New Heat Arrived...what A Pleasant Surprise!!

Treadwell · Mar 25, 2006

I have read all the threads on the Heat, and liking all the good things being said about the knife, decided to order a couple. In having no knife stores in the area where I can examine the knife before purchasing, I rely pretty heavily on user comments here before making a purchase.

To say I was pleasantly surprised when my new Heat arrived would be an understatement! I was expecting a quality knife for the money, but I never expected to be as impressed as I am with this knife! Many have stated it's an amazing buy for under $50, and I have to concur; the speed in which the blade fires, and the solid lock up, are truly impressive! I'd have to say it's easily one of, if not the most, rewarding buying experiences I've experienced in quite some time. An absolutely amazing knife for the money!

Not having a chance to handle a knife before a purchase is like "buying a pig in a poke" as they say, and I've been less than thrilled with many a purchase made on line when the knife finally arrives. A experience like this with the Heat is truly a pleasant surprise indeed! My only regret,.....I only ordered two!

Treadwell

autoknife · Mar 25, 2006

Which models did you get? Did you get any pictures of those? AUTOKNIFE

tom19176 · Mar 25, 2006

Great knives I have two......Only issue I have is I can flick open both of them if I flick it hard, and therefore in NY it is also a gravity knife and no so legal to carry anymore....

Thrust Magazine · Apr 8, 2006

tom19176 said:
Great knives I have two......Only issue I have is I can flick open both of them if I flick it hard, and therefore in NY it is also a gravity knife and no so legal to carry anymore....

TOM,
In Canada we also consider gravity knives illegal. Technically when a person "flicks" a knife like the heat open, it is "Inertia Opening" that opens the blade. The motion ending with a SUDDEN STOP opens the knife.
I run into this a lot, when people mis-interpret the law...usually there is no ill intent, just a mis understanding. I believe that to be gravity opened, one does not have to "jerk" the knife in such a manner.
Hope this info is useful in some way.:thumbup:

Psychopomp · Apr 8, 2006

Thrust Magazine said:
TOM,
In Canada we also consider gravity knives illegal. Technically when a person "flicks" a knife like the heat open, it is "Inertia Opening" that opens the blade. The motion ending with a SUDDEN STOP opens the knife.
I run into this a lot, when people mis-interpret the law...usually there is no ill intent, just a mis understanding. I believe that to be gravity opened, one does not have to "jerk" the knife in such a manner.
Hope this info is useful in some way.:thumbup:

I haven't read the New York law, but that's my interpretation of a gravity knife. The Heat has a detent that holds it closed so it can't swing freely. An Axis locking Benchmade with the pivot losened to the point that the blade flops open when the lockbar is pulled back would be a gravity knife.

parker770 · Apr 27, 2006

Just an FYI for anyone considering the heat, I have had mine for about a month. I chose the black tanto model, and and extremely happy with almost everything about the knife. The build quality is great, it opens with authority, and the lock seems very secure.

However, the "teflon coating", or whatever it is they call it, is utter garbage. I use it many times every day at work, and the finish is BADLY scarred, chipping off in many places.

This would be understandable if it was used for cutting materials that would be hard on the knife, but 99% of this has been opening boxes(packing tape), and/or cutting/making cardbord boxes. This is unacceptable, IMO, and I am going to try and send the knife back and have them replace the blade with a regular silver one.

The black blade looks nice when brand new, but if you plan on doing any real work with it(even light duty work), I would avoid the black blade. I was also not impressed with the initial sharpness of the blade, but that is easy enough to address.

rifon2 · Apr 27, 2006

parker770 said:
However, the "teflon coating", or whatever it is they call it, is utter garbage. I use it many times every day at work, and the finish is BADLY scarred, chipping off in many places.

Very few if any blade coatings, Teflon or otherwise, are going to remain in place if the knife gets used.

tom19176 · Apr 27, 2006

Sorry for the late response back. I am very well aware of the Gravity knife definition, but this is the problem . If you open the knife as designed, it is legal, but you CAN also flick it opened from the closed position and it will open as a graity knife. I have two and they both open it with a good snap of the wrist. That is my concern with them. Try yours and let me know, but I have two that open that way.......The Axis locks are totally gravity knives and that will put some people who carry them in hot water one day.

The design of the Heat is well intended to go around both the federal law and the NY law by doing two things: 1) you push the blade and not a device in the handle to open it, and 2) you have to start it open so it opens auto only part of the way. This play on the exact words of the law allows it to be sold legally. As stated before , mine open when flicked from the closed position, and therefore they are gravity knives. I only mention this as many people carry these with the belief they have a knife that is legal on a small techincal change in design. I was an LEO for years in NY and I will tell you that most LEOs will view this as a weapon and if they view the carrier as someone who says " it is not a switchblade it is a AO" and the LEO can easily flick it open, then he will not entertain the difference betwwen an AO and and auto, and simply view it as a gravity knife. Wheter or not you will be arressted would depend on circumstances.

I only say all this as it is better to know the facts before rather than after. You can than make a logical decison on what you choose to carry. In almost all cases simple possesion will not get you in trouble, but remember the new LEOs coming out of the Academy where raised going to school past metal detectors, and never carried a knife of any type. They will soon find that almost all knife wounds they see where caused by a kitchen knife that was used in a family dispute or it was the weapon of choice for a street thug who used it for robbery because it was cheap and readily avialble from the kitchen.....now they stop you with a knife that appears to be a switchblade, and is a gravity knife......