A discussion on knives- Part I: Types of knives.

I've been thinking about what I want for my birthday for some time and I'm leaning towards asking for a large folding knife, but more on that later. After spending a lot of time looking at, reading about, teaching about and, most importantly, using knives I want to put together a tutorial for people interested in learning what makes a knife "good" and how they can choose a knife that is good for their particular needs.

Part I: Types of Knives

Knives are very diverse but in general when we think about knives we can break them into a few groups. I found some awesome infographics via BladeHQ.com describing the different types of knives. Check out the infographics and make sure to reference them if you hear or read vocabulary you aren't familiar with.

Automatic Knives 
Automatic knives are designed primarily for Military, Police and EMT duty, these knives are simple to open in an emergency. This is done by pushing a firing button or pulling a lever. Check the laws in your area before purchasing an automatic knife, as they are restricted in many areas.
An infographic by the team at Blade HQ


Manual Folding Knives 
Manual knives are legal in most areas, which means they are extremely common. Often, this type of knife is also recognized as a “pocket knife.” Spring assisted knives are roughly the same as manual knives, but they have a spring inside the handle that helps deploy the blade much faster. Spring assisted knives typically have a thumb stud and/or flipper.
An infographic by the team at Blade HQ


Fixed Blade Knives 
Fixed blade knives don’t fold or contract, like other types of knives. Fixed blades are perfect for nearly any use—they are carried by sportsmen, hunters, campers, and more.
An infographic by the team at Blade HQ


Out The Front Knives 
Out The Front knives are similar to automatic knives in many ways; they are opened by pushing a thumb slide or pulling a lever, but with an OTF knife the blade always deploys out the front of the handle—not the side, like automatic knives. OTF knives are restricted in many areas so be certain to consult your local laws before purchasing these items.
An infographic by the team at Blade HQ


Balisong (Butterfly) Knives 
Some people spend years trying to master the skill of flipping butterfly knives, A.K.A. balisong knives. It’s debatable whether it’s more fun to flip a butterfly knife or to watch someone flip— it looks really cool, and it’s practically mesmerizing.
An infographic by the team at Blade HQ