Why not High end AO

G

greenstuffs

Joined
Aug 29, 2006
Messages
84
Why so much hostility against AO folders? i mean they all cost around $50 and people look at them like ninja mall gear. Its not taken very seriously. Myself i haven't seen a AO for more than $150 and the people that buys them just use them as beaters. And there aren't any custom or high end maker that produces them.
I haven't seen yet to date an AO that i really want, may be the titanium leek, but the thing is so small and would prefer a drop point grind.
 
Well, I think the Blue/Green Bump and Camillus Dominator cost something like 160, and the ZT0300 is 300 dollars.

AO just seems unecessary...I have three AO knives, and they're great, but I can open a knife faster than AO can and still have the option of opening it slowly for around other people.

Basically, it's just an unecessary addition...I'm glad the option exists, but it's more of a curiosity than the mainstay. I'll take a manual...I just wrote a post about how much I liked the Spec Bump, price considered, relative to the ZT0200--but I might buy the 0200 just because it's a manual

I think you might be confused though, there are plenty of high end (for production folders) AOs out there in Kershaw's lineup, not to mention the Benchmade Apparition and some camilluses.
 
For the record, both Darrel Ralph and Ken Onion have expensive as hell AOs and these are world class makers IMHO.
 
I think a lot of the cold response they sometimes get comes from the fact that they often freak non-knife-people out and are mistakenly viewed as "switchblades." I have a couple lower-end Kershaw and SOG AOs and think they're great fun to play with but tend not to carry them that much. For me, I don't really need the AO aspect and don't want to get hassled with the "OMG!!!! He's got a switchblade!!!!" reaction of people.

That said, there are several AOs on my list to accumulate. :D As far as higher end ones go, have you checked out the Kershaw Spec Bump and Offset? The Zero Tolerance 0300 looks VERY nice too.
 
trout #2 said:
I think a lot of the cold response they sometimes get comes from the fact that they often freak non-knife-people out and are mistakenly viewed as "switchblades." I have a couple lower-end Kershaw and SOG AOs and think they're great fun to play with but tend not to carry them that much. For me, I don't really need the AO aspect and don't want to get hassled with the "OMG!!!! He's got a switchblade!!!!" reaction of people.

That said, there are several AOs on my list to accumulate. :D As far as higher end ones go, have you checked out the Kershaw Spec Bump and Offset? The Zero Tolerance 0300 looks VERY nice too.
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Yeah ZT do look very nice, haven't checked the Kershaw Spec Bump, i saw a S30V leek for a very nice price, but it had liner lock so that was a turn off. I would like to get one just to play with. I guess i would have to go to the next knife show and handle them before making any decision.
 
I carry and use the heck out of my Spec Bump. I've also had an Onion Boa that I used and carried, but that was several years ago and I ended up selling it for a ridiculous profit.
 
There are plenty of Expensive AO knives. I really don't see any negativity towards them here. Some people don't care for them, but if anyone says they are just a mall-ninja thing they are being ignorant.
 
trout #2 said:
For me, I don't really need the AO aspect and don't want to get hassled with the "OMG!!!! He's got a switchblade!!!!" reaction of people.
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Just out of curiousity, what is the difference of reaction of people witnessing a blade being deployed AO or using a "flicker"?

Here's a hot tip for all of you......If you make a big deal out of opening a knife in public you will be hassled. If you stealthily remove your knife from carry position, hold handle along side your leg, and open blade.....hey, most people won't even know that you even HAVE a knife, let alone an opened one.

It's all about how cool you are. If you are looking for a reaction, you generally tend to get one.

I have been employed at 6 different places in the last 10 years. The one time that I got hassled for a knife at work, I was deserving of it, and learned from it. That was 9 years ago.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
When I deploy an AO, or any folder- I usually leap onto a table and grunt like a constipated ninja, holding the blade above my head, I snap it open and let out a bloodcurdling scream, then procede to jab rapidly at everyone's face.

I finally cut whatever I need to cut, with windmilling full arm slashes, dropping F Bombs at high volume.

I encourage everyone to do the same.
 
Flippers have the option to be opened conventionally via thumbstud. Like a dual action automatic kind of thing.

In that sense, an AO with on/off like the cyclone is very nice.
 
I think AO's are great for people that have medical issues, and CAN NOT open a regular knife. I have heard from several people, that if it weren't for AO, they would not be able to open a knife. I am glad that there is this option for people!

I have had a few AO's; most Kershaw's. But, the novelty of AO wore off. I too CAN open my blade faster than an AO can open too. But that is neither here, nor there.


It has already been mentioned; but Darrel Ralph & Ken Onion make high end AO's!!
 
Well lets see.... a Ken Onion AO goes for around $2000 and up if you could even find one. Brian Tighe's new AO is only in the 500-600 range so theres the lower end of the spectrum. I'd say ao is available in any price knife you could want, Darrel Ralph offers AO on most of his blades doesnt he? I see no problem or lack of nice ao's.
 
Well some smaller blades are harder to manipulate and open, and flicking them open doesn't work that well due to lack of blade mass. Here is were AO is very helpful.
 
Kohai999 said:
Just out of curiousity, what is the difference of reaction of people witnessing a blade being deployed AO or using a "flicker"?
Click to expand...

I don't use fast or showy openings in public or around people I don't know so I couldn't say. The beauty of a manual flipper, like someone else pointed out, is that you can still deploy it in a slow controlled fashion if you choose.
 
trout #2 said:
I don't use fast or showy openings in public or around people I don't know so I couldn't say. The beauty of a manual flipper, like someone else pointed out, is that you can still deploy it in a slow controlled fashion if you choose.
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Again, man, it is about skills.

AO the knife open, cup the blade in your hand, and manual the rest of it OR overtighten, and the AO become a non issue, and for those that just can't stand that pesky torsion bar, tear it out, but lose the detent action in the process.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I consider Ao's a convenience for situations where you cannot open the knife safely any way else. So... I enjoy the few I have even though I don't use them often.

mmmotorcycle
 
Kohai999 said:
Just out of curiousity, what is the difference of reaction of people witnessing a blade being deployed AO or using a "flicker"?
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I know! I know! (/me raises hand)

Nothing?

Kohai999 said:
Here's a hot tip for all of you......If you make a big deal out of opening a knife in public you will be hassled.
Click to expand...
Yup. I carry either a Delica 4 or CUDA EDC on work days. Nobody's ever looked twice when I opened either, casually, for use. But twice, when I wasn't thinking, while I was conversing with colleagues, I absent-mindedly took the knife out of my pocket and was opening/closing it. Noticed the looks, and casually put it away. One time one of my colleagues "jokingly" said something about it. Stupid thing to do on my part. Very stupid the 2nd time. Gotta stop that absent-minded behaviour.
 
Well, if you live in a place where AO is either illegal, OR is likely to become so when the lawmakers become aware of it (such is the case with MA), then an AO knife just becomes one more knife that you might not get to carry eventually. I like the ZT knives, but don't want the hassle. I'd rather have a flipper.
 
SpyderJon said:
...., then an AO knife just becomes one more knife that you might not get to carry eventually. I like the ZT knives, but don't want the hassle. I'd rather have a flipper.
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Weeeellllll-The ZT200 is a non AO flipper, and I think the best of the lot!!

Congratulations! Excellent decision.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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