Which Out-The-Front Knife is BEST? | OTF Knives Buyers Guide 2023
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- George and Theo break down a ton of the best OTFs you can buy at every price point from all your favorite brands!
Get all your knives at Blade HQ! bit.ly/3Jsty6w
Shop all OTFs: bit.ly/3kYmIMB
0:00 Introduction
0:12 Smith & Wesson M&P OTF $54.95 bit.ly/3ypjVin
2:19 AKC F-16 $59.95 bit.ly/3J7g3rt
4:00 AKC EVO $119.95 bit.ly/3J5yrkp
5:19 Boker Slike $68.95 bit.ly/3ZC0nDv
7:14 Boker Kalashnikov OTF $145.95 bit.ly/3FabBqC
8:18 Boker USB $72.95 bit.ly/3ZyVmM3
9:02 Boker USA OTF $231.20 bit.ly/3YAOeNX
10:12 Hogue Compound $323.96+ bit.ly/3F7m06E
12:47 Paragon X-Bolt $199+ bit.ly/3mIYoPq
13:41 Paragon Estiletto $260+ bit.ly/3T2U09S
15:14 Kershaw Livewire $239.95 bit.ly/3YF6INc
16:59 SOG Pentagon OTF $349.95 bit.ly/3J430qO
18:39 Guardian Tactical Recon-035 $270+ bit.ly/3J5zRvf
20:24 Benchmade Shootout $292.50+ bit.ly/3kUNkhz
22:10 Benchmade Infidel $495 bit.ly/3ZDwgvE
23:44 Heretic Manticore $303+ bit.ly/41Yiq8B
25:25 Microtech Ultratech $280+ bit.ly/3mDlKWC
27:17 Microtech UTX-85 $262+ bit.ly/3mFqURS
27:43 Microtech UTX-70 $246+ bit.ly/3ZYsqgl
28:19 Microtech Exocet $278+ bit.ly/3yr4o1J
30:16 Outro
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I just blacked out and I purchased 3 Microtech and 2 Benchmade OTF Knifes from you guys. I won’t eat for the next 2 weeks but it’s worth it 🇺🇸
thats hot this comment got me hard blood rushed to my peepee so fast i also passed out
Xanax does that sometimes
Sacrifices must be made. For the cause 🫡
Fell sorry for you..
😂😂
Been carrying The Infidel for 15 years now. Still the favorite knife I own. I remember getting my first scratch on the handle, which showed through a silver shine through the anodized handle, and being bummed out. But after all these years, I've never seen a knife age so well. All the 50 or so edges on the handle now have silver showing through, and it looks absolutely beautiful to me. I've completely disassembled a few times, and it's amazing how many pieces there are that make up this knife. Nothing has failed or rusted thus far, besides losing a few screws, but Benchmade sent me a whole bag of them for free. Been browsing the market to find a new carry knife, but I think the 3300 might stay on my belt until death.
I've got a mini and I love it. I do like my new blue and tan shootout better though
I had my Infidel since 2019 and i lost it the other week during a job orientation :(.
@velvoc5113 Damn, I feel for you. MY FATHER BOUGHT ME MINE BACK in 2006. It got taken away by a cop once, but fortunately, he gave it back and told me not to carry it. Got a CWP when I turned 21, and it hasn't left my belt since. I'm still using the original nylon holster that came with it. Fortunately, I have some sort of anxiety that makes me check all 4 pockets and my belt to make sure everything is where it should be multiple times a day, so that helps. My dad passed away last month, so it just became that much more important to hold on to. Sorry you lost it, get a nicer, newer model, and protect it like it was a baby, haha. It's a steep cost financially, but the quality is definitely built to last, and they honor the lifetime warranty.
@@BasedBill yep that’s the plan just gonna have to save
The RGB bullshit killed Benchmade for me. She can rot in hell, and Benchmade will never get a dime from me.
Thank you for making this video. As a newbie to OTF's this has been a great reference guide for me to constantly refer back too.
The reason you don't see locks/safeties on double-action OTFs, but single-actions often have a safety lock: when you open or close a DA, the operation of the slide/button/actuator combines the two steps of a SA. You're pulling back on the spring, adding tension, storing the energy you're using to push the slide; it's exactly like when you're retracting/arming/cocking a SA. The only difference, really, is that the release catch, instead of being a separate thing from the cocking pull, is right at the end of the slide's travel, allowing one fluid motion to deploy the blade.
Since you're "winding up" the spring as a process of opening, a DA is almost impossible to accidentally deploy. If you do, the slightest obstruction will stop the blade, because the blade is actually shooting out on sheer momentum, from that ~3/4" of spring tension you put into it. A DA, by comparison, can have way more spring tension, and it can be actively _accelerating_ to the full-open position. Since you're only releasing the catch, after cocking the spring beforehand, it can absolutely be triggered by accident... and the blade will most likely be moving with a *lot* more force. It's definitely a good idea to have some kind of safety feature on that.
A double-action OTF is like a modern, drop-safe handgun. There's almost no way for the knife to deploy by accident. Deploying the blade requires a very particular kind of motion, to both cock and then fire. Few things are truly impossible, technically, but you'd have to somehow snag the slide button on something, while moving upward on a ladder or forward while crawling. Then, once it does actually fire the blade... It'll be easily stopped by the fabric the knife is probably clipped to. Honestly, you can stop a DA blade from fully deploying or retracting by moving your hand the wrong way as you operate the knife. It's very much an inherently safe design.
In contrast, a single-action OTF is much more akin to an old-school single-action revolver, where if you have it cocked, if you drop it it could conceivably go off.
you explained this very well thank you haha im looking into getting an OTF to start off my collection and to have a knife for defense.
What is the model name of the Smith and Wesson? Thank you
That was a painfully long read lol. But... I finished the whole book and agree with everything you said.. spot on 👏
KERSHAW LIVEWIRE!! Just received mine and it hasn’t left my pocket. 😂 What a PERFECT OTF.
😜 Love my Hogue Compound, but it was replaced as my EDC by the Kershaw Livewire. DANG what an amazing OTF‼️👌🏼
The OD Green Infidel was the knife of the SF guys I saw in Afghanistan back in '09. After spending years on the fence I finally picked one up last year. Not my first OTF, but definitely one of the most sentimental knives in my collection.
What grp?
@@Tiebox I never asked. Just know they were out of Tacoma/Ft Lewis.
Interesting!
In my experience with OTFs, they are really great for situations like: when you are wearing gloves, doing non 2 hand friendly tasks such as painting while on a ladder, and most importantly; looking awsome while you do it all.
I switched my EDC to an OTF for these same reasons. I'm often working from elevated positions off ladders, scaffolding, bucket trucks and lifts. OTF's really shine in these situations. The more one handed cutting you're doing the better they get and save you time.
13:10: i love that sound. it's so satisfying to hear that sound.
I just picked up the Gen 3 Combat Troodon, and I'm loving it.
I just got the Benchmade Shootout!! It's awesome. It came razor sharp and fires hard and definitely won't pull my pants down. I highly recommend it!!
I recently got one, and I love it. Picked it up at Scheels. 😅
I traded a WE Upshot and a Civivi for a Shootout. I love it! Perfect for wearing with shorts because it's weighs so little.
Microtech brand is by far one of my favorite otf
They're SO GOOD! I'm contemplating picking up one of the MagnaCut versions! -George
Couldn't agree more. Microtech is by far the best out there and the only brand I buy nowadays
@@enigma.b9 Best in the price range*
There's better but you gotta pay a bit more.
@razormonkey5000 after owning deadlocks, marfiones, burns & twist tighes I always come back to microtechs. So that's my personal preference
I pre ordered the livewire from you guys and absolutely love it
I've got a Scrade Viper SA OTF that I got because it was on sale for dirt cheap. And while I do like the lockup and feel of the knife, you really are limited to deploying the blade in a reverse grip. But I don't particularly like having to deploy a knife that way, nor do I like having to ensure my fingers (specifically the tip of my ring finger) are out of the way while deploying the knife. However, it's also a "spear point" (a double recurve blade body on both sides with a convex tip, also on both sides) meaning that you can easily use the knife in either direction in either orientation.
Once I realized that this specific knife is MUCH better for a lefty (and the fact that I only paid 27 bucks for it to be shipped to my house), I realized that I also wanted a DA and that my brother would likely enjoy this knife far better than myself. So I made the decision to give it to him and buy a different knife for my own uses (including, but not limited to, deploying & retracting it like a fidget toy). So now I'm looking at a couple cheaper OTF DA knives and am pretty settled on one of a few. So, like the internet autist that I am, I'm obviously looking at all 45,000 options that fall within my budget until I find something slightly outside of my budget that I will spend many hours convincing myself is easily worth breaking on the first item that russels my Jimmy's...
Received a brand new Ultratech and could not use it weak handed. Action was very stiff/trigger sharp and rough. Sent it back.
I now have a Boker Falcon 2.0, Heretic/SWKW Nightcrawler and two from Guardian Tactical: a Recon-30 & Recon-40.
For the smoothest action it's Guardian Tactical hands down/blades out.
Just ordered my live wire. Every review has been positive on it.
I love both of them but the first one i saw and had to buy was the Infidel. Just this past weekend at the Blade Show in Atlanta I bought one of the Guardian Tactical Recon-035 love it as well. We have some of the best knife manufacturers in the world
I have a benchmade infidel & BM SOCP folder , microtech ultratech, and a Kershaw livewire. I tend to lean toward the livewire for EDC.
Guardian Tactical is criminally underrated.
A agree with this assessment
AGREED!!!
Axial is even better !
So as Axial Gear.
Didn’t know there was an entire community this interested in knives. You really can find everything on CZcams.
There’s a whole community interested in changing there gender. Of course there’s a massive knife community...
Oh and there is subdivisions of knife people. Balisong flippers is my favorite to watch.
Knives, watches, pens, RC cars. If there's something guys like, there is a community of guys that arguably like it too much 😆
Guardian Tactical 035 is the best OTF I've ever had in by hand. Livewire has the smoothest action for the money. Axial Shift makes an OTF with better action than the Ultratech but a lot cheaper
Just bought an otf from your website can’t wait to get it
Just bought a Microtech from your site and it’s amazing 🥰
My edc is a UTX-85. I love it
I dont care what anyone else say about the BM Shootout "it feels cheap, it wiggles... blablabla". I LOVE that thing!! And it can handle everything as any other high quality OTF... carry an aluminium handle OTF if you think that it holds up better than CF-elite. But remember.... "feeling" and "being" cheap is totally different thing.
BTW... Very good Banter, George! :)
I can rarely force myself to carry any of my other knives since I got the Shootout.
@@larryfisher9972 Exactly same with me... when talking about carrying an OTF. I have few Microtech's, Hogue Compound, Boker OTF's, Akc's, but never cared to carry it much. But Shootout is somehow in my back pocket since day one and actually gets a lot of use. :-) It is one of those knives which some people totally love it and some totally hate it, not much anything else between that.
I have two of these, the Microtech UTX-85 and the Boker USB, along with a couple of knock-offs that I picked up at gun shows (before I knew better). I had no idea that there were so many other options out there.
A a German, I love the Slike! Lol, and the new Micro USB OTF I preordered. Because legal OTF ftw!
The Slike is also neatly balanced right behind "the hilt", so you can ever so nicely fling it aound in your fingers, playing and fidgeting around with it.
PA just legalized OTFs and I quickly grabbed a Guardian Tactical Recon 035 from Blade HQ. The action is so smooth, and I just love using that knife!
Has that gone into effect yet? I did see the governor passed the bill to legalize autos. But I didn’t see when it actually was supposed to go into affect.
@@kylerblevins21 Bill was signed back in early November by Wolf, went live after 60 days. So as of January 3rd it's now legal.
Same haha had to finally cop an otf cuz of that. im using a Cobratec FS-3 Medium D2 Tanto
@@GriffXJ sweet! Thanks for the info. Still can’t carry it on the daily because I go to NJ, NY, DE, and ME all the time for work.
@@kylerblevins21are they legal to own in Delaware?
Love your channel can’t wait to see you at blade show
I think the Dalton cupid is another super iconic one but good luck finding one of those, been trying to for a while.
His Love Handel shirt is AMAZING!!!!!
I have an akc f-16 and it is very nice. Definitely the coolest knife I own
i have a f-20 and its one of the best otf for under $100
Watching this in a jurisdiction where these are severely illegal is so incredibly frustrating😆
I have a UTX 70 simply because when I was slightly younger and stupider I had a friend in the US who was willing to send one to me in parts over several months. Extremely risky move I wouldn’t recommend anyone take - I’m amazed the blade wasn’t intercepted - but it never leaves the house because if I’m busted with it I am fucked.
God help you bro. Idk where you live but it sounds horrible. Don't fret though, the entire planet is heading that way very rapidly.
Step one of owning something illegal: don't talk about it on the internet
@@Arto257 well yeah, maybe to people who aren’t badasses like me😎
What would a judge actually do if you got caught with one in CA?
great reviews
First off, awesome content, love it. Second, I was watching this at night after putting kids to bed and I kept having to pause it because I could swear my youngest was calling to me every once in awhile. ... Then I finally figured out it was the background music.
Benchmade shootout hands down!
Light, and incredible steel.
I own a lot of knives, and this is my favorite.
I've had my ultratech since 2012 and it's still going strong all I had to do was add locktite and get new screws
Loving my Livewire
I think the Guardian Tactical is one of the most underrated OTFs on the market.
I have two microtechs and instead carry a guardian. Highly agree, much smoother.
💯
the 2 guys that started guardian tactical use to work at microtech.
@@ryanholzinger534 That explains a lot.
I have a microtech--But my guardian tactical is the best otf ive ever had--Its so solid
Love Handel. One of the best virtual bands ever.
My brother just got an ultra tech and I want and OTF now.
I’m disappointed not to see the Hogue Counterstrike. It’s SUCH a killer of a quality OTF, and presents as an amazing value compared to the Microtech/Heretic options. So glad they’re coming out with G-10 handled and drop point versions of the limited edition - hopefully soon!
i agree 100%. hogue designs trump everything for the price. guardian tactical is one of the only other brand of OTF thats worth the money
just a shame how ugly they are
8:11 Whoaow the Cobratech Logo!
I actually just bought the Smith and Wesson in gray a few days ago it'll be here Friday
Any that requires minimum pressure to operate l ask because of my arthritis. Thanks in advance
I have the shootout and micro tech both great!
Thanks for teaching me Guys..I bought my knife.
Ultratech and utx-85 are master race!
I have a Axial shift love it made in USA great knife super sharp no one ever talks about them tho
The AKC F16 is the first otf I got my daughter.
Böker Kalashnikov is a nice addition, which I think is a very good design.
the Paragon Estiletto is 5.5" on the blade, in blade length
i don't think you guys carry it, but the lightning otf is the best budget option period. at 30 bucks its very sturdy and long lasting.
Bought a kershaw livewire to be my first otf a couple weeks ago but still waiting for you guys to ship. Waiting in anticipation when I can fire it for the first time!
Also waiting in agony for my first otf. Your pain is shared lol
Likewise waiting on my livewire also
Damn. What's going on?
Guardian Tactical Recon is excellent!
The Ultratech came long before the Infidel. Microtech is the Lamborghini of OTF Knives where the Infidel is like a new Corvette. I love the new Vettes but they’re still not a Lambo. Benchmade will never beat Microtech at OTFs. On the other hand I think Benchmade excels at manual folders. I would purchase a manual Benchmade over a manual Microtech 9 out of 10 times. And for a side opening auto you can’t beat a Protech. Just my opinions here though. Thanks for the fun Video! Cheers and Happy Holidays everyone!
I have a Ultratech and I like it very much. It's produced in 2012, the handle is different comparing with the current Ultratech. The handle is more rectangular on the older model. The current Ultratech model has very big chamfers on the handle, I think it looks ugly comparing with the older model I have.
Great video, subscribed! But No mention of TacKnives?
I like the money clip otf
Great content! The name and price and the bottom of the screen wow 😮😮
I bought a Chinees knock-off and it turns out it's good work knife. The convenance of one hand operation. I t broke today at work and CZcams helped me fix it.
I want a blue Microtech UTX 85 with a black Warhound blade.
I’m a Microtech fan, I have a couple Ultratechs so obviously my next one has to be a big one so I’m thinking Combat Troodon!
I want that Love Händel shirt!
I dont know about their OTFs but I have a Smith and Wesson auto from more than a decade ago and that thing has missing screws, the black coating on the blades coming off from use, and its still working. They may not be pretty knives and they may not be the best but they do take a beating.
EDIT: I know im not alone in this, I heard Dual of the Fates in my head as soon as that Paragon Estiletto popped out lol
Spyderco needs to make an otf
I like how they skip right over the cobratec logo on that little Boker but talk all about Hogue on the next one
I had an Infidel for a long time, maybe I just got a lemon but I could never get a good edge on it and it had a very heavy actuator so it wasn't very useful for my daily uses. I know most people love the Infidel but it turned into just an expensive letter opener for me.
Just ordered a tanto bladed Axial Shift in magnacut. Heard great things about it and it's 100% US made for half the price of the Infidel. Hopefully it works better for my needs. If nothing else, I should be able to get a good edge on it with the blade shape and being in magnacut.
D2 for the infidel👎🏼
@@mrabyss9024 The Axial Shift turned out to be pretty good, especially for the price. It turned out to be a daily use knife for me. It's only just getting to where it needs a strop, the magnacut holds an edge for a very long time. I've been impressed enough with it that I ordered one for my son for Christmas.
The Hogue Counterstrike is a great newcomer but I got to give it to the Heretic Manticore.
Livewire I carry it everyday
OTF Ranking:
#1: Microtech Ultratech
#2: Microtech Dirac Delta
#3: Microtech Combat Troodon
#4: Microtech ...
Why no love for the Benchmade Phaeton?
I didn’t realize the s&w otf was aus8. Might just pick that up over the evo.
The Kershaw Livewire is hands down the best value imo. It’s close between the Recon 035 and the Livewire. I’ve owned the Livewire, Recon 035, and an Ultratech and imo the Livewire are and Recon are far superior to the Ultratech.
agree
My Microtech breaks on me about once a year, so it surprises me when people talk about the quality of the knifes. I still love them though.
Amazing Phineas and Ferb shirt I love it
AKG otf, got mine 2 months ago, looking rough, heavy use. Aluminum blade doesn't hold edge long.
OTF's always have a little blade wiggle. But the SOG pentagon has none at all, very solid almost like a fixed blade.
Have they fixed the SOG Pentagon yet? Last I heard when it retracts the blade rubs itself on the internals and dulls itself.
Any comb variants?
Have many autos however enjoy two Ultratechs, a Manticore, Phaeton and a Infidel…love switching EDC between them! Fun everyday!
The SOG pentagon is a solid otf, well worth it.
that boker usb looks like a fun pearing knife to carry around if you happen to peel a lot of fruit.
I wonder what kind of axe you have on the wall and how many inch handle ?
Thank you in advance.
Would have loved to seen a hydra on here but it’s tough probably ultra tech if I’m buying my first otf off that list
When you stab the Kalashnikov and does the blade go in with or does it stay out
The Hawk Deadlock is king! The Model C Ti is the end all be all OTF for me!
You're not alone in that! Deadlocks are something else! -George
That John Wick specials coming out with the box coins and pencil.....I'm for sure grabbing one
@@andrewlee972Congratulations you lucky MF! I'm green with envy! It's definitely badass and I hope it brings you great enjoyment. ✌️
The Hawk Deadlock Model C Ti is my grail otf, hell, it's my grail knife period! I'm getting a Kershaw Livewire in black with Magnacut for my 1st OTF and I'm very excited. Unfortunately I live in Commiefornia but that wont stop me from owning one and incorporating it into my EDC. ✌️
@@jason420jv1 what are you referring to?
I was watching microtech show i am glad i seen your show i can afford these just as good to me
What was the folder you pulled out around 2:15?
Thanks for the video. In Texas all knives are legal 🤟🏿
10:31 If I was making an OTF, that fuller on the spine would be a nail file!
Review the cobra tec enforcer it’s a sleeper
The fuller on the spine would be milled in and probably pretty simple I would imagine
I like them all but I'm a big microtech fan
Hmm that manual boker looks cool is it UK legal as assisted knives are highly illegal and I know customs take lots of Kickstarter blades because they just look to good to enter the country
Are the Microtech Dessert Warriors getting restocks?
What's a good website to buy knives on?
For my first OTF and M390 steel, I went with the Ultratech. 😁 I have to wait for it to arrive. 😞
what do you think about it now?
@@ryanholzinger534 I’m enjoying it a lot. My only complaint is that it is still stiff.
Im on my ole ladys phone and account. I habe the axial shift and the microtech utx 70 both in blue handle and stonewashed single edge. I honestly can't decide which one I like better both habe there purposes and I carry whichbever one i feel is appropriate for the day or occasion. Really wanting to try the utx 85 im hoping to fall in lobe with it splitting the difference then maybe part with one of the iter 2.
TAKE ONE APART, I’d like to see the action inside