What do you think of manual OTFs? I'm debating making one.

[The_Iron_Joe]

I could really use your insight on this...

Some years ago I had a thread here asking for input on my friction folders you guys were awesome with the back and forth, it was super helpful. Now I'm at a similar crossroad with some potential new projects. I have limited time I can allocate to developing upcoming personal work, so I'm giving it some thought while ironing out other details.

What do you guys think of manual OTF knives?

If you wouldn't buy one, why not? Are there any limitations preventing you, or is it simply a matter of taste? If you are interested in the concept, what features would you like to see?

Production examples include Kershaw Interstellar or Kapsule, Boker Slike, D-Rocket Design KatanaX or KatanaO...



Please let me know your thoughts! I'm absolutely making one for myself at the very least, but if people generally aren't interested I'll turn my more immediate efforts elsewhere in the meantime... Got bills to pay!

 

[sgt1372]

I only own auto OTFs.

I'd consider a manual OTF but I can't imagine how you could quickly & easily manipulate a blade opening device running full the length of the handle that I think would be necessary to fully deploy the blade.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

I only own auto OTFs.

I'd consider a manual OTF but I can't imagine how you could quickly & easily manipulate a blade opening device running full the length of the handle that I think would be necessary to fully deploy the blade.

That's entirely fair. I recorded two that I own to show what opening them quickly is like. Of course, you can slowly slide these open too. I would say that much past a 3.5" - 3.75" travel it could be uncomfortable for some people.

https://imgur.com/a/0uThEz4

 

[tltt]

I like them, but they've never been sellers relative to other knives. Case, Camillus, MMHW, and a few others, both custom and production have tired them over the years, and they've always had short runs. On larger models, people complain about having to move their thumb. They also gripe about blade to handle size ratios. The other thing they complain about is the track the blade runs in. Too wide, they complain about pocket smoo getting in there. Too tight, and you'll get complaints about the knife being delicate.

Where they shine is with embellishment, Dennis Brooker made some beautiful ones with engraved sides and anodized frames, etc....

My advice would be to try them out in a small batch 5-10, things might've changed, and you could get lucky with the fidget crowd. Also maybe stay in the 2 3/4" - 3 1/2" blade length range. That seems to be a good range for them. Long enough stroke to satisfy the fidgeters, decent length for actual work, etc....

Thinking about it, the Bokermatic and the Christy knife have probably been the most popular types of that design, barring things like Snap and Stanley knives -

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[DocJD]

Welp , I remember when side opening AO was all the rage . That sure changed !

Just make sure it's fidget friendly /easy and smooth .

 

[dryflytrout]

I like the idea but it's one of the most left handed unfriendly designs I've ever seen.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

I like the idea but it's one of the most left handed unfriendly designs I've ever seen.

I fully intend to make a lefty version available if I make the handle not symmetrical.

 

[jbmonkey]

I like them, just not the little bladed ones. least 3.5" blade. prefer if blade wobble can be controlled well.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

I like them, just not the little bladed ones. least 3.5" blade. prefer if blade wobble can be controlled well.

My goal right now for the design I have going is to have at most a 0.1mm gap between the blade stock and the sides of the track it runs in, so blade play should be very minimal. I'm not entirely sure how that'd compare to the average auto OTF at the moment, to be honest.

Current blade length is about 3.64" from handle to tip, though that might be shortened if that length of travel is physically uncomfortable. Longest blade I have in a manual OTF right now is the Boker Slike, which measures about 2.9".

 

[sgt1372]

Could you make it so that you can release the blade w/your thumb and then just flick it open until it locks in place and then use the release device to close it?

If so, it would be like a Dark Angel w/o the spring and I'd like it, especially if you can keep the size/weight down comparable w/the Dark Angel.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Could you make it so that you can release the blade w/your thumb and then just flick it open until it locks in place and then use the release device to close it?

If so, it would be like a Dark Angel w/o the spring and I'd like it, especially if you can keep the size/weight down comparable w/the Dark Angel.

Pretty much all of the manual otfs that I own already do that, although for most of them there was either a significant break-in period, or I found that I have to press the button while flicking a little hard in order to overcome the spring tension.

It shouldn't be a difficult thing to work in to the design!

I'm not sure what the final weight will be, but it'll be pretty lightweight. I'm planning on the first few versions to be integral CF or G10.

 

[Tsujigiri]

As pointed out, the problem with manual OTFs is that you have such a long travel on the switch that it's just cumbersome to use.

I have an idea, though. If you could put in a shorter travel switch in that ratchets the blade out in a few steps, that would be much easier to deploy. Bonus points if one of the intermediate ratchet steps allows you to just barely peek the blade out of the handle so you can easily open packages without damaging the contents. Also, if you had manual opening but spring loaded retraction, you'd add in a cool feature from automatic OTFs without the legal restrictions.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

As pointed out, the problem with manual OTFs is that you have such a long travel on the switch that it's just cumbersome to use.

I have an idea, though. If you could put in a shorter travel switch in that ratchets the blade out in a few steps, that would be much easier to deploy. Bonus points if one of the intermediate ratchet steps allows you to just barely peek the blade out of the handle so you can easily open packages without damaging the contents. Also, if you had manual opening but spring loaded retraction, you'd add in a cool feature from automatic OTFs without the legal restrictions.

I've got what I think is a solid idea for a more mechanically complicated manual OTF, it's definitely going to be extremely time consuming to develop so I'm leaving it for later, when I hopefully have more financial freedom... But the ratchet idea is interesting, I just wonder if the repeated sliding to get the blade to extend in segments might be too slow for people who just want the knife open all the way fairly quickly.

I also want this particular project to not require too many extra components like sprockets or gears, lol. Right now I've got it down to three screws, one integral handle, one threaded barrel, one pocket clip and one blade.

 

[Tsujigiri]

I've got what I think is a solid idea for a more mechanically complicated manual OTF, it's definitely going to be extremely time consuming to develop so I'm leaving it for later, when I hopefully have more financial freedom... But the ratchet idea is interesting, I just wonder if the repeated sliding to get the blade to extend in segments might be too slow for people who just want the knife open all the way fairly quickly.

I also want this particular project to not require too many extra components like sprockets or gears, lol. Right now I've got it down to three screws, one integral handle, one threaded barrel, one pocket clip and one blade.

I'm sure it would be too slow for people who want to deploy the blade quickly, on the other hand I kind of like the idea of having the option of a full sized handle with a shorter blade for more control, but also extending to the full length when necessary. I was thinking something like the spring gates that you see on automatic OTFs but with a different operation. It'll be cool to see what you come up with!

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

I'm sure it would be too slow for people who want to deploy the blade quickly, on the other hand I kind of like the idea of having the option of a full sized handle with a shorter blade for more control, but also extending to the full length when necessary. I was thinking something like the spring gates that you see on automatic OTFs but with a different operation. It'll be cool to see what you come up with!

On the Slike, there is a halfway position where the blade can lock. I sometimes snag that halfway position when trying to open or close the knife in a hurry! So, I'm thinking I'll try having a 1/3rd open lock position to see how well it works.