Originally posted by Joe Talmadge
If I'm wrong about this, hopefully someone will point it out, and I'll apologize and withdraw my statements. But in the threads I saw, on Caracci's own forum, I was not at all impressed with the logic.
Joe
Chris and I have discussed this quite a bit. He was speaking theoretically, Joe. We both agree on one thing:
Anything that can be locked or unlocked maunually and intentionally, can be locked and unlocked accidentally. Every lock has its theoretical weak point.
A lot of operators are fans of liner locks simply because they've brought them out in hard training and ops and they didn't fail on them (talking about high-quality blades here not cheapos). If I had that experience with something, I'd rely on it, too. They usually stick with something that works for them -- that they have relied on over and over again (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). That's why the kaBar or USMC Fighting/Utility knife is still popular in military circles. It has worked -- often -- when it was needed to save lives. But we all know there are WAY better alternatives out there.
When you take stuff in a forum out of context or just beceause it IS text and not a person-to-person discussion, it can seem like pontificating when it's not. Chris and I have discussed just as much how liners can fail, how lockbacks can fail. The reason? Knowing the inherent weaknesses in any piece of equipment keeps you aware of how it could ruin your day rather than save it, and you adjust your technique accordingly.
Now, on the Axis lock, during a thrust in combat, whether to piece a body or pierce something to remove it (utility), under duress, at least two things could happen:
When the knife goes far enough into soft material or harder material such as body armor, the force against the lock could push it back and disengage it. Or, if you miss and slide along side material that catches the lock and pushes it back, same thing, and if the blade bumps into something it can close quick on your fingers. I tested this in controlled conditions, but it took a lot of effort to hit it just right and make it happen. However, it only takes once to cut all your fingers off. With frenzied multiple stabs, you might get through a few and on the next one, be watching your fingers fly off like spilled french fries. So, theoretically, it can happen, but the likelihood is what we all concern ourselves with. The Murphy's Law factor often happens in times of stress or combat, or just simply when we don't want it to happen. I've played with liner locks to see how they could fail, and lockbacks, too. That said, I personally feel the Axis lock is the best I've played with to date in terms of reliabiltiy.
So, the discussion is just dissecting things to make sure we know where things can go wrong, and compensate. Chris talked about disengagement of the lock, not failure through breakage.
That all said, my favorite and most trusted daily carry folder is my Benchamde 806D2 with the Axis lock. For me, it seems to be the least likely type of lock to accidentally release.
~Brian.
