Opinions on a Benchmade assisted-opener?

I've never had any pain from opening my subrosa I like it much more than the leek it replaced and the leek was pretty nice for the most part, the subrosa is just a better knife IMO.
 
I have both the Barrage and the Torrent and they are among my favorite assisted openers. You basically just have to decide whether you want a liner lock or an axis lock.
Keep in mind that the torrent is tip-down only. But if you like that, then the pocket clip is one of its best features. Love the deep carry.
The torrent also seems like a bit of a "lighter-use" knife. I don't know why, but when I use it I never want to thrash on it. It just feels like a gentleman's folder. Whereas the barrage is a very capable knife.
The Subrosa is also an amazing knife, but at $200, a bit expensive.
 
I have a 585 Mini-Barrage and the 580 Barrage. My favorite is the 585...the size, for me, is perfect. Both open nearly as fast as an auto and get better as they break in a bit. The prices are pretty decent. A complaint on the Barrages is the "hollow" sound of the grips. I agree they do sound a bit hollow when you flick them but they aren't too bad.
I've handled a Torrent and was not impressed with its' AO compared to the Barrages. It was slower but that could be either the knife itself or needing some breaking in. I really like the scales and lines of the Torrent but I like a fast AO and that particular knife didn't do it for me...and at the prices they ask it has to say "take me home big boy"...
I've not experienced any thumb pain or difficulty opening my AO's.

Good luck and tell us what you wind up doing.
 
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I have a lot of benchmades and I like them, but I don't have any ao's. I also am very interested in the 470, 890 and 913. I have a blur and I highly recommend it, it's ao works very well. I have a leek and the quality is very good but it is too small for me and hard to open for that reason.

One of the zt knife models is ao and is highly recommended. You might also consider the spyderco paramilitary 2, not ao but highly recommended ans very quick and easy to open.
 
I picked up a BM581 not that long ago. The AO works flawlessly. It's fast and locks up like a vault too. The reasons that I chose the 581 was for the G10 scales and the Aluminum the bolsters. But, most of all for the M390 steel it comes with. Sweet!
I get no thumb pain or any issues for that matter; with my 581. I suggest you seriously consider this knife. A+ :)
 
I recently purchased a Benchmade Harley-Davidson Nitrous assisted & although more of a gentlemen's size, it handles and opens beautifully. I then bought a Stryker assist opening & it was so hard to open I separated my thumbnail from my thumb. I exchanged it for another & it is a slight improvement but not pleasant to use. I've opened & closed it hundreds of times but improvement was slight. I'd avoid the Stryker.
 
I agree the 581 Barrage is sweet, you cant beat M390 steel. its a fairly large knife but doesn't seem to carry to bad in my pocket. I dont mind the size. if you want something smaller you can go with a mini barrage but you give up the M390 Steel. there is a awsome new dealer exclusive on the Mini Barage in blue (Models: 585-1002 and 580-1002) in 154CM. It's pretty sweet. but I love my 581. cant go wrong.
 
Just got a Benchmade 890 Torrent in the mail yesterday. I already had a 805, 930, and a 960. LOVE the Axis lock but I wanted an assisted opener. The 890 is AMAZING. Nice clip so it rides deep in the pocket, fast opening, rock solid, great size & blade shape, feels great in my hand. It'll be one of my EDC's along with my small inlay Sebenza & my small Insingo.
 
I have maybe 15 BM folders, including a couple Strykers. The hurting of the thumb rings very true. But, only for the first 300 or 400 openings :) I put a bandaid on my thumb and worked the activation after dropping a little CLP in a couple of spots. Now the Stryker opens easy and it is buttery smooth. It is one of the 4 knives I carry daily and has become one of my very favorite knives. I believe the bigger Stryker has been discontinued, but plenty are still in the supply chain. Cost is under a $100 dollars for the full size D2 blade model. I hope this helps.
 
Another nice Kershaw is the Avalanche, which I think is out of production. Kershaw Guy on the forum might be able to get one for you. My BM ao folder is the 581, It feels like it wants to jump out of my hand. Very fast.
 
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