Now I know there is no exact determination of what lock is the best but we can determine our favorite. Post your favorite locking mechanism and how it's strength has been tested in your experiences. One of my favorites is the ball bearing lock on the spyderco manix 2. I've beat the he'll outta that thing and it is solid as a rock!
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Favorite locking mechanism?
- Thread starter rbaker11
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- Feb 28, 2011
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- 27,491
Axis lock beats the compression lock by a hair for me. If I ever have broken Omega springs I'll reverse the order.
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- Jan 2, 2012
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Dangit. Favorite? Ugh. Axis lock by a mile. Hate to say it. But nothing comes close for me. Second would be a good frame lock. But that's a distant second.
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- Jan 12, 2012
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the compression for me. I never have to put my hand in the way of the blade, It can one hand open and close. Its easier to hold open for long periods of times than axis IMHO
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- May 23, 2004
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- 1,496
Tri-AD/Nice lockback - conducive towards comfortable handle (i.e. not like holding two rulers with a 3.5-4mm gap), ambidextrous, strong, long-term reliability with less dependence on tolerances
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- Jun 24, 2009
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- 191
that i own its the comp lock all the simplicity of a liner no interfering with the lockbar of a framelock and no springs to break
axis second
however i think a button lock will be my fave soon and if not my new take on the button lock will be my fave
axis second
however i think a button lock will be my fave soon and if not my new take on the button lock will be my fave
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- Feb 3, 2001
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- 32,359
How many lock type are there?
I have Walker Liner Locks, Leafspring Lock(like the kind on the TL-29 Style Electricians knife), Bolt Lock, Lock Back, Mid Lock, Boye style Mid Lock, Push Button Lock, Frame Lock, Axis Lock, Rollox Lock, Toggle Lock, Compression Lock, Saddle Lock(?), Butterfly Knife type lock, so many more my addled brain can't remember right now but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the rock solid, smooth as silk Axis Lock on my BM 730 Ares.
I don't test my locks to see where they fail, basically if I'm usin' a knife and that is ever a fear, (that it might fail) I wouldn't use a folder, I'd use a fixed blade. The locks to me are more of a redundent safety for my own stupidity if I'm usin' the wrong tool for the wrong job.
Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate a well fit liner lock or the snickin' sound ya get from a lock back, the complexity of the Paul Lock, the rachetin' sound of a Navaja(?), or the rock solid thunk, almost like the sound of a vault closin', that ya get from a perfectly executed frame lock.
I guess they're all my favorites when I have 'em in my pocket.
I have Walker Liner Locks, Leafspring Lock(like the kind on the TL-29 Style Electricians knife), Bolt Lock, Lock Back, Mid Lock, Boye style Mid Lock, Push Button Lock, Frame Lock, Axis Lock, Rollox Lock, Toggle Lock, Compression Lock, Saddle Lock(?), Butterfly Knife type lock, so many more my addled brain can't remember right now but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the rock solid, smooth as silk Axis Lock on my BM 730 Ares.
I don't test my locks to see where they fail, basically if I'm usin' a knife and that is ever a fear, (that it might fail) I wouldn't use a folder, I'd use a fixed blade. The locks to me are more of a redundent safety for my own stupidity if I'm usin' the wrong tool for the wrong job.
Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate a well fit liner lock or the snickin' sound ya get from a lock back, the complexity of the Paul Lock, the rachetin' sound of a Navaja(?), or the rock solid thunk, almost like the sound of a vault closin', that ya get from a perfectly executed frame lock.
I guess they're all my favorites when I have 'em in my pocket.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2000
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- 28,365
Tri Ad and frame lock
I'd say my favorite lock for a general use EDC knife would be the Hawke lock. While it isn't the stoutest by any means IMO it's a joy to engage and disengage. I'm also quite fond of the spyderco ball lock, and benchmades axis lock. But for a harder use folder I'd go for a really strong lockback of some sort like Andrew Demko's Triad Lock.
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- Dec 14, 2010
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- 610
+1 I don't know what people are doing to need 300lbs of lock force? If I'm using that hard, I reach for a fixed blade.
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- Sep 10, 2010
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- 3,795
1.) AXIS
2.) Compression
3.) BB lock
4.) Framelock
5.) Tri AD
6.) every other lock out there
7.) liner lock
AXIS because i love how easily you can flick the blade open and closed by pulling on the lock. Nothing is faster than the Axis lock. Its very nice when you want to open your knife cut something and put it back in your pocket without having to look.
Compression lock and ball bearing lock are also good in my book.
I like framelocks because they look awesome but it kind of bugs me sometimes how slow they are. I EDC a ZT 0560 and love it but sometimes I dislike how slow it is to close compared to a Benchmade.
2.) Compression
3.) BB lock
4.) Framelock
5.) Tri AD
6.) every other lock out there
7.) liner lock
AXIS because i love how easily you can flick the blade open and closed by pulling on the lock. Nothing is faster than the Axis lock. Its very nice when you want to open your knife cut something and put it back in your pocket without having to look.
Compression lock and ball bearing lock are also good in my book.
I like framelocks because they look awesome but it kind of bugs me sometimes how slow they are. I EDC a ZT 0560 and love it but sometimes I dislike how slow it is to close compared to a Benchmade.
