Folder design with best lateral/prying strength

Listen to Knife Nuts Podcast where he is a pretty regular guest (also a great podcast). He is a Navy veteran himself and used to make knives and sharpen knives for everyone on the ships.

 

Thick, wide blade with big pivot, solid handle scales and blade-stops that contact the frame will pry as well as is possible with a folding knife.

The Medford Praetorian pries about as well as a folder design can.
It you made it any more "pry-worthy" it would cease being a knife that could cut things.

 

Not a citation that the guy who designed the knife said it was to pry open doors, but that Navy SEALs use them to breach doors. But nevermind, it was a rhetorical question.

 

Locks aren't what experience lateral force during prying, the blade does or the pivot joint does. The weakest point in the structure. If you make it a thick slab stock blade to resist prying forces, that already impedes cutting ability.

 

Everyone is directly answering your OP, which asked, 'WHAT design elements would enhance a folding knife's ability to pry things,' and 'WHY don't manufacturers do it.'

 

Oh, I see what you're saying. I'll get to that after I solve the problem folding knives have with celestial impact. I really want to make sure they don't develop blade play after a direct meteor strike.

 

Thick slab will prevent the blade from snapping or bending, as you would presumably be prying with the pointy end of the knife. The force then transfers to the pivot, which will fail as you said.

Nobody is brainwashed, except maybe the guy seeking to defy physics, practicality, common sense, etc.

 

Bad example with the Seals prying doors open with those knives.
Cause when they break , they use their team mate’s to finish the operation and just go get another one from the Quarter master when they’re back on ship or base. It only has to last maybe one prying session. —————-Us Regular folk can’t afford to wreck a knife in our daily use. And those grinds won’t cut well ether.

 

Tactical sandwich maker/peanut butter spreader, for prying open those stubborn condiment jars and SPAM cans.

 

Peanut Butter & Spam sandwiches? If I was hunger enough or back in the day, stoned enough!

 

If the answer is either of those things then you're doing it wrong. Sure, you're never going to have a perfectly perpendicular impact and it'll experience some form of vertical or lateral force at the pivot or tang, but once again, making those things more resistant to that force also makes the knife less pleasant to carry and use.

Also, what are you stabbing with such force that it causes you worry? If it's a person in a self defense situation then who cares if the blade develops play? If I successfully fend off an attacker with a folder then that knife can retire in dignity. I'll buy another.

If you're stabbing trees or something like a weirdo then just use a fixed blade.

 

It's better than you'd expect. (I lost a bet.)

 

Well, I have about 2/3rds of a Cam in the freg, from Rey’s thread about slicing with our new Forum knife. I fried some and remembered why I leave those cans of Spam for Earthquake/disaster rations. Our dog won’t eat it........... Hmmm? Maybe. Get the wifey to think I’ve got a great idea for breakfast ??

 

Go for it. Be careful which knife you choose though. Spreading is definitely lateral force and there's a manufacturing conspiracy preventing most knives from effectively dealing with it.

 

But a couple of those folders that are marketed for strong locks. Attempt to pry open some doors , electrical boxes etc. when the blades snap & or bend & the locks fail. Send them in for warranty service & let us know how it works out!