Automatic Knife (switchblade)

Benchmade 3550 is one of my favorites. I carry it every day on duty.
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Another excellent knife is the Benchmade Mini Infidel.
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I own a couple of assisted-opening knives. My EDC is a Benchmade 585, extremely fast and easy to open. Actually, my 551 Griptilian is almost as fast without any spring assist. The Kershaw Leek is not quite as quick, but is very slim and elegant. Although it is very easy with the thumb stud, I like the option of using the forefinger.

This evening I stopped into my local cigar store just across the river. As I often do, I parked illegally to run in and pick up a few smokes. As I also often do, I tarried for a few minutes to look at a couple of nice Benchmade knives under the counter. I was dismayed to learn from the counterman that my assisted knives are illegal in Sconny, and that in his day job he is a St. Croix County Deputy. We had a good chuckle over that one.
 
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Eh. Waffling motion with hand. Many states have laws on the books specifically prohibiting the carry of automatic opening knives. These are hold overs from the "Rebel Without a Cause" era juvenile delinquent panic in some cases, Prohibition area hold overs in others.

Legally, one isn't supposed to ship across state lines save for certain authorized users.

Residents of Oregon can of course buy Benchmades at the mall or wherever, since they are made in Oregon and legal there.

While Benchmade is among the best known brands, Gerber also makes some perfectly acceptable models (which also see official issue alongside the Benchmades).

Given the legal status, in some places it is easier to just carry a fixed blade. (Kabar's new "Death Dagger" from the Zombie Killer line has a wonderfully politically correct name that is family friendly...)
 
To everyone saying a manual can be opened one handed and is as fast as an auto I say... not in my experience.

I tried the Spiderco and similar knives and never could manipulate the blade smoothly with one hand. I routinely carry a small (2" or so) auto knife. I used to lose them all the time (haven't in a while, though) so I bought a bag full of cheap ones ($10-$15) as I don't need anything heavy duty.

When I was putting together a fancy rig from El Paso Saddlery I ordered a knife sheath and filled it with an auto Buck 110. This may be a conversion rather than a factory auto but it works just fine. I find it very impressive when that 4" blade comes flying open.


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Two examples of extremely easy to open and extremely fast in opening knives:

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They both give a very positive feel on the thumb stud and a loud pop noise when they lock back. One was way more than I will ever spend on a pocket knife ever again and one was pretty cheap and reasonable. Go figure which one shows more wear...

And no springs to get me in trouble.
 
SaxonPig said:
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When I was putting together a fancy rig from El Paso Saddlery I ordered a knife sheath and filled it with an auto Buck 110. This may be a conversion rather than a factory auto but it works just fine. I find it very impressive when that 4" blade comes flying open.
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Earlier Poster's link shows one of these for sale. It did catch my eye but at $150, I may have to think twice.
 
blujax01- They are not cheap. I paid $125 for mine. But sometimes you have pay to get what you want. It's only money.

Moonman- Technically here in AR it's illegal to carry an auto knife but the cops ignore it as long as you aren't a felon or doing something illegal. I have handed mine over to police several times when entering "secure" buildings and it's always been returned upon departure without comment.
 
Did they even have a clue it was an auto or did they just assume Buck 110 folder...? I'm just curious if the same thing would have happened with an Italian type auto. At a glance, the 110 auto conversions are pretty under the radar while these:

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Not so much under the radar... And yes, they are all in the cheap and cheesy but fun category.

These are not in that same class:

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We aren't allowed autos either...but I always found the out the fronts had a handle way to big for the amount of blade. I carry a Camillus Heat Assist. The blade has a lip on the rear and I find it faster to manipulate with my index finger than the thumb stud.

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Does Smith & Wesson still sell/make automatic knives? I have one that I bought back in the mid 90's that I have tried to figure the value on but have found no references to current offerings. One guy told me he can still get S&W auto knifes but of course did not say where.
 
sipowicz said:
We aren't allowed autos either...but I always found the out the fronts had a handle way to big for the amount of blade. I carry a Camillus Heat Assist. The blade has a lip on the rear and I find it faster to manipulate with my index finger than the thumb stud.

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I have the same knife with the partially serrated blade. It's the fastest /sharpest AO I've seen. Every time I open it I get cut. It's the Devil's work. It resides in a iron box with a chain around it blessed by the church.
 
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I carry a S&W automatic on my duty belt and experianced a situation last year that supported my decision to carry an automatic knife.

Was in my patrol car sitting at a traffic light we a head on collision happened right in front of me. I radioed dispatch of the situation and got out to check on injuries. One male passenger bleeding a good bit and I put on my rubber gloves and applied pressure to the injury. I ended up with blood on both hands and needed to cut the seat belt and reached for my knife. Boy, blood on rubber gloves can sure be slippery, but I got the knife out, hit the button, and got the seat belt cut.

Later I got to thinking, I don't know if it would have been that easy with an assisted open knife rather than an automatic.
 
Smith & Wesson Assisted opening knives

I purchased a S & W, H.R.T. out the front, at Smokey Mountain Knife Works, in Tenn, several years ago. They are not in the catalog but they have several styles in the store. I am told that these are legal in Pa because they are not spring opened. The S & W has a lock so it can't open in your pocket. That could be nasty. When I was a police officer I carried a switch blade, when I retired I sold the ones that I had. Switch blades without locks will open in your pocket. The better ones now have locks.
 
Faulkner said:
I carry a S&W automatic on my duty belt and experianced a situation last year that supported my decision to carry an automatic knife.

Was in my patrol car sitting at a traffic light we a head on collision happened right in front of me. I radioed dispatch of the situation and got out to check on injuries. One male passenger bleeding a good bit and I put on my rubber gloves and applied pressure to the injury. I ended up with blood on both hands and needed to cut the seat belt and reached for my knife. Boy, blood on rubber gloves can sure be slippery, but I got the knife out, hit the button, and got the seat belt cut.

Later I got to thinking, I don't know if it would have been that easy with an assisted open knife rather than an automatic.
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...and this is why I would like to carry a switchblade. I feel that these switchblade laws still on the books in many states were never really relavent and are in the same category as tying your car to a hitching post on Main St. when parking in 2011.

LOOOOOoooooooog past being absoulete
 
sipowicz said:
We aren't allowed autos either...but I always found the out the fronts had a handle way to big for the amount of blade. I carry a Camillus Heat Assist. The blade has a lip on the rear and I find it faster to manipulate with my index finger than the thumb stud.

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I had one of these before I bought my Benchmade, it was wicked fast.

I've tried a couple of the S&W autos and was not impressed, the springs were not very strong. If you stopped the blade midway through opening then released it the springs did not have enough strength to pull it open the rest of the way, couldn't overcome the blade lock. Of course, that was several years ago, maybe they're better now.
 
I don't necessarily carry these, they're too big and it's illegal, but I do use the top one a lot for around the house stuff like opening boxes, mail, arteries, etc. I bought these from SKM in Italy. They are quality made heavy knives.

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Moonman said:
Switchblades will probably get you into trouble in this state.
Carrying, NO, Collecting YES.
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The legal definition is clear as mud in Ohio....

I am not sure if still true and / or accurate but any one handed auto opening knife in Ohio use to get you in trouble. I love my Balisong butterfly with the Tanto style blade. I use to carry it without thinking about it. I was at Home Depot and needed to cut some tie down string. I flipped it out and did the spin opening and had a few people give me a very weird look. Having a CHL/CCW I really do not want to have any reason to get in trouble having a switchblade or one handed automatic knife so I went back to a good folding knife (Cold Steel Tanto).

I carry a fixed blade folder (Cold steel) with thumb lever.
 
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