Best Automatic Knives - What is a Switchblade?

Whether you want a folding automatic or an out-the-front (OTF) switchblade, there has never been a better time to be a buyer. Featuring either a button or switch to launch the blade, the convenience and rapid access these knives provide can’t be overstated.

Featured Knives
0:00 Intro

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[firstmkb]

When a knife is so nice, you need to worry about getting mugged if you take it out.

[joeloliver]

“Not too bad just 140”
My budget: 20 bucks take it or leave it

[kevin]

Been collecting knives for 20 years. If you're interested in the buck 110 Auto it's a great knife if your going to carry it in a sheath, it cannot stand the smallest amount of debris, if you carry it in your pocket it will gather pocket lint, dust, dirt etc and it will jam. Solid knife if you're going to carry it in a sheath.

[unoefxz]

The Buck 110s take my breath away... Had one since I was 13 and only custom made autos were out there for huge numbers until now... MUST HAVE ONE!!!!

[DrGH]

I like the band-aid on his thumb, kinda shows how committed he is to his craft.

[philochristos]

Automatic knives are good for the soul. Like when you're really stressed out, you can just open them and close them over and over, and you start to feel better. They're kind of like fidget spinners.

[CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

I have a couple of auto knives, but this video really lays it out and answers so many questions. This guy is a great teacher! Thank you so much!

[brandonmccrory]

The Hogue (Sig) Compound & Scorpion 3.5s are absolute perfection and highly underrated. I’m 44 & been collecting for 25 years with over 200 knives and these things are worth every penny. Consider it an heirloom to hand down to your son or someone.

[danno]

You did a terrific job picking the best and explaining them. Thanks— much appreciated!

[AmaryIIion]

Big problem with the pentagon knife, I've seen videos about it and it appears to damage its edge on the way in and out because it hits the sides. And it has been known to fail decently often.

[cephasmartin]

I have the Buck 110 Hunter and I dearly love it. I practically had to sign my life away and promise my first born son to buy it, but that was a few years ago. Last year a couple of guys who hunt on my land gave me a S&W M&P OTF knife. It's very nice, but I still prefer my Buck.

[donesper]

This interested me because I worked at a spring company in NC and made many thousands of springs for Microtech knives

[anomicxtreme]

I'm handicapped so I was able to carry an auto before the laws relaxed. That being said, I've had a Cobratec stiletto for years with a lifetime warranty and I love it. I didn't see any in this list and there really should be.

[davidsapir]

I owned my one and only (Microtech) OTF in 2016. At first it was really cool to see, hear and feel how fast the blade shoots out and in, but the novelty wore off after carrying it a very short time. In my opinion, far too many compromises are made to make that blade action possible, and for that reason I found OTF's to be a fundamentally poor EDC option.

The front of any OTF is a permanently open cavity, and it doesn't take long for pocket lint and debris to easily enter, accumulate, and then foul the knife's blade and internals. If you're looking at OTF's for the first time and have never used one before, be aware that even the best, perfectly clean and properly oiled switch mechanisms require considerable hand effort to deploy and retract the blade. Open and close any liner/frame/axis/button locking folder 100 times in a row and there's zero strain on your hand or fingers. But trying to deploy and retract any OTF just 20 times in a row becomes difficult before you get to 10, and will seriously fatigue your hand and wrist and quickly cause a thumb sore.

I also never liked the universally rectangular, boxy and plain looking handles of OTF knives compared to the endless variation of handle materials, designs and curves of a standard folder handle. And I'm glad DCA addressed the blade wiggle on an OTF. A deployed and locked blade should never move or wiggle, and the blade wiggle on an OTF is so pronounced and noticeable that's it's more accurate to call it blade slop. But worst of all, these drawbacks come with a very expensive price tag. I much prefer carrying and collecting a standard flipper/ thumb stud or assisted folding knife with a rock solid blade lock.

[intimidate]

Crazy good video, you don’t talk too slow or fast. You have good knowledge and info, you shared the prices and had enjoyable insights. I wish all reviewers took notes from you. Keep up the good work. 👍

[Baldeagle]

I got a 06 Auto issued to me in the Corps. It's a beast plane and simple. You can't break it. The action is slow and you have to clean it every now and then. A drop of oil speeds it up.

[landscapingspecialist]

I go for serrated blades 100% of the time. Gerber has always held up nicely for me. Use in the winter for my trade exposes the knife to salty brine water at times when snow removal. Gerbers have stood the test of time through the years for me with minimal oxidation at an affordable price.

[furyus]

My EDC for a few years is a Kershaw Launch 7. Love it!

[focus]

The Benchmade auto triage is my favorite knife I own but the seatbelt/fabric cutter starter auto deploying in my pocket from a broken release lever. It's a MIM part easy to break. I also have the exocet and love that knife!

[croom]

I just got the Hogue Microswitch (I live in CA) from my local gun store and it's a little beast! I love it, the handle is still just big enough to grip and the shape of that blade is perfect for my EDC. It handles boxes, tape, cardboard, plastics, zip ties, etc like it's nothing. I like this little guy so much it has actually replaced my Benchmade custom Barrage for now lol