Automatic Knives
Short version: an automatic knife swings its blade open from the side the instant you press a button or switch. It opens with one hand, gloves on or off. This page covers side-opening automatics from Hogue, Cobratec and Smith & Wesson. Out-the-front models live on our OTF knives page.
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How automatic knives open
A spring inside the handle holds the blade under tension. Press the button or slide the switch and the spring snaps the blade fully open and locked. You do no work on the blade itself, and that is the difference from an assisted opener.
Button placement varies. Push button models put the release on the face of the handle near the pivot. Side button models like the Cobratec Naja and Diablo put it on the edge where your thumb or index finger rests.
What we carry
Hogue makes the premium end of this page: the Ballista-I and Ballista-II button autos and the K320A in Nitron and M17 versions. Cobratec covers a wide spread of frames, including the Naja and Diablo side button autos, the Jackal and Recon push buttons and the Viper and Ryker auto folders. Smith & Wesson adds the Special Ops push button in full size and mini, the M&P H.R.T. automatic and the Unwavered automatic, and Old Timer offers the Bruin and Cave Bear autos.
Choosing one
Start with blade length and where it will ride. A blade around three inches carries easily every day. Three and a half inches and up is a working knife that will want a belt or a deep pocket. Then look at the release. A button that is easy to find is also easy to hit by accident, so pocket carry matters as much as the knife.
Automatic knife FAQs
What is the difference between an automatic and a spring assisted knife?
An automatic opens entirely on its own when you press the release. A spring assisted knife needs you to start the blade moving with a thumb stud or flipper, then the spring finishes. See our spring assisted knives.
Is an OTF knife an automatic knife?
Yes. OTFs are automatics that deploy out the front. We list them separately on our OTF knives page.
Are automatic knives legal to own?
That depends on your state and city, and the rules for owning and carrying are often different. Check your state statute and local ordinance before you buy or carry.