*What is the best speed assist folder on the market?

R

rogue_spear

Joined
Oct 17, 2000
Messages
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Thinking of getting a speed assist folder because they may be banned one of these days.

Which is the most reliable and problem free speed assist folder?

Kershaw? Timberline? or an Emerson wave?

I heard the Emersons wave folder has liner problems and pivot screw gets loose and needs lock tight. Probably not getting a commander since the old commanders are better than the new ones. I'm looking for a new knife.
 
I have both a commander and the SOCFK,they're both great knives,but in my search for something new I found the Kershaw "Random Task" and at this time that is my new carry knife. The the fit and finish is excellant and the action is amazing,but being from taxachusetts, I can see both of these being on the banned lists in the interest of pulic safety
 
I own plenty of Emersons and absolutely love the "wave". But it really isn't an "Assisted" design as compared to the others.

I owned a Random Task and it was bad! Only real beef I had with it was the sharpened thumb stud. The damn thing would draw blood after a few openings.

I think the one that shows the most promise is the new Al Mar that's coming out. I handled a couple at the Blade Show and they were awesome. Very similar to the Timberline design, but better quality.

John
 
Go with Ken Onion - Kershaw Speed Safe opening assist!
Get Boa if you need tactical knife, colored for pretty look or black for "tactical" appearance.
Get Avalanche if you need modesty looking high quality medium sized working knife.
Get Ricochet if you need gentleman's knife or nobly looking working one.
I have no experience with other models but taking into consideration that they utilize the same mechanics I can say certainly - get whichever you do like, you can't go wrong with either
smile.gif


I can't say too much about Timberline, the prototype I have played with at IWA'2000 gun show in Nuremberg looked pretty appealing but so far I have no opportunity to test any production knives utilizing new design.
 
I've several of the Kershaws, all of which
I like:

MiniTask- daily business pocket carry,
sometimes like a money clip. I'd like it even better if was a bit thinner.

Blackout- nice fast action - soft steel,
but easy to resharpen. A bargain knife,
with good action.

Avalanch-now is perfect. I sent the
original one back to factory due to
a loose liner lock. 2nd time they replaced
the knife with a perfectly operating
and finished one. This knife will be
my everyday knife. Very strong steel
(440V) and nice snappy opening. Much
better grip than other Kershaws; the rough
finished G10 makes a sure grip.

BOA- kept handling this at the gun shows
but it seemed slightly too heavy, with
slippery aluminum grip and one too many things to think about in the action, violating my Keep It Simple rule.
 
Hey John Hollister, can you tell us more about the new speed assisted Al Mar that is coming out?

What are the dimensions?
How does it look like?
When is it coming out?
 
The Kershaw Whirlwind is my daily carry and is an all around excellent knife,,It's the sharpest knife out of the box I've ever owned and has tight tolerances for a knife in the $50.00 price range. They're a little tight at first but loosen up pretty quick.
 
RS

Sorry, I can't. I didn't get a picture of it, but I believe James Mattis did and his pictures have been taken down. Al Mar doesn't have it on their site yet either.

It was a Butch Vallotton design and the prototype they had on hand was supposedly larger then the final version would be.

It had pretty much the same feel when opening that the Onion production models do. I'm sure it's different inside, but it was an assisted opener, just like the "Speed Safe" design. The Timberline Proto I played with was the same way, but I am told that the Al Mar version will be made with premium components. I'm sure the Al Mar quality will show through.

As I recall (and it's hazy), the lock was similar in function to the REKAT rolling lock, aka on the side of the scale.

Sorry I couldn't be more informative.

John
 
My own experience makes me suggest the Mini Task or Boa as premium assited openers. Either the Whirwind or Blackout are great budget knives. I've never seen a bad Blackout or Whirlwind. The Timberline, I would be leery of. Their quality has not so good so far.
 
i have used 3 (bought even more for friends)- the boa, ricochet, and blackout and like them all, the first two being of more substance then the third but all fun and useful tools
 
I like the Boa for the index finger trigger. I've been bit by blade chase, and with the trigger, that's totally eliminated.
 
The Boa is the best of the breed. If you put one in your pocket and draw it, you will find the flipper tang directly under your thumb, without having to do any searching. I have the pleasure of owning both a custom and a Kershaw Boa. I beleive it is faster in a real- world draw situation than an auto, because of the automatic thumb index on the flipper tang. Try it and see. To me, speed is critical whether for defensive or emergency situations. One can draw and open a Boa without moving their hands more than 3-4 inches. This is good to know if one is in a tight situation for any reason. If you are asssaulted via a bear hug or grabbed by a piece of rotating machinery, room is a luxury you won't have. I have held a Timberline up to the light and it has nowhere near the production quality as a Kershaw. You can see gaps all along the back where the two halves don't join together well. Not very confidence-inspiring!
David

------------------
AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
John Hollister, if the al mar is a butch design with speed safe and a rolling lock...it may be one of the best folder ever built. It sounds too good to be true. I can't wait to check it out.
 
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