Knife Questions

[Harvdog]

I am interested in picking up an everyday carry folding knife and have a few questions about the different options available.

1. What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences are smooth versus smooth/serrated blades?
2. What are the different locking mechanisms? What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences? I have heard a few concerns about "center lock" (I believe that's correct).
3. Are knives with assisted opening THAT much better than those without?

I'm sure I will have others later but that should be enough for now.

Thanks in advance.

 

[WadeF]

I don't have much time at the moment, but I'll quick answer #3. In my opinion assisted opening doesn't maker a knife better. I prefer knives without it. I find it takes more work to close assisted opening blades and they take more fumbling around with overall than other knives.

 

[barrabas74]

I am interested in picking up an everyday carry folding knife and have a few questions about the different options available.

1. What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences are smooth versus smooth/serrated blades?
2. What are the different locking mechanisms? What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences? I have heard a few concerns about "center lock" (I believe that's correct).
3. Are knives with assisted opening THAT much better than those without?

I'm sure I will have others later but that should be enough for now.

Thanks in advance.

Well since the darned search function isnt working for me(which I would have you use as these have all been discussed in GREAT detail before) I will post my opinion on each.

1. I EDC a plain edge because of the smoothness of the cuts and the lack of a need for serration, I dont cut many fiberous materials so I dont need a serrated blade. Others like serrated blades for all things, I bring along a paramility for anything I need a SE for.

2. Locking mechanisms. jeez back lock, liner, frame, axis, roll-lock, compression, revolver, Ultra Lock, Arc-lock, shoot there is more. I like the Back spring, liner, frame, axis and compression. Those are just the ones I have the most experience with, I have experience with all of them but I barley ever use my SOG folders(Arc Lock) or Cold Steel(Ultra Lock). I am not going to say which is better because everyone has thier own opinion. I tend to carry knives with those 5 I mentioned but EDC my liner and frame locks the most.

3. Knives with assisted opening are no better in my opinion than those w/o. If you own an axis lock knife you can pretty much pull back on the bar and flip it open and shut as quick as your wrist will flick. Also many knives have flippers which greatly aid in quick opening. I edc a knife w/ and w/o assis pretty much day to day and have hardly ever needed the assis opening. There are guys that carry two handed opening slip joints that have probably very rarely needed to open a knife one handed. Of course this is opinion....and I am sure some will disagree.

Oh the Search function is your friend and all of these topics (assis opening, serrated vs. plain, which lock type is better) has been discussed, however for some reason I cant seem to get it to work for me today. Anyone else get it to work for them?

 

[Horn Dog]

1. Serrated knives work well for cutting rope, opening packages, or slicing fresh bread. Fine edge blades are better for precise cuts like making a skewer from a palmetto stalk or opening letters. I like a combination edge for that reason. Even a razor sharp blade will not sever rope as well as a serrated one. For me, fine edges are quicker and easier to sharpen.

2. I am told that the liner lock is stronger that the lockback, but I prefer the lock back. I own knives with both types of lock. I like to carry my knife with the back of the handle at the top of my pocket (blade up when folded).
I once had a liner lock come open in my pocket and it cut my finger when I went to draw it. Linerlocks are usually carried blade down for that reason. Lockbacks will not accidentally open on you. They are easier to unlock and fold up, too.

3. For those of us who are used to one-hand opening knives, there is no need for assisted opening, but they are faster.

My favorite EDC knife is my Cold Steel 4" combination blade Voyager lockback.

 

[WadeF]

3. For those of us who are used to one-hand opening knives, there is no need for assisted opening, but they are faster.

I can open my AXIS lock knives much faster than I can an assisted opener and that's mainly due to how you have to adjst your grip on most assisted openers to open them (start opening them).

 

[fedaykincmndr]

WELCOME to BF!

1. Evaluate what your knife will be used for and what YOU want in a knife. There's give and take with everything.

2. Too many to mention. Look around at a knife store/website. There will be mention of almost all lock types (my favorite www.knifeworks.com), or you can use the tabs at www.agrussell.com which can be awfully helpful as the pics and descriptions are great.

3. AO better? Absolutely not. Had a couple, didn't like em. Gadget factor is off the charts but I was way too afraid of breaking the spring and I always worried about durability as I tend to be VERY hard on the knives I carry. For EDC I'd recommend against it. LEO could take it as a switchblade, sheeple could freak, etc. AND I don't trust em to stand up to anything considered hard work. YMMV and all this is my opinion obviously. GOOD LUCK!

 

[Harvdog]

WELCOME to BF!

1. Evaluate what your knife will be used for and what YOU want in a knife. There's give and take with everything.

I certainly should have mentioned this in my original post. This EDC knife would be for general purposes (e.g. opening envelopes/packages, cleaning my fingernails ), as well as, for self defense as a b/u to my CCW (SA XD 40s&w). As a result, I would like it to be something I can QUICKLY open with one hand.

 

[Chris Pierce]

Take a look at spyderco, Emerson, CRKT. Thoes are my favorites. CRKT being the kind of the cheapo brand i like.
I EDC either an Emerson tanto, which is a Lockback. Or a CRKT Cruiser, which has a liner lock, or sometimes i carry my Spyderco Police, which is also lockback. These are all really easy to open one handed. The fastest being The Cruiser because of its "flipper"

 

[darkestthicket]

I am interested in picking up an everyday carry folding knife and have a few questions about the different options available.

1. What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences are smooth versus smooth/serrated blades?
2. What are the different locking mechanisms? What are the advantages, disadvantages, preferences? I have heard a few concerns about "center lock" (I believe that's correct).
3. Are knives with assisted opening THAT much better than those without?

I'm sure I will have others later but that should be enough for now.

Thanks in advance.

1. Depends on what you plan on doing with the knife everyday. Edit: for your purposes the plain edge should be fine.
2. thats a can of worms really everyone has their own preference, the only way to find yours is to grab a few different types and see what you like best, that said i like frame locks, liner locks and axis locks.
3. no, they are just a little neater when you are showing them to sheeple, and on the off chance you have to get it out like 2 seconds quicker, say for self defense.

 

[jag-engr]

I don't have much time at the moment, but I'll quick answer #3. In my opinion assisted opening doesn't maker a knife better. I prefer knives without it. I find it takes more work to close assisted opening blades and they take more fumbling around with overall than other knives.

I agree with WadeF. Assisted opening knives are almost impossible to close with one hand unless you press the back of the blade against something, such as you leg.

Also, assisted opening knives with lightweight handles (i.e. Kershaws) tend to flip back in you hand. I would guess that the split second saved by the spring assist is offset by the knife being temporarily thrown off-balance.

 

[mmarkh]

You have to watch out so A.O. knives don't open when you don't want them to.Backlock,axis lock,framelock,liner lock all work good but they are no substitute for a good ole fixed blade.

 

[jlfletcher83]

I myself prefer some kind of axis lock type mechanism spyderco's ball lock cold steel's ultra things like that. They seem to open quicker than an assisted for me. I hate serrations the only serrated knife I own is my rescue knife which is a spyderco assist.