What is an Automatic Knife?

Knives have long been part of our culture and history. They’ve done everything from cutting dinner to defending ourselves. But one type of knife that has become increasingly popular is the automatic knife. It’s easy enough to say what an automatic knife is, but understanding how it works and the qualities that make it unique can be a bit more difficult. 

So what is this knife? This knife is simply a blade that opens with the press of a trigger. Of course, it’s not always that simple. Plenty of cool knives out there that act as though they’re automatic, but aren’t. 

What distinguishes this knife is the way in which it opens and closes automatically without any help from the operator. A spring assist knife, for example, needs some sort of help to be opened and closed quickly. It uses both hands to open and isn’t automatic because it can’t be done one-handed. 

A Short Description of History

The first fully automatic pocket knife was patented in 1913 by American inventor William Bessman and produced in Utica, New York. The main advantage of this new design was that it allowed a user to use one hand while the other hand remained free. 

This eliminated one of the most common problems with using a folding blade knife- keeping your hand safe while you are busy sharpening or performing other tasks with your other hand (for example, swinging a weapon). The mechanism of this knife was simple: a thumb-triggered lever was released when the user pushed a button on the handle, which then forced a blade out through its pivot point. 

The company Bessman founded to produce and market his invention, Bessman Manufacturing Company, is today a prominent producer of auto-open knives and tools: it specializes in tactical folding knives used by military and law enforcement personnel. There are several advantages to automatic knives that set them apart from other kinds of folding knives.

Difference Between Regular and Automatic Knives

Knives have been an essential part of every kitchen's toolkit since the beginning of time. But there are some different types of knives used in the kitchen, and this blog post will explore two very similar but notably different knives: automatic and traditional knives.

The main differences between these two types of knives come down to the way that they operate. Automatic knives tend to use a spring or other mechanical release to open the blade or lock it into place for sharpening, which can be difficult to control and also often considered unsafe by many professionals. 

Traditional knives (like those found in most kitchens) typically use a manual metal hinge that you must manually push back in order for it to close again. Traditional knives, on the other hand, have a few advantages over their automatic counterparts. For one thing, traditional knives can be much easier to control and use, because you have no complicated mechanical processes to worry about or learn. 

They are also sturdier and more reliable over time than automatic knives due to their standard construction. Finally, traditional knives tend to be fairly inexpensive compared to other types of knives and daggers; even though it is true that automatic knives are used for specialty applications like slicing bread or carving meat.

All in all, however, there isn't much of a difference between these two types of kitchen tools when you get down to it.


Features of an Automatic Knife

Knives play a very important role in the lives of many people. A quality knife could mean the difference between life and death. There are plenty of knives available for purchase. Learn about the seven major qualities of an automatic knife and what materials are used to make them below!

1. Easy to Close and Open 

This knife needs to be easy to open and close. Finger pressure is a requirement here. The force required to open and close the knife should not exceed the pressure that can be applied by the user's finger. Some people have problems using manual knives because of persistent thumb injuries!

2. Sharp

A quality blade has to be as sharp as possible without any need for maintenance. As an example, various electric knives use a metallic coil inside which holds the knife's point at its highest cutting level without any risk of dulling or surface damage. These knives are made from high-carbon steel and have the ability to cut through most materials with ease!

3. Ability to Fix and Disassemble

This is an optional characteristic that is only good if the user knows how to fix and disassemble the blade. A quality knife will have parts that are easy to take apart, clean, and put back together. A proper example of this is another electric knife. This type of knife has blades made from either stainless steel or carbon steel with an embedded coil. These blades are exceptionally sharp and can cut through almost any material!

4. Resistance

The knife needs to be resistant to breakage and well balanced (this doesn't mean heavy, it means resistance against a light force). If a person pushes one way then the blade should not move in another direction. Having a solid blade is important. When using a knife, it is very important that one doesn't accidentally hurt themselves while cutting.

5. Maintenance-Free

A quality fixed blade automatically means that the knife never needs any maintenance. One of these knives is advertised as "Just Press and Go", meaning that it will reach its highest performance state immediately upon purchase!

6. Resistant to Water

A quality fixed blade needs to be resistant to water, rust, and corrosion by air and moisture. Most people don't like to carry knives in the rain so they usually do not have an issue with this quality! Who likes cleaning a rusting knife?

7. Price

Of course, price is also important. An automatic knife that costs less than $15.00 is usually not a quality knife and will not last very long! A good quality automatic knife will cost at least $30.00, and most of them can easily be found for under $50.00!

Advantages of an Automatic Knife

An automatic knife is a type of knife that opens and closes automatically through the use of an actuator, or sliding. The mechanism is activated by a button on the handle or by pressing down on a retractable blade. It does not require any physical effort from the operator to open or close. 

Most models are in the form of fixed blades, but some folding types exist as well. The main advantage is that it saves energy and time to do common tasks such as cutting, slicing, and preparing food. It is said that less than a millionth of a second takes to open a switchblade knife.

This knife comes in handy when you are in dire need to cut or slice something and you don’t have time to do so, especially when your hands are wet or dirty. This is why they are very useful in the kitchen and other places where there are messy or wet things surrounding as it makes it easy for you to cut and slice.

Disadvantages of Automatic Knife

These knives can be difficult to use, as there is no mechanical release button to let you know when the knife is locked or unlocked. Sometimes it can take several hard pushes on the blade before the knife will actually spring open, which can be disconcerting when your hand is slippery and damp from just preparing food. 

Many of these knives are made with cheap materials that break easily if dropped or otherwise abused or are poorly constructed in general, which leads to sharp blades that break all too easily. These knives can be dangerous. Please take caution when handling or using them. ALWAYS use them properly and with respect for their intended use only!

The next time you head to the store, ask to see and touch an automatic knife, or if the automatic knife has a lock. The next time you cut vegetables in the kitchen, watch how much force it takes for the blade to spring open. You may be surprised at what you find ou