Blade HQ Lock Test Video

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pinnah

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
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Saw this on the General Forum and thought it might be of interest here.


D-R0CK said:
Blade HQ ran this test on the knives. Any surprises? I thought the Esee performance was disappointing, and the cryo a pleasant surprise. I didn't realize lock backs were so inherently strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KmHfbG7z7g
Click to expand...


I like it.

Any test tells you what it tells you. What this tells us is strength as it relates to straight closing force. Important, yes. But not the whole picture.

What the test doesn't tell us is what happens when there is closing force at an angle, which can deform the frame faster than straight closing force, thus causing the lock to fail faster. Would love to see the test redone with the knives held at 45 degrees from vertical.

Another thing the test doesn't tell us is durability UNDER HARD REPEATED OPENING PRESSURE. My experience is that most lock backs can develop significant vertical play when used for repeated hard cutting and over time, this vertical play gets worse. A key issue is how to stabilize the blade and lock bar as the blade presses back against the pivoting lockbar. My Opinel, which probably has a closing fail pressure of 14 lbs, has outlasted all of my lockbacks from several manufacturers in this manner. I suspect that frame locks have the edge among the groups tested here.

Spoiler alert:









The lock backs win and the Buck 112 reaches the max weight.
 
Different and interesting! I'm surprised over them all but especially the frame locks. I'd like to see some higher end versions of those same locks tested.
 
Peter Parker said:
Different and interesting! I'm surprised over them all but especially the frame locks. I'd like to see some higher end versions of those same locks tested.
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking from the start of the video. I'd love to see some of the top-end production knives with these locks put to the test.
 
The lock back test was flawed, as someone already mentioned the wire was wrapped over the knife in front of the lock back mechanism essentially pinning the lock closed against the blade and helping it stay solid. In real world use you don't have 350 pounds holding the lock down, which is why I have had them fail and close on me before because the lock pops opens.
 
I wont debate that, but why did the Gerber handle break behind the lock? It doesnt seem possible if the weight was positioned higher on the handle.
 
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