Questions about OTF Automatic

[Banshee]

Guys (gals?),

I'm not exactly new here but since its illegial to own an automatic in the place I'm in, I'm just curious about the OTF automatic blade cause I do tend to see alot of them on the telly (cause they make such a nice sound, I guess).

My question ...... I know that most OTF automatic blade has a lever/button/stud to be depress/pull aside to deploy the blade and they also have a kinda lock/safety in case of accidential deployment in the pockets. But do they also another lever/button/stud to be depress to retract the blade? I see this a lot on the telly or is this another Hollywood 'THING'?

Thanks in advance to any replies.

Bob

 

[Grey Area]

Basically there are two types of OTFs, single action and double action.

On a single action OTF you press a button and the blade comes out. To get it back in, you have to "recharge" the knife by pulling out a slide at the butt end. This retracts the blade and puts the spring under pressure. Then you push the slide back in and the OTF is ready for another firing.
I think the part with the slide is rarely (never?) shown in movies, as it probably seems longwinded and not "cool" enough.

A double action OTF has a small switch/button/slide near the front end. Push it forward and the blade comes out, push it back and the blade retracts. As pushing the switch in either direction first charges the spring before the blade is moved, use of the switch requires a considerable amount of force. Depending on the way the switch is shaped you may have problems moving it with wet fingers (has frequently happened to me with the UT6).