Looking For A Good Quality OTF Knife

Road Rat

Road Rat

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My better half only has her right hand and has decided she wants a knife to carry in her purse. Just for the 'normal' things us guys use knives for!:)

I bought her a nice Solingen lever knife but it doesn't work just right for her!!

Now I'm thinking about an Out-The-Front knife as she would only have to hit the button forward - no chance of the heel of her hand getting in the way.

Suggestions???
 
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I have been impressed with both Microtech HALO III and Scarab.
 
First, a spelling issue. Were you trying to spell Solingen? It's not a brand. It's a city in the Ruhr, famous for cutlery for hundreds of years. If a knife has only the city name, I'd be suspicious of the quality. Usually, they have a brand name , like Puma, Henckels, Kissing Crane, etc.

I've never heard of an "out the front knife." Might you be referring to an assisted opening knife? Kershaw has some good ones. Mine is a Model 1550ST. It's a good knife, but I'm reluctant to carry it in a pocket, lest the spring assist activate if the blade gets rubbed on something. When I carry it, it's in a Cordura belt pouch. Usually, it lives in a bookcase.

I'm not sure if I'd suggest it to a one-handed person.

Have you considered the Swiss and German military folders by Victorinox? These went into production about 2008, replacing the prior issued models. The main blade has an opening that can be used like a Spyderco blade, to pivot the blade open one-handed.

If by your term, you mean a blade that slides out of the handle point first, like the German paratrooper knife, they're generally illegal, banned as a gravity knife. Probably also a little large for your lady.

Is it legal to carry a small sheath knife where you live? The Buck Model 102 or 105 or the Puma Hunter's Pal, or the Fallkniven F-1 would be good choices. Fallkniven also has a Woman's knife that may be just what's needed. The Mora firm in Sweden offers many good, inexpensive knives, from maybe $20-25. Although both are Swedish, they are a far cry from the much more expensive Fallkniven line. Fallkniven holds a Royal Warrant of appointment to the King of Sweden for knives, and the F-1 model is the official Royal Swedish Air Force pilot's survival knife. The S-1 with five-inch blade is one of the finest all-round sheath knives ever designed. There are several sheath options.


Have you looked at Spyderco's lockblade folders? I have a Delica and a larger one, I think an Endura. I use both and they've been very satisfactory. My Spydercos have partially serrated blades, but other versions have normal edges.

A person with one hand is going to be pressed to operate any folding knife, especially one with a lock. I really think the answer is s small sheath knife, if legal.
 
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An out the front knife, if I understand the terminology correctly, is a switchblade knife in every jurisdiction. Texas legalized them a couple of years ago but not every state is okay on switchblades. Check the Iowa weapons law.

Personally, and I own at least one OTF knife, I think they're too risky to carry in anything but a sheath. Loose in a pocket or purse and eventually that button is getting pressed and the spring will send that point into something you didn't plan to stab. So let's be careful out there.

Just for the 'normal' things us guys use knives for
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Men carry knives as tools, that is true, and it is often said that a gentleman always carries a pocket knife. Assuming no illegality, for the things we generally use knives for a Swiss Army Knife is the best choice I can think of. If it's a tool, and not a weapon per se, that's what I'd give a woman. The one proviso is that she needs to know it's not a lockback. If that's a problem there are some multi-tools around that are not too big and the blades lock.
 
I'm voting for a one handed opener, like a Kershaw Leek.
Bottom knife is the Leek.
Somebody mentioned The Blur.
That's the top knife.
 

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I thank you all for your inputs.

I fixed Solingen............I didn't have the knife in front of me to get the "brand" from.............

The brand has nothing to do with my question about OTF knives but it has HUBERTUS Solingen; GESCHMIEDET ROSTFREI GERMANY on the blade (photo attached)

For those who recommend a sheaf I don't believe my wife would look just right carrying a sheaf knife around while wearing a skirt and blouse!!!:rolleyes:

Again, I appreciate your inputs and concerns. Thanks
 

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Check out a Sog Trident Tanto. Blade does not pop out from front but is a spring assist type and works great. Can usually score em for $50-60. Tanto blade is awesome.
 
She doesn't necessarily need an automatic. Many knives are one hand opening. If you want something with a spring look at the Kershaw Blur or other SpeedSafe knives, they are not automatics so you don't have to worry about legal issues. I think there is an exception in the law about automatics and those that only have the use of one hand.

There are so many one hand opening knives that it's hard to narrow the list down, but I would look at Kershaw, Spyderco, and Benchmade first.
 
I have a Microtech Troodon {yeah, it's spelled right...by the way "sheaf" is actually sheath} it is one of the best OTF knives out there. At about $450.00 it's also one of the most expensive. It is considered a switchblade or automatic knife and while not illegal to own, it is illegal to carry in my state and probably most states.
Suggest you look at the Spyderco Endura with the "wave" feature. It is not a switchblade but opens one handed even faster than any switchblade made, and it's completely legal. Well maybe not in California or Massachusetts...everything is illegal in those states!!!
 
Take a look at Benchmade. I have a model #154CM assisted opener.
Just under 3" blade, one hand operation plus it has a lock to prevent accidental opening. I use it one handed all the time. Excellent knife.
They also have a line of OTF auto's, if they're legal for her.
Disregard that model number, my error was pointed out.
That's the blade metal.
It's actually #5855BK Mini Barrage
They, of course, have many models and sizes to choose from.
 
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Too bad she can't use the Hubertus. Those are nifty little knives I've always liked. I might pick up the next one I see.

Maybe she could work with it a bit more to see if she could get used to it?
 
Cooter Brown said:
Too bad she can't use the Hubertus. Those are nifty little knives I've always liked. I might pick up the next one I see.

Maybe she could work with it a bit more to see if she could get used to it?
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Cooter, is is a very nice knife, BUT, her hand is huge and the knife is just too small. She needs a knife with a handle at least 4.25 inches. You should see her trying to buy bracelets!!!!:D
 
I think you're on the right track with an OTF. I had a huge reply ready to post and lost it,.......not gonna write it again, but OTF knives have a few advantages. They don't pop open unless you want them to pop open. No way it's going to open in a pocket or anything. You can also have a firm grasp on it while opening, unlike a side opener. There's also no chance of losing fingers if it closes inadvertently, not that it will. The locks on these knives are very strong. Only problem is that most tend to be designed as fighting knives, being too large for a lady and not really designed for general work. Still, she'd probably love one of the smaller Microtechs. BTW, you're going to want a double-action OTF, not a single-action like the Halo. You need two hands to retract a single-action. The spring loaded firing button on a DA OTF both fires and retracts the blade.

Even though they look pretty vicious, a DA OTF blade isn't under spring tension while closed. All the firing force comes from your thumb when sliding the button forward, so they're very safe to carry. Almost all come with a pocket clip and are meant to be carried unsheathed. The blade on a SA OTF is under considerable spring tension when closed so that's another reason for wanting a DA. Most DA OTF knives don't have enough power to fire through a single sheet of paper,......except in the movies.

The Microtechs start at around $200. If you would like to start out lower to see how she likes it, a Taiwanese Lightning for around $30 is still a good, reliable OTF(just not as pretty). There are also a ton of Chinese clones for around $30 that are also very good knives and they even have the smaller models available to try.
 
Also look at the Heckler & Koch OTF line of knives. These are made by Benchmade. They are more affordable than the Benchmade infidel or the Microtechs.
 
I have several OTF knives.Benchmade Infidel and a micotech are a little high in price but with OTF you get what you pay for.If your wife is limited to one hand they are a great option because the button that opens them also closes them.
 
msinc said:
I have a Microtech Troodon {yeah, it's spelled right...by the way "sheaf" is actually sheath} it is one of the best OTF knives out there. At about $450.00 it's also one of the most expensive. It is considered a switchblade or automatic knife and while not illegal to own, it is illegal to carry in my state and probably most states.
Suggest you look at the Spyderco Endura with the "wave" feature. It is not a switchblade but opens one handed even faster than any switchblade made, and it's completely legal. Well maybe not in California or Massachusetts...everything is illegal in those states!!!
Click to expand...


Thanks for correcting his spelling of "sheaf". A sheaf is a bundle of wheat. Some here also have problems spelling "knives" and write "knifes." :rolleyes:

"Troodon" is spelled that way because it's named after a dinosaur of that name. It was a nasty little brute, with a mouthful of dental knives. I think it may have also had a big foot claw for disemboweling prey animals. If memory serves, that also applied to similar species, like Deinonychus. (sp?) I haven't read about them in years; would have to check the spelling of the latter. Look 'em up: interesting predators of their day.

If you watched the syndicated TV show, "The Lost World", the "raptors" on it were representative of such smaller dinosaurs. I have read that the Jurassic Park movies messed up and used a smaller one, misnamed. (Velociraptor was really smaller.) I haven't seen those films, beyond the first.

Someone should name one of those tactical folders the Tiger Fish. Looks a lot like our striped bass, except for the arsenal in its mouth. Can reach at least 80 lbs. in some sub-species, but nasty at any size.
 
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