in issue. I have 3 of them, and only the 7 locks up all the time, or at least 97% of the time.

However, taking the knife apart will be a piece of cake. It's really not bad.
 
I'm voting No Advantage to autos or flippers.

I find fixed blades Considerably faster, and easier, even More reliable to use.
 
Stahlmann said:
I know in some states, if one has certainly disabilities, they can carry an automatic, even if they are otherwise banned.
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Which states? So far no one has cited a specific law allowing disabled folks to carry automatic knives.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
The launch series is super easy to work on.
It's just a blade with a spring and the button which had another spring in it.

The problem is that there isn't much you can do about lock bounce on the Launches. New springs can help, but it's sort of a built in issue. I have 3 of them, and only the 7 locks up all the time, or at least 97% of the time.

However, taking the knife apart will be a piece of cake. It's really not bad.
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Thanks for the response. I’ll give it a try and just put a little oil on everything.
im surprised you have issues with the others, maybe send them back...? I wouldn’t be happy. I have the 3, 7,8, 13 and the little bitty 4 and the rest are good.
 
tony281sc2 said:
Thanks for the response. I’ll give it a try and just put a little oil on everything.
im surprised you have issues with the others, maybe send them back...? I wouldn’t be happy. I have the 3, 7,8, 13 and the little bitty 4 and the rest are good.
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I have just learned to live with them. I find a little roll of my thumb on the button works best.
Truthfully, I have just moved on to a little higher price point. Still, for the money, the Launch is a phenomenal value for a quality knife.
 
Hackenslash said:
Slow down, champ. As others have said, there’s a problem with your question. Please provide specific examples of these new “superb” AO knives. I’m not personally aware of any new “superb” AO knives. There’s a crap-ton of 8Cr though…

When you’ve done so, we can then compare against, for instance, Microtech. Until you do, this is a waste of time.
Click to expand...

The OP has been starting threads here that make big claims, but has absolutely zero knowledge to back the claims up. He’s obviously inexperienced and should stick to the old adage of “read more/post less”.
 
The Aflac Duck said:
The OP has been starting threads here that make big claims, but has absolutely zero knowledge to back the claims up. He’s obviously inexperienced and should stick to the old adage of “read more/post less”.
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I’ve been noticing that. It would be nice to vet the questions before we waste time discussing things. I’d like to drill into some of the assumed premises before we go off on a mindless tangent.

Can you help by naming some new “superb” AO knives?
 
Hackenslash said:
I’ve been noticing that. It would be nice to vet the questions before we waste time discussing things. I’d like to drill into some of the assumed premises before we go off on a mindless tangent.

Can you help by naming some new “superb” AO knives?
Click to expand...

I certainly can’t name any, and not only have I owned many knives, but have handled hundreds at Bladeshow and have been in this hobby for a long time.

One time, I even held a Loveless knife at a show! Can you believe that? That makes me some sort of expert (I think).
 
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