is there any talk of spyderco coming out with assisted ?

[Jake Bauer]

This is just an off the wall question, but, if Spyderco did make an AO.... would you buy one? I'm not trying to be a jerk.... seriously.... I can understand brand loyalty, but, to dismiss a class of blades so completely as to imply that it is an awesome thing that your favorite brand decided not to make one seems odd to me. any insight would be appreciated :thumbup:

All that being said, could I tempt anyone with a Lone Wolf with an Axis Lock, Spyder Hole, JL Williams style hidden flipper and Speedsafe....I'd give it a shot.

Unless it was ergonomically fantastic with a great blade shape and steel, then probably not. I still have all my kershaw AOs and they are great knives, AOs just dont really appeal to me anymore. I think it's just as easy to open a spyderco with the spyderhole with one hand. Plus you dont have sheeple freak out thinking you have a switch blade, and in my mind torsion bars or other AO systems are just another thing to break. (Not saying that torsion bars are weak, but I have had one break on me)

 

[yablanowitz]

Do you think autos are useful or do you simply prefer manuals only? I know plenty of folks who have no use for anything other than manual knives. Heck...I know plenty of guys who have no use for anything other than slip joints.

I don't understand the "loophole" statement as laws vary from state to state.

The "loophole" is that the main difference between a switchblade and an assisted opener is the switchblade locks shut and opens when the latch is released, the A/O is opened by a spring once the blade is set in motion by direct action on the blade. In some places (here for example) A/Os are illegal because the blade is opened by a spring. The wording of the state law does not include the part about being held shut by a mechanical latch, just the part about being opened by a spring, gravity or centrifugal force. It is the lack of a latch that gets around the federal law against switchblades.

 

[J_Curd]

It's not opened by a spring though. It's opened by human force, and the spring assists the opening once you pass the fulcrum point. It does not automatically open it, nor employ the dubious switch.

Technically a lockback or a slippy has a "spring assist" once you past a certain point...a small change in geometry, viola, assisted opening...

Physical mechanics are what they are.

 

[Thomas W]

It's not opened by a spring though. It's opened by human force, and the spring assists the opening once you pass the fulcrum point. It does not automatically open it, nor employ the dubious switch.

Technically a lockback or a slippy has a "spring assist" once you past a certain point...a small change in geometry, viola, assisted opening...

Physical mechanics are what they are.

Technically speaking, this is all true.

 

[Fred Sanford]

Do you think autos are useful or do you simply prefer manuals only? I know plenty of folks who have no use for anything other than manual knives. Heck...I know plenty of guys who have no use for anything other than slip joints.

I don't understand the "loophole" statement as laws vary from state to state.

No I actually like Autos. I'm not a cop or Military so I can't carry them. I'm an all or nothing kind of person. If I am going to speed it's not going to be 10mph over. If I'm going to get a knife that opens itself it's going to be an auto. If I'm going to repaint my car it's not going to be a half assed job.

All I'm saying is that I think that AO is simply a way for knife companies to give "Autos" to the non LEO/Military folks. I do think the law is rediculous but the fact remains that if people think you have a "switchblade" they are gonna whine to someone. Then they ask "why do you need one that comes out so fast?". I'm not against owning an AR-15 but I don't see a reason to carry it around like you would a CCW firearm.

I don't see the advantage of the AO I guess. I can open an Axis lock just as fast as an AO. Now BM even has an AO Axis lock. You might as well call it an Auto.

I just figure why bring unneeded attention my way when I don't have to?

(I can already feel my ears burning........I think Thomas is coming. )

 

[J_Curd]

I see ZERO use for assisted openers. Plus they simply get around the switchblade law via a "loophole".

I want no part of anything assisted.

Ok, so...

1.) There is no reason to have an assisted opener
2.) You believe companies who offer them are trying to subvert the law.

No I actually like Autos. I'm not a cop or Military so I can't carry them. I'm an all or nothing kind of person. If I am going to speed it's not going to be 10mph over. If I'm going to get a knife that opens itself it's going to be an auto. If I'm going to repaint my car it's not going to be a half assed job.

All I'm saying is that I think that AO is simply a way for knife companies to give "Autos" to the non LEO/Military folks. I do think the law is rediculous but the fact remains that if people think you have a "switchblade" they are gonna whine to someone. Then they ask "why do you need one that comes out so fast?". I'm not against owning an AR-15 but I don't see a reason to carry it around like you would a CCW firearm.

I don't see the advantage of the AO I guess. I can open an Axis lock just as fast as an AO. Now BM even has an AO Axis lock. You might as well call it an Auto.

I just figure why bring unneeded attention my way when I don't have to?

(I can already feel my ears burning........I think Thomas is coming. )

3.) YOU can't carry autos in Ohio. That's not true for everyone.
4.) You like autos and would carry one if you were allowed. So there must be some reason to have a fast opening knife...
5.) You think AO manufacturers subvert the law, which you condemn.
6.) You concede that the law in question is "rediculous".
7.) You're concerned about the ignorance of others who "think its a switchblade", and instead of educating them and defending your rights, you'd rather avoid the topic entirely.

I can't be the only one questioning the flow of logic here Dave.

I also feel that people with your mentality sacrifice our collect rights for your convenience and/or fear. That's just as bad as the uneducated oppressors of our given rights.

 

[riffraff]

Fact: an "assisted opening" knife opens by the user deploying the blade (i.e., not pressing a button holding back a loaded spring).

Fact: "Assisted opening" knives have been ruled to be "not a switchblade" by numerous courts.

You can't make AOs illegal by merely calling them switchblades. It will be defeated on appeal every time. Can AOs be illegal? Sure, and they are, in some of the more knee-jerk-prone jurisdictions, where they specifically legislate against "assisted opening knives." Hell, they could make all folders in general illegal if they wished. Still doesn't make them "a switchblade." And while some might argue that "a rose by any other name..." etc., the fact remains that regardless of how similarly "fast" the blades deploy, they are two separate designs, two separate classifications, two separate kinds of knives.

 

[spiralarchitect]

Unless it was ergonomically fantastic with a great blade shape and steel, then probably not. I still have all my kershaw AOs and they are great knives, AOs just dont really appeal to me anymore. I think it's just as easy to open a spyderco with the spyderhole with one hand. Plus you dont have sheeple freak out thinking you have a switch blade, and in my mind torsion bars or other AO systems are just another thing to break. (Not saying that torsion bars are weak, but I have had one break on me)

Thanks for the reply..... this all makes sense to me. :thumbup:

 

[Fred Sanford]

Ok, so...

1.) There is no reason to have an assisted opener
2.) You believe companies who offer them are trying to subvert the law.



3.) YOU can't carry autos in Ohio. That's not true for everyone.
4.) You like autos and would carry one if you were allowed. So there must be some reason to have a fast opening knife...
5.) You think AO manufacturers subvert the law, which you condemn.
6.) You concede that the law in question is "rediculous".
7.) You're concerned about the ignorance of others who "think its a switchblade", and instead of educating them and defending your rights, you'd rather avoid the topic entirely.

I can't be the only one questioning the flow of logic here Dave.

I also feel that people with your mentality sacrifice our collect rights for your convenience and/or fear. That's just as bad as the uneducated oppressors of our given rights.

Wow, the things I don't say on a given day.

I don't have the time or want to answer you. Have a great day.

Also, you misspelled ridiculous.

 

[J_Curd]

Oh come now, lets not take our ball and go home.

 

[Josh K]

Oh come now, lets not take our ball and go home.

Just because he won't play doesn't mean others won't.

 

[J_Curd]

Just because he won't play doesn't mean others won't.

Unless you are going to defend his blatantly contradictory statements (something you are experienced in) then I dont see how thats possible.

 

[Josh K]

Unless you are going to defend his blatantly contradictory statements (something you are experienced in) then I dont see how thats possible.

That's not possible in this forum. I don't think I said I was going to defend his arguments. You just seem to want to argue with someone.

 

[2brothers]

The "loophole" is that the main difference between a switchblade and an assisted opener is the switchblade locks shut and opens when the latch is released, the A/O is opened by a spring once the blade is set in motion by direct action on the blade. In some places (here for example) A/Os are illegal because the blade is opened by a spring. The wording of the state law does not include the part about being held shut by a mechanical latch, just the part about being opened by a spring, gravity or centrifugal force. It is the lack of a latch that gets around the federal law against switchblades.

I'm interested, what kinds of knives do you carry, since according to your state law, almost all knives are illegal except for slippies?
You've got a tough law there for sure.
The bolded part includes almost every knife made IMO, with or without spring.

... knife commonly referred to as a
switchblade knife, which has a blade that opens
automatically by hand pressure applied to a button,
spring, or other device in the handle of the knife, or any
knife having a blade that opens or falls or is ejected
into position by the force of gravity or by an outward,
downward or centrifugal thrust or movement...