Kill the AO

Trust me, the nitrous cannot be disabled. Most people are referring to the Optimizer powered Apparition and thinking that it is the Nitrous Stryker.

The whole concept behind the Optimizer was the fact that you could disable the A/O, which explains the name. The design was abandoned, and the new A/O mechanism is the Nitrous.....which cannot be disabled.

Here is the Benchmade page describing their mechanisms:
http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/locking_mechanisms.asp
 
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I absolutely despise AO. After getting back into knives a few years back I got a kershaw chive. I thought it was a cool little knife and I thought the AO was cool. I used the knife for a couple months and it was alright. One day I went to grab it out of my pocket and it was open. I didnt get really hurt, but it poked me in the finger. I was pretty annoyed but i thought maybe it was just chance. About a week later it happened again and then I decided to keep the safety on. In this mode the think is so slow to open and it defeats any purpose of having this "quick" opening style. Stopped using the knife and I will never even look at AO knives. Yeah, they got a cool factor but Id rather not get gashed up for something cool.

-Mark
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
AOs are not at all like autos under legal definitions, but merely similar in use.
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That depends on the jurisdiction and how they "interpret" their own laws. I remember a thread a few years ago about problems with AO knives in Illinois. IIRC it was the Kershaw Chive.
 
I have several Kershaw Knives and have disabled the AO on an Avalanche (after it opened in my pocket during a foot pursuit :eek:) and on the newly acquired Packrat. Not difficult to do at all ...at least on Kershaw Knives.
 
I have no problem with the AO. Have been carrying them since they came out, from numerous makers. I am sure that some types of AO did have inherent design problems. Fortunately I have not owned any. Where I live there are no problems with AO or even Auto. If you carry it correctly, maintain it properly, and learn how to use the safety then it is no problem. But to each his own. If AO gets unpopular then their price may drop so I can get more for my money:). Just a thought. If AO is put into the Auto definition it will not be long before flipper knives will be put into the "gravity knife" definition.
 
A/O's are fine if they are against the edge of one's pocket. Tip-up for right pocket, and tip down for left pocket. I enjoy them, along with smooth manuals and flippers.
 
You can remove the torsion bar from the Kershaw Leek/Chive series and make it a manual knife. Be careful as there will be no more tension to hold the knife closed.
 
rangerover_95 said:
Trust me, the nitrous cannot be disabled.
Most people are referring to the Optimizer powered Apparition and thinking that it is the Nitrous Stryker.
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Not true.

Super simple to remove the AO torsion bar on the BM 907-912-913 Nitrous Strykers.

Tools req: #6 & #10 Torx driver and small needlenose pliers (optional).

1) Knife open, remove the 3 screws on the left (logo) side of the knife.
2) Gently lift off the G-10 scale.
3) Lift the exposed liner wing gently and remove the AO torsion bar. (needlenose pliers help)
4) Reassemble, making sure the two remaining stop pins are seated properly.

The knife will flick open just as fast and close much easier one handed.
There is a detent that will prevent the knife from falling open.

This is the best way to carry one of these, one of the best folders on the market.
Smaller thumbstuds also help, if you have a 710/Griptilian try swapping them.

Technically opening a Benchmade voids the warranty, but if you ever require
service it shouldn't be a problem if you slap the bar back in.

-Ron

Note: The top bar in the picture is an adjustable hex stop bar. If you don't
like the lockup of your liner lock try turning this bar into different positions.
Each positon of the hex barrel bar will give you a slightly different lockup.

nitrous.jpg
 
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Wow, thanks for the info. Are you 100% sure, though? That's 1 YES YOU CAN from someone who hasn't had a Stryker, 1 NO YOU CAN'T from someone who says he knows for sure, and another YES YOU CAN.
 
I've done this on the 907, 912 & 913.

Super simple.

Once you remove the AO torsion bar and use it you'll never go back.

-Ron
 
Well I guess I learned something as well. I was just informed that the Optimizer was designed for that and the Nitrous wasnt. Plus I generally dont recommend disassembling Benchmade knives, as some can prove to be difficult, and it could (if you dont know what your doing) void a warrenty.

But I trust your opinion Ron, as I see you often on the BM forum, so Ill concede to one who knows what theyre doing better than I.
 
That depends on the jurisdiction and how they "interpret" their own laws. I remember a thread a few years ago about problems with AO knives in Illinois. IIRC it was the Kershaw Chive.
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The biggest issue with that seems to be that the person charged never understands the structural difference between an AO and an auto so they can't argue the point correctly. AOs are legal, and it's as simple as that. Their resemblance to autos in the uninformed eyes of the public and the lack of specific knowledge regarding their distinctive differences are largely the cause of the improper charges made against carriers of AOs.

rangerover_95 said:
Well I guess I learned something as well. I was just informed that the Optimizer was designed for that and the Nitrous wasnt. Plus I generally dont recommend disassembling Benchmade knives, as some can prove to be difficult, and it could (if you dont know what your doing) void a warrenty.

But I trust your opinion Ron, as I see you often on the BM forum, so Ill concede to one who knows what theyre doing better than I.
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Not difficult at all to take BMs apart. I've done it with every piece of mine for regular inside-and-out cleaning and it's much easier than you might expect. The hardest part is getting the washers back in and a paperclip gets you a long way in that regard. The one knife never to take apart is a Buck Rush. You'll be there all day putting that one back together. :D
 
I don't like ao's at all. Had two buck tempests and both of them stopped working very quickly. I was able to convert them to manual and they have much stronger lockups, no bladeplay. etc.
 
I DON'T think AO should be killed because it's the best thing to 'AUTO' people can legally have.

What is needed is a lock on AO knives (that can be chosen to be used or not) and then everything would be cool.

Keep AO knives alive by giving it a lock and it will certainly find its way into my pocket. Until then, in the belt sheath it goes...

One great EXAMPLE of a AO knife that LOCKS when closed is the Kershaw Boa 440V (that I have). It locks near the flipper and it works really well!

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY STOPPED USING THIS MECHANISM.

Here's a pic:

boasecondsafety.jpg
 
topspeclt said:
I DON'T think AO should be killed because it's the best thing to 'AUTO' people can legally have.
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Honestly, I just don't like AO. Using the thumbstud, I start to open the blade, and the next thing I know, my thumb isn't on the stud anymore, and the whole knife jerks in my hand. If I want a spring-opening knife (AO or auto), I want it such that parts of my hand aren't going to NOT be touching the knife when it opens up (it won't if pressing a button on the handle or using a flipper on an AO).

But in all, I'd very much rather have a manual knife. That way I don't have to worry about anyone's interpretation of the law, legal or not.
 
THG said:
Honestly, I just don't like AO. Using the thumbstud, I start to open the blade, and the next thing I know, my thumb isn't on the stud anymore, and the whole knife jerks in my hand. If I want a spring-opening knife (AO or auto), I want it such that parts of my hand aren't going to NOT be touching the knife when it opens up (it won't if pressing a button on the handle or using a flipper on an AO).

But in all, I'd very much rather have a manual knife. That way I don't have to worry about anyone's interpretation of the law, legal or not.
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Agree 100%. I have a couple AO's, but don't really carry them for fear of legal issues. I know that us here are knife nuts, but the average person, be it civilian, police officer, or judge can't tell the difference between an AO and an Auto, and I don't blame them.

I also hate the combination of AO and thumb stud. If it's AO, it should have a flipper, period.

For my money, I'll always try to go for a manual flipper. Opens just as fast, and it's not going to get confiscated.
 
Dekz said:
Agree 100%. I have a couple AO's, but don't really carry them for fear of legal issues. I know that us here are knife nuts, but the average person, be it civilian, police officer, or judge can't tell the difference between an AO and an Auto, and I don't blame them.

I also hate the combination of AO and thumb stud. If it's AO, it should have a flipper, period.

For my money, I'll always try to go for a manual flipper. Opens just as fast, and it's not going to get confiscated.
Click to expand...

I agree.

Most of my AO knives have a flipper (Kershaw Tyrade, Boa, Shallots, ZT0302, etc etc.). The only ones that don't are the Kershaw Blurs (Sg2, S60v) and I know how you feel. It's really disconcerting pushing the blade out with the thumb stud! Youhave to be so careful that it mitigates the speed efficiency gained by the AO.

To an observer the AO certainly looks like an auto. Certainly the end-effect is hard to distinguish (or exactly the same) and whether it opens by pressing a button of flipper doesn't really matter.

Then again,

Good and honest people should be allowed to own and use knives whether they are auto or not. Personally I think the ban on autos is insane! Whether a knife flips out or pushed out IT'S STILL A KNIFE!

Having an AO knife with a flipper and lock is 'perfect' (Like the kershaw Boa). Wouldn't carry it though because NO ONE would believe me when I say it isn't an 'auto'.
 
That's one of the brilliant things about the RAM. Just push it out using the thumbstud things and it opens old-school. Great for public use. Almost a perfect design for EDC.
 
The great thing about the RAM is that it's essentially a manual assisted--the tension is enough that your finger becomes the spring.
 
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