Why assisted opener?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
4,761
Having used assisted openers, as well as modern knife designs, like the M16 or almost anything with an axis lock, outside of my amusement (which is a pretty convincing factor, mind you), I don't feel the need for an assisted opener. This isn't to say I don't want assisted openers, I almost bought a spec bump last week. But, for the most part, I can deploy axis locks or flipper knives as fast or faster than all but some OTFs I've seen. In fact, if I hold my cabela's minigrip upside down and pull the axis lock, the blade just falls open, and of course, the opposite is true if I turn it around. I can open my M16 with only the flipper motion, no wrist flicking, even if the blade points straight up when open.

Help enlighten me to the other uses for assisted openers or automatics.
 
I tried an assisted opener (one of the Kershaws), and I came so close to having my thumb follow the blade to the cutting edge, that it was the last time I tried one of those.:eek:.
 
IMHO the only real need for an automatic or assisted opener (other than plain fun) is what Schrade used to say about their old automatics.- so that ladies can open their knife without using their fingernails so as to prevent breaking them.

Of course thumbstuds and thumbholes would also work but they are not as easy to use for the ladies.

Luis

PS, Glockman99 I find a tendency for that to happen with my Kershaw Scallion when using the stud but no problem when using the flipper.
 
This is to Glockman

I've had the same experience with my kershaw as well. I will only buy a kershaw if it has the "flipper" on tthe back of the blade. As for other assisted openers i only have a SOG flashII and i love it. Its a heck of a lot easier to open than my kershaw. You should give it a try sometime.

Now back to the original question:

There really isn't a reason except for the cool factor. I agree that the M-16 is one of the fastest opening knives out there. However assisted knives are a lot of fun, and for some people they are easier to open.
 
A need for assisted-opener? Of course no one needs an assisted opener. But then, it's like no one needs a lot of things, too, including the need to carry a knife everyday.

Many of the Kershaw assisted-opening knives have flippers nowadays. In fact, even some of their non-assisted-opening knives have flipper.

Why assisted-opening knives? Because it's easier to open for people who're not expert in opening knives with one hand like many of you here. It's a simpler move with less strength required. You don't think it really needs practice to learn how to open folder in one hand? Really? There's a learning process involved. Most of you must have forgot about it since it was long time ago, right? You want to know why you cut yourself when you first try to open an assisted-opening knife the first time? Because you're opening it like just aother folder. You have to adapt. I'm sure there're people who cut themselves learning how to open a non-assisted opening knives, too.

I have assisted opening knives both with and without flipper. I have no problem opening them either with thumbstud or flipper. In fact, I learned how to use both of them.

Then of course, I also have non-assisted opening knives.

So why assisted opening? It's to make thing easy for many ordinary folks out there. Otherwise, many people would be driving standard instead of automatic out there (I'm talking about cars here in case you don't know).
 
I agree with Glockman and Rededge. I have a Scallion and Twitch 2 and it is pretty scary to use the thumbstud. The flipper plus assisted opener is great though. Biggest reason to get an AO is that they are a lot of fun.
 
DavidW3 said:
...it's like no one needs a lot of things, too, including the need to carry a knife everyday.
Click to expand...
I'd agree with that, IF my teeth were still sharp and strong-enough to open or cut the things that I need to open or cut on a daily basis, but they aren't, so I carry knives.:).
 
Instead of using the thumbstud, why not try a wrist flick (no touching the blade) like people do with Spydercos. The flipper is just a superior design to thumbstuds and blade holes in general. Sure, some will disagree, but then, minus the alternative ways to open a knife (axis flick, assisted, compression flick, etc), they can't open knives as fast as I can. Once they adjust, I'm betting flippers will become the "new" spyder hole/thumbstud standard. I certainly hope so. Personally, I never had trouble using an assisted opener, including the thumb stud based one.
 
Don Luis said:
...
PS, Glockman99 I find a tendency for that to happen with my Kershaw Stallion when using the stud but no problem when using the flicker.
Click to expand...

I noticed this too on my scallion. I'd grind the studs off if they weren't actually part of the blade stop mechanism. They shouldn't have put studs on these, just the flipper and some other way to stop the blade.

I gave up on the kershaw though, because the flipper tended to get pressed in my pocket, opening the knife. (Yeah there's a safety, but that sort of negates the whole point.)
 
Artfully Martial said:
Instead of using the thumbstud, why not try a wrist flick (no touching the blade) like people do with Spydercos.
Click to expand...

All the AO knives I own have very small light blades. There is not enough weight to the blade of the Scallion, Twitch 2 or Flash 1 to wrist flick it.
 
In some situations, you don't have time to whip out your knife out and do a one handed flip.

It helps to just run your finger over a flipper.
 
Don Luis, my wife definatly preferrs the thumbstud over the thumbhole or nail nick. I dont care for assissted openers , so I dont know if it would be better.
 
Let her try a knife with a flipper, assisted or non assisted, or a knife with specialized locks, like compression or axis, so you can flick, I'll bet she'll love it. After some practice. I personally haven't decided between spyder hole and thumbstud yet...depends on the individual knife.
 
I have a Camillus Robo Heat. It's a decent knife and I like the assisted opening for the 'Neato!' effect. It's not necessary, but it's like having more than a couple of knives, unecessary but we do it anyway...;)
 
Of course there is a legitimate need for assisted openers. My mother who is an extremely active 71 years old needs one. She likes to shoot and she likes knives, she finds them very handy. She has a few SAKs, a couple of Spydercos, a CRKT and a SOG Flash2 assisted opener.

She is a Registered Nurse and while retired, she does do a bit of volunteer work such as visiting patients who cannot afford to pay for visiting care and free blood draws for an organization that does free HIV testing for high-risk poor.

For the most part everything is ok, but she does on rare occasions go to rougher parts of town. She is active, but arthritis unfortunately has affected her hands and makes it difficult to perform small detailed operations, and opening a one-hander requires some dexterity and coordination. The solution came one day when we went to AG Russells and the girl behind the counter suggested she try the Flash. Mom only needs to give the blade a push to start it and the rest is done by itself. She can do this fast and smooth every time.

She if familiar with basic usage as far as giving herself a chance to escape from an assault should the need arise.

So yeah, I would say in this case there is a "need" for an assisted opener.

We have to remember when we discuss "needs" and stuff that most of us here are male and having enough strength to open a knife is not a concern. But for plenty of people, there is a definite need.
 
I've got a Wild Weasel AO and a Kershaw Avalance, both very nice, both a lot of the "cool" factor. But I find myself carrying one of the two BM axis locks I have.

Main reason isn't how they open, it's how easy they are to CLOSE!

A one-handed close on the AO's takes some concentration or a finger gets in the way. Not so with the axis locks.

BTW, I never had to buy extra bandaids until I joined this forum.
 
I have both AO and non-AO, and like 'em both.

Firstly, AOs are fun to play with and there's the cool factor. Then, I see that ease of opening for people not accustomed to knives or who lack some dexterity. Furthermore, that person could be me -- as in the future, I could get arthritis or somehow accidentally get incapacitated for whatever reason (battle perhaps?) and the AO might come in handy.
 
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