Detent ball?

[L6steel]

I just read an old thread on CKD where someone mentioned they finally got the detent ball where it wouldn't fall off the blade when the knife is opened.
Since the ball is mounted on the lock tab, how is that possible?
The lock tab has to be completely off the blade since it's in back of it to keep it from closing.
Am I missing something here or did I read that thread wrong?

 

[L6steel]

Well well, looks like I've asked the unanswerable question, hmmm!

 

[Kit Carson]

Mike, (yea, I know you )
It's all in the design. The ball shouldn't drop off the blade until it engages the lock.

 

[L6steel]

Thanks Kit!!!
I didn't think I had it all that wrong, lol!

 

[Jim Smyth]

Darrel Ralph had a new design that I saw at Blade this year with his Mad Maxx with the robo assist. It had on the liner lock with 2 detent balls. I know 2 balls isnt new but Darrels was of a different design. His liner lock had a sort of loop on the bottom part of the lock that looped towards the blade and there was a second ball detent on it. It was a 2 stage ball so when the first ball fell off I believe the second ball rode on the blade flat and was set at a differnt height so there wasnt much of a drop off like your convential liner locks when the lock engauges. Worked very well and is a great new idea. Not that we would expect any different from Darrel.