Tested: The Best Assisted Opening Knives for Everyday Carry

While there are a lot of factors that are obvious when it comes to choosing a knife — like size, shape, and materials — there are also a few seemingly less critical ones that tend to go overlooked at times. Deployment mechanisms are one such factor. However, if you’re clever enough to realize the importance of your knife’s deployment, in that it can directly impact the speed with which you can access your blade, then you’re in the right place. That’s because we’ve put together the following list and hands-on review of the best assisted-opening knives for EDC.

Selection & Testing

It’s not until you’re tasked with uncovering the very best of them that you realize just how damn many assisted-opening knives there are on the market. In a bid to sort through the sea of options and hone in on the very best, I scoured a myriad of our favorite retailers and checked the websites of dozens and dozens of brands in hopes of figuring out which ones offering spring-assisted models. This allowed me to generate a massive initial shortlist that gave me a wider sense of what al was out there. 

I then turned to scrutinizing each knife’s blade steel, handle material, locking mechanism, design and dimensions, and value and price. By comparing and contrasting these pivotal characteristics, I was able to narrow down this list to a little over a dozen knives. As informative as product descriptions and spec sheets are, the only way to really get a complete sense of how any knife performs is to use it, so that’s exactly what we did, getting our hands on each blade on our new shortlist. 

To put each knife through its paces, we performed a paper-cutting test to determine how sharp each factory edge was, and performed a puncturing test, rope-cutting, and a cardboard-slicing tests to better judge workhorse capabilities. We also paid close attention to the ergonomics and grip afforded by each knife’s handle. We also closely scrutinized the assisted-opening deployment of each of these spring-loaded blades — and tested each one’s locking mechanism — to discover whether any of them frequently stuck or jammed. Additionally, the craftsmanship and build quality of each knife was also closely examined. 

We also carried out a less structured daily-carrying test where each knife took its turn spending several days in my pocket, coming with me to and from work and accompanying me on the weekends. This provided a real-world sense of what it’s actually like to own and live with each AO knife, and how conducive each one is to everyday carry use. Once armed with all the findings from our testing, we then narrowed our second shortlist down to a final list of what this process proved to be the best assisted-opening EDC knives. 

CRKT Squid XM

Best Budget Pick: Some of the very best knife designs take influence from unexpected places. And such is the case with the Squid — and Squid XM — from Columbia River Knife and Tool. Penned by Lucas Burnley, the Squid (XM) takes inspiration from sub-compact handguns, aiming to offer ample power and utility in a compact and easily-pocketable package that punches well above its weight. 

The Good

The Squid XM — short for “Extra Medium” — isn’t a full-size knife, though at around 7.0” overall, it’s roughly an inch longer than the normal Squid. This might not sound like much, but the extra bit of blade length really does up its utility — plus the slightly longer handle bolsters grip a lot more than you’d think. The Squid is constructed around a framelocking stainless steel handle with a G-10 scale on its show side. The handle comes mated to a 2.95-inch long, 0.10-inch thick D2 blade  with a stubby drop point profile. 

The Squid XM’s material selection is inexpensive yet still super durable. This is just one of the ways CRKT is able to deliver such a tough and capable knife at such a low price. I also straight up love that you can get a genuine Burnley design at this kind of ultra-accessible price point. The integration of a slit of a lanyard hole in the back-spacer is another cool touch that I’ve always appreciated on the knives in CRKT’s Squid family. 

With a thickness of 0.10”, the blade is just beefy enough to be able to stand up to hard-use tasks. Its framelock is ultra-sturdy too. This means the Squid XM achieves true workhorse status, while costing around $50. Consequently, it delivers some truly incredible bang-for-your-buck. It not only punches well above its weight in terms of performance, but also in terms of value. It also feels much more premium than other knives at this price point — the vast majority of which are massively lacking in terms of performance compared to the Squid XM. 

I also really like how this knife’s blade can be deployed using either its thumb-stud set or flipper tab — both of which work equally well. There’s a decent amount of initial resistance when you first try to deploy the blade, though once you apply enough force to overcome it, the blade kicks out with a ton of force. Not so much that it feels like the knife wants to jump out of your hand, but still enough to result in a powerful and snappy opening deployment. The deployment is no doubt helped along by the use of CRKT’s IKBS ball bearings system in the pivot. 

Supplementary Strengths 

Its build quality is pretty middle-of-the-road. It’s well constructed enough to not have any functionality issues, but it’s also pretty clear it was born out of a mass-produced operation – though this same element also plays a pretty huge role in CRKT’s ability to sell it at such an accessible price point. The stonewashed finish on both the blade and off-side handle do a great job of hiding the scuffs and scratches that come from daily use. 

Like a Glock 26 or 43, the grip area on the Squid XM’s handle is fairly small, but the way it’s shaped still allows you to get a solid grip on the thing. Its ergonomics feel natural and the G-10 show-side scale does noticeably bolster grip. The blade’s factory edge is legitimately comparable to dozens of knives I tested costing two-to-four-times as much. It dices through paper effortlessly without requiring much drawing or pull. It could even cleanly cut paper towels.

If you really like this Burnley design but want more premium materials and better craftsmanship, it’s worth mentioning that the very similar second generation of this same knife is available in much more high-end variants, including M390-steeled Squid II’s with Micarta or forged carbon handles from CRKT — plus it’s offered as a semi-custom knife from Lucas Burnley’s BRNLY brand. CRKT’s larger Squid family also includes non-assisted Squid models and a compact variant as well. 

The Not So Good

There were a few minor gripes I had with the Squid XM. The G-10 does feel somewhat cheap — at least in contrast to the G-10 constructions found on premium USA-made knives like that from Benchmade, Toor, or the Montana Knife Company. It also utilizes a fairly budget blade steel, though it’s hard and tough enough to not have to worry about chipping or snapping (at least for most non-ultra-hard-use tasks) plus is substantially easier to sharpen compared to more high-end blade steels like M390 and S35VN. For its price, these budget materials are to be expected, but I still felt like they were worth mentioning as they felt pretty apparent when being tested alongside markedly more premium assisted knives. 

Thanks to its immense popularity, the regular version of the CRKT Squid can be upgraded using aftermarket scales which unfortunately aren’t available for the XM-spec — though I can’t really fault CRKT here as they aren’t the ones making the aftermarket handles and thus have no say/control here. 

Verdict: Inspired by compact sidearms, the CRKT Squid XM is a slightly-longer version of Lucas Burnley’s ultra-popular compact EDC knife. Thanks to large-scale overseas production and an affordable yet still tough material selection, this assisted-opening folder delivers excellent bang-for-your-buck. 

Kershaw Cryo

Best Value Pick: Rick Hinderer has established a devoted cult following in the knife world, with expertly-designed and finely-crafted folders that fly off the shelves and sell out extremely fast — despite costing hundreds of dollars. And this plays a massive role in what makes the Kershaw Cryo so special, as it allows you to get your hands on a genuine Hinderer design at a super accessible price point. Sure, it may lack the top-shelf materials and meticulous craftsmanship of Rick Hinderer’s boutique-made knife, but the Cryo more than makes up for this with its stellar value, tactically-inspired workhorse design, and extreme durability. 

The Good

First debuted in 2012, the Cryo spans 6.50” tip-to-tip and features an all-stainless steel handle with an integrated framelock and a 2.75” 8Cr13MoV drop point blade. Both the blade and handle on this award-winning knife have also been hit with a titanium carbo-nitride coating to better fortify the underlying steel and 8Cr13 constructions. At 0.118-inches thick, the blade isn’t super beefy by any means, but it is thick and robust enough to take on harder-use tasks. The Cryo’s framelock mechanism comes backed by Hinderer’s lockbar stabilization setup — I.e. an over-travel stop that prevents over extension of the lock bar. 

The shape of the handle is incredibly ergonomic, and it feels completely natural in-the-palm. The handle’s shape is also helped along by jimping at the bottom of the front of the handle and at the back of the top of the handle — the latter of which feeds into jimping on the base of the blade’s spine. The flipper tab also doubles as a super effective finger guard once the blade is open. Not only does the Cryo offer fantastic ergonomics and grip, but it also does so while spanning only 6.5” overall. As a tactically-inspired Hinderer design, I was in no way surprised to discover that its ergonomics are just as on point when the Cryo is carried in an attack-ready reverse grip. 

Keeping in line with the flagship knife sold under Hinderer’s titular brand, Kershaw’s Cryo features both a set of thumb-studs and a flipper deployment tab — the latter of which is a bit easier to use, but boy-oh-boy does that blade kick out hard once the thumb-studs finally overcome the mechanism’s resistance. The Cryo’s factory edge was sharper than expected, but it unsurprisingly still scored towards the bottom of the pack. Fortunately, it took only a few minutes on a fixed-angle sharpener to re-hone the Cryo’s blade to a razor-sharp edge. 

Supplementary Strengths

The Cryo’s ergonomics also play a huge role in its ability to serve as a true workhorse. This area is furthered by its rugged material selection, decently-beefy blade thickness, and above-average build quality for a mass-produced knife. Hinderer’s absolutely stellar, highly-calculated design obviously plays a monumental role here too. 

Just like with CRKT’s Squid XM, the Kershaw Cryo’s material selection is comprised of affordable constructions that are still objectively tough. Combined with mass-production carried out overseas, this allows Kershaw to sell the thing at such a bargain basement price. And, though it’s a little difficult to put into words, the Cryo just has a really solid and robust feel to it, despite spanning just 6.5” from tip-to-tip. The way the lockbar clicks into position feels really sturdy, and just inspires a ton of confidence — which is somewhat rare for a knife of this price. 

I also just love the aesthetics of this knife, as it has a really sleek, clean, and modern look to it. And, while the fact its handle looks like it’s made from titanium (due to the color) no doubt plays some role here, I still feel like it boasts a fairly premium look and feel to it. Kershaw also stands behind the Cryo with a limited lifetime warranty, which is fairly noteworthy considering its price. And, the fact this knife was first released over-a-decade-ago and continues to be one of Kershaw’s best-sellers speaks volumes about what an extraordinary knife the Cryo truly is. 

The Not So Good

Whenever testing and judging $50 against $400 knives, it’s pretty common for me to find issues, as the cheaper blades simply can’t compete with their more premium counterparts in certain areas just based on material selection and build quality alone. And while it did a better job of going toe-to-toe with the top-shelf knives I tested for this list — at least compared to the Gerber Spire and CRKT Squid XM — it still felt short in a few areas in my eyes. For starters, it uses a super budget blade steel — though one that’s at least easy to resharpen. The 8Cr13MoV is also a big step down from the D2 used on the above Squid XM. I also don’t love how much of the knife is exposed when using the pocket clip, and I wish the design allowed it to sit deeper in the pocket and advertise the knife a bit less. 

Next, I’ve never been a huge fan of barrel tube spacers and would prefer to have seen a single-piece back-spacer used, but this area admittedly doesn’t hinder performance in any way — if anything it probably helps by shaving off a tiny bit of weight. I do think it’s cool that the pocket clip is four-way-adjustable (even if the two tip-down options are useless in my eyes), however, I don’t love the half-dozen holes this setup leaves on display. And, for a knife at this price point, I’m in no way surprised that there aren’t block-off plates to fill in the recesses for hardware like there are on Hinderer’s own brand’s markedly pricier knives. All in all, still a fantastic knife — especially for the price.

Verdict: The Kershaw Cryo is a tactically-inspired workhorse that allows you to snag a genuine Rick Hinderer-designed knife at a wildly accessible price. If you’re looking to invest in your first decent entry-level EDC knife and want to go with an assisted model, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option for around $50. 

Gerber Spire

Editor’s Pick: Often times gentlemen’s knives are designed using a form over function approach that sees raw utility take a backseat to overall aesthetics. So, when a genuinely handsome gentlemen’s knife pops up that’s also highly functional and utilitarian, we tend to take notice. And that’s exactly what we’re dealing with here with the oh-so-gentlemanly Gerber Spire EDC knife.

The Good

The Spire measures 7.10” in length — 2.90” of which is comprised of its blade. Paired with the handle is a 440A blade with a reverse tanto shape that almost looks like a futuristic geometric take on a sheepsfoot silhouette. The blade’s also deployed using a flipper tab. The Spire features a black-finished reversible tip-up deep-carry pocket clip that lets the knife ride deep in your pocket. Despite the presence of a spring-loaded assisted opening setup and a double locking mechanism, this alloy-handled mid-sized folder manages to tip the scales at just under 2.5oz.

Crafted from white-anodized aluminum, the handle boasts a liner lock mechanism that comes supplemented via a secondary lock at the top of the handle’s show side — looking almost like a mini AXIS or “pivot” lock. The secondary lock can be engaged when the blade is opened, preventing the liner lock from disengaging and keeping the blade firmly opened — plus it can be used when the blade is closed, thereby preventing it from being opened at all until the secondary lock is disengaged. 

The Spire’s assisted opening mechanism is definitely noticeable and leaves zero doubt as to whether or not the thing is spring-loaded, though it was noticeably less powerful than every other assisted-opening knife I tested — save for maybe the Case Westline. One area where the Spire scored a lot higher than I expected was in the sharpness of its factory edge. For a mass-produced, budget-focused, Chinese-made knife at this price, I wasn’t anticipating the razor-sharp edge that it received at the factory. Sure, it wasn’t as sharp as the edge’s on the Pro-Tech, Benchmade, or Zero Tolerance knives I tested, but it was still a lot better than most knives at this price point. 

Supplementary Strengths

I love the angular-looking reverse tanto blade shape, and the very minor contours along the sides of the handle really help to add some visual flair to the equation while still keeping the design minimalistic and subtle. Gerber also offers the Spire in a completely blacked-out version with G-10 scales and a skeletonized blade design, though it’s much less gentlemanly. 

I also think that in order to fully appreciate this knife, you have to understand what Gerber was trying to deliver when it produced it, which is a nice, non-aggressive-looking gentleman’s knife that could be carried or used at the office or in a corporate environment without raising any eyebrows. It sports this appearance while still being pretty utilitarian, as it’s good for everything short of ultra-hard-use applications. If you’re looking for a tough-as-nails self-defense knife or a folding survival knife, I’d say keep on looking, but if you just want a simple, handsome-looking assisted-opener, the Spire’s hard to beat. 

The Not So Good

While I really appreciate the double-locking setup on this knife, I still feel like it might not be rugged enough to serve in the place of a fixed-blade knife the way some other more premium double-locking folders are. In Gerber’s defense, I don’t think that was ever the aim of this knife so it’s hard to deduct too many points here. Its lack of conduciveness to hard-use tasks is furthered by its lackluster 0.08-inch blade thickness. The use of 440A isn’t doing it any favors here either. 

My bigger issue is with the Spire’s price and value proposition, as it just doesn’t afford very great bang-for-your-buck, even with its relatively low $65 MSRP. I think it would be a great budget knife if it came at closer to $40, as knives like the CIVIVI Elementum have massively raised the bar in the budget knife realm. Even though it lacks value in my eyes, you’re only really overpaying by around $20, which isn’t bad. And, if you have no intentions of trying to split wood or perform other ultra-hard-use workhorse tasks, the Spire is a perfectly acceptable — and in my opinion quite handsome — EDC blade with some major modern gentleman’s knife vibes. 

Verdict: The Gerber Spire is a lightweight, minimalist everyday carry knife with an assisted opening deployment, a double-locking mechanism, and a bit of a gentlemen’s knife influence. It isn’t the toughest out there, but it can withstand pretty much everything shy of ultra-hard-use tasks, and though it may not offer the best value, it’s nonetheless still pretty affordable.

Case Westline

Best USA-Made Pick: Dating back to 1889, Case Knives unsurprisingly has a long and illustrious history, much of which the brand is deeply rooted in. Because Case tends to lean into its more old-school identity, the company is best-known for its classically-styled Barlow-type pocket knives and hunting fixed blades. In more recent years, however, the American outfit has tossed its old-timey hat into the EDC knife ring and has been delivering some award-winning contemporary everyday carry knife options. Case in point, the Case Westline — a USA-made EDC knife that’s as stunning as it is utilitarian. 

The Good

The knife sits at the larger end of the mid-sized folder spectrum, spanning 7.86” overall. Weighing in at 4.5oz, the Westline is comprised of a marbled carbon fiber handle concealing a spring-loaded assisted opening setup for its 3.23-inch-long spear point-drop point hybrid blade. It reminds me of a less-aggressive-looking version of the Microtech Stitch, with its super-pokey spear point-drop point hybrid profile. 

Providing sturdy and reliable lockup for the blade is a liner lock mechanism. I also typically prefer framelocks over liner locks, but when both the show-side and off-side handles look this good, I’m more-than-happy to overlook the slightly-less-sturdy liner mechanism in exchange for two of these stunning marbled carbon scales. The marbled carbon fiber handle has a slight curve in its profile that provides some incredibly natural ergonomics. Whether held normally or clutched in a reverse grip, it feels super comfortable and provides a ton of grip and control — despite the mostly-smooth carbon scales not offering much in the way of traction. 

The blade itself is also crafted from Crucible Industries’ top-shelf CPM S35VN. When it comes to blade steel, S35VN is easily one of the very best options for EDC knives/use — trailing only behind steels like MagnaCut and S45VN. I do wish the blade was a bit thicker — somewhere between 0.12” and 0.16” ideally — but the 0.10-inch measurement is concerning or alarming, it just leaves a bit of room for improvement at worst. What’s more, I also really like how far the jimping extends up the spine of the blade, as it allowed me to easily choke up on the steel when taking on more delicate fine-use tasks. Additionally, the jimping along the bottom of the blade before the cutting edge starts allows that portion of the blade to act as an extension of the handle.

Supplementary Strengths

The build quality on display is fantastic, and is outshined only by the Benchmade and Pro-Tech knives on this list — both of which exhibit ridiculously high standards for overall craftsmanship and quality control. Likewise, the Westline’s factory edge is pretty superb. The blade is also insanely pokey thanks to its shape, and its piercing power is only bolstered by the almost-irresponsibly-sharp point the tip has been ground to. The slight bit of curve along the blade’s belly makes it a more efficient cutting tool, too. 

One thing I didn’t expect was for the Westline’s set of thumb-studs to become one of my favorite aspects of the knife. There’s a milled pattern adorning the top of the studs that provide a ton of grip when tossing the blade open with your thumb, and the studs are wide and tall enough — without being so tall that they’ll easily snag — to be used to flick the blade open from the off-side’s stud using a trigger, middle, or even ring finger. 

And, while this is just my opinion, I think the Westline looks simply beautiful. The marbled carbon handle has an unmistakably premium look and feel to it, and the craftsmanship earns this EDC knife modern-day heirloom status. I will admit that it comes at a fairly steep price — as $150 to $200 is still a lot for many people to spend on a pocket knife — but Id argue that you’re largely getting what you’re paying for here considering the materials and craftsmanship. It’s also backed by a limited lifetime warranty, so there’s that, too. 

The Not So Good

While I think it’s a fantastic knife as a whole, I did have a few issues with Case’s Westline — albeit all ones that were quite minor and none of which were in any way deal-breakers. For one, though I think it’s cool that the jimped sections along the top and bottom of the beginning of the blade allow it to act as an extension of the handle, I felt pretty uncomfortable with my trigger finger that close to the cutting edge — and with no finger guard or choil cutout to separate the two. The massive amount of grip the knurling affords does lessen the likelihood of this happening, but I still think a small ridge to act as a finger guard would be a welcome addition. 

Second, while the shape of the handle provides stelar ergonomics and grip, the mostly-smooth marbled carbon fiber doesn’t. As such, I feel like the knife would benefit from some texturing on the handle, even if it took away from the Westline’s ultra-clean aesthetic. Third, the Westline’s spring just isn’t very powerful. It’s noticeable and ensures the blade fully opens and locks into place every time, but that’s about it. Consequently it lacks that satisfying “snap” noise that most automatic and assisted-opening knives make. 

Verdict: The Case Westline is a stunning American-made EDC knife that offers true workhorse capabilities while doubling as an effective self-defense weapon. While it comes at a steep cost, that’s because it utilizes a thoroughly top-shelf material selection and is built using the same old-world craftsmanship and hand-worked precision that’s normally applied to Case’s retro-style knives. 

Zero Tolerance 0770CF

Best Tactical Pick: Founded in 2006, Zero Tolerance had a few key knives that helped establish itself in the brand’s early years — one of which was the legendary 0777 in 2011. A few short years later in 2014, the Kai-owned outfit would reveal an even more iconic addition to its longterm lineup with the 0770 — and carbon fiber-scaled 0770CF. Even though a decade has come and gone since it first debuted, the 0770CF continues to be one of the most popular premium EDC knives (and tactical folders) on the market — as well as unequivocally representing one of the very finest assisted-opening knives that money can buy. 

The Good

In typical Zero Tolerance fashion, this in-house knife design is decidedly over-engineered and over-built. It’s sleek and functional, but above all is built like an absolute tank. The thing clocks in at 7.5” overall and features a liner-locking carbon fiber handle and a 3.25” sheepsfoot blade crafted from top-shelf CPM S35VN. With its S35VN construction and a thickness of just over 0.12” the blade can competently take on everything from hard-use workhorse tasks to CQC scenarios. In fact, the 0770CF is a perfect exemplar of why Zero Tolerance’s knives are so popular with law enforcement, military personnel, and first responders. 

The flipper tab is knurled and ridiculously easy-to-use. It doesn’t take much to get it going, and once started, the blade kicks out and locks into place with a ton of force thanks to its spring-loaded deployment mechanism. Additionally, the flipper tab also serves as a pronounced finger guard when the blade is open, hugely mitigating the chance of your hand slipping down onto the blade during hard-use tasks or in CQC situations. 

The 0770CF is also pretty easy to clean. As a result of this, combined with its over-built and utilitarian nature, the knife has no problem tackling outdoor tasks, from survival applications to laidback camping use. And this brings me to the ZT knife’s next defining trait, it’s extreme versatility, as it really does excel at everything from outdoor applications to EDC to tactical and self-defense use. 

Supplementary Strengths

Though clean aesthetics weren’t tossed out the window, the 0770 was clearly designed with a massive focus on ergonomics and grip. The entire handle has a slight curve to it, with a notch cut out from the front of the top, and a deep trigger finger groove at the front of the bottom, separating that digit from where the other three fingers rest. This setup simply feels natural, comfortable, and confidence-inspiring. It also lends itself to being tightly grasped with minimal pocket clip hot spots, plus is incredibly conducive to being carried in a reverse grip. 

The difference in build quality between Kershaw’s knives mass-produced overseas versus its USA-made blades from its ZT sister brand was pretty huge. The 0770CF simply boasts much better craftsmanship, attention-to-detail, and quality control compared to the Cryo. What’s more, its factory edge was more like a scalpel than your average EDC knife — something that definitely couldn’t be said for the Cryo, despite it having a pretty decent edge for its price. 

Sporting a basket weave, the carbon fiber handle looks excellent — and allows the entire thing to weigh only 3oz — and the bespoke pivot collar hardware is another very cool touch as well. The knife is also practically guaranteed to offer a lifetime of dependable use. As such, when you buy one, you’re making a lifetime investment — a fact that I think makes its MSRP a lot easier to justify. 

The Not So Good

I really don’t have much to say in the way of downsides or negative parts of the 0770CF. It’s just a fantastic knife and testing it left zero doubt as to how it’s remained so popular for a decade. My only minor complaint is that I wish ZT had carried over the 0777’s sub-frame lock, or implemented a normal frame lock in lieu of the (admittedly still super sturdy) liner lock. Obviously the 0770CF comes at a steep price, but when you factor in everything that you get, it’s not that difficult to justify the investment. 

Verdict: Characterized by both its over-engineered and over-built nature, as well as its immense versatility, the Zero Tolerance 0770CF is a premium USA-made do-it-all folder that lends itself from everything to camping to self-defense to EDC use. Though it does cost a bit more, these are worth every penny — not to mention are practically guaranteed to offer a lifetime of dependable use. 

Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3

Best Overall Pick: Though we do have several featured on this list, legitimately top-shelf assisted-opening knives are pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, with 20-40 budget models for every 1 premium AO knife. Consequently, assisted-openers are more commonly associated with cheaper, more budget, value-focused brands and knives. And that’s what makes the mere existence of the Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3 so noteworthy, as it’s an objectively high-end AO knife that’s made by a boutique brand that exclusively trades in finely-crafted blades. 

The Good

The Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3 — short for “Tactical Response 5” — is an American-made folder with a tactical design. Also referred to as “The Lerch” due to its designer Matthew Lerch, the knife’s tactical design is brought to life in aluminum for the handle and premium S35VN for its blade. Pro-Tech also offers a version of this knife in 154CM as well. Tipping the scales at 3.8oz, the knife spans 7.66” overall, placing it at the larger end of the mid-sized spectrum — and giving it enough length to take on hard-use tasks. 

The assisted-opening TR-5’s S35VN blade sports a slightly-clippy drop point profile and a single thumb-stud deployment. Thanks to a 0.125-inch-thickness, the blade is beefy and robust enough to legitimately withstand CQC and self-defense scenarios. The super capable, beefy, and robust properties that allow it to excel at tactical applications also make the assisted TR-5 an outstanding workhorse knife, and an excellent tactical EDC knife choice. 

The blade kicks out with immense force and always locks into place. There’s something immensely satisfying about deploying this knife’s spring-assisted blade — to the extent that it’s actually a really fixit-friendly knife, albeit a bit of an aggressive one for fidgeting use. The push-button mechanism is super simple and easy to use, and was never sticky or jammed. The non-adjustable deep-carry tip-up pocket clip keeps the knife right where you want it in your pocket while still being mostly buried, with very little of the knife visible. 

The clip point-esque drop point silhouette pierces and punctures with incredible efficiency, and its long, lightly-curved belly makes it a super effective slicer too. Both these areas are helped along by the fact this knife has what was easily the sharpest factory edge out of every knife I tested. I literally couldn’t help from grinning while effortlessly dicing through printer paper, paper towels, and even rolling papers. Again, the amount of attention that can go into each knife thanks to its small-batch nature allows for details like this that place it in a league of its own — and a league normally reserved for semi-custom models. 

Supplementary Strengths

Everything Pro-Tech makes it born out of small batch production backed by super stringent quality control standards. Also benefitting from some truly insane tolerances, this meticulous level of craftsmanship, construction, and uniformity simply couldn’t be replicated on a mass scale, and is just one more aspect of what makes the SA.3-spec TR-5 so special. 

The knife feels fantastic in the hand and just has a really solid and well-crafted nature to it. It also has what’s hands-down the best-feeling assisted-deployment out of the more-than-dozen knives I tested for this article. The bottom of the handle features a trio of grooves that provide comfortable places to rest your trigger finger, middle finger, and ring and pinky fingers. The trigger finger groove also works as a mini finger guard of sorts. Even when flipped and held in a reverse grip, the handle fits perfectly into the hand. 

Despite the anodized aluminum handle construction being fairly smooth, the handle’s shape is able to provide an enormous amount of grip, negating the need for a traction-bolstering grip pattern. The top of the handle’s spine, back-spacer, and front of the bottom of the handle all feature a jimping pattern that increases grip when clutching the knife particularly tightly — further negating the need for more texturing on the faces of the handle. 

All of this has added up to what was easily the best-performing, and most-impressive assisted-opening knife out of all the models I tested. As a result, I’ve opted to award this knife our best overall pick, as it wasn’t even a question. Testing spoke for itself and the assisted TR-5 scored head over heels above everything else. If money is no object and you simply want the best assisted-opening knife that money can buy, this is the blade to get. 

The Not So Good

While I absolutely loved the time I spent carrying and testing this knife — as you may have guessed from it getting my “best overall” pick — I did have a few very minor issues with it. It does have a fairly aggressive look to it for an EDC knife — an area no doubt stemming from its tactical design. Also, it comes at a fairly steep price no matter how you slice it, though I’d very much argue that its price is more-than-justified. And, while it’s a little nit-picky, I wouldn’t mind seeing a second thumb-stud on the blade’s off-side. 

At the end of the day, the only other issue I had with this knife is that it took me a few days to remember that it wasn’t an automatic knife. Because I own and have carried several button-locking and button-fired automatic knives, I would frequently take out the Lerch, hit the button lock, and expect the knife to open. Fortunately, the presence of the thumb-stud serve as a reminder that this is an assisted, manually-deployed folder — I also realize this is 100% a “me issue” so it’s difficult to fault Pro-Tech for this. 

Verdict: Built tough enough for military and law enforcement personnel to trust with their lives, the Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3 is a top-shelf, assisted-opening folder that’s meticulously crafted in small batches using top-shelf materials. The same rugged and over-built qualities that make the Lerch so conducive to tactical and self-defense use also make it an exceptional workhorse and EDC knife — thereby offering the best of both worlds. 

Benchmade PSK

Best Outdoor Pick: In 2017, Benchmade released the Bugout, which is now widely considered to be one of the greatest EDC knives of all time. After spending the better part of a decade on the market — and being released in all manner of different versions and SKUs — the Oregon City outfit has now taken the mighty Bugout and used it as the basis for an all-new, ultra-premium, assisted-opening folding knife that’s tough enough to withstand hardcore outdoor and survival use, while still being wildly conducive to EDC applications. And this evolutionary design is known as the Benchmade PSK — short for “Personal Survival Knife.”

The Good

The PSK features a fully-lined handle cloaked in sculpted G-10 scales with milled carbon fiber bolsters. The handle sports a reversible deep-carry tip-up pocket clip, an AXIS Assist lock and deployment, and a secondary spine-mounted safety slider — just like the ones found on many of Benchmade’s fully automatic knives. This slider can be engaged when the blade is closed, preventing it more being opened, purposefully or accidentally, or it can be engaged when the blade is already open, double-locking the blade into place and preventing the AXIS slider from being engaged. 

This gives it far more strength than a normal folding knife, better allowing it to stand up to ultra-hard-use survival and workhorse tasks — while still fitting in your pocket. Though it admittedly lacks some of the structural integrity of a full-tang fixed-blade outdoor or survival knife, the PSK is much smaller, more compact, and more travel-friendly. When open, you also get around 8.50” of knife and roughly 3.50” of usable blade. 

Paired with the handle is a 3.4466-inch-long, 0.11-inch-thick drop point blade composed of Crucible Industries’ CPM MagnaCut —a revolutionary powder metallurgy blade steel with incredible hardness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention that’s still relatively easy to sharpen. These traits make the construction perfect for outdoor use, as well. The blade is deployed using the knife’s thumb-stud set which starts an action that the AXIS Assist mechanism’s spring finishes with a decided “snap.” 

The handle is really similar to the Bugout — to the point where I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn the PSK’s handle was literally based on or modeled after the Bugout’s — albeit with deeper, more pronounced curves at the front and rear sections on the bottom of the handle. The placement of the AXIS lock, pivot, pocket clip holes, and lanyard hole are all identical. Though the PSK’s blade is slightly longer (at 8.39” vs the 7.46-inch Bugout’s) its profile is also close-to-identical to the Bugout’s silhouette, albeit the PSK’s blade has been bestowed with a trio of fuller sections to give it a bit more style. 

Supplementary Strengths

And, while the blade and handle designs are extremely reminiscent of the Bugout’s, the PSK’s design has been beefed up with a longer, thicker blade, a handle that provides better ergonomics and grip, and a more premium material selection. It also benefits from a double/safety lock. It doesn’t end there, as the Bugout’s handle’s partial liner has been jettisoned in favor of a full liner on the PSK, and the Bugout’s barrel spacers have been swapped out in lieu of a single-piece back-spacer. 

All this essentially adds up to an already legendary folding knife being updated and improved in most measurable areas. Consequently, it’s not hard to see why I think the PSK is such a great knife — and why I think it will probably be a future classic. Mind you, this is also coming from someone that’s not a big fan of folding knives for outdoor use, or someone that’s fond of assisted-opening knives in general. 

Most Benchmade knives boast pretty high-end materials, though the PSK’s is particularly premium, even for Benchmade. It really is just a Damasteel blade away from being a Gold Class model. In typical Benchmade fashion, the PSK’s premium material selection has been pieced together using extraordinarily top-notch craftsmanship and build quality. Keeping in line with the meticulous construction is an equally-impressive flat-ground factory edge that’s razor sharp. In fact, the blade’s sharpness was a great reminder of why Benchmade has the stellar reputation that it does — and why its knives are so revered. 

And, whether it’s the super premium PSK or an entry-level Bugout, all of Benchmade’s knives are made in America, backed by a lifetime warranty, and sold with the brand’s included LifeSharp services, which will tune, clean, sharpen, and even re-hone broken or chipped blades, for free, for life, you just pay shipping. 

The Not So Good

While it’s an all-around great knife, I did have a few beefs with the PSK. The presence of an AXIS lock, an assisted opening mechanism, and a secondary safety all present different components with moving parts that can easily get dirty and/or gunked up when being used outdoors, making the knife more difficult to clean and lessening its conduciveness to outdoor use. I also found both the AXIS Assist lock and the secondary lock on the spine to be incredibly sticky. Sometimes I had to try several times before being able to get one to engage or disengage. And, even with the double-locking nature of this knife, it simply isn’t as strong as a fixed-blade. 

The PSK boasts an MSRP of $450 — though there is a slightly more affordable $400 version with an all-G-10 handle, plus the carbon and G-10 version can be picked up from retailers like Blade HQ and Knife Center for closer to the $400 mark. Either way, it’s still a very expensive knife that doesn’t offer very decent value, even when you factor in its top-shelf materials and top-notch craftsmanship. Having said all that, there’s no getting around the fact that this is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best assisted-opening knives currently in production. 

Verdict: Short for “Personal Survival Knife,” the Benchmade PSK is a beefed up, more premium, assisted-opening, double-locking version of the brand’s legendary Bugout knife. Thanks to its myriad of upgrades, this folder excels at both outdoor and EDC use. And, while it does admittedly come at a steep price, it practically guarantees to offer a lifetime of use between Benchmade’s lifetime warranty and LifeSharp services. 

Assisted-Opening Knives Comparison Chart

A Condensed History Of Assisted-Opening Pocket Knives

In 1995 Walter “Blackie” Collins introduced the world’s first assisted-opening pocket knife with the Meyerco”Strut’N’Cut” — a simple folder with a design that took inspiration from the single-strut suspension setup on Collins’ Ducati motorcycle. While poorly conceived as a whole, the “Strut’N’Cut” was nonetheless a game-changing knife that would ultimately secure a Most Innovative American design award at the Blade Show in 1997. Just one year later in 1998, knife design legend Ken Onion would further popularize the concept of an assisted-opening flipper or folder with the debut of the Kershaw SpeedSafe-opening mechanism. By the turn of the millennium, assisted-opening designs were being adopted by a growing number of big-name knife brands. Today, assisted-opening mechanisms have become common-place on both budget and high-end knives. 

What Exactly Is An Assisted-Opening Knife & How Do They Work?

When it comes to folding blades, there are a number of different ways knives can be deployed — but they can typically be broken down into three categories: manual, automatic, and assisted. How they work also varies, often because of styling choices or the incorporation of proprietary technologies, but there are some similarities to each that are always true — partially for ease of consumer understanding and partially because of legal implications.

Manual folders, as you might expect, require the user to open the blade by hand — with no assistance of any kind from the knife itself. This can be seen in a wealth of knives on the market but is closely associated with more traditional folders, like Swiss Army Knives, friction folders, slipjoints, and more. Automatic, by contrast, require little-to-no effort from the user in order for the knife to be deployed. They’re often extremely quick and sometimes have complex mechanisms that allow the blade to spring from the handle with the push of a button. This speediness and ease-of-use also cause automatic knives to be the most legally complicated blades to own — meaning they’re not considered legal to carry in many countries, states, etc.

Assisted-opening knives are a very convenient middle ground. They’re easier and speedier to deploy than manual folders, but without the legal limbo of automatic knives. Their downside is similar to automatic knives, in that the deployment mechanism means there are more parts to break and/or get jammed or dirty. The technology varies from brand-to-brand and even knife-to-knife, but there are some consistent features. In order for a knife to be considered assisted, rather than manual or automatic, it must require a significant amount of effort from the user to deploy but also has some measure of spring-loading. Usually, this is accomplished by equipping the knife blade with a thumb hole, flipper, or thumb stud — which the user will use to “start” the deployment, but will be finished by a spring-loaded mechanism mounted in the handle. As mentioned, the mechanism itself will vary depending on the knife, brand, designer, and more — but the overarching features must be included in order for a knife to be considered assisted.

Unpacking The Argument Over The Use & Merits Of Assisted-Opening Knives

Ever since Blackie Collins designed the first assisted-opener, there’s been a debate raging around the use and merits of these spring-assisted mechanisms. Though outsiders sometimes view them as exotic —not unlike how they might view an auto-opening knife —knives with assisted opening setups aren’t universally appreciated in knife and everyday carry circles. In fact, a decent number of EDC enthusiasts look down upon assisted-opening knives — and for good reason. For starters, assisted-opening knives require an additional system and components that just add to the number of elements that can possibly break or fail. The added number of parts and components also makes these knives more difficult to service and maintain. 

What’s more, on top of sometimes keeping constant pressure on the blade — which can be incredibly annoying — assisted-openers are also often more difficult to close with one hand, as the spring-loaded blade is constantly trying to deploy from the handle. Some assisted knives also feature springs that are way too powerful for this application, causing the knife to feel like it wants to jump out of your hand when opening the blade. Additionally, not unlike modern automatic knives, spring-assisted knives can be illegal to carry in quite a few places — making it important to review your local laws before carrying one so you’re privy to the possible risk or consequences. 

The main reason that many knife and EDC aficionados aren’t fond of assisted-opening models is because of their quality, and what the mechanism itself points to and suggests. If a folding pocket knife has been well-designed and well-crafted, it shouldn’t require an assisted opening mechanism in order to smoothly deploy the blade. A good pivot setup, caged bearings, and a solid detent design can be used to achieve a knife with buttery-smooth opening action. As a result, when most knife nerds see or hear that a knife uses an assisted-opening mechanism, they automatically assume it’s of the cheap, budget variety — which definitely isn’t the case as even top-shelf knife brands like Benchmade and Zero Tolerance produce assisted-opening knives. Because it’s often viewed as a mark of low quality or a means of corner-cutting, some opt to steer clear of assisted-openers. 

Having said that, assisted-opening knives undeniably possess numerous advantages over manual folders. Obviously, with the assistance of a spring-loaded blade, assisted-opening knives deliver super snappy, lightning-fast deployment that even the smoothest manual action would have a hard time achieving. What’s more, while there are exceptions like the CIVIVI Elementum, generally speaking, purchasing a full-manual pocket knife with a remarkably smooth action typically comes at a fairly steep price, as where assisted-opening knives can deliver ultra-quick actions at much lower prices. For this reason, it is more common to see more accessibly-priced, value-focused knives equipped with assisted-opening mechanisms — though as mentioned above, there are definitely premium knives with assisted-opening blades. And lastly, while it’s admittedly subjective, some think assisted-opening knives possess a certain cool factor — not unlike that of automatic knives. 

What Factors Should I Consider When Buying An Assisted-Opening EDC Knife?

Theres admittedly no shortage of factors one can take into account when shopping for an assisted-opening EDC knife, however, 9 times out of 10, you can simply focus on half a dozen key areas — all of which we’ll briefly be breaking down in this condensed guide to what factors to think about when shopping for an assisted-opening knife. 

Materials: Like any piece of everyday carry gear, the materials used to construct a knife will play a monumental role in its overall quality, durability, and performance. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to pay close attention to the type of blade steel being used, as this will directly determine factors such as hardness and edge retention. What’s more, you’ll also want to look into the construction of a knife’s handle, as well as the material used to make its frame or liner. 

Blade Deployment: While assisted-opening knives see their blades rocket out of the handle, the user is still required to begin the blade’s deployment before the assisted mechanism kicks in. As a result, you’ll want to look into the means in which a blade is deployed, as this can range from flipper tabs to thumb-studs to thumb-hole openings. There are also blades that feature multiple deployment methods.

Size & Dimensions: Modern everyday carry knives come in a huge variety of different shapes and sizes — with larger knives typically affording better performance and utility at the expense of being less pocketable in comparison to smaller EDC blades. In addition to the length of the knife, you’ll want to check out the length of the blade, and, just as importantly, the thickness of the blade, as this latter element will determine whether or not a knife will lend itself to hard-task workhorse use.

Locking Mechanism: Considering that this element is responsible for a blade’s ability to lock into place, it’s safe to say a knife’s locking mechanism is also of pretty major importance. Like manual folders, assisted-opening knives can use a wide variety of lock types, from liner locks to back-locks to framelocks to proprietary mechanisms like the Benchmade AXIS lock. What’s more, unlike other types of modern EDC knives, it’s pretty rare to see assisted-opening knives that feature non-locking setups such as friction folders or slipjoints.

Appearance & Finish: Assisted-opening everyday carry knives are produced in a huge variety of different styles. From unmistakably retro designs to thoroughly modern motifs, there’s practically guaranteed to be a knife with an aesthetic that jives with your personal taste. A decent number of knives in this space are also produced in multiple colors, as well as in multiple materials. 

Hardware: One element that helps to separate more high-end knives from their more budget-focused counterparts is the type of hardware that’s used. Though typically a bit of an afterthought on budget-minded models, premium knives often feature more calculated hardware elements, making it important to review factors such as a knife’s back-spacer, deployment items, liner, pocket clip, and any other secondary components. 

Honorable Mentions

If you’re after a premium assisted-opener but don’t want to spend more than $100 your options are pretty limited. You are, however, left with one stellar choice and that’s the Revo Warden. You get Micarta scales over a sturdy steel liner lock, and a utilitarian drop point blade spanning 3.25” in length and boasting a 0.11” thickness. Not only does the assisted blade open with incredible force, but this knife also offers a level of build quality that’s on par with blades costing twice as much. Sadly, because it doesn’t offer as much bang-for-your-buck as knives like the Cryo or Squid XM, we’ve opted to make this Revo knife a particularly honorable mention. 

Known for its rugged build quality and conduciveness to CQC situations, the Ontario Knife Co. RAT 1 is one of the most legendary tactical folding knives on the market, so as soon as I saw that it’s offered in a spring-assisted version — known as the OKC RAT 1A SP — I knew we needed to get our hands on a unit for testing. This Joe Pardue design features an AUS-8 blade mated to a liner-locking G-10 handle. Between being massively outperformed by the Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3 and being so lacking in bang-for-your-buck, this knife was also bumped to an honorable mention slot. 

The SOG Banner is a premium assisted-opening knife that’s been engineered to offer a competent blend of EDC-readiness and tactical abilities. Sporting full steel liners,, the Banner is constructed around an anodized aluminum handle set with a button lock and a 3.25-inch drop point blade forged in premium CPM S35VN. Though it admittedly offers better bang-for-your-buck considering they share the same material selection, the Pro-Tech TR-5 SA.3 ultimately beat out this SOG model — and by a pretty huge margin — in practically every other area, relegating it to an honorable mention. 

Another fantastic design from the mind of Lucas Burnley design, the Böker Plus Kihon Assisted Copper is a sleek and gentlemanly everyday carry knife consisting of a liner-locking copper handle paired with a 3.35-inch D2 blade. While there’s no denying its handsome appearance, this knife’s premium price and mediocre material selection lead to it ultimately being bumped from the main list and turned into an honorable mention. 

Tested: The Best Automatic Knives for Everyday Carry

If you appreciate the spring-loaded nature of the entries comprising our list of the best assisted-opening knives then there’s a pretty decent chance you’ll also enjoy the blades found on our guide to the best automatic knives for everyday carry.