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I ordered the non-spring assisted kershaw I posted above and i'm sure i'll be happy with it but I was milling around Top Brass yesterday afternoon killing some time and picke dup a Magnum (Boker Design) with all of the criteria listed above for about $39. It's stamped stainless steel and Tiwan (wish i had seen the tiwan bit before i bought it... will pay more attention in the future).

I think i really just wanted to play with a spring assisted design before throwing big bucks into a big one.


Switchblade vs spring assisted:

I do have a question about the legality of these though. With this design you press a button and the blade swings out on it's own. You never have to touch/nudge the blade. Is that not considered a switchblade? I find it odd that they would be selling them in the store (several variant models actually) if it were illegal to own or carry locally.


Multifunction / Leatherman

I'm also looking at carrying around a good quality multifunction tool again. I used to when I was a kid and I've found several situations lately where that would have been very handy. I dont want to dish out the big bucks for a brand name though. I did some hunting on ebay and found one that looked good. I ordered it and got it in yesterday for about $13 delivered. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the quality, especially for the price. If anyone else is interested you might want to give these guys a chance.

Stainless steel, pretty hefty/sturdy, spring loaded, nice nylon carrying case, comes with several attachments/sockets/screwdriver heads that are neatly carried in the case as well.

here's exactly what i picked up:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=019

additional models of exactly what i purchased are available here:
http://search.stores.ebay.com/Samurai-F ... i-function...


man, we gotta get a digital camera so i can start taking decent pictures of this stuff.

BenchMade !!!! Worth its weight in Gold! And they will fix it for life!

LedJedi wrote: Switchblade vs spring assisted:

I do have a question about the legality of these though. With this design you press a button and the blade swings out on it's own. You never have to touch/nudge the blade. Is that not considered a switchblade? I find it odd that they would be selling them in the store (several variant models actually) if it were illegal to own or carry locally.

Definition of SB knife:

(11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a
blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and
that:

(A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a
button or other device located on the handle; or


(B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or
sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal
force.

If the knife you are considering opens by means of any device LOCATED ON THE HANDLE, then it is illegal per the definition above.

If the knife is "assisted opening" and has any type of stud, hole, wave, flipper, etc...as part of the blade, and the aforementioned feature is intended to initiate blade movement, then it should be O.K.


Again, Device on handle= Illegal. Device on blade= Currently O.K.

I carry The Kershaw Blur serrated by "Ken Onion"...great knife,made in the good ol' USA....My favorite knife Got it at Academy for about $60.00 I think...It even has the month and year it was made..I like the matte black finish and non-skid inserts as well..great knife and keeps a keen edge!
The model # is 1670BLKST. Oh and by the way it is legal, the stud for the assisted release is in the blade...Almost all LEO's and EMT's I have spoken to love this knife.

flintknapper wrote:

LedJedi wrote: Switchblade vs spring assisted:

I do have a question about the legality of these though. With this design you press a button and the blade swings out on it's own. You never have to touch/nudge the blade. Is that not considered a switchblade? I find it odd that they would be selling them in the store (several variant models actually) if it were illegal to own or carry locally.

Definition of SB knife:

(11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a
blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and
that:

(A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a
button or other device located on the handle; or


(B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or
sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal
force.

If the knife you are considering opens by means of any device LOCATED ON THE HANDLE, then it is illegal per the definition above.

If the knife is "assisted opening" and has any type of stud, hole, wave, flipper, etc...as part of the blade, and the aforementioned feature is intended to initiate blade movement, then it should be O.K.


Again, Device on handle= Illegal. Device on blade= Currently O.K.

hmmmm i should have looked that up myself. i've read that before. :) thanks man.

so by that definition what i've got is a switchblade... interesting that i openly bought that in a store in texas. How does that happen? there was even a LEO IN the store when i bought it as I recall.

Well, technically it is illegal for you to own or for the store owner to own, but there is a defense of either owning it as an antique or curio. Since the store can claim he is selling curios, and you can claim that is why you are buying it, they are usually sold fairly openly in Texas.

well, that explains why the sign said something like "military surplus and novelty" LOL

I (and other consumers) lose in the long run though as I dropped $40 on a knife I can't legally carry. Guess it goes in the utility drawer at home. :)

Kershaw makes a good quality assisted opening knife in your price range. I am not sure if SOG has a knife in your range, but their assisted openers are good too.

Some non-assisted designs can be opened VERY fast with just a flick. The Benchmade axis lock design falls into this category. Their Griptilian & mini-Griptilians are available in numerous colors and blade styles and is are a very high quality knife.

Other designs that open fast are the CRKT M16 types with the flippers on the blade. Gerber makes a copy of this design called the Evo and Evo Jr. But the blade steel isn't as good as some others out there.

Spend a little more to get a decent blade steel like AUS-8 or better, such as VG10 and S30V, which are great for knife blades. Spyderco and Benchmade have some good knives available in these steels.

Russell wrote:Kershaw all the way. Mine is custom ordered and engraved and was given to me as a present, so I have no idea what the model number is. But, I made a video for you just to show it off

I took the belt clip off of the back and use a velcro holster for it on my belt.


http://shsu.eggycrew.com/mov/knife.wmv



Edit: Video fixed and re-uploaded so it's not 100 MB in size for a 20 second clip

russell, that knife is called the leek, by kershaw designed by ken onion. i have two. there nice and light and not to big
http://www.kershaw-knives.net/Kershaw-K ... 0CKTST.htm

GrandmasterB wrote: Some non-assisted designs can be opened VERY fast with just a flick. The Benchmade axis lock design falls into this category.

Absolutely!

In fact, the difference in speed in which they may be opened... as compared to an "automatic/illegal" knife, can be measured in fractions of a second. IMO, there is no advantage of one over the other....(in terms of deploying the blade quickly/easily).

I've had excellet luck with all my Kershaw knives. Especially the assisted openers.

I also vote for Benchmade knives. The quality in these knives is evident when you pick one up. Their on the pricier side, but well worth the money. For a nice spring assisted knife, check out SOG's Flash II.

I have the Stainless Leek, had it for about a year now and wear it on me 24/7. It's the best knife I've ever owned.

flintknapper wrote: Absolutely!

In fact, the difference in speed in which they may be opened... as compared to an "automatic/illegal" knife, can be measured in fractions of a second. IMO, there is no advantage of one over the other....(in terms of deploying the blade quickly/easily).

The biggest difference, to me, is not speed - it's concealment. Not only of the knife, but also the deployment of the blade. With the Kershaw there's no wrist f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g. to give away the fact that you just opened a knife. The knife's greatest attribute is the element of surprise, I would think we would want to exploit that ability as much as possible.

I also think that combat knife training is a must.

Hmm, seems f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g is a bad word on here...

Cipher wrote:I have the Stainless Leek, had it for about a year now and wear it on me 24/7. It's the best knife I've ever owned.

flintknapper wrote: Absolutely!

In fact, the difference in speed in which they may be opened... as compared to an "automatic/illegal" knife, can be measured in fractions of a second. IMO, there is no advantage of one over the other....(in terms of deploying the blade quickly/easily).

The biggest difference, to me, is not speed - it's concealment. Not only of the knife, but also the deployment of the blade. With the Kershaw there's no wrist f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g. to give away the fact that you just opened a knife. The knife's greatest attribute is the element of surprise, I would think we would want to exploit that ability as much as possible.

I also think that combat knife training is a must.
Hmm, seems f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g is a bad word on here...

No argument from me. The ability to open a knife with a certain amount of "stealth" could be a definite advantage in some situations. It is one of the reasons I carry my knife in my rear pocket rather than a front pocket or on the waistband.

IMO, it is important to be familiar with the different ways your edged weapon can be deployed. Techniques vary... according to knife size, style, tip-up/tip-down carry, etc....

Too, it wouldn't hurt for everyone to receive some rudimentary training.

In the least, learn the different grip styles commonly used...and when it might be appropriate to employ each. Also...the basic ranges/distances you might experience in a fight and the advantages/disadvantages associated with them. Target areas...(lethal and non).

Accessing and using your edged weapon from a disadvantaged position should be looked at too.

You don't need to be a "Guro" in Sikal/Kali or a Filipino Arnis master in order to effectively wield a blade. Devastating injuries can be administered by someone with a small amount of training in bio-mechanical cuts.

Edged weapons are something to be feared (in the hands of the inexperienced), and something to be terrified of... if that person is well trained.

flintknapper wrote:

Cipher wrote:I have the Stainless Leek, had it for about a year now and wear it on me 24/7. It's the best knife I've ever owned.

flintknapper wrote: Absolutely!

In fact, the difference in speed in which they may be opened... as compared to an "automatic/illegal" knife, can be measured in fractions of a second. IMO, there is no advantage of one over the other....(in terms of deploying the blade quickly/easily).

The biggest difference, to me, is not speed - it's concealment. Not only of the knife, but also the deployment of the blade. With the Kershaw there's no wrist f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g. to give away the fact that you just opened a knife. The knife's greatest attribute is the element of surprise, I would think we would want to exploit that ability as much as possible.

I also think that combat knife training is a must.
Hmm, seems f.l.i.c.k.i.n.g is a bad word on here...

No argument from me. The ability to open a knife with a certain amount of "stealth" could be a definite advantage in some situations. It is one of the reasons I carry my knife in my rear pocket rather than a front pocket or on the waistband.

IMO, it is important to be familiar with the different ways your edged weapon can be deployed. Techniques vary... according to knife size, style, tip-up/tip-down carry, etc....

Too, it wouldn't hurt for everyone to receive some rudimentary training.

In the least, learn the different grip styles commonly used...and when it might be appropriate to employ each. Also...the basic ranges/distances you might experience in a fight and the advantages/disadvantages associated with them. Target areas...(lethal and non).

Accessing and using your edged weapon from a disadvantaged position should be looked at too.

You don't need to be a "Guro" in Sikal/Kali or a Filipino Arnis master in order to effectively wield a blade. Devastating injuries can be administered by someone with a small amount of training in bio-mechanical cuts.

Edged weapons are something to be feared (in the hands of the inexperienced), and something to be terrified of... if that person is well trained.

It's unfortunate you won't be at PSC this weekend. I was looking forward to meeting you and talking knives. I'm sure we'll meet in due time... I'm still figuring out when I can take longtooth up on his offer to visit and go shooting up there.