I have 2 friends who carry Benchmade automatic knives as an EDC. Both live in Oregon where automatic knives are for the most part, no big deal for non-criminals over 18.

I suppose the advantage is fast one-hand opening of the knife. But I'm curious why I don't see more discussion about automatic knives as EDC's (for places where they are legal)

I suppose the disadvantages are the cost of the knives, they seem to be very expensive, the limited selection is certainly a drawback, and the legal concerns should someone accidentally cross into a state where such knives are illegal.

I don't have any specific question, just wondering why there isn't more discussion about automatics as EDC's.

I'm sure you've answered your own question. Good quality autos usually cost more and are limited in where they can be carried in most locales.

In the meantime here's some of my EDC autos.


Microtech Ultratech and Halo III


Halo III


Microtech SCARAB


I also routinely carry a Benchmade Striker and AFO.

I carried one in the military. What I found is they are actually slower to deploy than knives that use a centrifugal movement to open. So add slower to deploy and requires fine motor skills and percise finger placement to deploy.

Please pardon my lack of knowledge, but what would be some examples of centrifugal movement knives?

And how do the automatic knives compare to some of the Kershaw "assisted opening" knives?

quote:

Please pardon my lack of knowledge, but what would be some examples of centrifugal movement knives?

And how do the automatic knives compare to some of the Kershaw "assisted opening" knives?

The centrifugal knife that I used was a Gerber combat folding knife. When clipped in the pocket it could be drawn and opened with a flick of the wrist. I am not sure if centrifugal knife is a real knife industry term. I found it in Washington code about knives you are not allowed to carry. Washington state doesn't allow knives or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement.
For me knives you can "fling" open were always faster than automatics from the carrier.

I've carried a benchmade 3550 every day for years and it has served me well. There is no restriction in Arizona regarding automatic knives (though I think the city of Phoenix may have recently changed their codes) but most of the people I know don't carry autos because of the cost. Sure, you can get one for $10 at the gun show, but it's not the quality of knife that you would want to carry/use every day.

I've got several higher end autos - Benchmade, Microtech and Protech, that I mainly carry for the CDI factor and seldom when working. I cannot operate them any faster than an Endura or Delica, my 2 standards for working knives.

I also have this stupid concern about the longevity and reliability of the springs in autos. Everyday I trust my life to gunsprings, but I don't have the same level of confidence in the springs in auto knives. Maybe if Wolff made retrofit kits.....

I carry a Benchmade Stryker from before they cost a bazillion dollars. I like auto knives because I think they are the safest way to open a knife one handed or two handed. I know lots of guys who have non-autos or assisted opening knives that are "faster" than mine, but, big deal.

+1
the fastest to deploy knife I have is a MT Manual SOCOM that I have breathed on (took apart and tweaked the action). It will open with a slight flick of the wrist and is my EDC. I have the autos for their coolness factor and their safety in opening. I trust the springs in them as much as any gun spring. YMMV of course. I take them all apart to see how they are set up, about 4 basic variants, and have the springs to fix nearly all of them.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
Please pardon my lack of knowledge, but what would be some examples of centrifugal movement knives?

And how do the automatic knives compare to some of the Kershaw "assisted opening" knives?

I don't own any auto knives, but the ones that I carry either has a flipper, or is spring assisted. Kershaw Junkyard Dog II and CRKT M18-14 are my flip-opens; Kershaw Shallot is my assisted.

I personally don't think they are worth the money. There are plenty of knives out there for much less money that can be opened quickly and easily with one hand. Try out a Kershaw Assisted open like the Kershaw Leek or even the Kershaw ENER-G which is not assisted open, but still can be opened very fast with one hand. Less money, no legal issues and it still opens fast with one hand.