Why no love for self assist?

V

Vlade

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Feb 8, 2020
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I noticed the trend where most knife users and collectors do not like self assisted opening knives. I myself happen to really like self-assisted opening knives and I seem to be the minority. For those of you who do not like self-assisted opening knives can you explain why you feel this way. From what I've observed most do not like them. Is it because of the maintenance? Or is it something else? I'm just curious thanks fellas
 
I typically prefer the methodical opening action of a CRK like Sebenza. But I can open it fast or slow and have never felt I “need” assistance in opening a knife.

If I want flipper action, Shiro is top of the mountain for me. It’s only done through tuning and detent and gives incredibly smooth and fast action but still feels like I have more control than an assisted opening.

Also not having extra parts like springs give more peace of mind for long term use and maintenance.

I’m not a hater to assisted opening, and don’t take this the wrong way but assisted opening has always seemed like an elementary step into the knife world. I’ve never seen a high end maker or company use assisted opening.
 
I don't mind assisted opening knives, but I don't prefer them. I like to be able to slow-roll my knives open, and while I was able do this with every assisted knife I've ever owned it involved awkward hand positions and wasn't as enjoyable or practical as just not having the assist there in the first place.

Also, while there's something satisfying about the thwack of a good assisted knife (like the ZT 0350), for me it's generally less satisfying on some lizard-brain level than the action of a good manual knife.

Here are some threads from the past couple years that you might enjoy. :)

Why would anyone go for an assisted knife?

I was thinking about this and decided to make an account to see if there is a counterpoint to my severely judgmental position that assisted knives are only attractive to basic B's. Other than the fact that any kind of assist is illegal where I live, I believe that every assisted blade is...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Assisted Opening - Do we really hate it, or is it a stigma?

Hello knife lovers, As many/most knife enthusiasts, I am not a fan of assisted opening, although I appreciate how smart the mechanism(s) is/are. Also, the story of Ken Onion inventing it and challenging the authorities is fascinating. A bit less than a year ago I found a ZT 0357BW for a price...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Do you like assisted opening knives?

Never had an AO knife before as I’ve always been happy with my manual knives. I’d love to read thoughts on this though. What do you like about AO knives?
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
I like autos. I like folders. But I really don't like "in between" ones at all.

Ended up going on a camping trip with one, and tossed it after the trip. I bit my thumb on it multiple times - the only way to semi-safely open it is to flick it full-force. And if you do that, why bother with a half-assed spring? It also jumped partly open when I tossed it into a bag and hit a book. Exactly what you want when packing.

There may be a place for sharp objects that unpredictably self-operate, but it isn't my pocket.
 
I have a couple assisted Kershaws that I bought early on and haven't really gelled with.
When using the thumb stud I always feel like I'm going to run my thumb up the blade as it takes off, which is fairly unsettling. At least the Leak is a flipper as well, so I can make it work. The Blur (thumb only) just sits, which is too bad because it's a cool looking knife in green.
I haven't bought an assisted knife since, they just aren't for me.
 
It is easy to assume that the views on this forum are a "world-view" when in reality we here are the lunatic-fringe of the knife buying world. I say that affectionately, as I am a mid-level knife lunatic myself.

The fact is that assisted openers are a good selling item. The Kershaw Leek was, and still may be, Kershaw's best selling knife for years.

A good point was made above about most assisted knives are low to mid level knives, but again, that is the bread and butter of any really large knife company.

My Benchmade 890 isn't a low end knife, but does have a very interesting assist mechanism.

I know that with an assisted opener, I will have to defeat the lock and then press the spine of the blade against my leg or something to assist in closing against the opening mechanism. Alternatively I might have to perform a one handed manipulation which is complicated by the spring resistance. That is my only issue with assisted opening.

It is interesting to see some topics pop back up on the forum, as long as it isn't that "whyremovepricesonsoldlistings" topic. ;p
 
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I edc my knives but more importantly I do travel and assisted and autos always fall into legal grey areas in different parts of the country so I'd rather not deal with the hassle.
 
I have several Kershaw “assisteds“ and genuinely like and use them regularly. I also have many autos, flippers, thumb stud openers etc. I enjoy them all but never quite understood the dislike shown by the knife community toward assisted knives in general.
 
During the height of the flipper craze, it was not uncommon for companies to release entry level flippers with assist to make up for an otherwise inferior action, giving them a reputation for low quality. That is not always the case obviously, but it can explain some people's aversion to them.

Also, when it comes to something like assisted AXIS lock knives, I've personally always felt like all the assist did was limit ease of one hand closing while not making the knife deploy any faster than an unassisted AXIS.
 
We have a saying in Germany: "Nichts ganzes und nichts halbes", meaning; "nothing whole and nothing half". Give me a manual or an automatic, not this in between nonsense. Assisted knives have gained a negative reputation because many cheap, low quality knives use it as a crutch to cover up an otherwise atrocious action. Like cheap gas station flippers that wouldn't even work if it wasn't for the spring.

Either make a well executed manual, or go automatic. IMO no self respecting maker should manufacture assisted knives, there is just no place for them. I know that not all of them are cheap crap, but I just cant see them any other way.
 
I prefer the total control afforded by a manual. The spring assist really adds nothing but the "thwack". Manuals are just as easy to deploy. And manuals are much easier to close one handed. I have a Kershaw Blur that I bought almost 20 years ago. It's a great knife but it is and will be my only assisted knife.
 
Olumin said:
We have a saying in Germany: "Nichts ganzes und nichts halbes", meaning; "nothing whole and nothing half". Give me a manual or an automatic, not this in between nonsense. Assisted knives have gained a negative reputation because many cheap, low quality knives use it as a crutch to cover up an otherwise atrocious action. Like cheap gas station flippers that wouldn't even work if it wasn't for the spring.

Either make a well executed manual, or go automatic. IMO no self respecting maker should manufacture assisted knives, there is just no place for them. I know that not all of them are cheap crap, but I just cant see them any other way.
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I don't get that saying. From your explanation, it seems like it should be "only whole, nothing half." No wonder I couldn't learn German.
 
I have a lot more unassisted knives than assisted however I actually like the 2 Benchmade assisted knives I have (Barrage model), probably won’t get more but still put them in my edc rotation. To each their own.
 
snuffle said:
I like autos. I like folders. But I really don't like "in between" ones at all.

Ended up going on a camping trip with one, and tossed it after the trip. I bit my thumb on it multiple times - the only way to semi-safely open it is to flick it full-force. And if you do that, why bother with a half-assed spring? It also jumped partly open when I tossed it into a bag and hit a book. Exactly what you want when packing.

There may be a place for sharp objects that unpredictably self-operate, but it isn't my pocket.
Click to expand...
Half assed spring 👍that's funny stuff.😂
 
I don’t have any dislike for assisted opening knives, although as Knives&Lint Knives&Lint pointed out, the axis lock ones never made sense to me.

The knife below was assisted opening, and I loved that thing, in spite of being what some might consider “low-end” compared to the rest of my collection. Sucker hit so hard it wanted to jump outa yer hand. It’s been lost for about three years now. Ida bought another if they weren’t long discontinued. (It must’ve been too good a knife for SOG to continue production.)

 
They’re fun, but for me more of a gee gaw. I had a Benchmade Nitrous Stryker. It was cool and worked well. In the end, it just didn’t “click” with me.
 
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