Blade locks...need help

M

mgar64

Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
75
what the difference between liner lock, frame lock, back lock and others I haven't thought of.....nothing too technical just the basics
 
Liner lock...a recessed piece of steel that sits inside the frame that locks (supposed to) the blade in the open position.
Frame lock.. a piece that's inherently part of the handle clicks into a groove into the blade "bushing". Supposed to be stronger than a liner lock.
They all suck...they all fail, if you put enough pressure on them. I carry one, but they still suck. Give me a fixed blade any day for an EDC. (I carry one in addition to my fixed blade EDC,):mad:
 
Troop said:
They all suck[/B]...they all fail, if you put enough pressure on them. I carry one, but they still suck. Give me a fixed blade any day for an EDC. (I carry one in addition to my fixed blade EDC,):mad:
Click to expand...

You can tell he is very objective, he really DOES love his folders. :jerkit:

He hit the main points though in regards to the locks. Personally, I don't trust liner locks, but that doesn't mean they don't make good folders. Most of the locks on folders, if you're buying from reputable manufacturers or makers shouldn't give you any problems. If you honestly worry about a lock failing on you from the punishment you're going to give the knife, get a fixed blade.
 
A back lock is like that on a Buck 110. In order to unlock it you have to depress an area on the back of the top of the knife handle. In a front lock you depress an area on the front (toward the blade) of the back (or top) of the knife handle.
 
If your gonna use the knife hard, I'd get an axis lock like benchmade makes, or a frame lock. In my experience liner locks are the most problematic. Lock-backs can be okay too, but I trust my fingers with an axis or frame lock much more in general. For light duty basic cutting, most locks will be fine though. Overall the axis lock is a sweet design that is very strong and reliable under normal conditions, and with a frame lock, your own hand is pushing the lock into place tight and helping to keep it there. Any lock is better than none, but some lock are far better than others.
 
Very good advice so far. Now that you are armed with this information, take a look at the differences in the flesh. Some framelock or linerlocks barely touch the blade, just enough to make it seem locked. Before you risk your fingers, know what is protecting them.
 
Don't trust any of this advice. Just go buy as many of every design as you can: framelocks, lockbacks, axis locks, twistlocks, slipjoints (no locks), pushbutton-type locks, locks with safety gadgets... once you have exhausted every possibility, along with your bank account, then look into fixed blades. Welcome to the club!
 
oh i dont know that FB's are neccesary for everyone, just depends on what ya are gonna use it for, for most folks a well fitted liner lock, lock back, compresssion or frame lock work just fine.

i rarely pack a FB just too much hassle in the summer, i like to conceal it, though i dont have to, but walking around with a FB on your side in a restaurant seems a little mall ninja-ish to me, i wont do it, now if ya are hunting/etc, different story. i dont like to carry FB's in a pocket either.

and i have several nealys, i dont think ya can get a better FB for edc concealed carry anywhere,

so imho its a mistake to act like anyone who packs a folder is a fool lol.
 
Back locks are older tech, but they work pretty well. Allows for symmetrical slabs, ie. usually more comfortable.

Liner locks were invented by Michael Walker. Makes a nice gents knife.

Frame locks were an adaptation by Chris Reeve of Walker's design. Basically a beefed up liner lock. If done right, arguably the most secure out of the three.
 
Back locks are all I've ever used (as far as locking folders go) for the past 40+ years, so I trust them and they work well for me. In my limited handling of a few liner locks they seem clumsy and inconvenient to me, but that may just reflect my limited familiarity with the design. I'll stick to back locks, ring locks (think Opinel), and knives with no locks at all. I've been carrying and using knives since I was about 5 years old. I'll be 60 soon and I have yet to use any folding knife in such a foolish way as to have it close when I didn't want it to. In my opinion it's all about technique.
 
I very much prefer frame locks, as I feel that they ARE the strongest lock out there.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Don't trust any of this advice. Just go buy as many of every design as you can: framelocks, lockbacks, axis locks, twistlocks, slipjoints (no locks), pushbutton-type locks, locks with safety gadgets... once you have exhausted every possibility, along with your bank account, then look into fixed blades. Welcome to the club!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a fun way to learn about the different types and maybe even encourage my wife to divorce me;)

I know BM has the axis, Al Mars that I have I believe are liner locks, what about Spyderco and Emerson?? Aside from Strider, what are some examples of frame lock folders?
 
the emerson CQC12 is a frame lock for one, BM skirmish for another.

spyderco doesnt have any frame locks i dont think, i cant think of any right now anyway.

my favorite locks are the compression, frame and axis, not in any order either, they are all as good as it gets in 2007 imho.
 
Spyderco DOES have 2 frame locks that I can think of; the Volpe & the Spin. Another example of a frame lock would be the Chris Reeve Sebenza. I very much prefer frame locks myself. I feel that it is one of, if not the strongest lock on the market.
 
Here ya go.

Chris Reeve's Integral Lock: http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenzadetails.htm
Benchmade locking mechanisms: http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/locking_mechanisms.asp

The term framelock has come to be used as the general designation, but Chris Reeve, who developed it, calls it an Integral Lock, and Benchmade calls it a monolock. Darrel Ralph also refers to his frame-lock design as an Integrated Bar Lock.

Among production folders, the Axis lock is unique to Benchmade, with Cold Steel using an Ultralock and SOG using an Arc Lock that perform similarly.
 
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