Do you think liner locks are safe?

P

Plasmio

Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
139
I try and stay away from liner locks, I feel that if I move my finger too abruptly, I'll release the lock and slice my finger(s). I prefer lockback in general as I feel they're the safest, but I've heard of them wearing out.
 
I can't remember the last time I cut something with the back of the blade....... A good liner lock is just as safe as any other knife
 
Last edited:
If your lock fails, you're using the wrong side of the blade.

If you're left-handed, it may be a concern that you'll accidentally push the liner lock while wrenching away at it but otherwise it's just as likely you'll have a lockback fail because your palm disengaged the lock, which is to say not very. The lock is there to protect people from themselves, there's no substitute for proper usage.

Edit: Snaked by 2 minutes!
 
1. What liner locks have you used?
2. Why don't you think that you can't ever depress a back-lock with your palm and cut yourself?
3. I find that the sticky locks on the Emerson knives that I have used lends an extra feeling of security.
 
My only bad experiences with liner locks were with two Buck knives from their Crosslock and Alpha series. I could close the blade by just applying a bit of pressure on the spine. However, I've got dozens more liner lock knives that work just fine from a lot of different manufacturers.
 
A well made liner lock will do just what it's supposed to do... reliably lock the blade open. So will a well made backlock. I've had both that are well over 10 years old and are as solid as the day they were made.

But remember that locks can only control blade function... they have no control over user function (or dysfunction).
 
GMAHN said:
1. What liner locks have you used?
2. Why don't you think that you can't ever depress a back-lock with your palm and cut yourself?
3. I find that the sticky locks on the Emerson knives that I have used lends an extra feeling of security.
Click to expand...

Do you have to ask the hard to answer questions? :D
 
I've had some that I would trust and some that I wouldn't. One, an old pre-LAWKS CRKT, failed on me and folded on my finger, requiring 3 stitches and giving me permanent nerve damage. So naturally, I'm wary of linerlocks. I'm also somewhat wary of some framelocks. For example, the Spyderco Sage 2. The way it fits my hand, the lock can disengage when I grip it hard. It's the rare example where I'd trust a linerlock (like the Sage 1) over a framelock. But I never felt anything but security and confidence when holding a Military. I handled a bunch of liner/framelocks from Kershaw/ZT in the Passaround, and never felt that they were anything but secure.

Right now I don't even own any frame or liner locks. I have one compression lock, a couple AXIS locks, and a bunch of backlock Spydercos.
 
I guess it depends on what you grew up with. In my case, it was slipjoints. I learned how to cut properly with them. I can use many liner locks safely - and most frame locks, too. I think the key is the respect you give your knife. Chopping and batoning are not folder actions, for example. Neither is a twisting motion - or a pulling that would tend to close the blade if it weren't for a liner or frame 'lock'. Even my beloved lockback Buck 110s - or the mix of BM AXIS lock folders I have - are best employed as if they were slipjoints. My worst accidents were with dull SAKs - and usually, inflicted while closing them!

I have many Ti framelocks... from a small Sebbie to my ZTs to my BM 630 Skirmish. All of them are inherently safe - in my use.

Stainz
 
I have several liner locks from the tiny Kershaw 1650 Centofante to the great big Fox/Citadel Deimos. I've never had any liner fail on me, or any other lock type for that matter. But then again I never do anything that I even think could cause a failure. That's the key, with any folder.
 
peter r said:
love it! all locks are fine. as long as you cut with the sharpened side of the knife....
Click to expand...

Thank you Peter. I was looking for those exact words. If I'm using a knife and worrying about a lock failing, I'm using it wrong.
I have two locking knives. I use them exactly the same way I use my slipjoints. I never worry about them failing.
 
Plasmio said:
I try and stay away from liner locks, I feel that if I move my finger too abruptly, I'll release the lock and slice my finger(s). I prefer lockback in general as I feel they're the safest, but I've heard of them wearing out.
Click to expand...

What brands have you used and what problems did you have with them?

Spyderco's founder, Mr. Sal Glesser, was asked to design a knife for the military folks. Obviously he could have any steel, lock type, blade shape, etc. Here is what he and his team designed. Notice the type of lock that was used. If you have never heard of Chris Reeves knives you might check them out also. They are conisdered the heavy tanks of the combat or tactical knife arena.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=114

http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.htm

Does this change your mind?
 
A good liner lock is more than enough for any task I can think of. I don't know what some people do with their knives to make them fail.
 
The only concern I have had with liner locks is closing it on your finger, thumb, or whatever and at that point it is mostly due to operator error. Of all the knives I am apt to carry, all are liner locks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top