Posted on 07/22/2019 5:03:33 AM PDT by w1n1
Tacti-cool May Not Be Practical - Every once and awhile, I get asked by friends of mine whether or not automatic knives are good for EDC use. Honestly, at first I wasn’t sure, as I had never owned one. I was never a big fan of the designs, and heard way too many stories about the blades deploying in someone’s pockets, stabbing their legs.
Whether or not the stories were true, the possibility of getting poked in your manhood by your own blade is totally possible with many of the knife designs that are available. There are many knife makers that have automatic knife designs; many of them are the more popular (and expensive) knife makers. Before you read on to see whether or not autos are good for EDC, I would recommend reading about the history of the design and their relationship to what's commonly called a switchblade.
While functionally similar, the two designs share slight but important differences. A switchblade opens its blade from the handle automatically with the press of a button, lever, or switch that is remotely mounted in the knife handle or bolster. In contrast, a spring-assist design uses a lever or switch mounted on the blade or connected via a direct mechanical linkage.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CARRYING AN AUTOMATIC KNIFE?
It is debatable, but generally speaking, automatics (being spring loaded) have a slightly faster deployment than an assisted opening knife. Other than that, I cannot think of anything else that would be considered a real benefit. To me there is not much of a difference between pressing a button and thumbing a stud on the blade. Read the rest of automatic knives.
I prefer assisted opening. Usually stick with Kershaw.
IMO, a most under rated knife....currently Amazon Prime price about $20.
A sad day when Schrade was sold to Taylor Cutlery.
They caught hell in Oregon, for that.
Mrs. L is quite fond of her Keyshawn Chive.
L
I’m on my 3rd. Not a bad tool. It’s my go to tool for the needle nose pliers when I’m not near my toolbox. (though not for live electric applications).
There are a few good multitool brands nowadays. But also lots of crappy ones.
I have a Wenger Swiss Army Knife on my keychain, as one should always have a knife on them.
No spring no button.
Open when it clears my pocket.
.
Everything locks when opened on the 300. A nice feature.
I don't intend to get into a knife fight but if someone gets in your face where you cannot get to your Glock and you can get to your knife then you can back them off far enough to use your Glock effectively. The knife I carry is for practical purposes and to back off a perp that is too close for me to pull my CCW.
That’s a nice looking knife....I like the “spanto” blade. Plus it’s got the Speed Safe opening. And cheap!
I have the KALS-74 mini with a 2.5" blade and it's a really nice little automatic.
I carry a small 3in blade pocketknife to my work just to have something handy whould I need it.
When working around the house I use this by CRKT:
It is larger, can be opened with a single hand, and is
*very* durable and can be taken apart in seconds without
tools for cleaning (3-4 parts).
It is remarkable (see below):
https://www.amazon.com/Homefront-Aluminum-Folding-Pocket-Knife/dp/B01GHSQTIK
Pretty much ll ya could get was some flashy crap from a cheesy flea market vendor.
Definitely nothing I'd call quality. Even tho it did have a safety. d:^)
I have carried the “Officer” Swiss Army knife for many years. It is not too large but features the tools needed in everyday life. The real question is, how in the world can people go through life without a pocketknife? Those people are cripples.
I’ve carried a Kershaw Rogue (2001 CKT) every day since 2001...Used it on the job, and it’s part of me now...
It’s a matter of keeping the mechanism clean, a drop of oil now and then, and regularly checking that the blade lock functions and using it properly...
Auto knives are no more inherently dangerous than any other cutting tool...You need to know what you’re doing and pay attention...Pretty much the best way to go thru life anyway...
Biggest laugh I ever got from a cop was being asked if I had a knife (”you hose-draggers all carry knives”; he had some rope to cut), I pressed the button and handed him my Rogue...His eyes got big and he used the knife...Handed it back to me with a giggle...Not a word about “That’s not legal”...I was in uniform so I guess I got a pass...
Yeah. I read an article about un-armed self defense one time by some grizzled old sheriff somewhere.
He said the best bet is to run away from a knife. You might take a gun away in close quarters if you’re good, but even if you are good, chances are, you’ll get cut trying to do the same with a knife.
The Leek has been my go-to knife for years; I’ve probably owned (and lost) four of them. I surrendered the last one to TSA at O’Hare when I was late for a flight and realized I still had it in my pocket.
I replaced that with a similar Kershaw with a slightly larger blade; it looked like the Shallot, but with a series of holes in the case. It was definitely one of their lower end knives, however, and it didn’t hold an edge well. When I misplaced that one a couple of weeks ago, I found this in my local gun store. It was only $25, seems to be good quality, and offers some additional functionality like a screwdriver, hex wrench, bottle opener, and ferro rod. It’s bulkier than the Leek though, so it’s more of a weekend and evening carry, not something I’ll be sporting around the office. I plan on another Leek, or maybe an Emerson, for that. Besides the bulk and weight, I do like this one quite a bit, though.
https://store.smith-wesson.com/m-pr-dual-knife-tool
“I surrendered the last one to TSA...”
Oh no! That’s a significant loss.
As for replacements...I hit on a sale at Amazon one day. Just happened to click on their homepage and there was a super sale on the Leek 1660 CKT...$35 each. I bought three...really, just to see if the purchase would actually go thru! It did, and I have lots of backups now. Occasionally, the “Blackwash” version can be found at lower than the standard $50-60 Leek price. I also have one of those.
I bought a Kershaw 1730SS (RJ Martin design) for $22 or so. It had the Speed Safe opener...I figured what-the-heck. It’s quick to open but doesn’t hold an edge and is hard to close occasionally if I’ve put a lot of pressure on the blade. It’s been relegated to my toolbox. I use it, but only abusively. I’ve been very happy with the Ken Onion designs, though.
Ditto on the Ken Onion designs. I did notice that the Leeks were listed (MSRP) for north of $100-$120 on the Kershaw website; the least expensive model on Amazon right now is the Blackwash for $42. For $42, and considering I’ve needed to buy a new one every 2-3 years, that’s not too bad - but it is why I am not worthy of a Benchmade or anything higher end for every day carry. I’ve also been considering an Emerson Wave, and I noticed some Kershaw-Emerson collaborations that incorporate the “wave” feature (you can catch it on the edge of your pocket and open the blade as it leaves your pocket) on Amazon for between $25 and $40. I might give one of those a try as my next more minimalist every day blade.
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