Best blade locking system on folders????

timcsaw

timcsaw

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Sep 25, 2007
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My CRKT has "Auto Lawks", my SOG has a lock bar, I have some Gerbers with frame locks (which fail easily by the way :barf:), ball locks, frame locks... Hep!!!

Which is most secure and least likely to "fold" and cut my fingers off???:eek:
 
Well, frame locks are the best and MY personal favorite. Gerbers are junk. I am sorry that your first experience with a frame lock was on a junky knife.
 
You can't overlook the Benchmade Axis lock either. Many people feel it is the most secure lock there is. Frame locks are also a favorite, and nothing is really wrong with the liner locks as long as they are built properly (lock face and blade tang intersection)
 
Thanks... SOG advertises that their "Arc-lock blows away other locks on the market".... whatever THAT means (I hate those kinds of emotion grabbing statements). Supposedly "lab tested to over 1000 pounds". Anyone have experience with the Arc-lock???

I'm looking at a larger folder for "woodsie" carry (7'-8' or >). Something along the line of the SOG Trident, CRKT My Tighe, Spyderco Civilian/Military/Native... Still researching, and blade lock is critical (also checking out a Bali...).
 
timcsaw said:
My CRKT has "Auto Lawks", my SOG has a lock bar, I have some Gerbers with frame locks (which fail easily by the way :barf:), ball locks, frame locks... Hep!!!

Which is most secure and least likely to "fold" and cut my fingers off???:eek:
Click to expand...

This is a really common theme around here. I'd be surprised if a search did not pull up a dozen threads on this.

That being said, there have been more reported problems with liner locks than any other. But part of that may be because there are so many inexpensive liner locks on the market. A well done liner lock is no more prone to failure than any other lock. IMO, the reliability of locks is more dependent on who makes the knife and how well they do it than the style of lock. As someone already mentioned, Gerber is not currently known for the quality of its products.
 
My BM axis lock failed the spine whack test. The strongest lock you'll find is the balisongs. There's no way it will accidentally close and cut your fingers.
 
look at edc.com and pvk.com edc has more balisongs and you cant go wrong with a 29 ask ANEY ONE.
 
IMHO, the compression lock from Spyderco, like on the Paramilitary, is amongst one of the best. It appears to be the most fail-proof design for a lock I know of.
 
timcsaw said:
Thanks... SOG advertises that their "Arc-lock blows away other locks on the market".... whatever THAT means (I hate those kinds of emotion grabbing statements). Supposedly "lab tested to over 1000 pounds". Anyone have experience with the Arc-lock???

I'm looking at a larger folder for "woodsie" carry (7'-8' or >). Something along the line of the SOG Trident, CRKT My Tighe, Spyderco Civilian/Military/Native... Still researching, and blade lock is critical (also checking out a Bali...).
Click to expand...

i have a (sog) x ray vision and i will admit the lock up is solid, but i think the strongest locks i have are the front lock on my spyderco endura or mono lock on my kershaw junkyard dog....i would give the spyderco the edge overall
 
I recently got a Benchmade Benchmite because I was curious as to what their Levitator lock was. It turned out to be fairly simple in operation tho perhaps not so simple to describe.

There is a panel cut out of one of the handle scales about three quarters the length of the whole handle. At first glance you might presume that it is a clip. It is left attached in such a way that it acts as a spring activated teeter totter when you press one end. The other end has a pin which engages the blade inside the handle to lock it both open and closed. It feels quite strong.

There is no real reason that I can see to lock this blade closed and it takes two hands to open and close it. Still and all it has a certain fascination and I find myself working it just for the pleasure of it.

It has the McHenry & Williams imprimatur and has an obvious quality to it even tho it is not an expensive knife. The blade is just shy of two inches and almost friendly looking tho it is stout enough to do some real work. I expect I will end up thinning out the bevel some.

This is the low end model with AUS8 blade steel and stainless scales. I see that it is also available with 154CM blade steel and titanium handle, not to mention an auto blade actuation model which would explain why it locks closed.

:cool:
 
My favorite - thumb lock (Kershaw SpecBump) and plunge lock (MOD Mark II). Probably plunge lock is best in terms of strength.

Axis lock in my experience sometime jammed.

I also like bar lock - type of liner lock by Microtech.

Frame lock better then liner lock just because you may tighten it with you hand. This one probably most popular and widely available from many manufacturers..

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I agree with the others who recommend the bali-song.
It is the most safe and most reliable locking folder ever.
And the easiest to clean as well.



And they're a blast to play with!:)
 
I've found that the Axis may not be the strongest but will work with any sort of junk in it. The arc lock is quite strong when housed in equally strong materials. A regular linerlock or backlock from Spyderco is strong enough for regular EDC. I stick with framelocks or Axis locks for heavy duty or dirty work.

That said my favorite locking system is the lack of one. I love a good pocket sized fixed blade!
 
Well, Bali's are not legal to own in all areas. That IS something to take into consideration.
 
allenC said:
I agree with the others who recommend the bali-song.
It is the most safe and most reliable locking folder ever.
And the easiest to clean as well.



And they're a blast to play with!:)
Click to expand...


Ditto!!!!! NOTHING IS STRONGER...but of course balisongs are illegal in mnay places...why? good question, but there is no good answer...anyway, the Benchmade model 42 balisong is about as standard as they come, BEST value on the market today! For balisongs...:D
 
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