Differences Between Assisted Opening Knives And Switchblades

Posted by JeffersonJose256 on March 20th, 2020

Many people commit the grievous mistake of identifying a switchblade as an assisted opening knife. This misconception gives nightmares to machirologists a.k.a the people who collect knives with an undying passion. After all, there are glaring differences between the elegant buck switchblades for sale and your everyday pocket knife.

If you are looking for a comprehensive guide on how to distinguish a switchblade or automatic knife from an assisted opening one, then this article is for you. Read on:

Assisted Opening Knives

As the name suggests, the blade won’t spring open unless you push it forward. This is done with the thumb and a certain amount of force has to be applied to make it work. Either the user will have to slide the blade out, or he will have to apply slight pressure to activate the spring mechanism of the folding knife. Once this is achieved, the knife will immediately lock the blade in vertical position.

When you buy an automatic knife online, make sure that the edges of the blade aren’t visible when it is inside the handle. If it is visible, then it’s most probably an assisted opening knife. 

Switchblades

Although switchblades were already a thing in the Victorian era, they became infamous due to the mafia and gang culture in the 1950s. It went on to become a regular fare in Hollywood movies which ultimately made young people think that it was ‘cool’ to carry switchblades around. Being increasingly used in violent crimes led to the introduction of the Switchblade Act of 1958 that regulated the sale of such sharp weapons.

The people who buy such automatic knives online in this day and age are those who appreciate the look and feel of the lethal weapon. They are easily able to identify the make of each knife, know its origin story, as well as the year in which it was made.

What distinguishes a switchblade from an assisted opening knife? Well, as we mentioned earlier, they are automatic. The blade springs open with the flick of a lever or by pressing a tiny button after which the blade is locked into place.

This seemingly small difference between the two is important as it comes into the picture when the legalities of owning such a knife come into the picture. For instance, if you buy a buck switchblade for sale, the fact that it opens automatically will help to determine whether you can possess it without completing certain formalities. Assisted opening knives aren’t subject to a host of restrictions just because a certain amount of pressure has to be applied to unlock them.

Now that you know the major difference between switchblades and assisted opening knives, go and purchase one for your collection!

Author’s bio: The writer is a blogger and a collector of automatic knives.