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BEST NEW ASSISTED-OPENING FOLDER 2016: Meet the Contenders

November 15, 2016

Presented by: Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpeners

The KnifeNews Dealers’ Choice Awards recognize extraordinary achievement in the production knife world. KnifeNews turned to knife dealers to determine the winners. With hundreds of new production knives passing through their hands and many hours spent interacting with end-users, dealers have the most comprehensive and informed perspective. 21 of North America’s top dealers cast their votes in 10 different categories to choose the best of the best in 2016.

Best New Assisted-Opening Folder
Assisted-opening folders provide a sure deployment every single time. They can rival the speed of an automatic, without the legal concerns. And in 2016, more manufacturers stepped into the ring with their take on the assisted-opening knife.

In alphabetical order, here are the four new assisted-opening knives that garnered the most votes. Visit KnifeNews.com tomorrow to find out which one is taking home the KnifeNews Dealers’ Choice Award for Best New Assisted-Opening Folder 2016.

Benchmade 490 Amicus
Benchmade went all out for its first foray into assisted flipper design. With a sleek silhouette, a disappearing flipper tab, and rare S90V blade steel, the 490 is an impressive gentleman’s folder that fits right in with the company’s high-end offerings.

Benchmade 490 Amicus

Kershaw Fatback
The Fatback stood out from Kershaw’s 2016 offerings with a dagger-like profile, angular handle, and a decorative oversized pivot. A sizeable 3.5” blade means that the Fatback is an assisted-opening knife ready for hard work.

Kershaw Fatback

ProTech TR-5 Lerch
ProTech broke new ground in 2016 with the TR-5, its first assisted knife. This Matthew Lerch-designed knife proved that ProTech could be just as adept at making assisted-opening knives as it is making automatics.

ProTech TR5 Lerch

SOG Sideswipe
The value-oriented SOG Sideswipe has a heavy duty, industrial look. But heavy duty doesn’t have to mean heavy weight, and SOG managed to keep the sizeable Sideswipe well under 4 oz. with a durable aluminum frame and textured GRN inserts.

SOG Sideswipe

AWARDS SCHEDULE

Best New Tactical Fixed Blade:
Top 4 Contenders
CRKT Clever Girl (WINNER)
Friday, November 11th

Best New Outdoor Fixed Blade:
Top 4 Contenders
Mora Garberg (WINNER)
Saturday, November 12th

Best New Fixed Blade for EDC:
Top 4 Contenders
TOPS C.U.T. 4.0 (WINNER)
Sunday, November 13th

Best Knife Upgrade:
Top 5 Contenders
Benchmade G-10 Griptilian (WINNER)
Monday, November 14th

Best New Automatic Knife:
Top 4 Contenders
Kershaw Launch 6 (WINNER)
Tuesday, November 15th

Best New Assisted-Opening Folder:
Top 4 Contenders
Benchmade 490 Amicus (WINNER)
Wednesday, November 16th

Best New Value Folder (MSRP under $100):
Top 4 Contenders
Cold Steel Pro-Lite (WINNER)
Thursday, November 17th

Best New Manual Folder:
Top 5 Contenders
Zero Tolerance 0456 (WINNER)
Friday, November 18th

Most Innovative New Knife:
Top 3 Contenders
CRKT Homefront (WINNER)
Saturday, November 19th

Best Overall New for 2016 Lineup:
Top 5 Contenders
Benchmade Knife Company (WINNER)
Sunday, November 20th

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