Custom lockbacks

Joined
Apr 6, 2002
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I don't own any custom folders, but I like looking at the pictures. One thing that I've noticed is that they are heavily slanted towards liner lock knives. I would guess that frame locks are a distant second. The only custom lockbacks that I see are a few from slipjoint makers. I favor lockbacks, so I'm curious about this situation.

Maybe lockbacks are too difficult to make smooth opening. Or are too common in production knives, so there are less ways to add value in a custom knife? Or there are so few well-done production liner locks that it is easier to make an "exclusive" knife with a well-done custom liner lock?

Any thoughts on why so few?
 
Well, I honestly think it comes down to a couple of things. First, liner locks are mechanically easier to make. Its not that a well made liner is easier to make than a lockback, necessarily, but the liners have fewer parts to fit together. Also, liner locks are what's popular right now. If lockbacks were more popular these days, then more custom makers would be making them. I know that I personally favor lockbacks as the best of the locking mechanisms out there, with the framelock coming in a distant second. On the other hand, there ARE people out there making really nice lockback knives. I don't remember his name at the moment (I've had a tough day with the kid), but the guy at Center Cross Metal Works makes some of the best lockback customs around- and at reasonable prices too! Pretty, functional, with that great lockback strength. I'm not sure if I helped, but that's my opinion.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
I think a lot of it comes down to demand. If more people wanted lockbacks, more would be made. I think people really like liner locks for their simplicity and ease of use one handed. As far as which lock is better, thats up to how the knife is used and other variables. I think simply, makers make less money off of lockbacks and thus make less lockbacks.
 
Anthony, thanks for the tip. I did a search for the Center Cross web site and found a few folders. I can't figure out where the notch is to release the lock bar on the top knives though. The bottom knives seem to have a lock bar that extends up above the handle.

dennisb1975, a lot of people buy production lockbacks, so it would seem the demand for them is there, at least on the low end. Maybe as people move up to custom knives, their tastes change? I don't know, still a mystery to me.

Anyone else have links to makers?
 
When you start climbing into the higher end gen'ts folder market, you start to see a real resurgence in lockbacks/interframes. I would argue that some VERY talented makers produce many more lockbacks than linerlocks in their folder market. Here are some makers that tend to build (or have built) more lockbacks or taillocks than any other type.

Ron Lake (no longer making interframes, because of visual problems)
Warren Osborne
Frank Centofante
Joe Kious
Tim Hermann
Ken Steigerwalt
Fred Carter
Buster Warenski
Larry Fuegen
W.D. Pease
Kaj Embrestson

The problem here is that it is hard to find many of these knives for less than $600, and you're usually starting around $1,200 and up. Kenny Steigerwalt is probably the best value maker on the list.
 
Wow, that's quite a Who's Who of knives. I did some searching based on your list, and you are right, there are a lot of lockbacks in the gent's folder category. These are awesome to look at, real works of art:

http://www.knifeart.com/bardamfol.html

http://www.knifeart.com/mamdamloc.html

http://www.knifeart.com/cogpearlocfo.html

http://truenorthknives.com/tnk_1mainframe.htm?tnk_gallery-c-WDP4009.htm~main

http://www.bobnealcustomknives.com/knives_embretsen_22.shtml

http://customknifegallery.com/steigerwalt1f.html
 
marcangel said:
When you start climbing into the higher end gen'ts folder market, you start to see a real resurgence in lockbacks/interframes. I would argue that some VERY talented makers produce many more lockbacks than linerlocks in their folder market. Here are some makers that tend to build (or have built) more lockbacks or taillocks than any other type.

Ron Lake (no longer making interframes, because of visual problems)
Warren Osborne
Frank Centofante
Joe Kious
Tim Hermann
Ken Steigerwalt
Fred Carter
Buster Warenski
Larry Fuegen
W.D. Pease
Kaj Embrestson

I'll add C. Dake, Sawby, Dellana, Hitchmough, and B. Bradshaw to your excellent list. :) In fact, how about a pic i just took of a very nice Bradshaw bale lock, same principle as a lockback.

bsfldbweredopentext.jpg


Here is a Pease "Sidelock", similar to a lockback, and a nice one too. :)

knifeart_1789_45473253
 
marcangel said:
When you start climbing into the higher end gen'ts folder market, you start to see a real resurgence in lockbacks/interframes. I would argue that some VERY talented makers produce many more lockbacks than linerlocks in their folder market. Here are some makers that tend to build (or have built) more lockbacks or taillocks than any other type.

Ron Lake (no longer making interframes, because of visual problems)
. . . . .
Joe Kious
Tim Hermann
Ken Steigerwalt
Fred Carter
Buster Warenski
Larry Fuegen
W.D. Pease
Kaj Embrestson

The problem here is that it is hard to find many of these knives for less than $600, and you're usually starting around $1,200 and up. Kenny Steigerwalt is probably the best value maker on the list.

Indeed GREAT makers, You forgot Bob Dozier, he makes a really fine lockback that is as slick as slick can be, works as smoothly as a fine linerlock. A. G.
 
There are many more, so I hope I didn't offend anyone who I didn't list. I just opened a drawer of my collection and started looking at the most notable lockbacks I own. Now granted my collection is VERY heavy on lockback knives since I'm left handed and I collect mostly custom gent's knives.
 
PJ Tomes and now Ray Cover I see is doing lockbacks. I prefer lockback knive over linerlocks too. They're just more classy looking to me.

Tomes 2 blade lockback.

tomes-4-1.jpg
 
Another vote for Bailey Bradshaw. His lockbacks start a very reasonable price and they are made just as well as anybody's.

3455.jpg
 
Tarsier, The realease, as I understand it, is similar to the Spyderco Meerkat. I believe that in order to release the lock you have to hold the knife and pull on one scale while you push on the other scale. That's at least how its been explained to me when I asked about his scale release automatics. I personally prefer the extended tang lockback, but that's mostly an aesthetic thing. Anyhoo, I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
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