Favorite/least favorite locking mechanism?

Im not particularly for or against any mechanism. Its my feeling that if you are using the knife for the job it was designed for then it will not close on you unexpectedly.

If you are twisting or prying then I wouldnt expect the lock to be as secure. If you have to use it outside of its design, then do so, but with a little more caution.
 
While this is true, I still want to learn about the respective strengths and weaknesses of locking mechanisms. And I'd like to buy the best possible quality knife, both in design and quality.
 
lockback or Axis then or a roll lock (I think its called that, its on a Gerber Applegate Fairnbairn covert)
 
favorite/ spyderco compression lock - locks up well, seems to wear well, not as easy to accidently disengage as a axis lock imho.

dont like/rekat rolloing lock - very prone to failure in larger versions (ie Sifu) and if it does fail no one will fix it for ya (ie rekat is no longer in the knife biz)
 
Without wishing to sound argumentative, how does it fail? I have a A/F and it looks pretty much fail proof.
 
I prefer liner-lock or frame-lock. They are comfortable, easy to use and {very mostly ;-) } safe. But they have to be well made.
 
I'm more concerned about the knife itself and the people who made it than the type of lock. I'll trust some linerlocks (Spyderco, Microtech) but not others (CRKT).

That said, my favorite lock isn't even a lock at all: Balisongs. My other prefered locks are plunge lock autos and whateverthehell you call the mechanism on D/A OTF autos. Then I suppose liner/frame locks. I'm not terribly fond of lockbacks, since they're difficult to do one-handed.
 
Strength aside, i really don't like lockbacks. I think they look silly, feel wring, and are just too complicated to minipulate 1 handed. It can be done, I know, but it's just not as natural a feeling.
 
I never really found lockbacks (around here we call them backlocks, weirdly) to be as awkward as people say. I guess that might be because I was using lockbacks from a very young age though. I don't even have to expend a concious thought towards one handed closing. Interestingly, I don't use any lockbacks anymore. I'm not sure why.
 
For me, least favorite, I think it's that Rolling Lock/in draft on the BM Mini-Ambush - just the opening part - I find that my thumb tends to tag the edge of the blade every once in a while when it opens. There's a fair amount of resistance, and then it just opens. No complaints otherwise. Other types of locks - I'm pretty neutral there.

Interestingly enough, my favorite is BM's Axis lock :D Too early to tell if Spydie's compression lock on my Para military will ultimately win or not. It's running a close second :)

- gord
 
gordonk said:
For me, least favorite, I think it's that Rolling Lock/in draft on the BM Mini-Ambush - just the opening part - I find that my thumb tends to tag the edge of the blade every once in a while when it opens.
Click to expand...

If You open in not with a thumb tip, but with a thumb joint - the problem disappears.

My favorite: axis / frame.

Don't like: bad manufactured linerlock.

No more dislikes.
 
Favorite: Axis
Least Favorite: Lockback

This is only for ease of use. I distrust all locks to some degree because I like my hands and fingers. That being said, I use a fixed blade if I need to do anything that puts pressure on the lock in the wrong direction.
 
My favorite is the plunge-lock (if that's the right name) found on my Microtech UMS.
It is a rather simple and effective lock design and I don't see how it can easily fail.

My least favorite is the Neely-lock found on my Timberlite.
You have to grasp the blade and pull it away from the handle to unlock the open knife.
 
Least favorite - liner locks. I've had a few that wore out quickly, and all of my liner locks have developed vertical blade play.
 
Favorite would have to be lockback. I like the Axis and Arc locks on Benchmades and SOGs. Even though it appears to be the most widely made, I am very wary of linerlocks. I guess they would be my least favorite. I've found very little problems with my CRKT's, but that could be because I don't abuse them. Two of my favorite knives, my M16-13 and my M21 big dog operate fine, but I always keep that LAWKs on. I did get a Spyderco Military for a passaround, and found that that felt somewhat secure. Just got a Strider PT in a passaround and that felt very secure too. I just prefer lockbacks.

Although there are some fixed blades out there that I would take a liner lock over any day. My Frost(the junkers) knives phase for instance (still get shudders over that).
 
BM Axis - all the way. It's the quickest closing and safest - no fingers in the path of blade travel. I hate using two hands to close the blade and Liner lock put my thumb in danger. Closing lock backs with one hand puts my fore-finger in danger. And they both require some degree of dexterity and practice. Every time I close my Spydie lock backs with one hand, my girlfriend hates it. She says it's too dangerous and she won't even try it. AXIS - the greatest thing to happen to folders, IMHO.
 
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