My First Auto Knife

[LoboGunLeather]

A couple of years ago I decided to order an automatic knife. My home state removed legal prohibitions, essentially treating autos the same as any other pocket knife (open carry is generally okay, 3.5" blade length is max for other uses).

I went with the Boker 'Magnum' model. Very sturdy knife with solid hand-filling contoured aluminum grip, 3.25" AUS-8 stainless blade with a mild hollow grind and spear point, pocket clip, and a recessed operating button that eliminates the need for a separate 'safety' or locking mechanism.

As the OP noted, edge condition on delivery was only functionally sharp and benefited greatly from some careful attention and honing. The AUS-8 steel has maintained a good edge very well and seldom needs any attention.

Automatic opening was a bit sluggish when new. A drop of oil on the pivot pin and a few repetitive operations provided a very snappy operation.

This has been my daily pocket knife for the past two years or so and I am very comfortable with it. Shortly after receiving the Boker I took a trip through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, so I did some research on knife laws prior to going. Restrictions vary considerably, from blade lengths to outright prohibition as "switchblades", so this is a matter for each user to pay close attention to. Simply because you live in a state with minimal restrictions (like my own) does not mean you are exempt from the local and state laws you may encounter elsewhere.

For those places where I can't have my Boker I still keep my old Gerber thumb-stud folding knife, but even that could be a problem in some areas due to a blade length of about 3-1/8". I've been carrying a pocket knife since I was about 8 years old, and I can't imagine going out of the house without one any more than I would leave my wallet. But common sense demands caution when travelling.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I was excited when Texas finally legalized carrying auto openers about 4 years ago. I bought 3 of them. Bokers. Pretty nice knives for the money actually. The novelty wore off pretty fast when I came across the Ken Onion Blur. It is not an auto opener, but an assisted opener.

I found it to be easier and faster than the auto knives and no worries about it popping open in my pocket.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Automatic opening was a bit sluggish when new. A drop of oil on the pivot pin and a few repetitive operations provided a very snappy operation.

Fortunately, mine was quite snappy out of the box. Even has a bit of "recoil," if that makes sense.

For those places where I can't have my Boker I still keep my old Gerber thumb-stud folding knife, but even that could be a problem in some areas due to a blade length of about 3-1/8".

That's the main reason I had my Delica's blade shortened to 2.5".

 

[NCBeagle]

Nice auto knife. Wish that I could carry one here in NC without concern. NC allows auto knives but not concealed, in pocket or otherwise.

 

[Retired W4]

Nice auto knife. Wish that I could carry one here in NC without concern. NC allows auto knives but not concealed, in pocket or otherwise.

That is strange. How are you supposed to carry it, hanging from a lanyard on your belt? The whole mystique about evil "switch blades" was created by Hollywood in the '50's as I remember. Only hoodlums carried them in the movies. They should be treated like any other knife. My Dalton is with me every time I put my pants on.

 

[Chukar60]

Black finished blades are great for show and tell. The finish does not hold up worth beans.
I bought this Benchmade for my birthday a couple years ago. I have been toting around an automatic opener for at least 5 years. I would not go back to a manual or assisted opener for love nor money. This one opens quick and stays closed even with the safety off.
You can see it does not get treated with kid gloves. It is my daily carry, work and hunting blade. I gave up on small gentleman knives a long time ago. Always found myself wanting for a larger blade. Cannot tell any difference in my pocket between this and one with a 1" shorter and thinner blade. Blade on this knife is 3 3/4".
If you look at the picture, the edge is showing a pretty good burr. It got honed right after the pics were taken. I have only had to actually sharpen it twice so far.

 

[NCBeagle]

Black finished blades are great for show and tell. The finish does not hold up worth beans.

Well, for what it's worth, I think that looks just fine. Sort of like honest wear on a blued revolver.

 

[Rpg]

When I was 7, I traded into a switchblade.

I carried it to the movies one Saturday and discovered it would go off in my pocket. Poked me pretty good.

Some months later, I showed it to cousin Bob. Bob was impressed and told my Dad about my switchblade.

Dad confiscated and destroyed the switchblade.

I was mad at Bob for years .

 

[Chukar60]

My only bad experience with an auto was with CRKT.
It opened in my pocket several times. Once I forgot to put the safety on and it sliced my Levis really good.
Went through two knives via their customer service dept. Third time I requested another model and never heard back from them again. Turn about is fair play.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I think I'd like to get an Italian stiletto at some point, not for any practical reason but just to have. They're just so iconic.

 

[shamrocker]

I have been EDC an auto for 30 years or so. I have many but my EDC for the last 18 years is a microtech lightfoot. It has a thumb stud and works like a manual folder with a lock open. It is a great Auto if you know where the hidden "button" is to open it. I went with it because unless the officer knows knives I doubt he would know its an auto.
Stayed with it cause its the best knife I own. big, heavy bladed, working knife.
however since Governor Scott Walker decided he just hadn't seen to many "drive by switch-blading" and signed them legal, I now carry a Benchmade Infidel OTF when I get dressed up.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I think I'd like to get an Italian stiletto at some point, not for any practical reason but just to have. They're just so iconic.

Over the years I have had several Italian stilettos and I still have three. In this group picture you can see a red one on the lower left, a black one on the upper left, and a bone handled one on the far lower right.

Those are the auto knives I will never carry because waaaayyy back in the dark ages I carried a black Italian stiletto that I bought in Acapulco and that big fat button was far too easy to press and it often opened in my pocket. I never got cut but I did mess up some pockets.

Fourth from the right on top is an OTF. It's fast and not too hard to get into action but I simply do not trust an OTF - if it opens in your pocket you WILL get cut.

Third from the left on top is a "peanut" switchblade. It's terribly cute but too hard to open.

This Kershaw Hinderer is not a switchblade but super easy to open with a flick of that lever. I carry it often.

When I am properly dressed I carry a Swiss Army Knife daily in one vest pocket and generally a switchblade in the other - this one:

Boker calls it "Avtomat Kalashnikov". It comes in a box that looks like an AK-47 30 round magazine. Not too different from the OP's knife. Easily opened but not to the extent that I worry about it the same way as I worry about those stilettos. Excellent knife and it comes in a larger size, too, if you can find one.

 

[OLDSTER]

Nice buy; the Boker autos can't be beat for the $$. I have carried an auto every day for many years. My current inventory, L to R;

Bushmaster Tactical ( assisted), Boker Kalish., Piranha Bodyguard, Gerber Covert., Pro-Tech Godson.

 

[shocker]

When Michigan legalized switchblades I had to have one. I'm only going to get one so I went high quality, Benchmade Criterion with a 3" blade. Complies with the State's muddled knife laws as far as carry goes. At least I think it does.

 

[peterGun]

I'm leaning towards a Buck 110 for my first auto, don't really plan on carrying it as my EDC is a Benchmade Emissary but I want one.


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[Retired W4]

Lots of nice/evil autos here. I've always been attracted to the unusual and this W.R. Clark of Dynamic Knife Designs fills that bill. It has a dual spring mechanism (leaf & coil) with a swing guard, which I've always liked, and a positive safety switch. ATS-34 to handle the long, slim blade. It's a combination of old school cool and modern tech. Watch out. It will try to jump out of your hand. Warning: It may not be legal in some moronic, backward jurisdictions.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I've always been attracted to the unusual and this W.R. Clark of Dynamic Knife Designs fills that bill...It's a combination of old school cool and modern tech.

That is a nice one. I like the old school/modern fusion. Classic, but contemporary at the same time.

 

[Retired W4]

Just One More

This Illustrates the practical side of autos, a Hubertus, made in Solingen. It has a secondary, double cut saw blade (not automatic). These are really built tough.

 

[Hapworth]

I would carry an auto but local ordnance forbids.

Although like most folk my daily carry knife mostly does yeoman's work opening and breaking down Amazon boxes and little else, it's at hand as a defensive tool if needed, and easy, certain, one-handed opening to me is a must.

Bare minimum is a Spyderco, but assisted openers are much preferred, and after mostly ignoring flippers, once I got some time behind one I became a convert.

They're all workarounds, though, and a true auto would be preferred. Drooling over the online knife retailers, we're in kind of a golden age for them, too -- incredible array of styles to choose from, from high quality makers.

Not so my youth when I was secretly toting a cheap-o Italian knock-off from over the border. Occasionally, times change for the better...

 

[ContinentalOp]

I would carry an auto but local ordnance forbids.

Although like most folk my daily carry knife mostly does yeoman's work opening and breaking down Amazon boxes and little else, it's at hand as a defensive tool if needed, and easy, certain, one-handed opening to me is a must.

Bare minimum is a Spyderco, but assisted openers are much preferred, and after mostly ignoring flippers, once I got some time behind one I became a convert.

They're all workarounds, though, and a true auto would be preferred. Drooling over the online knife retailers, we're in kind of a golden age for them, too -- incredible array of styles to choose from, from high quality makers.

Not so my youth when I was secretly toting a cheap-o Italian knock-off from over the border. Occasionally, times change for the better...

I don't use folders as defensive tools, though they can certainly be pressed into that role if necessary. The fastest opening knives I ever had were Emersons with the wave feature. At this point, I can open my Spyderco Delica faster than my auto, though manipulating the auto's safety contributes to that; Not really comfortable using it without a safety. A double-action OTF would probably be faster, and I would like to get one, but again not entirely comfortable carrying an auto without a safety engaged in my pocket.

Of course, the fastest, and surest, would be a fixed-blade knife, which is why I carry a Ka-Bar TDI Investigator as a "GET OFF ME!!!" tool.