This is my first post here, but I've done lots of lurking. I'm looking for a decent assisted opening folder for edc. I know that they don't get a lot of love around here, but since we can't legally carry an automatic knife concelaed here that's led me to an assisted opening knife. I've tried a Kershaw Chive, and like the knife just fine, but they just don't seem to last. After a few months it seems like it looses tension and won't kick the blade all of the way open. At that point, it's worse than a manual knife as there seems to be no way to flick it harder or anything to get it open. Kershaw replaces it under warranty, but after having my 3rd one fail, I got tired of paying the shipping both ways. This kind of left a bad taste in my mouth for Kershaw in general, so I'd prefer another brand, but I won't completely rule out Kershaw. Do you all have any recommendations for one that is decently made and will last?
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Any recommendations for an assisted opening knife?
- Thread starter slowr1der
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Size wise I'm looking for something good for EDC. I don't want something huge that's too big or heavy to carry.
Budget wise, I'm not really set there. I don't think I need a $300 knife, but I don't want to cheap out either. Ideally $150 or less, but if it's the difference between a knife lasting me 3 months and the next 10 years, I'd rather spend a little more. For manual folders, I've been really happy with my Buck knives, as well as some Gerber's from the $30-50 range. So I don't feel like I need something with steel much better than that.
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Wouldn't have guessed that, about the Chive because my standard answer to "need an EDC" and especially "need an assisted" is undoubtedly Kershaw Blur. No safeties to fumble with, EASY to acquire thumb stud (like, honestly the BEST thumb stud on ANY knife I've EVER used), opens hard but only when you want it to. I have bought a total of 3 of them. One was for my wife which should demonstrate how much I trust that knife. Easily had for 60bux, takes a sick edge. Just all round bang for the buck. Like I said - I've bought 3 so far, never been let down.
Careful taking it apart, they can be tricky to get back together but, on the plus side, you'll feel smart when you do lol
Careful taking it apart, they can be tricky to get back together but, on the plus side, you'll feel smart when you do lol
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Buck 590 paradigm worth looking at. smaller blade at 3" but carries larger in a good way.
sorry posted before I saw your 150 or under post. still worth lookin at. i don't like under 3.25" blade knives but this one works great and still smaller size for those who like smaller blade folders.
sorry posted before I saw your 150 or under post. still worth lookin at. i don't like under 3.25" blade knives but this one works great and still smaller size for those who like smaller blade folders.
My go too assisted EDC is the ZT 0350. But I like heavier knives and it can be a beast for some. I always wanted to try the USA made Kershaws are always on my list right now to try out. Look at the Link or Knockout.
I like my ZT so I would personally go with the 770 or 357 models.
I like my ZT so I would personally go with the 770 or 357 models.
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This might be a maintenance issue. Assisted Open knives typically use a torsion bar that rests in a cut out on the lock side of the blade. The torsion bar, as well as the cut out, tend to be a lint, dust and debris magnet. My wife prefers an AO knife and carries a ZT 0566, but I have to keep a can of compressed air around to blow it out on a regular basis. I also disassemble her knife and clean it thoroughly once a year. It's par for the course with AO knives.
Possibly your Chive (or other AO Kershaws) might work well for you if you planned for maintenance on a regular basis?
Possibly your Chive (or other AO Kershaws) might work well for you if you planned for maintenance on a regular basis?
Yeah, I really liked everything about the Chive other than the lifespan. When my first one failed, I thougth I just got a bad one. However, the next two I got from them both failed in a similar timeframe. It just kind of left a bad taste in my mouth for their assisted opening knives in general.
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I'm not firmly set on the $150 budget. I'm interested in the 590. After looking at it online, I like it a lot. I'm also a big fan of the other buck knives I've had, and I've had several. I'm glad you pointed this out as I missed it in my searching.
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Maybe it is model specific because at least one of the Blurs I bought got used like a fidget toy. Hundreds, if not thousands of openings. Still kicks out solid.
The Chive is smaller, maybe they had less room for the torsion bar, maybe the blade weight plays a part, I dunno. I've never had a Chive but that Blur is as snappy as the day I got it.
I tried to keep them clean, by cleaning them on a fairly regular basis, but that didn't seem to help. That said, I've never disasembled one of them, so maybe I should give it a try. Since Kershaw has chosen to replace them rather than just clean them and send them back, it makes me think there is more going on here, but that may just be their standard operating procedure. I'm not sure. I wonder if I pull this thing apart if I'll ever be able to get it back together.
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only downside of it other than price, would be the bolster setup. have to move it and then use flipper to open. I can do it in in two motions. open bolster and flip and close bolster in one motion. not the fastest opener due to that, but nice solid well built knife.
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AO knives aren't that tricky, but make sure you have some decent tools to work with. There are lots of folks here who are way better than me at taking apart knives that would be willing to help you. I used to use AO knives almost exclusively and rarely encountered a problem that couldn't be solved by cleaning and lubing.
I've had quite a few AO knives. The easiest to disassemble by far has been ZT and Kershaw. The hardest by a BIG margin was Benchmades Axis Assist. Had to send my Barrage back multiple times as the odd coil spring kept popping off and I could never quite get the hang of it. I always stay clear of SOG but for other reasons but those were pretty tricky too.
ZT will also send a replacement torsion bar to you free if it wears out. Just a thought. So easy to replace really.
ZT will also send a replacement torsion bar to you free if it wears out. Just a thought. So easy to replace really.
Hmm, now I'm kind of intrigued. I see there are some videos on YouTube about this. I generally feel like I'm pretty handy, but I've just never taken one apart so I wasn't sure how the worked, or came apart. I've always been more of a firearms guy, so knives have always just been a tool to me. I've just recently started getting more interested in them. I think I may give taking it apart a try.
Oklahoma Outlaw
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This.
Honestly it really isn't that hard to disassemble and clean my ZT. I only took the screws out of the non-lock side, the pivot screw and pulled the scale off. Make sure the blade is in the open position though. In the closed position the torsion bar is under pressure and will pop out in your face.
Dadpool
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The ZT 0350 is the only one I've ever liked a lot (though it's heavy, which might rule it out for you). The Kershaw Knockout was enjoyable, too. I sold them both because I found that I greatly prefer manual openers.
For your purposes, you might also consider a waved knife, or adding a wave (like the Snaggletooth or 5x5 Pickpocket) to a knife you like which doesn't have one.
Spyderco Manix 2 w/5x5 Pickpocket
Benchmade Presidio II w/Snaggletooth AL / Cold Steel AK-47, which comes waved
For your purposes, you might also consider a waved knife, or adding a wave (like the Snaggletooth or 5x5 Pickpocket) to a knife you like which doesn't have one.
Spyderco Manix 2 w/5x5 Pickpocket
Benchmade Presidio II w/Snaggletooth AL / Cold Steel AK-47, which comes waved
Even know it's not spring assisted, I highly recommend the Kizer Lieb. The action is so good that it feels similar to a spring assisted knife. There are also plenty of other options for manual knives with action on par with spring assisted. I'm only saying this because I've also had bad luck with spring assisted knives and I've broke the torsion bar on pretty much every spring assisted Kershaw that I've had.