Automatic is a knife that has a spring inside that when certain release mechanics (usualy a button) is pressed the blade opens. There are two types of automatic knives:
1)otf - OUT THE FRONT which means that blade slides out of the handle. Advantages: more secure grip when knife is opening and knife is usually smaller. Disadvantages: older models required a hard surface to cock the knife back into place, this combination is not so great for stabbing/poking

2) side openers - which means that blade swings out like on the regular knife. Advantages: more secure locking mechanism makes this as good as any manual folder, some models can be used in manual mode Disadvantages: wrong hand position prevents deployment.


In any of the above combination accidental deployment is something to worry about. Obviously side openers are little bit less dangerous that OTF if accidental fireing happens.

This thread should be read to a german rendition of MACK THE KNIFE <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Automatics are carried by PJs and rescue swimmers for obvious reasons. A one handed knife easily stowed yet available instantly is very usefull. On the lifeboats we had a saying " one hand for yourself and one for the boat." We couldn't get automatic knives back then and substituted some pretty wierd solutions. I scrounged a german fallshirmjaeger's gravity knife. It had a mediocre Solingen blade and you had to hold it just right ( as in down) to make the thing work. The local sheriff decided it was illegal and threatened to arrest me if I walked with it from station to boathouse. So I acquired a Kriegsmarine sailor's knife in a nice sheath with marlinspike. It was far faster to deploy, sharper, deadlier and acceptable to the Oregon Coast prototype for Stallone's Brian Dennehy antagonist <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Matt and all,
I haven't used (played with) an automatic since those cheapo switchblades in school. I currently carry a Kershaw Blur 'assisted",and there are several other makers of assisted open. My question is how do you rate these assisted knives versus the side open autos?

I find the slight push of the thumb stud to be identical to the action of pushing a button, with the added attraction of legal carry. Not to mention a quality knife at a much lower cost.

Scott

I once got to meet David Allen, the guy who invented the Photon light. His son was there also, has he was in the knife business, selling OTF knives. One of his demos involved putting a dollar in front of the blade opening. He would move the lever, and the dollar bill would stop the blade. This was to show how safe the knife was.

The blade also locked up nicely once fully extended. But if anything (including paper money) was in the way, the blade would not fully deploy. So the moral of the story is to alway keep your knife in the same pocket with your money. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This is, however, the limit to my experience with auto knives. Up until a couple of years ago, they were illegal in my state.

Same thing but instead of pressing a button you initiate a movement with a thumb.Spring is weaker on the assisted knives and deployment is smoother as opposed to a snap in the automatics. In the end it is kinda the same thing but automatic can be little faster.

Also there is another way to get a knife to be open everytime you draw it out. I saw some of the Emerson knives to have a pocket clip when you thumb stud is. When you draw the knife out, blade is anchored to your pants and unfolds so when you pull it out it is fully deployed. Freaks me out a bit.

The usual procedure to deploy a german fallschirmjaeger´s gravity knife is the following:
unlock the blade
make a whipping motion with your hand (most of it comes from the wrist)
release the locking lever with the proper timing to lock the deployed blade
fold the lever to the front to prevent accidtial unlocking

Inertia forces work much more reliable then gravity and are almost as fast as a swichblade. My main complaint about it was the lack of lateral stability of the blade.
The blade was only meant as a tool. The spike was the weapon. It leaves nasty wounds.
BTW: We where not supposed to deploy a gravity knife or an automatic knife in plain view of an injured person.

On the Emerson knives page, go to the Video Vault and look at some of the wave's demos.
Impressive. As soon as the knife is out of your pocket, it's open. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
No button to press. No unwanted opening inside the pocket to fear....

The "wave" system came, AFAIK, out of Fred Perrin's brain....
Those guys, Emerson, Perrin, and a few others, are quite amazing .....

I have a mini-CQC 7B. the only thing I don't like is the blade !! <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I mean it's a good blade, but what I really wanted was a mini- CQC7A : no serration, no chisel, no tanto point ; just a plain spear point blade.... h?las, it looks like Emerson no longer make those.
But the wave system is definitively something to consider if speed of deployement is your concern.

Now, OTOH, I would not try to get my Wave Commander, out of my pocket, fully deployed, in front of the general public.... It may call for some unwanted attention .... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Advantages to a one handed folder? Many many - Picture - last week, I'm up on a ladder bundling cable - I tend to do it the "old fashioned" way, with lacing cord - take the spool of cord, cut off a 3 ft length, make your loop, grab you cables, tie, trim. Notice the steps "cut" and "trim" - Knife comes out, cuts the cord, gets folded, gets put back in holster, so it doesn't get dropped. Did that maybe 30 times that day.

Opening the mail - Mail is in left hand, reach down with right, grab knife off the belt, open knife, open envelopes, close knife, put it iway

Once you get use to them, they are just so much more convienient

As for Autos - not around here - not legally anyway. I have been tempted to by a Leek, but more because of the blade shape than the assisted opener - and now that it's coming out in s30v....