A knife for every lock type

[Hickory n steel]

I would stick with the more easily found locks such as the normal common stuff and the wacky stuff crkt put out.

One knife you should get is the Christy knife, it's a small keychain sized folder that's been made in America since I think the 30's or 40's and cost around 20$ I believe.
The pick lock is a good one to get and are available very inexpensively from Chinese companies like kissing crane.
It's the lock used on old-school Italian style switchblades however these will not be spring loaded.
And btw for a lockback you should definitely get a Buck 110.

 

[CPP]

The Sage series by Spyderco would be good starting point. Each features a different lock: framelock, linerlock, backlock, something resembling an axis lock (which I believe was changed to another mechanism) and Spyderco's own Compression lock. Collecting all five (or six if you count the discontinued one) would allow you to focus on the more exotic lock types.

 

[bobshoy]

Here's an old pic of some of the weird ones...


And another recent similar thread:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/weird-uncommon-locking-mechanisms.1446395/

~Chip

Damn that middle one looks pretty cool.

 

[SpySmasher]

The Sage series by Spyderco would be good starting point. Each features a different lock: framelock, linerlock, backlock, something resembling an axis lock (which I believe was changed to another mechanism) and Spyderco's own Compression lock. Collecting all five (or six if you count the discontinued one) would allow you to focus on the more exotic lock types.

The Sage 3 is a Bolt Action Lock. Don't think it was ever anything else.

 

[WValtakis]

That's a CRKT Ed Van Hoy Snap-fire. Normally I'm not a huge CRKT fan, but when the choice is between a sub $100 collaboration and a $1000 custom as an example of the mechanism for the collection...I'll lower my standards a smidge

~Chip

 

[CPP]

The Sage 3 is a Bolt Action Lock. Don't think it was ever anything else.

My mistake they just changed the color and material of the scales.

 

[WValtakis]

The one next to it, the Snap-fire, is an amazing knife to fiddle with I recently gave it a makeover and regrind, and it's actually a damn decent knife now



~Chip

 

[Cereal_killer]

What's the lock type technically called on the CRK Ti-lock?

 

[brownshoe]

griploc on the boker production version has a spinner cam, for a lack of a better term, that locks the knife without being gripped.

That's one feature i love in the kitchen. Boker requested a lock that does not automatically actuate as a design element for the German market. It fits into German law.

I think the Hawk's lock name is essentially the same as the knife. The lock, "ties" the blade and handle together, thus "tie-lock" or "Ti-lock" since it's Ti.

 

[Lapedog]

Some of them almost defy definition - what do you call the Paragon Warlock's locking system, if you can even call it that? Then you have knives like balisongs, funny folders, and friction folders that don't technically lock, but will not close when you are using them.

It's not a bad idea for a sort of themed collection. Fidgeting with unique locking mechanisms tickles that part of my brain that loves neat engineering stuff.

I think the warlock would truly be classified as a gravity knife.

The Defender from the now nonexistant Lone Wolf knives had an action somewhat reminiscent of the Warlock. It was designed by a Paul something.

I had a unique type of manual otf knife called a Kershaw Ripcord. Thisnknife was freaking awesome! When put into its case a little button on the inside wall of the case engaged a liner lock that was enclosed in the handle. This unlocked the knife allowing the blade to slide into handle. Withdrawing the knife from it's sheath (which looks alot like a cellphone case) causes that button to make the blade deploy. You might have to look at a picture to get an idea of what I mean.

You could hit the recessed lock with a pen or a skinny pinky finger and close the blade without inserting it in the holster. Friction would keep it in until you unpocketed the knifenand gave it anwrist flick. The blade would then shoot out the front and lock surprisingly securely in place.

This knife was from back in the day when Kershaw was making some higher quality nicer designs, and not regulating anything higher end to ZT. The fit and finish were amazing! The blade had some coating I haven't seen since which was likena mirror black coating that looked sort of like polished hematite looks like.

 

[BilboBaggins]

One could argue that the Paul lock you mentioned might fall under the one of the bulleted items listed above.

Its a tough one to categorize, isn't it?

If I recall it opens by pressing a button on the handle and the handle falls away from the blade and locks, does it not?

You can sort of work it that way. If you hold the knife by the button in a pinch grip with the butt of the knife facing upwards and depress the button then the handle will fall away and lock. You can then swing it back upwards (the handle) to close it. It's slightly awkward though. Easiest method is 2 hands, although I find myself playing with it one handed.

 

[WValtakis]

That sounds just like the Phantom Knives Ripcord... another really interesting mechanism. I've got one of those kicking around here too



~Chip

 

[Lapedog]

That sounds just like the Phantom Knives Ripcord... another really interesting mechanism. I've got one of those kicking around here too

View attachment 764435

~Chip

The Phantom Ripcord is very similar. I messed up the name of the knife, it isnactually called the Kershaw Ripcord. Look it up, it runs on a system sort of like the phantom knives, but instead of being a fast deploying neck knife it sits in a black case which looks like it was made to go on a SWAT team guy's belt.

I have another unique knife which is sort of similar to Balisongs in a way. It is called a tri-folder or Jacobs ladder knife. I own a Fred Perrin trifolder and used to own a Cold Steel one. I think CS actually calls theirs the TriFolder. It is now discontinued. Too bad I thought the CS version was awesome. A jackass cop took it away from me. The steel was terrible and couldn't take an edge.

 

[Lapedog]

Some of them almost defy definition - what do you call the Paragon Warlock's locking system, if you can even call it that? Then you have knives like balisongs, funny folders, and friction folders that don't technically lock, but will not close when you are using them.

It's not a bad idea for a sort of themed collection. Fidgeting with unique locking mechanisms tickles that part of my brain that loves neat engineering stuff.

If you think about it the Warlock is sort of like a Bali in that you hold the two handles together which secures the blade in position so it cannot swing shut.

 

[WValtakis]

Close...it was called the Triple Action



~Chip

 

[sabre cat]

I would stick with the more easily found locks such as the normal common stuff and the wacky stuff crkt put out.

One knife you should get is the Christy knife, it's a small keychain sized folder that's been made in America since I think the 30's or 40's and cost around 20$ I believe.
The pick lock is a good one to get and are available very inexpensively from Chinese companies like kissing crane.
It's the lock used on old-school Italian style switchblades however these will not be spring loaded.
And btw for a lockback you should definitely get a Buck 110.

LOL. I own a Christy knife. One of the fancy engraved versions. It's on the tail end of my pocket watch chain. Fun knife.

 

[Lapedog]

Close...it was called the Triple Action

View attachment 764488 View attachment 764489

~Chip

Yes! I had the ever coveted tanto.

 

[kniferbro]

That is not even close to true. They do have a number of great designs and I like all of them, but don't discount the likes of Michael Walker, Ed Van Hoy, Paul W. Pohlman, Thomas Klecker, etc.

~Chip

It was just kind of a joke

 

[RamZar]

Spyderco Sage series is a good homage to the various locking mechanisms and even mix it up with a good variety of handle materials. I believe Spyderco has plans for models with Button Lock and Power Lock.

All 6 Sage folders (5 different locking mechanisms):

1. Sage 1 - Liner Lock - CF/G-10 Laminate
2. Sage 2 - RIL Titanium Frame Lock - Titanium
3. Sage 3 - Bolt Action Lock - Blue G-10 (discontinued)
4. Sage 3 - Bolt Action Lock - CF/G-10 Laminate (discontinued)
5. Sage 4 - Back Lock - Ironwood with Titanium Bolsters (discontinued)
6. Sage 5 - Compression Lock - Textured CF/G-10 Laminate