Out the front style, blades were hard to come by for the longest time, due in no small part to the fact that few physical knife shops wanted to stock them. Over time, this gave them a sort of forbidden fruit image that increased their appeal to collectors. These same enthusiasts are now turning to the web in order to buy automatic knives that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get in person.
While individual collectors are always encouraged to check whether they’re allowed to purchase OTF knives in their particular jurisdiction, the individuals who operate the online exchanges for these blades have made sure to locate themselves in areas where knife trade policies are relatively liberal. That gives them the freedom to help supply people with OTF knives that would have otherwise been extremely difficult to get.
Collectors who simply want to grow their set of knives naturally seek after them because of their unusual appeal but there certainly is a more practical market that needs them as well. Hobbyists and those who spend a significant portion of their day outdoors often need to buy automatic knives in order to accomplish a specific task. It’s hard to open a conventional folding knife in many contexts, so these have become popular with members of countless independent groups.
Finding these in the wild can be tough, which is why it’s good news that online dealers have been willing to secure supplies of them. Visit Viper Tec for more information about OTF knives.