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Date Published: 2016-05-24

Top 2016 Assisted Opening Knives


By Adelia Ladson

After seeing the incredible variety of assisted opening pocket knives we’ve been getting in this year, I knew I needed to take the opportunity to brag about them. I wish I could tell you about every single one of them but that would be like writing a book. So, just go to our Assisted Opening Knives Category and browse through our extensive selection. If you are a little overwhelmed by the choices, I’m gonna make it a little easier for you. I have picked out what I think will be our Top Five Assisted Opening Knives this year.





SOG Sideswipe Grey Tini Pocket Knife
SOG Sideswipe Grey Tini Pocket Knife

SOG Sideswipe Grey Tini

Stout and dependable is what you get with the SOG Sideswipe Grey Tini Pocket Knife. When you hold it in your hand, you’ll feel its build quality and robustness. It's a tactical dream with its 3 1/4” bead blasted stainless steel blade and contoured anodized aluminum handle with textured GRN inserts. It's the textured inserts that really make it a great, all-purpose knife since you know it's not going to slip when you use it. When you need quick access, a simple push on the thumb stud will propel the blade out and locked in the open position ready for duty. The Sideswipe just makes for a great EDC because it's a dependable pocket knife that you know you can count on!


USMC Desert Warrior Assisted Opening Pocket Knife
USMC Desert Warrior Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

USMC Desert Warrior

This officially licensed USMC Desert Warrior folding knife is just that – a warrior! It really embodies the strength and spirit of the Marines because it’s tough and up to any duty station. The 3 1/2" 420A stainless steel blade features a stonewashed finish and it glides open quickly and effortlessly with the help of the assisted-open mechanism. When you use this knife, it feels comfortable in your hand because the handle is constructed of G10 with a CNC finish. It’s designed to ensure that you have a secure grip. My favorite part of this pocket knife is that it has a stonewashed pocket clip with "USMC" wire cut right into the clip and it’s officially licensed.

Kershaw Grid Assisted Opening Pocket Knife
Kershaw Grid Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

Kershaw Grid

Okay, the first thing I need to say about the Kershaw Grid is that it is a no-nonsense looking pocket knife! Everything is exactly as it should be with this masterpiece of Utilitarianism. The 3 1/2” 4Cr14 steel, modified drop point blade has a black-oxide coating and the steel handle has a titanium carbo-nitride coating. You get long-lasting edge retention, strength, and hardness in a non-reflective blade that is corrosion resistant. It opens quickly and easily thanks to Kershaw's SpeedSafe assisted opening. There's no doubt that this assisted opening pocket knife was perfectly built for covert missions!


Schrade Shizzle Assisted Opening Pocket Knife
Schrade Shizzle Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

Schrade Shizzle

What I love about the Schrade Shizzle assisted opening pocket knife is the unique looking Champagne colored handle that just screams cool and in control. I really like a knife that’s lightweight and the skeleton type of handle, which is made of aluminum, cuts the weightiness you find in other pocket knives. The black AUS-8 high carbon stainless steel drop point blade, however, is not a lightweight when it comes to performance. Being a lefty, I really appreciate the ambidextrous thumb knobs that make opening it a breeze and the reversible pocket clip that makes carrying it easy, too. You come to expect the utmost quality with Schrade knives and this knife definitely fits the bill.


Ruger Crack Shot Assisted Opening Pocket Knife
Ruger Crack Shot Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

Ruger Crack Shot Compact

It’s great when a knife designer takes something like the Ruger American Rifle and uses it to inspire himself to design a complimentary pocket knife. That is exactly what CRKT and master knifesmith Ken Steigerwalt did and it really worked out well! The Ruger Crack Shot uses the same aesthetic detail of contouring and grip serrations on its glass-reinforced nylon handle that is used on the rifle itself. The 3 1/2" stonewashed, drop-point blade is crafted out of 8Cr13MoV with a hardness of 58-59 HRC and it comes out like a shot using Outburst assisted opening technology. I’m telling you now, if you have a Ruger American Rifle, you absolutely have to have this pocket knife to go along with it.


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