Honestly see no good reason for an Auto or Spring Assist with the Spyderco THUMB HOLE

DelicateEndurance · #41

I have a couple of assisted openers. Autos are illegal where I stay. So, I can only speak on assisted openers.

I find the manuals more sure on the draw. IMO, this has to do with how the knives are used. With manuals, even when I pop the blade open with an inertial opening, I have to hold it in such a way after drawing, that the blade will be clear. With assisted openers, I may trigger the flipper on the drawer, and the blade springs out, only to bind up against my body, or worse.

Once the blade binds, it'll not lock in place. But as the mindset was that the blade was supposed to snap in place once I fired the mechanism, I was caught unawares on a few occasions, gripping a knife with the blade still unlocked. With manuals, because it requires a deliberate and somewhat forceful act to open a blade using the inertial method, almost always guarantees that the blade will be locked in place.

Finally, I decided that I would not use assisted openers any more. They don't add to the speed, and could very well be dangerous.

GronK · #42

If speed of deployment is the goal it's hard to argue against the Endura Wave. I don't have a fancy timer gizmo but it is clearly and obviously faster than auto or AO and you have the option to open it calmly with the hole. The Emerson would probably be quick as well but my experience with it is that the small "wave" is hit and miss if you don't practice with it a lot. With the E4W you have to consciously think about it for it not to open on the way out of your pocket.

Blackhawk30 · #43

Assisted opening knives are way faster than manual opening knives.They are thicker than Spydies tho.I stopped carrying assisted opener style knives because I[ve heard that the police are confiscating them.I also wanted a light er knife to carry.

VashHash · #44

Autos are fun. I finally purchased a microtech halo V and it's a great knife. I've tried most commercially available otfs. Had a harkins triton once and i know a dealer who had all the microtechs and daltons. I see some use in a single action otf but it's not something anyone would do on a daily basis. It's not the best edc because it requires 2 hands to close but when it opens its hard to stop it if you know what I mean. I do enjoy the lines of old Italian stilettos and the like but I wouldn't carry one. Spyderco is my go to knife. Not just because of the hole though. It's the quality. I can open most case knives one handed. Just have strong fingers i guess. Even with oil on the blade autos are just plan fun. Cool factor and what not.

Noah · #45

Ever since I got into Spydercos I haven't carried a knife with a flipper or studs, assisted or manual, for over a week before going back to a Spyderhole. It's so much easier to find a Spyderhole and open it solidly than a flipper or especially a thumbstud.

Blerv · #46

The times I've snapped out a stud or hole opener quick its been plenty fast.

HtR · #47

Recent Spyderco owner here and first time user of pocket folders (used to edc small fixed blades before this).

The Spydie hole is, to me, foolproof and plenty fast to deploy.

I did consider Benchmande assisted opening but never felt comfortable with the complexities associated with the mechanism, the thumb-stud, the ergos, etc.

Spydercos are just pure elegance in their simplicity and reliability. Yeah, I'm a convert....my wife thinks my Endura4 is ugly as sin. I thought it's one of the most functional and beautiful folding blades out there.

3rdGenRigger · #48

Buy her a Dragonfly...it could just change her mind.

HtR · #49

3rdGenRigger wrote:Buy her a Dragonfly...it could just change her mind.

Regrettably, she's not a knife person. Beyond just using kitchen knives for food prep, she has no love for any of them.