All About Pocket Knives

All of my autos are side opening but I really like a couple of OTFs from Kershaw and Benchmade. The side opening ones I have seem to have solid lock mechanisms to hold them open. But how secure are OTF mechanisms to keep them open? Are there metal-to-metal locks internally? Anybody ever crack one open to take a look?

Chances are pretty good that there is a youtube video showing the disassembly and inner workings of just about any OTF you might be interested in. I've watched several.

I've seen a few different types of locks in OTF's, and as far as the blade and lock tabs they were all steel-on-steel.

It depends on what you’re doing with your knife, if being deployed to cut , most with a quality blade will do, if used for self defense or stabbing some will fail if you hit bone. Ive taken a couple cheap ones and drove them with a hammer into wood and they collapsed … none spec out there stay/locking resistance ,,, i can’t justify doing this test with an expensive knife.

Thank you gentlemen. I went and found a YouTube vid. Goofy but helpful on the Livewire. Metal to metal which is comforting. Would like to see strength tests on various OTFs.

Thanks to the opening post for posing an interesting question.

All over my autos are side opening as well but I've often pondered the idea of having a quality OTF as an everyday carry. Sadly the only ones that catch my eye are the Deadlock knives.

Maybe one day if I get a windfall..

An interesting topic though.

Cheerio,
Roy

I watched a Sly movie recently, Rick, in which he was using an OTF for something or other, and when he was done with the knife he drove it with a hard over-head stabbing motion into a large wooden pole, and whatever brand that knife was it stuck into the pole and was even vibrating as if it were one of his big ole' bowies.

If I'd tried that with either sized Mago 9"/11" I own, or the odd other OTF I've handled and played with, the blades would have instantly collapsed into the body or snapped, dependant on the strength of the design, internals, and blade.

Until I'd seen that movie, I absolutely could not understand why some Microtech OTF models have prices like $7,000. - $8,000. attached to them, but after seeing it, it became crystal clear that their knives are built with such precision and quality materials that they can justify those prices, if indeed it was a Microtech model being used, but if I was a betting man my money would go on a Microtech as being the knife in that movie.

When I received my 2 Mago's they came unassembled so as to circumvent Customs, which meant I needed to reassemble them, and I was quite surprised how really simple the mechanisms are, being not much more than a pair of steel rails, a few screws, and a couple of springs.

I've not ever cared much for OTF's and still don't, but if circumstances ever dictated that I needed one, I'd save for a Microtech, and I have no affiliation with that company whatsoever, they simply strike me as THE OTF to go to!

Well if it was in a movie it must be real

I guess YouTube provides more accurate information.

Hey Mark, I laughed when I posted that, I guess you didn't. Sorry buddy no offense intended.

You're telling me you don't know how to use an emoji or "lol", huh? O.K.

When it comes to strength and function otf's are pretty much all junk.,save your money.

That's what I'm wondering Tree. Knives, especially flippers and assisted flippers and autos have become my versions of fidget spinners. An OTF gotta be fun to just play with.

They're okay for opening letters and such.,flicking for fun and generally looking cool but you gotta ask yourself a serious question...Would I stake my life on this thing or do I want something that is rock solid dependable in any given situation? My assessment is otf's just don't fit the bill. Of course that is just my humble opinion.,others will no doubt disagree.

1OldTreeClimber wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:42 am They're okay for opening letters and such.,flicking for fun and generally looking cool but you gotta ask yourself a serious question...Would I stake my life on this thing or do I want something that is rock solid dependable in any given situation? My assessment is otf's just don't fit the bill. Of course that is just my humble opinion.,others will no doubt disagree.

Thanks Tree, you just saved me about $300. I don't need an expensive letter opener. It would be cool to see a comparison of various OTFs doing actual field work to see what sort of punishment they can take.

Please don't let my opinion sway your decision.,I don't claim to be an expert.,although I am a tree climber by trade,in the past I worked as a machinist/mechanical consultant.It comes down to simple logic.,otf's use tiny hardware,tactical side openers use heavier hardware.,which will outlast the other? can you process game with it?which will cut rope and still work? if god forbid you're forced into combat,which will break off in your hand when it hits bone? Fifty years ago switchblades were fun and cool so I understand the allure.,now they're just another tool in my pocket.

The AKC Evo OTF is inexpensive, and a very good knife.

I believe Microtech used to have a video of one of their OTFs being driven through a steel 55 gallon drum, and working afterward.

That's what I was eluding to with my post about seeing that movie, Bill, but our astute fellow member seemed to feel it was bunk, go figure.

This is an interesting topic,

And I appreciated everyone's perspective on this. I think it's mostly obvious that OTFs are just not going to be as robust as side openers and they in turn will not compare to fixed blades. However, I think it's what one is going to use it for.

For example, my EDC the last two decades has been an early Winkler fixed blade belt knife. I love it and it has served well. But there have been times when I wished for something smaller, more delicate/sharp etc. So I'm pondering an OTF for that task. If I go that route, I will be carrying 'two' knives but 'hey' why not, I love knives, so a pair for different uses might make sense..

Food for thought.

Cheerio,
Roy

I’ll say one thing. If you guys pull a knife out for the reason I think you’re carrying one,you got bigger ones than I! I carry a snubby.

There are guys here that carry 3 and 4 knives with them daily in their cover-all bib-pockets, Roy, so for you to carry two won't likely be even noticed, and it sounds like you would actually use both as well, so I say go for it!

Bib? What is this thing you call “bib”?

If you're being serious, Smitty, it's that east/west pocket on the front of cover-alls that sits up high just below your chin similar to where a baby-bib hangs, and is like train engineers farmers and auto mechanics wear, if you're being facetious pi$$-off! lol!

I’m just negative attention seeking. The visual of people in Oshkosh Bigosh outerwear walking around with OTF knives in every pocket is remarkable.

Ha, ha, ha!
Like I said, pi$$-off!
Hope you know I'm teasing, buddy, and that certainly is a disturbing visual, yikes!