"Blade lock" knives?

N

NativeCraft

Joined
Oct 27, 2006
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I've just become aware of the "blade lock" locking mechanism through another thread (Rough Rider thread) whereby the main blade locks and is then released by squeezing the secondary blade inward. It seems like an ingenious, unobtrusive way of locking a blade. Are y'all aware of any other traditional style knives that have this mechanism?
 
I first saw that kind of lock on a German made Weidmannsheil folder in the later 1950's. It's an old style lock from European (German) origins from what little I know. It's basically just a lock back with the small blade acting as the locking tab release, instead of having a release back on the rear of the knife like on the iconic Buck 110. In fact, the old German knife was the only place I saw that kind of lock release.
 
It's an old design feature :thumbup:

The only example I have is this late 60's Solar Barlow (Japan).

 
NativeCraft said:
Why in the world don't more manufacturers use this feature?
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I'm not sure. It MIGHT (or might not) increase the wear to the tang. The first oldie that I showed snaps like a bear trap but the second oldie has a worn tang on the blade that gets pushed down (other tang is fine). Schrade did use this design on their modern multi-tools but they switched to a liner lock for the electrician knives long ago.
 
A G Russell marketed a knife for his collectors club with this feature, under the Cattaragus imprint. He either still has some in his online catalogue or there are usually examples in his cutting edge auction site. I believe frost had/has something similar of much lower quality as well. In both instances the lock release blade is a wharncliffe or modified wharnie. The Russell example is a good looking piece and might have had several cover choices, and the frosts I wouldn't even speculate.
Thanks, Neal
Ps Cattaraugus FH-3 Folding Hunter, aus-8 steel, 3 7/16" clip main, 2 1/8 wharncliffe and screwdriver, 4 3/8" closed, acorn shield
 
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navihawk said:
That's a nice one Jake. I had an old one like that that I think was military issue. Or it was a Corp of engineers knife.
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Thanks! There were similar military knives. I'm not sure if they had the same lock release. They're nice, well built knives. :thumbup:
 
Those weren't too common were they Jake? I just haven't seen too many actual examples. Did they stop making them after WWII? Or during perhaps. More complicated designs may have taken more metal and/or time that was needed for military production. Pure speculation on my part of course. I'd gladly trade 2 or 3 of my electricians for one, but I have a feeling that wouldn't be enough.:rolleyes: . Great topic and photos tho everyone. I didn't realize we got graded for grammar, Knarfeng, I'll keep it in mind! ;)
 
Neal, Empire and Schrade made them... I think Schrade switched to a tabbed liner lock in the 30s. The tabbed liner lock was made for many more years.
 
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