Automatic vs. Switchblade?

[H Richard]

This is a Kershaw Leek. Assisted opening knife. It is as fast as a switchblade to open, and legal most everywhere, where switchblades are not.

 

[Faulkner]

You've not lived until you have had a automatic knife accidentally spring open unexpectedly in your front pocket.

 

[flop-shank]

I'd buy an assisted opener before a balisong, the learning curve isn't as steep or potentially painful.

I won't disagree about the learning curve, or painful part. I will add, however, that my stubby inarticulate thumbs find balisongs far easier to open than any blade with a thumb stud. Of course others MMV on such things.

Balisongs can also be opened ambitextrously with the cutting edge oriented up, or down in a forward grip, or in or out in an icepick grip. There are also no springs to fail.

As with switchblades, check to make sure there are no state, or local unconstitutional laws regulating their carry so as to keep out of hot water.

 

[Spotteddog]

Coming originally from Illinois, where having something resembling a ball peen hammer in a mechanics tool chest qualifies as an illegal weapon, I've always wondered?
In the "shall issue" CCP state I currently reside, what brain trust was the one responsible for making automatic/assisted/switchblade knives illegal. Or is this seeming dichotomy just another example of legal schizophrenia one so often encounters?
(I won't even go into how we can "have" suppressors, but not "use" suppressors?)

 

[Jellybean]

Does automatic mean it is a switchblade, where the blade pops out by pressing a button?

While automatic does mean the blade pops out by pressing a button, not all automatics are switchblades. Some automatics are called "front openers" because their blades pop out the front when their buttons are pushed.

In the less than $100 range?

You can find a wide variety of knives at a wide variety of prices, but they will also be in a wide variety of quality. Google "automatic knives" and it should bring up a whole bunch of sites that sell them.

I've carried just about every kind of knife available at one time or another and have learned a lot, sometimes the hard way. Switchblades aren't toys and there are some available that are too dangerous to even consider putting into a pocket. Before you buy one try to learn as much as you can.

 

[Sven]

I carry a Buck Serius assisted opening. I carry it clipped inside my left pocket when my right is filled with Colt Mustang .380! Had an interesting experience at Hoover Dam. I made sure to leave the .380 AND spare magazine (that's another story from Gateway Arch in St. Louis) in the Jeep but forgot about my Buck. OK, get in line and empty your pockets into the tray. (Man I hate that!) Guy picks up the Buck and asks how does it open? So I told him and he almost went ballistic. That's a switchblade! You can't have a switch blade! Ever try explaining something to one of those guys -- like it's an assisted opening knife NOT a switchblade? Don't bother! He ended up telling me to go back to my car and lock it up. Man! That's as bad as trying to get through an airport! After all of that, I made sure to go on the long tour to make up for it.

I like my Buck -- it's a good knife for the money. I ran across a special deal and picked it up for less than $50.

 

[PDL]

I carry a Buck Serius assisted opening. I carry it clipped inside my left pocket when my right is filled with Colt Mustang .380! Had an interesting experience at Hoover Dam. I made sure to leave the .380 AND spare magazine (that's another story from Gateway Arch in St. Louis) in the Jeep but forgot about my Buck. OK, get in line and empty your pockets into the tray. (Man I hate that!) Guy picks up the Buck and asks how does it open? So I told him and he almost went ballistic. That's a switchblade! You can't have a switch blade! Ever try explaining something to one of those guys -- like it's an assisted opening knife NOT a switchblade? Don't bother! He ended up telling me to go back to my car and lock it up. Man! That's as bad as trying to get through an airport! After all of that, I made sure to go on the long tour to make up for it.

I like my Buck -- it's a good knife for the money. I ran across a special deal and picked it up for less than $50.

My Gerbers came with a small paper explaining why they're not a switchblade. That stays in my walet.

Also for those that don't do well with thumb studs, both my Gerbers and Kershaws can also be activated with an index finger.

 

[flop-shank]

I made sure to leave the .380 AND spare magazine (that's another story from Gateway Arch in St. Louis) in the Jeep but forgot about my Buck. OK, get in line and empty your pockets into the tray. (Man I hate that!) Guy picks up the Buck and asks how does it open? So I told him and he almost went ballistic. That's a switchblade! You can't have a switch blade! Ever try explaining something to one of those guys -- like it's an assisted opening knife NOT a switchblade?

Good thing you didn't blow up the damn with your pocket knife. Idiots.

 

[amd6547]

I really don't feel the need for an assisted opening knife...Been a fan of the Spyderco Endura for years. I can flip it open manually without even thinking about it, or flip it open with the inertia method.
As for Bali Song butterfly knives, I like them a lot, but cannot carry them due to Ohio law...butterfly knives are named specifically as prohibited weapons, along with nunchuks...Too much movie-hyped excitement, I guess.

 

[2152hq]

....due to Ohio law...butterfly knives are named specifically as prohibited weapons, along with nunchuks...Too much movie-hyped excitement, I guess.

Maybe next they'll add 'strike-any-where' matches & 'Chinese throwing stars' to the list like they have in NY...




I should get a good knife.....

 

[kong]

smith sells a great assisted knife about 38.00 and lightning fast