I usually carry a Benchmade Auto Opener with me at work, and a Buck Model 110 Folder on the weekends

 

bought it form L.L. Beans. i didn't want a leatherman cuz every one else has one this is just as good. works awsome!
made by Victorinox same company as the origanal swiss army knife
i also keep a small "push button knife" in my pocket more of conversation piece

 

I have a Master that is about 6 1/2 inches long blade and handle together It stays in my truck right next to me 24/7. I am very good with it, i would be able to grab it and flip it open before someone new what happened( lotsa practice ) aint no one gunna be stealin my truck !! my carry knife is a kershaw, It is self assisted so i can open it quickly ( around horses that is often times neccesary to save someone or one of ur animals from a potentially deadly situation. I have used it numerous times to cut other peoples horses loose from their trailers because they were going to be seriously injured and the owners were standing there just watching! i have ran over whipped out the knife and sliced right through a weaved nylon lead rope and cut there horse loose before it could hurt itself badly( horse people will agree on how impressive that is those ropes are hard to cut, that kershaw is the only one so far that has done it that easily( my master has cut thru one in two strokes.)but yeah they are definately always with me. i love um. also being a bartender i keep the kershaw in my purse for when i walk to my truck at 2 am. I dare um

 

Those assisted opening Kershaws are sweet. You should check out the Lone Wolf assisted openings. I have the Diablo, kinda spendy but hella cool.

Lone Wolf Knives

 

This is another one of my fav's. Although with regular
use the edge does need constant touching up. You
get what you pay for and I knew that when I got it.

 

I was just about to buy that one but was given the Cold Steel Recon1 , it's been my absolute favorite knife to date, I've done some horrible things to this one, only sharpened the blade twice, it's balanced really well, flips open so cotton picking fast and has an excellent grip for either holding direction. I like how long the blade holds an edge, too.

as far as legality, the blade is of legal length and it's not an automatic opener; but in CA the knife law can easily be interpreted to call a bic pen an easily accessible 'stabbing weapon', so yes and no, it's legal.

 

My CRKT M16SF has been in sand, saltwater, freshwater, mud, clay, you name it. Its never given me trouble. And somebody said a good knife will hold an edge longer. Thats true for most knives, but keep in mind, the longer it holds an edge, the harder it is to sharpen, and it takes longer to sharpen it as well. If your working in dirty conditions like sandy gritty stuff, you don't want a real hard steel like AUS13 or the likes, you'd be better off wild a milder steel, because no matter what its going to dull quickly, and a softer steel will sharpen much faster, and easier than a very hard steel.

I had a Recon, and I liked it, but when I grabbed this CRKT I was impressed. The nicest thing is that blade guard, and the full hilt. It makes opening it one handed a snap, with either hand I can flip it open as fast as my old Kershaw assisted knife. The Mtech I can just flip and it'll open, but it used to open in my pocket too, I have the scar to prove it! I loved my old Spyderco Tasman Salt... The H1 steel they use is fairly hard, and it will never rust since its hardened with nitrogen not carbon. That one I lost at the aiport when I forgot it was in my pocket... TSA wasn't happy, but I got a guy with little hands for the cavity search!

 

I lost my CRKT k.i.s.s. to the TSA because I forgot it was there. the kiss and peck are fantastic, small simple pocket/keychain knives. the peck I foolishly gave to a g/f who's now an ex...she's outa state now though, so I don't have to worry about her coming up behind me and giving my jugular a "how-d'ya do".

and yes, this blade takes forever to sharpen; so far I haven't rounded the tanto point off, either!

 

You guys w/ open assisted knives, don't take them to Canada. If Border Services catches you with one, they might confiscate it.

 

have noticed a fair amount of knives are coming with a 'pocket catch' open assist...is that technically considered an open assist yet or is it still just considered a thumb tab? brother got a NICE knife with a pocket catch, it's awesome