Spring assisted folders.

M

m16a

Joined
May 16, 2008
Messages
69
Hello, I'm m16a and I'm new here. I've been looking for a good folder and I've come across the concept known as spring assist. I like the idea since they are close to automatic but without the fear and disliked feeling from authorities. I've been looking at different brands and have heard a few things. First, that Benchmade makes the best spring assist, second, Kershaw is regarded in a higher manner, and third, don't get a gerber spring assist.

I've narrowed my search to a few knives, and I'd like the one with the most "springy" assist, by that, I mean the knife that requires the least amount of nudge on the thumb stud for the spring to kick in and open the knife. Thanks for the help and I'll link to the contenders below. All the knives are within my size and price range, have the features I want, and I just need to know which is the best.

Kershaw Black Shallot spring assist

Benchmade mini nitrous stryker 907D2 spring assist

Kershaw Junkyard dog composite blade spring assist

Thanks for the help guys,

m16a
 
I think they are highly dangerous. I have a Kershaw and it has opened up twice in my pocket.
 
dipbait said:
I think they are highly dangerous. I have a Kershaw and it has opened up twice in my pocket.
Click to expand...


I thought they had the ability to lock closed?

Thanks for the input, but I'm looking for the best one:thumbup:
 
I've been carrying AOing knives since I bought my first Blackout, about 8 years ago. I've owned and used about every AO Kershaw made and have never been disappointed. Some have locks on them and some don't, but the only time you really need to use it is if its going in a pocket and you're not going to use the clip. If its bouncing around in the bottom of your pocket, yes it could open up on you, otherwise I've never had it happen to me. Just recently I acquired a couple of BM Mini Strykers with the Nitrous Assist and I'm pretty impressed, maybe even equal to a Kershaw.
 
Blade Junky said:
I've been carrying AOing knives since I bought my first Blackout, about 8 years ago. I've owned and used about every AO Kershaw made and have never been disappointed. Some have locks on them and some don't, but the only time you really need to use it is if its going in a pocket and you're not going to use the clip. If its bouncing around in the bottom of your pocket, yes it could open up on you, otherwise I've never had it happen to me. Just recently I acquired a couple of BM Mini Strykers with the Nitrous Assist and I'm pretty impressed, maybe even equal to a Kershaw.
Click to expand...

So which springs open better? A kershaw or the mini nitrous stryker?

oh and I'd carry it clipped to my pocket, so it wouldn't be jouncing around.
 
m16a said:
Hello, I'm m16a and I'm new here. I've been looking for a good folder and I've come across the concept known as spring assist. I like the idea since they are close to automatic but without the fear and disliked feeling from authorities. I've been looking at different brands and have heard a few things. First, that Benchmade makes the best spring assist, second, Kershaw is regarded in a higher manner, and third, don't get a gerber spring assist.

I've narrowed my search to a few knives, and I'd like the one with the most "springy" assist, by that, I mean the knife that requires the least amount of nudge on the thumb stud for the spring to kick in and open the knife. Thanks for the help and I'll link to the contenders below. All the knives are within my size and price range, have the features I want, and I just need to know which is the best.

Kershaw Black Shallot spring assist

Benchmade mini nitrous stryker 907D2 spring assist

Kershaw Junkyard dog composite blade spring assist

Thanks for the help guys,

m16a
Click to expand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJQggZu7ni8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06bcwc7zrc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUnD3kCghOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GutXGMXTJ8o

Have fun!
 
Blade Junky said:
If its bouncing around in the bottom of your pocket, yes it could open up on you, otherwise I've never had it happen to me.
Click to expand...

I second this. Use the clip. I'm usually ok with tip up carry, but not on AO knives. I got a couple of nasty surprises from throwing them in my pocket. Since going clip only on AO knives, haven't been bitten.
 
The Junkyard Dog has no assisting opening mechanism. It's got a great flipper, the action is really smooth, so you can open it really fast, but no Speed Safe whatsoever. Thought I just mention that.
 
I carried a Kershaw Chive using the clip and had it open on it's own numerous times. The lock feature makes absolutely no sense to me. I could wrap it in electrical tape, too, but the idea is to be able to open the knife easily. The lock is a liability issue function. I stopped carrying it.
 
Morales said:
The Junkyard Dog has no assisting opening mechanism. It's got a great flipper, the action is really smooth, so you can open it really fast, but no Speed Safe whatsoever. Thought I just mention that.
Click to expand...
+1 on that.
The JYD2CB has the better steel of the three, but it is not assisted opening (AO). I have carried various AO knives from different manufacturers for many years with no accidental opening problems.
 
Get a Kershaw Shallot or a Kershaw Leek...Trust me on this. They both have a very fast AO.
 
m16a said:
Hello, I'm m16a and I'm new here. I've been looking for a good folder and I've come across the concept known as spring assist. I like the idea since they are close to automatic but without the fear and disliked feeling from authorities. I've been looking at different brands and have heard a few things. First, that Benchmade makes the best spring assist, second, Kershaw is regarded in a higher manner, and third, don't get a gerber spring assist.

I've narrowed my search to a few knives, and I'd like the one with the most "springy" assist, by that, I mean the knife that requires the least amount of nudge on the thumb stud for the spring to kick in and open the knife. Thanks for the help and I'll link to the contenders below. All the knives are within my size and price range, have the features I want, and I just need to know which is the best.

Kershaw Black Shallot spring assist

Benchmade mini nitrous stryker 907D2 spring assist

Kershaw Junkyard dog composite blade spring assist

Thanks for the help guys,

m16a
Click to expand...
FYI...I think you might be mistaken in your view of how LEO's and other authorities will necessarily view these knives. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, a Texas appeals court has recently upheld a verdict that they are considered switchblades and therefore illegal here. It's quite possible that scenario will play out elsewhere as well.
 
Typically, an A/O knife with a smaller blade is going to have more "pop" when opening it because there's less weight & mass to move, however, the 2 A/O's you have listed are probably pretty close in performance.

Looking at the 3 you've listed (& I've owned all 3 at one point in time), they each have their differences. The Shallot is nice & the addition of the coating helps in grip (It's not much, but it helps). The SS Shallots are VERY slippery, IMHO. The Shallot can be carried tip up or down & is a frame-lock. The B/M mini-Stryker, if I'm not mistaken, is tip-down only. Other wise it is a very nice A/O. It has G-10 scales, which makes it much more grippier & it's a liner lock. The JYD CB (Actually, I've owned several reg. JYD IIs, not the CB model, but the frame's basically the same). It's bigger than the other 2 & isn't an A/O. As someone has already pointed out, it's a flipper, but works VERY well. However, it's tip-down only, too. I don't know if that's an issue with you, though. The JYD CB's lock is a liner-lock, but it's relatively thick & can be considered like a frame-lock (If you take the scales off, it does look like a frame-lock). It also has G-10 scales, so it's grippy & of course, it's the largest of the 3.

One more thing to mention is blade steel. I believe the mini-Stryker is 154CM, a very good steel & the JYD CB has a Sandvik base with a D2 edge, so it's pretty darn good in its own right. The Shallot has Sandvik, which is not a bad steel, but I think the other 2 are going to be better in the edge holding department.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
chuckschilling said:
FYI...I think you might be mistaken in your view of how LEO's and other authorities will necessarily view these knives.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup:

The legality of AO knives both in the US and in Canada hinges on a ridiculous technicality - pushing the blade instead of pushing a button. Any LEO (or anyone who isn't a big knife person for that matter) who sees you using an AO knife is very likely to assume it is an automatic.

I think it's safe to say that knives in general fail to generate warm and fuzzy feelings in the hearts of LEOs when they see someone else holding one. :(

That being said, I have an AO or two and enjoy them quite a bit - but you won't catch me carrying them around town.

Incidentally, my preferred one is a Buck Sirius since it has a lock next to the flipper tab which prevents it from being opened accidentally without really slowing me down when I do want it.

As to the question "Which is the fastest?" it's almost impossible to answer. How do you compare them? Pivot tension is adjustable, lubricant can be changed, how do you ensure you are applying an equal initial amount of force to every knife you test, etc. etc.
Besides, every AO knife I've seen opens in about half a second. How much sooner do you need your knife? :D
 
How much quicker is an AO than a thumbstud or a Spyder hole?
Hundredths of a second? I really don't know, but for all practical intents and purposes, I think it would be negligible.
My inclination when it comes to knives is the fewer moving parts, the better.

I do own several folders (none AO) and I love em all.
(any WELL MADE knife has a certain aesthetic that I can admire)

But for me; "The Simpler the Better" is rule 1.
 
glockman99 said:
Get a Kershaw Shallot or a Kershaw Leek...Trust me on this. They both have a very fast AO.
Click to expand...

Agree with G-Man on this one. I have several Leeks and I
never use the safety. Not once in about 6-8 years of carry
have I had one open in my pocket. If your concerned about
an AO appearing as an auto, check out the Kershaw R.A.M.
It's not an AO but it fires as fast as any out there. It has the
Hawk lock that I can't see failing unless you pretty much just
bust the knife. Check out this video from a fellow forumite.
 
I think I'm going with the Benchmade unless someone offers overwhelming evidence to stop me. Thanks for the input guys:thumbup:
 
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