Downside to long lock bar relief?

[Varga Knives]

For a framelock, presumably a longer lockbar relief would let you keep the cutout (web) thicker than a shorter relief. So, what is the downside to a longer relief? I see plenty of lockbars thinned down to .04", and less than 3/4" in length. Couldn't you get the same results with a longer and thicker relief? Wouldn't that be inherently stronger or is the difference something I shouldn't be concerned with?

Thanks!
Mark

 

[Frank Niro]

Two bad things can happen if the lock bar is thin and extra long. I can't relate to frame locks but certainly do with liner locks. The leaf spring will take a curve that will interfere with either the scales or the blade itself when closed. Frank

 

[Varga Knives]

Thanks as always Frank. I see what you are saying but I do t think it's a concern on a framelock with a thick lockbar.

I don't buy into the idea that a lockbar relief at .04" is prone to failure. Seems to me to be a misconception (while being used in hand) and the framelocks that I had fail on me were all the lock face disengaging. Having said that though, I would like to start selling some framelocks down the road and thicker relief cuts would be a selling point. .04" x .75" appears less sturdy than, let's say, .07" x 1.5".

 

[Frank Niro]

I use an 11 degree angle on the blade lock face ground with a 120 grit belt and left that way. The leaf spring I also grind with a relief on the end but use a 16 or 22 to complete. Yes, that also does allow for more care when sizing to fit. Frank