A reason to dislike liner locks besides strength

[akadave2]

Sounds like a palsy of some kind....lol

 

[cotdt]

For me, it's not the likelihood of cutting yourself during closing that makes me dislike liner locks, it's the fact that every single liner lock I've used has developed up-and-down blade play after a while.

 

[stabman]

For me, it's not the likelihood of cutting yourself during closing that makes me dislike liner locks, it's the fact that every single liner lock I've used has developed up-and-down blade play after a while.

You need to purchase better quality liner locks.

 

[cotdt]

You need to purchase better quality liner locks.

You have recommendations for me? Do tell.

 

[stabman]

You have recommendations for me? Do tell.

If you can track down a Benchmade Gravitator, you'll not suffer blade-play. MOST solid liner lock I've ever encountered.:thumbup:
If you get a good Spyderco Military, up and down blade-play won't befall you(I had one which wasn't quite as greatly manufactured, and it had a SLIGHT wiggle; the one I have now is rock solid).
The Benchmade Mini-Dejavoo is doing quite well for me with no blade-play.
What models did you have which developed blade-play?

 

[slimshaneee]

LOL at RWS and the hands picture. And the spine whacking of the SAK I don't like liner locks.

 

[STR]

I really don't think there is any reason to hate liner locks or dislike them. I mean afterall they revolutionized the industry and created more makers than there would be without that invention. If all that was out there was lockbacks and the other type locks so far we'd see probably 2/3rds less makers than we have available to us today perhaps more. At least thats my guess. As a result of this there would be less suppliers since there are less buyers of goods and there would probably be far fewer knife nuts too because thats the single most popular style of folder in the industry period. If anything we should be thankful.

I always caution watching out for the hype surrounding folding knives regardless of type. A lot of marketing goes into some of the folders disquised as wolves but really sheep in wolf's clothing. You know a Chevy Blazer dressed up to look tougher like a Hummer kind of thing. It doesn't make em any tougher or any more capable really in the end. Thats what it is mostly and many put them in functions they are really ill equipped to handle long term which is why they wear out faster and need repairs more frequently. I see more liner lock type folders in my shop for work than any of the others combined for example but even that is deceiving because since there are more of those types out there it would make sense to see more of them for work too and if they are working in areas requiring more of them then again it would make sense to see them wear down faster too in that regard.

There are always reliability issues with any folder regardless of the lock type but liner locks seem to me to be top of the heap for some issues that we see reported here and on other forums. Like anything there are good ones and bad ones for function but in the end all that matters is what people buy because $ and salesman make the world go round. If its what people want you give it to em and thats basically what we see. My opinion only but most of them function fine you just need to watch certain functions that can make them stressed sometimes and of course test em from time to time being sure they still can be relied upon to work. If a tool doesn't work it doesn't matter how pretty or how sentimental it is. It has to work to be trusted and if it was an adjustable wrench that slipped off the nut every time you went to use it you'd stop using it. Most folks would skip over it if it was even guilty of that a few times only and thats how I am with liner locks. I've seen too many that looked like they walked the walk but when it all came down to it they were pretty tools that didn't work to where I could trust em.

STR

 

[OD-SnG]

I guess you dont drive a stick shift car either....

 

[SIFU1A]

I have never had that problem. If you can't remember to move your finger out of the way before you close a knife then you probably should not carry a liner lock.

maybe not carry a folder at all lol?

i mean ya gotta remember things like moving your finger outta the way of the blade, if ya dont do that a axis, compression, frame, lock back, most anything can bite ya, liner lock too.

but ya cant blame the LL on this one imho.

 

[jackstraw42]

I don't mind liner locks, prefer frame locks though. For me, I usually disengage the lock right at the top, so the tang tends to make contact with my finger before the edge. I've cut myself many, many times, but never specifically for that reason.

 

[smersh]

Never been cut closing a liner but that is why I don't mind using "right handed" linerlocks with my left hand. I don't have to swing my thumb back across the blade path.

Exactly -- me, too. To me, a "right-handed" liner/frame lock is a perfect lefty knife.

 

[philwar]

I don't much like liner locks, except if they're really well done like (for example) the Cold Steel Ti-Lite or Hatamoto. Many liner locks look flimsy, like they can easily be forced. They do not give me the same safe feeling that a good lockback does.
I never cut myself because of one though.

 

[Flashpoint]

I use my index finger to move the lock over. Then I close the knife by pushing the back of the blade against the side of my leg. All my fingers naturally slide to the side of the handle safely out of the way. This technique works well with lock back like Spyderco as well. It also positions the knife to slide quickly back into my pocket.

This has been a public service announcement by Flashpoint. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[Thomason]

I stopped trusting slipjoints.

Slip joints are simply not trustworthy. Those little devils will bite you with no warning. I have yet to see one pass a spine whack test.

 

[Herr_Noobien]

Heh, The only knife I managed to cut myself with was a lockback
I was holding the blade normally and I pushed the lock release and wham! the blade just flew down onto my finger...From then on, I always keep my pivots tight enough to avoid that happening again.