Bradsknives
Master
My Insight on Automatic (Switchblade) Knives
With the recent repeal of the current law making automatic knives illegal, there is a lot of excitement in the air with the anticipation of being able to own and carry automatic knives in Indiana. Here are a few of my thoughts and some other information that may help you understand automatic knives better and help you decide if an automatic knife is for you.
Are auto's better than a manual or assisted opening knife?
My answer to this is, “absolutely not”. Truthfully, automatic knives are not any faster than a lot of the assisted opening and manual flippers that incorporate a good quality ball bearing system. I can show you dozens of assisted opening knives that are just as fast or faster than most automatic knives. I won't even go into how fast you can deploy your blade if you have a “wave” system.
What about a person with a disability?
I hear this argument a lot, but the truth is, with a lot of assisted opening knives that have the extended tang on the back side, manipulating the blade open is just as easy as pushing a button.
What about reliability?
By the nature of the design, automatic knives in general will not be as reliable as a manual opening knife, this is especially true with OTF (out the front) automatics.
OTF autos are not reliable by the nature of their design and I don't care if we are talking about a $600 Microtech or a $400 Benchmade, the design is susceptible to failure as far as the blade locking up when fired, and fully retracting when desired (this pertains to DA models, single action OTF autos are a totally different beast). The opening at the end where the blade fires out, allows dirt, crud, and pocket lint to get inside of the knife where all of the springs and mechanisms are located, this can cause lock up and retracting problems and is one of the reliability issues with an OTF design. Note: Some of the internal tolerances on your higher quality OTF knives are thousands of an inch.
For side openers and OTF automatics, springs will only last so long and will eventually fail, and some designs have internal moving parts that are susceptible to wear which will/can lead to a failure. So, if you are carrying a knife that you must depend on opening a 100% time, an automatic knife may not be what you want.
Speaking of Quality!
When the law changes, you will see a ton of auto knives for under $50 and they will be made in China. You won't actually know who the manufacturer is, and when they break in a month or so, you will be done because there is no warranty on them, and if there was, you would never be able to figure out where to send it back. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, when buying an auto, buy a name brand that has a warranty. Also, it is important who you buy an auto from. Should you have issues with your auto and have to send it back for warranty work, it should be noted that most companies (Microtech, Benchmade, Protech, Spyderco and others), will not send your knife back to you directly unless you are LEO or Military. They will send it back to a direct dealer who will be responsible in getting your knife back to you. So, having a trusted actual direct dealer is important when purchasing an auto. A good direct dealer will take care of everything for you, including shipping both ways and getting your knife back to you when it has been repaired. Note: It is illegal to ship an automatic knife using USPS, you must use one of the independent carriers like UPS or FedEx.
So why all the buzz and hoopla over automatic knives?
IMO, people in general want something they know they can't have. The stigma and negativity that Hollywood and TV has given auto knives over the years kind of adds to the coolness and mystique factor. Yes, auto knives are cool, and there is nothing like watching the eyes of someone that has never seen one, when you fire one open, especially the OTF models.
Conclusion
Automatic knives are not for everyone, but if you decide that you want one, be smart about your purchase and realize they are what they are, and no more. MY
Last edited:
I really haven't thought about it too much, but since you asked, I'll probably buy a Microtech DOC when they become available. The DOC is a collaboration between Microtech and Strider (two of my favorite companies). It is a side opener and the handle shape is very similar to a Strider SMF. The DOC comes in both manual and auto. I'll probably only carry the DOC for special occasions, like going to church on Sunday. 
I know for sure that my edc "beater" auto will be a Protech. IMO, Protech is the best bang for the buck for an auto...... Probably a TR2 or TR3 model....both side openers.
