So what is the current consensus on which "assisted release knife" is the best on the market?

Thanks for any input

I don't know about the best, but I've been happy with my SOG Flash II. One of these days, I'll buy one of those Emersons..

Ditto on the SOG Flash II. I'm no knife expert, but I tried a bunch of different assisted-open knives, and finally picked this one.

Dave

Forget switch blades regardless of the name. They are not worth the attendant legal hassles that would be inviolve. There are far too many one hand opening blades on the market that open just as fast and almost as easy. Many of them are far more practical for use. They jut don't have the wow factor of impressing juvinile friends.

that's the beauty of it. The SOG Flash II is not considered a switch blade.. At least not in California. The only legality I might encounter is certain cities have a 3" blade limit and the Flash II is 3.5.. The Flash II is my EDC.

Best is in the eye of the beholder, as with all knives, but you may want to check out the Camillus Dominator, designed by Darrell Ralph. Titanium scales, S30V blade, frame lock with assisted opening. It's an excellent knife in my opinion. They also offer the same knife without the assist and with different blade materials by other names at lower price points.

Greg

Amazon ships it and didn't list any restrictions by state. I don't think the assisted opening ones are considered switchblade. Recently, I saw a knife at a local shop with the same functionality. I'm pretty sure they couldn't sell it if it was illegal to carry here. But I was always under the impression that you couldn't...

I have a SWEET benchmade assisted opener that has sat in a safe for years because I was uncertain as to legality of carrying it. My cousin, who happens to be a LEO said he believed it was illegal. It operates on the same principle as the SOG model, so I'm not so sure anymore. Anyone know for sure? Would be nice to bring it out. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And SOG makes some high quality goods... that's a decent price on that too.

You need to check your local penal codes.. In California (off the top of my head), a knife is not a switch blade / gravity knife if:

1) There is no switch on the HANDLE that opens the knife automatically, any stud or such on the BLADE does not count.
2) The knife has a natural tendency for closure (as the blade gets closer to the handle, it will automatically snap shut)
3) The knife has a natural tendency to remain closed

The last two I believe focus more on gravity and balisong type knives. Oh, I miss my balisong/butterflies...

Please note that outside of States restrictions, most big cities have additional restrictions (e.g. LA, CHI, NYC, etc).

I don't own an assisted opener, but I looked at some of the Kershaw models in a local store. To each his own, but I think the assist detracts from the knife rather than enhancing it. The thing did open quickly, to the point of being almost scary and a wee bit dangerous IMHO. The thing that got me, was the trigger bump (for lack of a better term) could be accidently pushed while in your pocket. The result would be an inadvertant opening stab-ouchie at minimum, a bloody mess worse case.

There was a lock that would prevent the knife from triggering. You would need that for safety in your pocket. But doesn't that defeat the "speedy" purpose of an assisted opening? Pull it out of your pocket, orient it in your hand, release the lock, reorient it possibly, then use the assist.

And there's no guarrantee that what may be legal in some states today will not be illegal tomorrow. Could happen that the legislators see one of these things and realize their switchblade laws don't cover it. So they amend the laws. Oops - your previously legal knife is now illegal.

If I really needed speedy knife handling, I'd just duct tape a fixed blade to the palm of my hand (being careful to not thoughtlessly pick my nose, or let it get to the point where the call of nature made hasty action necessary).

"Assisted opening" seems like a solution in search of a problem to me. But to each his own.

I have a leek - here in NYC. I PO and I have had a debate if it's a switchblade or not - he said yes UNTIL I took out the legal definition, then said "probably not, but if he was on patrol, he would take it, and you'd have to talk to the DA to get it back"

I WISH my leek was NOT Asssisted opening. I LOVE the SV30 blade of the sprint run I have - I like the blade shape (which is what I bought it for - wanted something I could pick splinters with)

WHY can't we get a knife like the leek, non AO, and with a good steel? I see lots of knives where I like the design, and then you look - 440a, AUS-6, occasionaly an AUS-8

Darn it folks. You make a nice design, and then mess it up with cheap steel. How about offereing them in a higher grade too, like Kershaw did with the leek

The AXIS lock mechanism on Benchmades is all I ever need. Just a flick of the wrist holding the spring down and its open. I open and close it using one hand just holding the mechanism's lever down and never moving my grip to close it. Just keep my fingers clear of the blade. Its great for me. There's so many models now that have the AXIS lock that there is no reason I can see to debate blade sizes, shapes, or metals used.

BTW, off topic a bit:: Boker Plus Reality-Based Blade Tactical Folder by Jim Wagner. Does anyone own one yet or want to own one, purely looking at it for a defensive weapon only? Would his training video and blade be good for a woman? I'm clueless on it.

+1 on the Benchmade Axis comments, I agree 100%.

Don't know anything about the Boker, but as far as the video, I learned more in a single knife fighting/defense class than in all the reading and viewing I'd ever done. Maybe it's just me, but the hands on with real people and fake knives just made a lot of things click that hadn't before.

I own the Kershaw (Ken Onion Design), love it. I use it on a daily basis and have never had it accidently open. I took out the lock mechanism, it was more hassle than it was worth, in my opinion.

Alan

I've carried an assisted for the last four years, Kershaw (Blur currently). Never had a problem with it opening without me doing so. Benchmade has come out with one now that I will be switching to. I like using them because they are easy to open, even with structural fire fighting gloves on.

Legally in Michigan they aren't illegal. If you don't give the cops a reason to search you...

I can open any of my Benchmade (non-assisted) knives in about 1/2 a second. It's just a matter of practice. For reliability: stick to the K.I.S.S. principal.

I've also carried my Flash II as my EDC for the last 4 years or so. I've never had it open accidently in my pocket. Any sort of resistance will stop the opening of the knife.. It's not an automatic knife, it's an assisted opening one. I don't think most people would understand the assisted open until they actually own and carry one. I had my reservations before picking one up. I have many knives, Benchmade, cold steel, gerber, sog, etc.

I normally would try to keep it simple, but feel the Flash II is reliable enough to carry everyday. Most people don't realize that if the assisted function "breaks" you can still operate the knife like any lockback. I see very little "risk" in it. Not only that, the Flash II is "fairly" inexpensive compared to the Benchmades and such, that I would not have a problem losing it or having it confiscated by a LEO that is uncertain about the law.

I have always tended towards the don't get searched school of thought myself. The fact that I stick to legal carry is neither here nor there. This side of the pond, it's quite likely that you will be tried and quite possibly imprisoned on an offensive weapons charge anyway. The laws over here are very loosely worded as to what does or does not constitute an offensive weapon. And the defacto law places the burden of proof on the defendent.

I too EDC a Kershaw Blur and love it. The knife is light enough to ride on it's clip in my pocket very comfortably but still is robust enough for any task I have put to it. The pebbled grip is what sold me on the knife as I wanted something that could be safely handled wet. I have found this grip to be a double edged sword as I can work with the knife as I wanted but skin up my knuckles on said grip when reaching in my pocket. The torsion spring has held up well thus far(2 year) and I have never had an instance of the blade opening unexpectedly. Great Knife at a fair price.