Pocket knives: Who uses an automatic as an EDC?

[justafurnaceman]

IMO the only thing switchblades have going for them is the Cool factor. If you want the most reliable knife, it is not a SB. To many moving parts to get sand, dirt, and pocket lint in. The safety is another thing that could fail.

If you want the fastest opening knife, it is not a SB, A Emerson waved knife can be opened before the knife leaves the pocket, and there is no safety to disengage while deploying.

More moving parts almost always means more weight. What is the lightest 3.5" bladed SB?

Never had a non-assist, Non SB fling open in my pocket. Hate to be out in the middle of nowhere, say deep in the woods, and my knife opens accidentally and cuts my hand or leg really bad, Or worse gets into my crotch.

I will admit SB's are cool and would love to have one to play with, but I think the biggest allure is that they are illegal in most areas of the US.

I've had my Benchmade Stryker 9101 auto for 5 years now. It's on it's second tour of duty and I've never had it fail on me. I clean it out every once in awhile and had it tuned and sharpened by the factory before I came over to Afghanistan. It's very handy when you're trying to do things with your other hand full. Ever try to open a knife with chemical gloves on?

I'm sure some carry it because it's cool but many carry it because it works for us.

 

[Ed_EOD]

Are the Benchmades made in USA? Is this one the 9050 made in USA?,, I found a couple sites that list COO as CHINA

Benchmade went through a short phase where the had the "Red Box" knives which were made overseas to compete with Kershaw, Spyderco, and CRKT. These apparently pissed everyone off (including me) and didn't do very well so they dropped the idea and went back to their US made roots.. Now they market their cheaper knives under the HK and Harley Davidson names, and a couple other different names lines. Basically if it says Benchmade it is US made, and very high quality (save for the foreign black eye red boxes from a few years ago).

I have several Benchmade Autos (in addition to many other non-autos), and they have served me well on many deployments. My wife also carries one of my smaller ones and loves it.

 

[Pointsnorth]

"Assisted" opening knives are prohibited in Canada, so I carry one with a round hole in the blade.

 

[Seb650R]

Switchblades are illegal here in Texas. I wouldn't carry one anyway. Bought a fixed blade a few years ago and wouldn't carry anything else. We can argue all day long about how quick some of these knives open, but mine doesn't have to

I have been carrying a Ka-Bar TDI serrated blade for the past couple years and it is a great knife. Still cuts well after tons of use and can be deployed instantly. Great as a tool and for self-defense (it was designed for knife fighting). I have owned most of the major knife brands and I prefer my Ka-Bars to anything else.