Why the hate for AO (assisted opening ) ?

Comeuppance said:
I actually addressed that in the post you quoted:

"Ringed and waved karambits might be the pinnacle of this, as you are likely also already in a proper grip and ready to go by the time the lock engages, where other waved knives would likely require a little repositioning as you finish drawing the knife."

That's what I was referring to; waved karambits are generally designed to be drawn from a position where the blade spine is anterior in the pocket, and the ring allows one to draw into a natural dagger grip without readjustment. Much like the benchmade SOCP, drawing with the index finger (or pinky, depending on how you plan to use it) puts you in a perfect position from the get-go.

Now that we've hashed that out, let's put away our Tom Clancy novels, take a cold shower, and get back to nerding out about how AO knives are for uncultured plebs.
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I must be an uncultured pleb sometimes then because for some reason there are occasionally AO knives that really tempt me.

I don’t know what it is about the Benchmade Emissary AO but something about its action is extremely satisfying vs alot of other AOs I have tried.

I have heard the argument thay AOs benefit people with arthritis but I imagine upon closing the knife any benefit would be immediately moot.

Pilsner Pilsner something about the coil spring assisted openers found on Benchmade AOs produces a very satisfying action vs. Torsion bar systems like the Speedsafe.

The Speedsafe torsion bar system is very ingenious though. I was really impressed when I first saw how it worked.
 
1. The assist is not needed.
2. Non assisted is easier to close, that's more important to me than assisted opening.
3. I like to roll a knife open quietly.
4. I want control over the blade at all times, You loose that with an assist.
5. Accidently opening in the pocket, I had a Leek open in my pocket, no harm was done.
6. A locking safety, defeats the purpose of having an assist.
7. Using an assist felt a little mall ninja silly.
 
For what it's worth, I talked my co-worker into buying his first quality folder.
He tried out some of my manual knives but struggled opening them due to his arthritis.

He ended up buying an AO and loves it.
 
Ok, I like AO knives and do think they have a place. How well they work depends on how well they are made.

However, my Benchmade Barrage is more difficult than my Griptillian for me to open because it takes a fair amount of force on the thumb stud. Not a complaint, it won't open in my pocket.

They have their place. I like them.
 
In the minority here!! I LIKE them!!:cool: Never had one open in the pocket or any other issues stated here!! To each his own!! JMO!!:D John
 
I don't hate AO knives. I own three AO knives; ZT 0770CF, Benchmade 585 Mini Barrage, and a SOG Twitch XL. SOGs were the first AO's I was exposed to and my SOG Vulcans were the first flippers I owned. I see no big issue with them although frankly I don't carry an AO very often. I think both the Benchmade and ZT are well made. The biggest thing about them for me is the noise factor opening them and the potential for one to open in your pocket. I've had no failures.

Would I buy another AO? Probably not and that's telling. I have fallen in line with the flippers and like them after resisting buying one for years after the SOG's way back in my early BF days.
 
I have had a Kershaw Leek that served as my EDC for many years. A Leek is not a big knife and it fits easily and securely in the watch pocket of my 501's. No chance it can open by accident, and the tip lock has been broken on it for years. It was perfect for my working conditions, which is pulling network cable above ceiling tiles, below cable decks in server rooms and inside server racks. I never needed to take my hand off what needed trimming to ready my knife and I valued that immensely. No hate of AO knives from me. They have their place.
I was something of a scofflaw carrying it daily for well over 10 years in NYC. The only reason I do not carry it today is due to the legal troubles a friend ended up with following a random police encounter in the subway - yep, exposed pocket clip warranted closer examination of his knife. A clean record is important to work in some of the places my job takes me to so I decided I should learn from his mistake and make a change. I now use a short stiff slip joint which has its obvious disadvantages, but there is virtually no way I am gonna get in trouble for carrying it.
In any event, the search for something suitable and undeniably legal has fueled several knife purchases over the past 6 months. Tell me that's not a load of fun!
 
Hmm....I always wonder why people hate inanimate objects, but oh well...

I dislike AO knives for many of the reasons already stated.

strategy9 said:
IMO, consciously or unconsciously, we like non AO better, because we know they (AO) are less refined...

Head to head, AO knives tend to "usually" be cheaper then their high quality counterparts. The AO mechanism seems to me, to simply be a way to overcome small deficiencies in overall build quality. A well built and refined (and usually comparatively more expensive) knife is built to tighter tolerances, and they usually can and will open as quick and sometimes even more effortlessly as any AO.
Whereas AO snaps open, it also has more moving parts, which also means more parts to potentially fail, and so, while often more affordable, and "does the same thing", the level of overall refinement is just typically not there, and we enjoy quality mixed with simplicity in one of the oldest tools known to man. So a well executed manual is preferred.
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^This is an excellent point. Often AO can be used to cover up poor quality and fit/finish. Another main reason I dislike AO is the lack of closing detent ball. I don't like relying on the AO mechanism to keep the knife closed. It it breaks the knife can open at will.

Will I automatically dismiss a knife because of AO? No, but there had better be several other positive factors that out way the AO.

And yes, if I want speed, strength, and hassle free dexterity I go fixed blade. Then again it is legal for me to do so....
 
No hate for those that like em. Personally I love knives because of their simplistic reliability. That’s why I like fixed blades the most, then simple rigged folders next. For me, auto’s are more complicated mechanisms and therefore less reliable/durable. Of course with modern technology this is changing lol. But I still like me a solid junk of steel.
 
I don’t have many AOs but do like my inexpensive Kershaws. Leek, Link and a couple of Chinese models. They are fun to play with and work well in the winter when I wear gloves.

I doubt I would spend much more than $50 for an AO though...
 
Lapedog said:
I honestly do not think an auto is any faster than a good manual knife, particularly a flipper. In the same ammount of time it takes for me to push a button with my thumb I can push a thumb stud or a flipper.
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Why do we care how fast a knife opens? I can't recall ever having a cutting task that required a fast deployment.

n2s
 
not2sharp said:
Why do we care how fast a knife opens? I can't recall ever having a cutting task that required a fast deployment.

n2s
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He's talking in a practical tactical type sense. Doesn't make much sense here in gkd but it would in that particular subforum.
 
not2sharp said:
Why do we care how fast a knife opens? I can't recall ever having a cutting task that required a fast deployment.

n2s
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Self Defense? Beyond that, I agree. My Case traditionals can open the same clamshell packaging as any assisted knife and I would hope that my chances of having to pull a knife quickly to defend myself are less than negligible.
 
AO is not a deal breaker for me. I really like my Leeks, and the Mini Barrage is one of my favorite knives. Carrying tip-down obviates much of the risk of opening in the pocket (just as with a floppy Opinel), and has little to no effect on ease of deployment. The issue is largely moot for me in any case, as I carry OHOs only infrequently.
 
Henry Beige said:
AO is not a deal breaker for me. I really like my Leeks, and the Mini Barrage is one of my favorite knives. Carrying tip-down obviates much of the risk of opening in the pocket (just as with a floppy Opinel), and has little to no effect on ease of deployment. The issue is largely moot for me in any case, as I carry OHOs only infrequently.
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I'm just picturing carrying right-handed tip down in the right front pocket, and the hilarious circumcision related hijinks that could ensue. :eek: I think I will stick to tip up, with the blade facing the outside seam of the pocket... ;)
 
I said earlier that autos are absolutely faster, once learned, but now that I think of it, I don't think they're faster than a good flipper.

...Or even any easier to open under stress.
 
91bravo said:
If anything, folks should practice drawing from concealed and firing off two accurate shots. This is where speed can actually save your life.
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Yes.

Another reason I dislike AO is they are not fully one hand open and close for me. I have to put thought and technique into closing an AO knife. One of the main reasons I carry a modern one hand opening knife is the convenience of opening AND closing with one hand. Often times I'm holding with one hand what needs cutting and use more other hand to extract, open, cut, close, and put away the knife. Sometimes this happens in compromising positions like on a ladder. Easy one hand opening and closing is essential for this. An OTF auto is ideal.
 
craytab said:
Yes.

Another reason I dislike AO is they are not fully one hand open and close for me. I have to put thought and technique into closing an AO knife. One of the main reasons I carry a modern one hand opening knife is the convenience of opening AND closing with one hand. Often times I'm holding with one hand what needs cutting and use more other hand to extract, open, cut, close, and put away the knife. Sometimes this happens in compromising positions like on a ladder. Easy one hand opening and closing is essential for this. An OTF auto is ideal.
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I don’t need my blades to open like lightning. I need my blades to lock up solid and have a razor sharp edge. I see what you’re saying about closing an AO. I don’t like the spring tension when closing, especially with gloves on or out in the freezing cold weather, or like you, high up on a ladder.
 
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