Folder lock failures?

[WadeF]

I've had plenty that would fail doing a moderate spine whack test. The old CRKT mirages, AMK SERE 2000, MOD Hornet, Benchmade 806D2, The original run of Gerber Applegate/Fairbairn folders. Truthfully I'm more surprised when one won't fail than when it will. The AMK actually failed when I was batoning it through a 3/4 in sabling...this was after I had gotten it back from the factory

You had an Al Mar SERE 2000 fail a spine wack? I'm more surprised about you saying you had a BM 806D2 fail a spine wack! With an Axis lock??? This seems impossible. How were you doing the spine wack? What were you hitting the blade with?

 

[Blop]

Moderate would exceed these and move into actually hitting the spine on something intentionally, or the previous action done with near full exertion.

What does "near full exertion" mean?

Can you compare this to what i have called "hard", please?

 

[Cliff Stamp]

What does "near full exertion" mean?

Jerking it back hard, with as much force as a normal adult would produce if they seriously exerted themselves.

Can you compare this to what i have called "hard" ...

If you mean into the edge or corner of a wood plate then I would call that moderate, if you mean into the top of a wood plate then I would call that beyond what I described as hard.

Specifically I can put a 1mm+ dent into a piece of birch hardwood at the corner with the Point Guard with just a moderate pop. If I place the knife under the wood and jerk up so that the spine hits the corner of the wood, I can get a 1mm dent easily.

Note the LAWKS system doesn't seem to help significantly in regards to spine impacts. I just buckled the one on the Point Guard with a few spine whacks into the birch with just wrist action. It however does however greatly enhance torque security.

Without the LAWKS I can wrist torque the liner to disengage trivially, with the LAWKS engaged there is no chance of torque release.

-Cliff

 

[Joe Talmadge]

a mod spine whack is to open the knife and lightly tap it on your palm/etc

If this is a moderate spine whack, what is a light one?

I think the "lightly tap spine on palm" test is a perfectly good one. However, I wouldn't characterize that as a "moderate" spine whack. I'm not sure I'd even characterize it as a light spine whack! There's so much cushioning in your palm, plus your hand gives some when the knife hits it, that there's not a lot of "whack" coming through. I use the spine whack to see how the lock holds up to impulse forces at the spine. When I want to see how it holds up to slower forces, I first open the blade to lock and try to close it with palm pressure, and then do the above-mentioned tapping in my palm.

To me, a light spine whack is against something with little give, a table or desktop, etc. If you're doing that against wood and it's not gouging the wood, it's probably light.


Joe

 

[Cliff Stamp]

As for not having locks fold, I have never had a paring knife slip onto my hand and it has no guard and handles which become slick readily.

I know its limitations and use it accordingly. I can also use an insecure lock and not have problems, a better lock simply allows a greater scope of work.

I think the "lightly tap spine on palm" test is a perfectly good one.

You have to start somewhere, and if it does cause problems with some knives then it is pretty much valid by defination.

I would however also see that as so light it can't even be called a whack as stiff slip joints even pass that.

As a basic requirement I would assume that a lock should be more secure than not having one, that just seems ridiculus.

-Cliff