I have always been interested in automatic knives, from the time I was a kid and the little 3" Mexican versions were traded in elementary school, through a decade ago when automatics were made without safeties (and you would worry about your boys if you carried one in your front pocket) until now with the availability of some very well made survival OTF knives.

I'm interested in hearing from folks who are familiar with both traditional side-opening, and OTF (out the front) automatic knives. Other than some state laws where carrying automatic knives are outlawed, what are some of the advantages/ disadvantages of these types of knives.

Before going with a Strider I carried a Microtech Tarzuola automatic side opener.

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/MTTERZUOLADA

Advantages? Definiately coolness factor. In some tight spots it was easier and faster to open it "automatic way" than traditional way. Side openers have stronger locks and you can also jab with them. Also this particular knife can be used as a manual knife. Automatic mechanism is deployed by bolster twists which is impossible to discover for a stranger to this blade. So in a place that is not friendly towards automatics you can operate incognito.

Problems with automatics? Accidental deployment while in your pockets.

Not in MA. I have a dealers license, so I can display and sell them (to military, police and handicapped) but I can't carry one.

Maybe the even bigger question is, are there any advantages to a good one handed folder? I really can't think of one, other than "coolness", but I also don't own one.

Anyone ever owned both the standard and the auto versions of the same knife?

I used to EDC a Boeker Speedlock. I changed this because of additional requirements. The onehanded opening is an advantage. The Speedlock can also be folded with one hand. It locks reliably and I never had any problems with accidental deployment despite the lack of a safety. One weakness was the spring. Most models have flat spring that may break. I selected the Speedlock because of the helical spring and the ease of taking it appart. The spring isn´t particularly vulnerable and it can be replaced with few tools and average skill. It´s also easy to clean.
I never found a OTF that would lock the blade reliably. Many allowed pushing back the blade by pressing the tip with a fingertip without spilling blood. Another weak point is dirt. If you can´t take the knife apart it may hard to keep clean. I saw gravity operated knives that were so dirty that they almost failed to operate. They could only be brought back to operation because they could be taken apart without too much trouble. I never own a OTF. I would have bought one as a collectors item but they´re outlawed now and it´s not worth the risk.

Yeah with the knife I mentioned in my post. I played with manual version in the store and theyw ere exactly the same. Even liner locks and actions were identical.

Also... if your knife is only automatic than it sucks. Knife I had was manual when I wanted it to be. So when I needed fast deployment with secure grip I would use the automatic function but most of the time I treated it as regular manual folder.

I've got a few as part of my collection, though I can't carry them. I wouldn't really want to anyway. They tend to attract too much attention and don't really offer much of an advatage over a well made "tactical" folder. But, as far as coolness goes, a good OTF opener can't be beat. Especially a D/A.

I have had two automatics. I like them. I suppose my main negatives are the expense and the remorse I had when one was stolen and I lost the other. Both were Benchmades. I now have a flipopen SOG that is virtually as quick to open and is just as good a knife for a fraction the cost. And while it might not be as "cool," for the same reason it is probably less likely to be swiped. I'm not kidding, I was in grief twice over those knives.

Loosing your gear or getting it stolen is a traumatic experience. I'm still crying after lost of my first zippo when I was 16. That's why I stopped carrying expensive knives for a while but later realized that there is no substitue for quality tool.

I have a couple of good knvies (with a Ritter M2 on the way) but suffer from ignorance about the different types of mechanisms discussed here. Can anyone give us a rundown on different types of auto openers?
Also; I have a Kershaw 1660CKTST That was described to me as an "assisted opener". One push on a small lever and the blade pops open and locks. Is this one type being discussed?