Compression lock generational observations

symphonyincminor

symphonyincminor

Joined
Oct 5, 2005
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Lil' Temperance (Trailing Point) (2001)
Extremely strong tension on the lock bar (intentional as this is an MBC / self-defense knife where a strong, no-fail lockup is necessary). No detent ball, but instead a channel is cut out of the blade that the lock bar rides against. No vertical or horizontal play. Paper thin orange washers (some type of nylon?). Pretty smooth to open with strong closed retention (that extra tension in the lock bar). Kinda sticky lockup, but I never gave the knife a chance to fully break in.

Spyderco Paramilitary (CPM-D2 sprint run) (2006-ish)
Very slight amount of vertical play but no effect on lock function. Again - no ball detent, but again a channel is cut into the side of the blade that the lock bar rides against. Bronze washers, extremely butter-smooth to open and close (thanks pivot bushing!). Great detent. Occational sticky lockup, but never used the knife enough to have it fully break in.

Spyderco Superleaf (2011/2012)
My newest Compression lock and by far the best example of the three I've owned over the years. Silky smooth to open and close (thick nylon washers and detent ball facilitate this). Excellent blade retention, Rock solid lockup - no play in any direction. The lock swings open and closed with the most minimal of wrist action, even with the pivot Loctited and dialed-in. This one is sitting in my pocket as I type and is incredibly addicting to open/close during my morning commute (I get a whole hour to tinker with sharp objects while driving - 2 hours total if you count the drive home!)

The Compression lock is becoming one of my favorites because of it's overall robustness and lack of extraneous moving parts in comparison to a lot of different locking mechanisms on the market right now. Wedging the lock bar between the lock face and stop pin was a brilliant idea by Sal. Very well-engineered design, as its simplicity is deceiving - the tolerances and fitting are crucial to making the lock function correctly.

Both the 1st gen Paramilitary and the Lil' Temperance have both moved on to better homes, but for reasons other than the locking mechanism.

I see a lot of Paramilitary 2 love both here and on other knife forums. I haven't had the pleasure of using one yet, but the Compression lock finally seems to be making a very positive impression on mainstream knife users.

The upcoming integral Ti Compression lock on the Paramilitary 2 is going to be a big hit.

Your thoughts? :)
 
I find the compression lock on the para2 quite a bit more fun to open and close than the superleaf. I believe this is because the cutout for your finger is larger on the para2.
 
I have the Junior with the comp lock. It is difficult to hold the lock bar over and flick it closed. It is my understanding from a video I watched that it is purposefully made such that the lock bar cannot travel so far as to be completely contact free of the blade. It goes along with the giant choil as safety feature. I still really like it, and it is getting a little easier to flick closed without a second hand or a thigh to press the blade on. I also understand that knife had to use the comp lock because it is basically the only lock that would fit with the physical design of the knife. I will have the green PM2 when it comes out to compare a second comp lock to but for now only the Junior.
 
I personally love the comp lock too. My para2 is smooth, but took some time to break in. It was a bit sticky when I got it. My superleaf is sticky right now, but it hasn't gotten a lot of pocket or play time. I'm really excited about the integral ti comp lock. I almost bought a salsa just because I was curious to check it out, but the para2 sprint will do just fine for me. Can't wait till it drops.
 
Ken44 said:
Haven't heard about this. Anyone have a link ?
Click to expand...

It was mentioned in the "new developments" thread with regards to prototypes shown at shot show. Not only is it a Ti integral compression lock para2, its fluted ti... There is also a proto of a fluted carbon fiber para2. Steel is unknown.
 
Wasnt too fond of the comp lock on the PM2 in the beginning but now i think its awesome. I guess i just wasnt used to it when i first got it.
 
I've only messed with my PM2, but just from that knife I love the comp lock. From an engineering stand point it is extremely well built too. Though like you mentioned on your para 1, my para 2 has the ever most slightest vertical play and a smidgen of horizontal after a year of hard use. I'm not confident in the lock long term like a sabenza, but minus the play it'll develope I don't ever see one failing. It seems so well built.
 
My M390 Para2 is smooth, slick, and clicks open with solidity.
Every once in a while I won't get complete lockup, but that's only because my thumb goes limp before it's open all the way. Never a problem, since I know it when it happens because I don't get the "click."
I have absolute 0 vertical play. There's a tiny bit of horizontal, but I think that's mostly because I keep my pivot loose enough to deploy the blade with gravity by simply disengaging the lock.
It simple to use (once you figure out where it is) and it's solid, tough, and dependable. My favorite feature is that you need not pass a digit in FRONT of the blade to disengage.
Awesome!
 
I have a couple of PM2's. What is amazing to me is that when you disengage the lock the blade move with almost no friction. When opening the blade and the lock is rubbing on the blade it still opens with not much friction. And when the blade is locked there is no play that I have detected. And on top of all of that the big hole in the blade makes it very positive and effortless to open.
 
I believe the axis lock has several advantages over the compression lock, but the biggest for me is the axis lock is totally ambidextrous. The compression lock is usable with the left hand, but just barely.
 
mkjellgren said:
It was mentioned in the "new developments" thread with regards to prototypes shown at shot show. Not only is it a Ti integral compression lock para2, its fluted ti... There is also a proto of a fluted carbon fiber para2. Steel is unknown.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I need to go back and check that thread out. The fluted CF Para 2 sounds like a dream knife. Imagine how light it would be.
 
integral compression lock.... a great example that already exist would be the spyderco atr for those wondering how this would look/work.
 
Ken44 said:
Thanks. I need to go back and check that thread out. The fluted CF Para 2 sounds like a dream knife. Imagine how light it would be.
Click to expand...

Heavier than the G10 versions. I have never seen a Ti knife that is lighter than its G10 or Frn sibling. A SS handled is the only thing that would be heavier.
 
I have two Para 2 users. I bought my first one at the SFO in August of 2010, not long after that model first came out. My other user is a blue M390 from the first run of those, received late 2011 IIRC.

Spyderco changed the design of the compression lock between the first knife and the blue one. The older one (S30V with black G-10) is much harder to unlock than the newer one. The lock tab is further from the blade pivot, making it impossible to close with gloves on. Even with bare hands, it cannot be squeezed to where the blade falls closed under its own weight. The pivot is not the problem, and I proved this to myself by unlocking the blade with needle nosed pliers closer to the pivot. The blade fell shut under its own weight.

On the blue knife the lock tab has been moved forward to the front of the cutout and I can accomplish with bare hands what I need pliers to do on the black one. This is CQI in action at Spyderco. My guess is that only the first run were made with the tab farther from the pivot. I have seen lots of photos online of people's Para 2's and they all show the newer tab placement. It also works with gloves, unlike the early version.
 
The Compression lock is my favorite. As a southpaw I find it easy to close one-handed. The smoothest one I have is on the Superleaf but all I have work great.
 
The compression lock is my favorite lock! I have several Para2s and HAD a SuperLeaf for a couple days (decided the knife wasn't for me and returned it... had nothing to do with the compression lock though... worked great on the SL too). I have played briefly with a Junior too. Looking to get a Yojimbo2 someday too (when I can find one!). Just love the lock.
 
The one on my yoji 2 pinches me when I open her. Must be holding her different then the others. Still love it and the compression lock though.
 
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