Out the Front Automatics

[Doug]

If you have to stab someone in self defense (God forbid) with an out the front automatic, will the blade stay out and be effective or not?
Is there an effective, safe way to test?

 

[printcraft]

I've seen a video of a guy beating on a Microtech stabbing a log with it etc. and it didn't fail.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Every stabbing I've had has been with a crap knives. All have been surprisingly effective.

 

[patience0830]

Every stabbing I've had has been with a crap knives. All have been surprisingly effective.

Hence the prevalence of shanks in prisons.

 

[Twangbanger]

Somebody is going to have to invent kevlar underwear before I carry one of those things.

 

[shootersix]

Somebody is going to have to invent kevlar underwear before I carry one of those things.

You know knives will go through Kevlar don’t you? That’s why cops wear bullet proof vests and prison guards wear stab proof vests! Plus auto knives have built a built in clutch, if it meets enough resistance when it deploys, the clutch kicks in and the blade “disengages” from the firing mechanism, so it won’t penetrate, if you hold up a sheet of copy paper an inch from the knife, and pish the button, the blade will make a pin hole in the paper, but it won’t go through

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Somebody is going to have to invent kevlar underwear before I carry one of those things.

I've carried my Benchmade for years. The push/pull button is easy to use one handed (why I got it) but stiff enough (even still) not to go off unless you really put that thumb into it. Think of it as a heavy, but nice double action trigger.

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

The only OTF I've owned was an authentic Cupid. I don't know if I could have hammered it through a board, but I'm sure it would have up to the task of stabbing.

 

[Tactically Fat]

OTF Autos are generally not a good choice for use as a defensive knife. (That goes for MOST knives, honestly)

As mentioned above, GOOD quality OTFs have a clutch system that'll not force the blade out if it encounters even mild resistance. I realize that mild can be relative. A blade that's not fully locked out will be useless - like a defensively carried firearm not having a round chambered. So in an Oh CRAP moment, there's a potential failure point for an OTF.

That's the same failure point for a folder, too. Some folders are better - like with the Wave feature or a well-placed zip tie buckle on a Spydie hole.

Me? I don't carry a knife for defensive purposes. Why? Because I've not been trained AND I know the severe limitations of both myself and knives-for-defense.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

I carry a cobratec out the front and it will not peirce anything until its locked in place. After that I can stick it in a log and it will stay locked. Its been a great knife for the price. I know there are better but its not bad.

 

[pitbulld45]

Plus one for Cobratec, had a Benchmade and the locking mec. began failing (after years of carry) and would randomly deploy in my pocket, cut a good pair of uniform pants up.