OTF Knives

OTF Knives: The Complete Buyer's Guide to Out-the-Front Automatics

OTF stands for out-the-front: the blade deploys straight through the front of the handle instead of swinging out from a pivot. Slide the actuator forward and the blade fires and locks. On a double-action OTF, slide it back and the blade retracts. If you are choosing your first OTF knife, the four things that matter most are the mechanism, the size, the blade shape and the handle.

Double-action vs. single-action OTF knives

• Double-action: the same slider fires the blade and pulls it back in. It is the most convenient for everyday carry, and it is the larger group in our OTF knives for sale, starting at $12.99.
• Single-action: the slider fires the blade, but you retract it and re-cock the spring by hand. Many front-switch "stubby" OTFs work this way. Single-action models here also start at $12.99.

Every product page states which mechanism the knife uses, so check it before you buy.

What size OTF knife should you get?

• Mini OTF (blade under 3 inches): about 4 in 10 of the OTF knives in stock. Light and pocket-friendly, with a typical price around $16.
• Compact (3 to 3.5 inches): about 1 in 5. A balance between carry size and a usable blade.
• Full size (3.5 to 4.75 inches): about a third. A longer blade and a heavier handle, with most priced in the mid $30s.

Blade length, closed length and overall length are listed on every product page.

Blade shapes

• Dagger: double-edged and symmetrical, the most common OTF blade here (nearly half of the knives in stock).
• Spear point: a centered point with a single edge or a partial second edge.
• American tanto: an angled, reinforced tip.
• Clip point and drop point: single-edge, traditional pocket-knife shapes.

Handle materials

Aluminum is the most common OTF handle here: light, anodized in many colors, and used on more than half of our minis. Zinc alloy handles are heavier. Carbon fiber handles mostly fall in the $25 to $40 range, and G-10 appears on higher-priced full-size models.

OTF knives by price

• Under $15: about a dozen minis, mostly aluminum, starting at $12.99. The cheapest way to try an OTF.
• $15 to $25: about 40 knives, mostly minis.
• $25 to $40: the largest group, about 100 knives across every size, including most of the carbon fiber designs.
• $40 and up (to $82.99): about two dozen, nearly all full-size, with G-10, aircraft alloy and aluminum handles.

Popular OTF knives right now

Ranked by orders over the last 30 days:

• Shadowline Rapid-Deploy Mini OTF Knife, Midnight Black: double-action, 2-inch blade, $12.99
• Ghost Recon Compact OTF Knife, Camo Aluminum: single-action, 2-inch blade, $12.99
• Crimson Weave OTF Knife, Red Carbon Fiber: double-action, 3.75-inch tanto blade, $36.99
• Patriot's Snap Mini OTF Knife, USA Flag: double-action, 2-inch blade, $12.99
• Patriot Compact Tactical OTF Knife, Green Flag: double-action, 2-inch blade, $12.99

Keeping an OTF working

An OTF's spring and track sit inside the handle, so lint and grit cause most problems. Keep the knife in a clean pocket or sheath, wipe the blade before retracting it, and avoid heavy oil, which collects debris inside the track.

OTF knife questions

What is the difference between an OTF knife and a switchblade?

Both are automatic knives. A classic switchblade swings the blade out to the side on a pivot; an OTF fires it straight out the front. Side-opening models are in our automatic knives and switchblades collection, and how automatic knives work explains both mechanisms.

Are OTF knives legal?

It depends on your state and city, and the rules for owning, carrying and buying differ. Check your state and local rules before you buy.

Should my first OTF be double-action or single-action?

For most people, double-action: one slider opens and closes it, and it is the bigger selection. Choose single-action if you want a front-switch style or a specific design that only comes in single-action.

What is the cheapest OTF knife?

Our mini OTF knives start at $12.99. See also the best automatic knives under $50.