The Buck Sirus is an assisted opening knife much like the Kershaw SpeedSafe knives designed by Ken Onion. Assisted opening knives differ from truw switchblades in that the knife is not opened purely from the force applied by a spring. Instead a cam opens the knife the rest of the way after it has been opened manually a portion of the travel. This is an important legal distinction, but a hardly noticable function one.

The Kershaw Spec Bump is the folder that impresses me the most ergonomically. I prefer fixed blades because their ergonomic designs tend to be better since the handle can be any shape rather than having to be designed to accommodate a blade. The Kershaw Bump family (especially the Spec Bump), however, feel almost as good as a fixed blade. The Bump knives are also great in many other ways.

I have entered this post under the “switchblade” category, but the Kershaw Leek is not really a switchblade. A switchblade is a knife that opens automatically (usually at the press of a button) completely using the stored energy of a spring. In most cases the spring wants to open the blade, and a lock keeps the blade closed. When the lock is released (again, usually by pressing a button) the knife opens without needing the owner to help it along. The Kershaw Leek is designed by Ken Onion, inventor of the Speed Safe assisted opening mechanism. Speed Safe uses a cam to “help” open the blade. “Help” is the keyword because the cam does not do all of the work. When the knife is closed the cam actually holds the blade closed. Once the blade has been rotated around the pivot a certain distance, the cam then helps open the blade. The owner of the knife has to manually start the blade opening, and then the cam takes over. With the Kershaw Leek, the user can use the flipper on the blade to quickly flip the knife open. Speed Safe is as fast as a switchblade, and just as easy, but does not have the legal restrictions.

This is a topic that comes up often on various knife forums. Which company is better, Benchmade or Spyderco? It is one of those questions that cannot really be answered because it comes down to personal preference, but it is fun to talk about.

A classic Spyderco and a classic Benchmade:

Benchmade and Spyderco have different things goes for them. Spyderco is all about spartan designs that are practical and ergonomic above being styish. Many Spyderco knives are traditionally ugly, but extremely functional and inexpensive. This makes them beautiful to the trained eye. Benchmade knives are functional and well-made, but tend to be a little more impressive visually. For example, look at the stunning Benchmade Skirmish (designed by Neil Blackwood):