First impressions of the Bladelock 2

ZENGHOST · Mar 1, 2003

I just got back from the local (semi-annual) gun/knife show and one of my purchases was the new CRKT BLadelock 2. First off, I'm not a big fan of the Bladelock--it's a little difficult for me to use. But when I picked up this folder I just had to get it. It's just a good, solid feeling knife. It's a hefty knife (3.8 oz.)--not one of those lightweight type folders and the lockup is rock solid. The edge was decent, but not the greatest and it uses AUS 6M which to me isn't bad even though a lot of people don't like it. I'll give it a touch up later tonight. I love the wharncliffe profile and the textured zytel scales provide lots of grip. I do have a problem with the fact that the scales are textured on the clip side--I don't understand why companies do this. Your hand sits on the clip when holding the knife so it doesn't really matter whether the scales are textured or not, but the thing is just completely eating up my pocket. The clip is extremely tight so I'm going to give it a bend and see if that puts less stress on my pocket. I might also take some sandpaper and try to smooth it down a bit. That's really my only gripe about the knife (that and the fact that it's tip-up, but that's a whole other story). Once you manage to finesse the lock, the blade opens really smoothly and locks securely into the open position. There is absolutely no blade play whatsoever on the one that I bought. I do wish that they would have either made the knife slightly bigger to make using the bladelock feature a little easier (a wider handle would probably make it easier) or made it a liner lock. It'd be nice if the scales weren't textured on the clip side, but other than that it's a really great design. I'll touch up the edge and run it through some cutting chores later tonight. Hope this was at least somewhat useful to anyone interested in the knife.

-ZENGHOST

shmoopiebear · Mar 1, 2003

I would be more curious about how the lock behaves on lateral blade play and it's ability to hold.

ZENGHOST · Mar 1, 2003

Originally posted by shmoopiebear
I would be more curious about how the lock behaves on lateral blade play and it's ability to hold.

Good point. Using my hand to force the blade laterally, I was still unable to detect any blade play whatsoever and there seems to not be any chance of it closing as the result of lateral stress and a combined pressure on the spine. Aside from your thumb slipping to the lock stud during a similar stress, I really don't think that it will close with any kind of hand pressure.

Architect · Mar 2, 2003

ZENGHOST - textured scales on clip side = gripping action against your clothing, exerted by clip pressure.

shmoopiebear · Mar 2, 2003

Originally posted by ZENGHOST
I do have a problem with the fact that the scales are textured on the clip side--I don't understand why companies do this. Your hand sits on the clip when holding the knife so it doesn't really matter whether the scales are textured or not, but the thing is just completely eating up my pocket. The clip is extremely tight so I'm going to give it a bend and see if that puts less stress on my pocket. I might also take some sandpaper and try to smooth it down a bit. That's really my only gripe about the knife (that and the fact that it's tip-up, but that's a whole other story).
-ZENGHOST

This whole combination with tip up carry, the tight clip, and the placing of the lock tells me it just wants to be "waved" somehow. Whether it's intent in pre-design was the case I do not know. I would be interested in handling the knife just to see what the real deal on it would be.

ZENGHOST · Mar 2, 2003

Originally posted by Architect
ZENGHOST - textured scales on clip side = gripping action against your clothing, exerted by clip pressure.

I understand that the textured scales on the clip side will aid in retention, but this is a bit of overkill. It helps to not have the knife slipping out of the pocket, but it also helps to be able to get the knife into the pocket in the first place. I must say, this is one of the stronger clips that I have encountered and I think CRKT did a good job with the clip itself. I managed to bend it enough to get it to work close to how I want, but the texture is still eating away at the pocket. I think I'll carry it around a little more before I take the sandpaper to it. Let me say that this is not a reason not to buy the knife--it's my own personal preference.

shmoopie--while the design may lend itself well to the wave (I've never handled a waved knife so I really don't know), I'm pretty sure that was never an intent of the knife since the Bladelock feature also locks the knife closed and would prevent the wave from working.

tarsier · Mar 2, 2003

I did some reading on the CRKT site and in search results on this forum, but I cannot find what I'm looking for. So, I'll be lazy and ask. Can someone explain the internals of this lock? I can see from the pictures how it opens and closes, but how does the lock actually work?

Dexter Ewing · Mar 2, 2003

I really like the overall looks of the BladeLock 2 over the original BladeLock. The 2 has more flow of the lines in the opened knife. And for some reason, I find the 2 easier to open and close than the original one. Maybe it's because of the shorter blade?

ZENGHOST · Mar 2, 2003

Originally posted by Dexter Ewing
I really like the overall looks of the BladeLock 2 over the original BladeLock. The 2 has more flow of the lines in the opened knife. And for some reason, I find the 2 easier to open and close than the original one. Maybe it's because of the shorter blade?

I agree, Dex. I didn't care much for the first version and despite my current difficulties opening and closing the knife, I still find it easier than the first version. I don't think it's the shorter blade, I think perhaps that the handle is a bit wider and provides more of a purchase for the hand.

Tarsier--I don't really know how it works, I'd have to disassemble the knife to see and I don't really want to do that just yet.

allenC · Mar 5, 2003

Thanks for the review!
The original BladeLOCK is one of my favorite knives and I'm looking forward to buying a BladeLOCK II.
The lock is pure genius.

Allen.