Favorite Lockbacks?

Steel130

Steel130

Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
4,583
I am making a bit of a transition from modern designs to traditional, and have always loved lockbacks. What are some of your favorites? Production or custom.
I love micarta and g-10 handles. Although nice bone handles ect always look fantastic.

To answer further weight, blade length, and blade shape are not of huge importance. I would prefer at least 3 1/2" closed length.
 
Last edited:
What size are you thinking about?

Blade type?

Intended use?

Pocket or sheath carry (gets to the issue of handle thickness e.g. the difference between a Buck 112 (thick) and a Buck 500 (thin))?


BTW, are you dead set on lock backs?

IMO, lockbacks are good for hunting and fishing where a) you tend to not stress the lock much during the cutting and b) you need to be able to give the knife a good, hot, soapy cleaning later on. But they aren't so good for working in an around dirt and sand (field, garden, woods) and there are other designs that provide more durability when use demands frequent high-load opening forces.

Specifically, I'm talking about the lock ring type lock found on the Opinels. These aren't for everybody, obviously, so better guidance can come if/when you can give more clarity on what you're looking for.


Buck 112 & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Knowing nothing else... I like old Schrade USA lock backs (collectors market) and if buying new would look closely at the flat ground GECs.
 
Really I am not dead set on anything, pocket carry only really. But I use to a Spyderco Military. I just wanted your guys suggestions.
 
I like the GEC #42's. Nice traditional lock back. Collectorknives.net has a black micarta on page 5, check it out.
 
In the 3" blade range, I like the Buck 500 Duke.


Buck 500 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Older 500 series knives (collectors market) that have a the "Old English" tang stamp (usually) have 440C steel and micarta scales.
Buck501a.jpg



Another 3" blade knife I like (it's big) is the old Schrade USA 51OT, aka the pocket buster or "Big Timer". Lousy picture:

In the kitchen by Pinnah, on Flickr

One reason I've come to prefer the Schrade over the Bucks is their use of a flat grind (hint for Buck).

For a smaller sub-3" blade "gentleman's knife", I really dig the Schrade USA 5OT.

Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr

Note on the older Schrades, the old ones are different than the current ones. I'm talking about the old ones here.

As much as I have a soft spot for old lock backs though, I trust the Opinel more.
 
The Military being such a large knife, I'd suggest the Buck 110 to match, at least the length. It's a bit heavier, IIRC. But, you said traditional lockback, so that's what I'm offering.:D Anyway, an entry level in 420HC will cost you about $35-40, but if you are looking for the higher-end stainless steels that you may be used to, Cabela's sells the 110 in S30V for almost $100 shipped, for full price (under the Alaskan Guide knives). If you have a bit more $$, you may want to look on Buck's site for the custom-made 110s with lots of choices.
 
G.E.C 72 Lockback. They can be a little hard to find, but have been made in various scale materials, and are a great knife
 
Case ROG 61405 L Damascus

uxcg.jpg


r0ll.jpg


90id.jpg


Case 51405L Stag

m8no.jpg


0n1w.jpg


Case M1051 LSSP

9x0w.jpg


w1i1.jpg


Buck 112

w7q4.jpg


mzcw.jpg


Buck 110

lxzh.jpg


i441.jpg


GEC #72 Lockback (bottom knife) with a GEC #73 Linerlock (top knife) included for good measure

bry9.jpg
 
Last edited:
Modoc ED said:
[/IMG]

GEC #72 Lockback (bottom knife) with a GEC #73 Linerlock (top knife) included for good measure

bry9.jpg
Click to expand...

Great minds with rounding the covers at the butt Ed



I'm planning to do the same when my ebony #73L arrives.

Meanwhile I'd say the #72 wins the lockback stakes for me.

Sam
 
That's the first thing I do when I get a bare end knife Sam. It makes them so much easier in the hand.
 
My 72 probably gets the most carry time. I barely know it's in my pocket. I love my Buck 112 as well.
DSC01750.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

My 110 doesn't see as much EDC time just because I think it's bigger than what I need for most tasks and it weighs a ton. This Scagel is one of my favorites but it's a safequeen :)
DSC01627.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

The Fallkniven U2 is a nice choice as well. Super light and bit more modern looking but it's a lot of knife in a little package. They come scary sharp right out of the box too.
 
im fond of my boker lockback, though it has wood handles. it has a nice 'rustic' look that might work for you if you want to branch out from moderns.
DSC_01011_zpsd9d08eb9.jpg

its the one up top.


as a rough estimate, you could likely get nearly every knife mentioned so far for your stated $300 limit.
 
For a heavy duty LB knife to carry in a belt sheath it is hard to beat a Buck 110 or an Uncle Henry LB7 (if you can find an original). For a smaller, pocket sized lockback, the Buck 500 series is hard to beat (in fact Pinnah educated me about the Buck 500 series a year or so back and I have obtained most of them now). I see someone on BladeForum has a very nice Buck 506 for sale in the BF Buck classifieds right now. OH

Uncle_Henry_LB7.jpg
 
I recently purchased a Canal Street Cutlery pinch lockback. The orange "sunset" bone is absolutely stunning, and I was quite impressed with the quality. Very traditional in design and materials.

Stock photo found online:
CSC1133504.jpg


I've also seen them available in wood, horn, antler, and synthetic handles.
 
Since you asked for some of my favorites;
The Large Moki Kronos (4 1/8"), in amber stag, is the most perfect lockback I own. For regular carry, the Large Copperlock (4 1/4"), with its slim profile, is hard to beat. Third place would go to the Schrade LB5 (3 3/4"), which I carried for 35 years as my only folder (a sentimental favorite, but eminently capable). I'm a fairly new owner of a GEC 42 (4 1/4"), which had to be repaired under warranty, but since, has become a favorite carry. Honorable mention to the Canal Street Pinch Lockback (3 3/4") and the Queen 06L Teardrop (3 7/8"), with a liner lock.
Good luck in your quest.
 
Last edited:
If you are ready to reprofile the blade the Queen Cutlery Mountain Man is a nice knife. I am not sure if they have made any changes to their blades, the edge of the one I got had to be thinned which was a lot of work, since the blade is D2-steel. After that it has been one of my favourites.

11082013220.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top