Design laziness and the proliferation of frame/liner locks

These locks work very well. Plus, there are lots of folder locks to choose from.

 

So somebody tell me this. Just how exactly can we redesign and reinvent the folding knife?

 

The liner/frame lock is a tried and true lock. A well made version of these locks is more than enough for real world usage.

 

Their plan is to make what sells so apparently framelocks are selling.

 

That a folder locks securely and reliably is good enough for me. I'm more concerned about how it feels and performs when in use- but then, I spend more time cutting with my knives than disengaging locks.

 

I like new lock mechanisms and out-and-out dislike liner and frame locks, but I get why they're so popular. It minimizes the number of moving parts, they're relatively easy to use, there are no patents to navigate, there is a ton of literature on how to make them and they're easy to mass produce.

 

Buck Marksman 830, Grant and Galvin Hawk lock systems. Spyderco ball locks, which is not a new idea. Kershaw stud lock. There are many different type of locking systems out there. The reason you see the most of the frame and liner locks is because they work very well. If you continually cut yourself closing these then you probably should not be using them as there are many other alternatives.

 

That's cool, but some of us want more than pedestrian performance from every part of our tools.

 

And some of us want more titanium.

Titanium frame-locks give me far more titanium than a mere titanium liner lock.
And both of those provide more titanium than knives produced without any.

I also like the elegant simplicity of the design; sometimes less is more (except when it come to levels of titanium, naturally ).

 

Integral ti compression lock, my man! We just need to beg Sal a little bit harder and we might get another one...

 

Yeah, I could for that too.

 

I agree with the OP that a new locking mech would be nice. However , I do love frame locks. They're just strong , simple and secure. That firm "clack" when a thick titanium frame locks into place is music to my ears. I don't like liner locks.

About the Compression lock (and Ball Bearing lock) and Axis lock , they are all outstanding IMO. I have much experience with each. They are true trademarks of Spyderco and BM.

 

I like innovative designs and mechanisms as much as the next guy, but I don't think laziness or complacency is to blame for the lack of options. I know Sal has stated, in the past, that spyderco has numerous lock designs they are working on, the stop lock being one of them. Integrating these locks into knives in a cost efficient and reliable manner is probably the reason they aren't as ubiquitous as a framelock, liner lock, and back lock.

If I'm not mistaken, the spyderco Tatanka has an innovative approach to a backlock-type design

 

KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid or Keep It Short and Simple

Liner, Frame, Lockbacks are simple and proven designs with known strength and weaknesses which the general public is familiar with if they have the slightest bit of interest in knives. It should be second nature to most of us on this forum. No need to redesign the wheel if it works and is dang reliable for it's intended purpose.

I can tell you that if I were to drop a lot of money on a knife and I can't handle it before purchasing like most of my knife purchases and I have 2 lock options I am going with the one I am more familiar with and is second nature to me. Why would I want a tool that didn't feel natural for me to use over a tool that did feel natural to use? So just from that perspective you have guys like me who rather go with something more familiar if they are going to be dropping a lot of cash on something. Not to mention the people who look at new things with distrust till all the kinks are worked out and strengths & weaknesses are well known (late adopters). So those more familiar locking designs are probably easier to sale I imagine, and than you can go into the R&D to make said locks, etc.

And no I don't hate new locks, I like seeing new innovative stuff come into the market (doesn't mean I buy it, but I like seeing progress). But this is more or less why I think we don't see much.

 

The other advantages of the liner/frame lock is that the state of the lock is easily visible to the user and you can see the state of wear without having to tear it down. Useful. If we are going to have a "better" locking mechanism, it's going to have to clear that bar to get my money. Unless it's got a snobby steel blade, of course.

 

Somebody should invent a lock with a dohickey...

 

I want something really strong and tricky to disengage...like a 'Wacklock'. A Wacklock would be a knife with a Walker Liner lock AND a backlock. Imagine that.