Best production liner lock ?

The only folder that I've had "fail" was slipjoint I was using as a screw driver. Never had a locking folder fail on me since. I'm much more careful with any folding knife, since then.
 
tiguy7 said:
Throwing in a number here to fuel the fire. The thickness of the Spyderco Military Ti frame lock is .137". The S90V blade thickness is .145". The engagement is over 75%.
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Let's see, frame lock as a point of reference in a liner lock thread...
We don't care about the framelock Military, this is a thread about liner locks, not frame locks. If you'd like to reference the Military liner lock version go for it even though IMO there better liner locks out there. It may be user friendly but I wouldn't trust it any more than any other liner lock out there. YMMV.
 
I've got to give another vote to the ZT 0200:thumbup: That is one tough liner lock. A close second would be the Kershaw ENER-G II. It's a mid sized utility folder, not some heavy duty tactical monster, but it has got some VERY beefy liners and they make for one heck of a tough liner lock. Excellent all around user and slicer as well.
 
I didn't realize the storm I was going to create starting this thread. I should have been more detailed in the op. What I originally wanted was the sebenza of liner locks. I also think I found my answer, the Spyderco Military.
 
Jpalmer1988 said:
I didn't realize the storm I was going to create starting this thread. I should have been more detailed in the op. What I originally wanted was the sebenza of liner locks. I also think I found my answer, the Spyderco Military.
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You have indeed!:thumbup:
 
Title: "Best production liner lock ?"

tiguy7 said:
Throwing in a number here to fuel the fire. The thickness of the Spyderco Military Ti frame lock is .137". The S90V blade thickness is .145". The engagement is over 75%.
Click to expand...

???? :rolleyes:
 
The Spydie Bradley folder is a veritable tank of a knife, if you can get that lock to fail under normal conditions I will be amazed.
 
mossyhorn said:
I like the Al Mar sere 2000 for a liner lock. I am surprised it wasn't mentioned yet.
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I've never seen or held one up close, but I've been hearing this from a lot of people for almost a decade. Some even regard it as the standard. I found a pic of how the lock-up looks like from a review years ago, but lost it when my old hard drive went kaput. Just use Google-fu. ;)

Personally, ever since I got my pinky nicked when the lock failed about 5 - 6 years back, I've sworn them off. To be fair though, it was POS S&W SWAT folder and not a well-made Spyderco, like the Military (which has a lot of fans).

We get so caught up in "thickness = strength", though valid, we forget though about reliability of the execution of the lock's design; that is, not closing/disengaging under a strong grip or thru various holds by the flesh of our hand ("white knuckling" conditions I believe you Yanks call it).

In this regard, I'd bet my fingers on a Black Hawk blades Crucible. When I held one, the lock was *stiff, *thick, *flush with the handle and *cut at the right angle to engage in a Fort Knox-like manner. Heck, I even asked STR about it on his sub-forum sometime back and, judging only from the pictures from another forum, even he thought it was well-made.

Some thoughts here about it for those interested -

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408310
 
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Are we talking best liner lock folder or just the best lock?

Spyderco Military either way. Brilliant lockup and still managing to minimize weight and maximize performance.
 
Jpalmer1988 said:
I didn't realize the storm I was going to create starting this thread. I should have been more detailed in the op. What I originally wanted was the Sebenza of liner locks. I also think I found my answer, the Spyderco Military.
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Wow, doesn't sound like you read the 5th post of STR's thread on the subject of liner locks and the Millie in particular. Its a nice knife, with a strong lock, but I'd hesitate to compare it to a Sebenza.
 
This post made me want to test my collection of liner/ frame locks (custom and production).

Before the test, I though they were all petty decent (I never had any problems with any of them as I know how to use a knife), but after gently tapping the spine of the blade against a 2 x 4 with a towel over it (10 times continuously), I came to the following conclusion:

Spyderco, Kershaw and Benchmade are where they are in the industry because they make a solid product -none of their products failed. My Emerson CQC-7 failed continuously between 4 to 5 whacks. A few custom linerlocks failed (one actually was quite expensive and I thought it was going to be fine, but it closed on my knuckle and drew some blood). My Bob Lum Stalker passed.

I encourage everyone to test their folders after this because it's better to be safe than sorry. :thumbup:
 
For me, the two best liner locks I own are my Spyderco Military and my ZT 0350. Although I rarely carry the 0350, its liner is not far from being a "frame-type" lock. Extremely solid. My Military is an old version (440V steel blade, thinner handle scales), but it also locks extremely solid, and requires an effort to unlock (i.e., it doesn't slip off). I like the Millie so much, I plan on buying an upgraded S30V version.
Jim
 
my fav production liner lock is microtechs microbar on the SOCOM elite series, its all but a framelock, my favorite std type production liner lock is probably the one on the BM 800 series, or really any BM liner lock, i have rarely had any probs with BM liner locks FWIW.

the spyderco millie is also pretty good in that regard, as thin as it is lol, a good example of the fact that thickness doesnt trump all when it comes to LL's, design, material and execution all count.

EKI's liner locks seem to be holding up well now and if they did ever have problems in that regard they are now over.
 
military ftw lol....i go tmy knife for 3 monthes now....heavily used. the liner lock is still extremely early. almost like new. amazing. my emerson around 3 monthes too but its already half way =/
 
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