Schrade OTF Question

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Does anyone own one of these or a like model? I'm wondering if an 8 year old would be able to actuate it.

My stepson, well versed in knives, is a Bear in the Cub Scouts this coming year. Which means he'll get to carry a knife during scout events finally. He's a good kid, works hard and is as responsible as one could expect from an 8 year old. I'd like to get him another knife to celebrate.

He already has a decent little collection. An SAK of some sort, a farmer I think, a Buck Bantam from KSF's Knives for Kids promotion with his name on it, a white bone handled Rough Rider for dress carry... So practicality has already been covered. I thought I'd go with something "cool."

I'm sure the Schrade isn't the highest quality thing in the world, but I'd have gone bananas for something like that when I was 8.

I'm also considering one of these:

It's a little more expensive, but it's a proper D/A OTF.

 

[kylemiller]

I would look at Lightning OTFs for that price range. Dependable action and the blade is even hardened sometimes.

 

[bikerector]

M McFeeli had one of the schrade OTF's, the viper? I think it's still available.

Pics https://bladeforums.com/threads/pay...oing-this-again.1582646/page-71#post-18234391

vid of how that one works
https://bladeforums.com/threads/pay...oing-this-again.1582646/page-71#post-18234511

From the best I can tell, the mechanics look roughly the same except one's on the top and one's on the side. Closing might be the challenging part since that's where you have to fight the spring tension.

 

[blade man]

It’s worth nothing that the Schrade isn’t an actual automatic OTF.

 

[b00n]

Maybe I am the minority here, but how about a CRKT Tighe Tac Two? Why I think it's a good pick:
1. Multiple Ways to Open It (Thumbstud, Flipper, Button Flick)
2. Easy to Close (Button)
3. Smooth (Bearings)
4. The Tanto has a (imho) cool design to it and it looks a lot different than the other knives he has.
5. Affordable

I'd wait a little with an OTF until he's a bit older and then get him a proper D/A. My two cents.

 

[McFeeli]

That Schrade looks a little different than mine, the one I have is definitely an older generation. With mine the slide is on the side, that looks like it's on the front/back. It does require some force to bring the blade back down, and you have to be really careful because if you let it slip it'll throw the blade right back up. That force does propel the blade with some serious authority, though.

Another thing to realize is the handle is long, a little over 5 inches in length, and you have to pull the slide at least 4 and a half for it to lock in place, I actually still have trouble doing that in one thumb movement, I usually have to readjust to pull the blade back. I don't know how similar or dissimilar that model is to my Viper, because overall the design does look pretty different.

It's a cool knife and a pretty nifty way to carry an OTF in states that outlawed autos. If you'd want to try it out let me know, it's still up on the PIF thread.

I would suggest a true D/A OTF for a younger kid, though. With that there's a lesser chance of getting bit because your finger slipped off the slide. Less moving parts and all.

 

[jbmonkey]

it's an awkward system. I have every generation of them just cause I find these assisted otf deals interesting. the new s&w version is the easiest as you flick the thumb switch.

here's a pic of the newest version of that mechanism......


those f16s are a great bargain. the lightning's are okay as well for what they are. a fellow here has opened and closed his f16 many hundreds.....maybe 1000s of times with it still working. also the f16s I own have far less blade play than the lightnings.

 

[kemikos]

While it's awesome that you're considering such a gift for your stepson, and also great that he's responsible enough to handle an advanced knife, I'm going to offer three things to think about:

First, is that while automatic knives are legal in most areas of the US, there are some places that do restrict them to adults. Make sure that's not the case where he'll be.

Second, if he is going to be using them at BSA functions, make sure that your local leadership is OK with it. In my area, they're very limited in the types of knives they allow the scouts to carry. Think slip-joints and SAK's (I agree their reasoning is flawed and it's a stupid rule, but it exists nonetheless).

Finally, I've only owned and used a few D/A OTF's, but their actuators have all been pretty stiff. There are a more than a few adults I've shown them to who struggle to open and close them. It's possible that they may not be comfortable/safe for an 8-year old to use. I haven't tried one of the Schrade OTF's, but judging by McFeeli's description, it's possible that closing that one may be a problem too.

If you're sure these won't cause a problem for your stepson, then there's no question in my mind that he'd think either of those was the coolest thing ever...