Why do people 'de-assist' assisted opening knives?

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Goldenlight

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Aug 25, 2016
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As the title says: why do people 'de-assist' assisted opening knives?

I have only owned one assisted opening knife, a Kershaw Whirlwind. I think. It was a long time ago. Anyway, I liked the assisted opening feature. It was quite new at the time.

But, it WAS a long time ago.

What do people see as the disadvantage, or what is undesirable about the assisted opening feature?

Is it illegal in some states?

I have never heard of this, but I have heard some states have strange knife laws.

I have a friend who lives in Texas, and all he says he can carry is a small Swiss Army knife. But he also said he doesn't know ALL the laws, and doesn't want to get in trouble because his knife is outside the law.

I have owned two German made automatic knives, (Boker) but they are illegal to carry where I live. Opening and closing them at home got old, after awhile.

I recently purchased a ZT 0456, and I REALLY like it.

I see that ZT makes several assisted opening knives. I also noticed that all of them have a 3.25 inch blade, though they have different contours. I assume this is for parts compatibility between knives.

So what am I missing? What are the pros and cons of an assisted opening knife? I would really like to hear from people on both sides of this debate.

Thanks, from the new guy.
 
Personally I de-assist mine because I don't like to have it forced open at a set rate every time I open it. I like the option to be able to open it fast or slow, single handedly. And it's also a test of smoothness :D a truly smooth knife set up properly doesn't need to be assisted imho.
 
Some folks want full control over the opening of the knife. I personally have never deassisted a knife, but frankly, it's not my favorite feature. I much prefer a well done flipper, which in nearly every respect, performs the same as an assisted open knife. I just feel like the torsion bar is a weak spot on a knife that might be purchased to use hard.

This is the idea I've gotten from threads discussing in the past. For what it's worth, it seems like many knives which are deassisted actually flip quite well afterwards. The ZT 0350 comes to mind as an example.
 
Legal reasons for me. They are a legal gray area here even though assisted openers from ZT, Kershaw and SOG are sold openly by an authorized distributor, because of the way our laws are worded.

I de-assisted a Ganzo once upon receiving it since the seller never told me that it was an assisted opener, only to find out that it was essentially crap without the spring (blade would make contact with the standoffs upon closing), where previously the spring's tension would stop it from doing so.

Nowadays I don't bother with assisted openers, no matter how much I lust after the design. If it's assisted, it's not considered anymore.
 
They don't want to deal with a lock that could potentially open in pocket, don't want an opportunity force while closing it, and because you don't have the option of it not flicking open.
I personally will never carry an assisted opening knife for all of these reasons, and instead of de-assisting the knife I just wouldn't buy it unless I absolutely loved everything else about the knife ( that's highly unlikely though )
 
I received a Kershaw from a member once. It came de-assisted. It took about a minute to re-assist it.

The spring held the knife closed as well as assisting with the opening. So much so that it was difficult to open to the point where the spring took over.

The detent was fine, so I re- de-assisted it. It was a much better knife this way.

Also had a Scallion that would just open in my pocket. I was going to de-assist it, but I just stopped carrying it instead.

I can see why folks would de-assist.
 
Goldenlight said:
As the title says: why do people 'de-assist' assisted opening knives?

I have only owned one assisted opening knife, a Kershaw Whirlwind. I think. It was a long time ago. Anyway, I liked the assisted opening feature. It was quite new at the time.

But, it WAS a long time ago.

What do people see as the disadvantage, or what is undesirable about the assisted opening feature?

Is it illegal in some states?

I have never heard of this, but I have heard some states have strange knife laws.

I have a friend who lives in Texas, and all he says he can carry is a small Swiss Army knife. But he also said he doesn't know ALL the laws, and doesn't want to get in trouble because his knife is outside the law.

I have owned two German made automatic knives, (Boker) but they are illegal to carry where I live. Opening and closing them at home got old, after awhile.

I recently purchased a ZT 0456, and I REALLY like it.

I see that ZT makes several assisted opening knives. I also noticed that all of them have a 3.25 inch blade, though they have different contours. I assume this is for parts compatibility between knives.

So what am I missing? What are the pros and cons of an assisted opening knife? I would really like to hear from people on both sides of this debate.

Thanks, from the new guy.
Click to expand...

I don't know why!? I love my mini barrage assisted knife.
144f7648043847e7d53d1beaadd93896.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
With a manual flipper, I feel that I am more in control, and closing the blade one-handed seems much easier.
 
To me, assist is kind of a novelty feature, but if a knife comes with it, I'll leave it alone. My assisted Mini Barrage is one of my favorite knives.
 
TickTock said:
.... I like the option to be able to open it fast or slow, single handedly. And it's also a test of smoothness :D a truly smooth knife set up properly doesn't need to be assisted imho.
Click to expand...

I have to agree.

On top of that, I live in an area that any switchblade over two inches is illegal. But, here's the problem, almost everybody that lives here can't tell the difference between an assisted knife and the illegal switchblade. They see my knife and assume I am breaking the law. I have better things to do with my time than have a chat with one of our city's finest because someone overreacted.

My assisted collection consist of a couple of extreme low end budget variety (gifts) plus three that I consider half-way decent. A Benchmade Volli, Kershaw Echelon, and a SOG Flash 2. I can't picture myself ever pocketing the budget knives but it is only a matter of time before the Volli and Flash 2 are both neutered and become part of my carry rotation.

I have already removed the Speed Safe spring from the Echelon and feel the knife is better de-assisted.
 
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I absolutely love everything about the ZT 0770CF BUT the assist. I figure, ok, I'll get it and take the assist out. I don't like assist for numerous reasons.

Anyway, knife sucked without the assist, so I sold. I wish it worked out.

Sent via pony express
 
For me personally, I don't mind an assisted knife if it is a flipper. If it only has a thumbstud than I do not want it assisted. I just don't like my thumb anywhere near the edge/blade if a knife is opening without manual control. The best example of this is the Kershaw Blur which many people, including myself, feel is better de assisted.
Bruce
 
If I want a flipper, I get a flipper. If I want assisted opening, I get one. There is no magic here and I use the knives as they were designed.

My first flipper and assisted opening knives were SOGs about 10-12 years ago. Both were a novelty to me at the time. Since buying the SOGs, I have purchased no additional flippers, and two or three assisted openers. The last two assisted openers were the Benchmade Mini Barrage and ZT 0770CF. Both were first knives purchased of that brand.
 
Goldenlight said:
..... snip

I have a friend who lives in Texas, and all he says he can carry is a small Swiss Army knife. But he also said he doesn't know ALL the laws, and doesn't want to get in trouble because his knife is outside the law.

........snip.
Click to expand...

If all your friend in Texas can carry is a small SAK, then it must be a workplace related limitation. Knife Rights got pre-emption passed last session, so all city/county generic limits and bans were permanently overridden.

In Texas, the only question is ...

"Is the knife in question legal to carry in public or illegal to carry in public?"

To be legal for public carry, there are only 2 criteria ::

-the blade must be less than 5.5 inches long from the front of the bolster/guard/where the guard would be if the knife had a guard to the tip, straight line distance.

- the blade must be single edged.

That's it. No open vs concealed issues. Folders, fixed, switches, balis, assisted, all good.

It's hoped that Knife Rights will get the "illegal knife" laws removed next session. They almost got it done last session, but last minute political shenanigans got in the way.

Anyone who lives in Texas (or anywhere else in the US) should join KR. It helps when the KR lobbyist is schmooozing a congressman if the "X" in "We have "X" members in Texas supporting us and this legislation."
 
They fly open and jerk around in the hand when it fly's into the locking position, undesirable to me. The #1 reason for me is because you need to put pressure on the blade to overcome the spring tension to close it, I like light and smooth opening and closing.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
If all your friend in Texas can carry is a small SAK, then it must be a workplace related limitation. Knife Rights got pre-emption passed last session, so all city/county generic limits and bans were permanently overridden.

In Texas, the only question is ...

"Is the knife in question legal to carry in public or illegal to carry in public?"

To be legal for public carry, there are only 2 criteria ::

-the blade must be less than 5.5 inches long from the front of the bolster/guard/where the guard would be if the knife had a guard to the tip, straight line distance.

- the blade must be single edged.

That's it. No open vs concealed issues. Folders, fixed, switches, balis, assisted, all good.

It's hoped that Knife Rights will get the "illegal knife" laws removed next session. They almost got it done last session, but last minute political shenanigans got in the way.

Anyone who lives in Texas (or anywhere else in the US) should join KR. It helps when the KR lobbyist is schmooozing a congressman if the "X" in "We have "X" members in Texas supporting us and this legislation."
Click to expand...

What he said. Good to carry anything that meets the criteria above.
 
I have several assisted opening knives and have never de-assisted one. I can see where someone would want to de-assist theirs to aid in ease of one-hand closing. Ease of both opening AND closing one-handed is why I like the BM Axis Lock in a non-assisted knife.

If every assisted knife pattern were also offered in a non-assisted version, then people would choose which action they wanted. However, if the knife you happen to like is the ZT 0566 for example, well, it only comes in an assisted opening variety. So if you are "gee, I'd really like to own that knife if only it weren't assisted opening" then you can buy it and de-assist and your wish is granted.
 
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