All About Pocket Knives

These knives fire (fast and hard) when you move the metal plate at the top of the wood scale about a millimeter, with your thumb as you hold the knife. It's really subtle and takes a little practice to do it without the knife flying out of your hand from the sudden torque of the violent opening. It's also a lot of fun to challenge other knife collectors to figure out how to open the knife. I haven't found one yet who can figure it out. It's that subtle. I used to be able to find these knives at gun shows, but no longer. Does anyone know who made/makes them? I also have one that needs repair.

The "metal plate" at the top of the cover is called a bolster. I believe Bill D commented at one time that models like yours are built in China, and ProTech currently makes a model called a Mike "Whiskers" designed Hidden Release auto. Many times repairing these only involves replacing the coil-spring located under the front bolster.

Several off shore makers of these… I believe you have leaf spring fire knives,,And can also can be opened manually ?

yes, they can be opened manually.

These are Chinese copies of an old Microtech design.

wiseguy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:35 am Several off shore makers of these… I believe you have leaf spring fire knives,,And can also can be opened manually ?

Thanks for that correction bud. So, a coil-spring fired knife can't be opened manually and a leaf-spring fired knife can, is that what you're saying?

It really depends on the knife, but for the most part that’s correct. Some leaf fired aren’t “dual” operated.

Thanks WG. I'll have to go over my autos and see which is which.

Sure thing, the above posted knives mechanics are odd in that the sear holds the leaf spring down not the blade, this allows for manual operation . Most capture the blade or simply lift the backspring to fire, like the whiskers knife you mentioned, which coincidentally is my EDC.

Interesting! I remember when I posted my copy you mentioning your "Whiskers" knife is a favorite EDC for the past 2 years, and that it operates just a well now as the day you got it. That's how all knives should work.