A folding knife that provides for a self-opening action as is drawn from the pocket of a user. The knife has a hinged knife blade positioned to be folded into a handle portion for storage when not in use. A blade opening element is mounted on the closed exposed edge of the blade adjacent the handle portion and extends both transversely and longitudinally from the blade so as to be engageable with a portion of the pocket when it is to be retrieved therefrom or by manual manipulation by the user.