Folders that don't fail lock-up, serious replies only please...

One knife that has been in my "user" collection for over 10 years and is still on the market is the SOG Sogwinder. SOG makes a few folders all similar to this knife (some larger, different handle material, blade shape etc), but the one thing they all have is a lock-up I would trust my life on. This has been one of my hardest use knives ever. It has been with me in the field (geological studies - splitting sedimentary rocks apart by inserting the blade between layers and twisting), on oil refinery (2 years of hard manual labor sampling groundwater monitoring wells in the El Paso desert, often prying lids off well with the knife blade), as many other adventures too numerous to list. This knife is the one I always go back to when I think I might need a small folder (they make 'em larger) that will never let me down. It is a lockback (or are they calling these "midlocks" now - I can't keep up). It is solid. It rocks.

-Al-

Here's a link to Top of Texas Knives pics of the line-up: link.

PS: All the knives are under $100. The most costly is the 3.75" blade Tomcat w/ the Cocobolo handle option at $97.
 
Since BM Axis locks and the 750 are out, the only other one I have experience with is the Spyderco Vesuvius which has a scaled down version of the compression lock that's used in the Gunting. It's under 3.5" and it fits in the ~$100 price range. You should be able to get it for a lot less than that since I paid retail at a B&M store.

The lockup's solid, mine's been spinewhacked, and I've slashed at bike boxes and taken backcuts at them and stabbed wooden workbenches without having the lock budge at all. The blade shape also looks pretty friendly and is quite useful too. The downside is it's basically a FRN handled knife so it won't be as strong as something that has full metal liners. I like it, try one out and see what you think.
 
As far as folders that I own and trust. I would have to recommend an Axis Lock from Benchmade or a Frame Lock.

I know that you said Benchmades didn't do the trick but there are a number of small Axis Locks (705, 770, 940, 555, 556) to select from.

I have also carried the Camillus EDC with good results.

I would also urge you to reconsider the small fixed blade.

I have switched to the Carson F4, Camillus Mini-Talon and Jones Brothers 3" Neck Knife as my daily carries. I wear these knives either IWB on my belt or in my front pocket and I have not had any problems with discretion.
 
I carried an Endura for years as well but I've never put the lock to a severe test. Great knife though.

In my collection, under $100, I trust my Spydie Frank Centofante C25G (now discontinued...) because of its dual locking mechanisms. The Camillus EDC is another I don't worry about the lock failing on me, and it gets tough use regularly (some twisting/prying with the blade). I just purchased an BM 705 but I haven't used it enough to say how comfortable I am with it, although it looks promising.

Sorry I don't have anything more scientific, just my gut feel on some of my daily carry knives. I won't carry something that I think might fail under reasonable use.

I also agree with you Melvin that knife companies can produce a "solid" sub-$100 folder.
 
A well made Opinel (not those you get for $8) will not fail. A $8 Opinel will fail because the handle is cheap wood and the blade+lock will eventually came off. The downside is you can't open and close it onehanded. The horn tip handled ones are quite nice (photo from alpshop):
efc01.jpg

A balisong is very unlikely to fail unless you break the pins.
A decent custom folder won't fail you but if the limit is $100 ...
I had a REKAT Sifu and was very impressed with the rollinglock, but I don't know if they have a unde 3" model.
An OTF auto will never close on your finger. I am not familiar with autos but I think you can find one under $100.
 
I don't know if anyone has suggested the Spyderco Lil' Temperance but it would seem to meet your criteria. The Compression Lock has been very impressive so far. After over 4 or 5 months of use (granted, that's a short period of time) and continious openings the lock has only traveled .001" across the tang. .001"!! Heck, that .001" is probably just slop in my old dial calipers. The lock may not even have moved that far. The lock feel is a very firm and still resists closing against the liner/scale. A very reassuring feeling. One of the two blade shapes should meet your needs. Even if the pics turn you off, I suggest that you handle one if you have the chance at a shop or show. The design really comes together once it's in your hands.

Oh yeah, I think all folder locks will eventually fail w/ enough torque, use, force, etc.
 
I also have a few Benchmades that haven't failed spine whack tests, and those are brutal the way i carry them out. The models I currently own (800s, 800hssr, 800hs) don't fail, but they are TOO BIG too take out man. Think about it.

Your a non-knife person, grew up in a city where knives have been portrayed your whole life in movies/advertisements/news e.t.c. to be tools of the criminal pretty much. Someone whips out a 4" shiny bladed folder to cut a string, or it is "discovered" on your person by LEO or in a newfound romantic partner. Not good, the small little 3.5 or less blades are a very big requirement.

I still think a frame-lock of high-quality is the best way to go, just from what I have handled so far. However the mark2 cqd seems like a good way to go.

Who has owned a mark2 cqd and had one fail vigorous spine whack tests? How easy is this safety to engage? Personally anything extra besides opening the blade, unless the safety engages automatically every time the blade is open, wouldn't be the way I want to go.

Well, I see the prices that some of the used sebenzas are going for, and that isn't really close to $300 anymore. So this is becoming more of a reality. I owned one in the past, and it passed tests but truthfully I didnt hit them as hard as I would have liked to. I spent upwards of 3 bucks on that blade so I was nervous. It did seem like it woulda passed and all you guys say they do consistently so I believe it. I really appreciate the help Shelly.

jC
 
Some knives have 1/2 inch or so of thicker steel--like a bolster-- behind the edge of the blade. This way, if the lock fails, your finger will be pinched but not cut.

All Spyderco folders have this feature, as do the David Boye folders and all of the Al Mars that I know of. If you look at the pictures you will see what I'm talking about.

Another advantage is that it allows you to put one finger under the back of the blade. This helps to guide the knife and warn of any blade play.

Melvin: I don't know if I read the e-mail correctly, but didn't Jameson copy only the part that he had written?
 
John I know what you mean. That is why I have traded my way into a Spydee Military folder. It is a bit big for me to carry all the time, but once this trade is complete I am gonna bring it along often. I haven't spine whack tested it yet, but I hear good things and it seems solid, albeit quite thin. The sizeable choil section (mine is ribbed, a big plus I think) is also a great feature. I am praying that the supposed "mini-militrary" is going to be the answer in teh near $100 range. Make two steels spyderco, 440c to save some people $$, and the bulk in a fancier steel. After all they are working knives. Just an idea.

JC
 
...No, after I made my comment about personal emails being posted in a public forum, Jameson went back and edited his post to remove my comments.

Which, compounding bad with worse, now completely skews the slant of my original comment.

Furthermore, he has now insisted on referring to me as "Shelly", at least twice, which I'm taking as an offhand slam in my direction for publicly chastising him...

So this is my just reward for attempting to help another forumite eh? "Alas, such is life..."

He should have just been 'red flagged' in my mind, and ignored from the moment he mentioned that he'd been here from the beginning.

I keep asking myself, "Why didn't he just ask the question himself?"

Oh well, chalk this one up to experience I guess. :rolleyes:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Anyhoo, thanks for the great information on the knives guys, you've been extremely helpful with your comments.

I have a lot of research to do now.

Tremendous effort! I really do appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Sheldon
 
I see two different issues here. One is the strength of the knife lock and in that regard, most quality folders have plenty of strength in their locks for most applications.

The other issue is the design of the knife relative to hand position and the possibility of disengaging the lock during use. This issue will vary between individuals and is a training issue. I've never had a lock fail, but I've heard of liner locks being disengaged by the holder's grip. When I use a knife in situations that would stress a lock and require it to not fail, I use a non-folder -- usually a Randall.

...I grabbed a palm tree by the 'neck', and using a 'hammer' grip, I rammed my Endura into its 'gut' with as much force as I could...
Click to expand...
Stabbing a Palm Tree? Usually I go to a double-bit axe or a chainsaw when I take on a tree.
 
I'm not trying to insult you Sheldon. Maybe you look into all this knife forum stuff a little too much bro. Nobody is out to get you man, relax. Red-flagged? What are you talking about. Nobody is trying to drag you into any kind of flame thing man, calm down. I am just looking for info, you dont want to give it, your business. You coulda ignored my e-mail that I sent to you, I removed any ties to you here on the forum, and all you ahve to do is e-mail me and tell me not to call you Shelly, but you choose to post it here first.

Glad I got some useful info out of this before he tried to turn this into something it isn't, and was never intended to be. Sheldon, frankly I think you are acting silly in regards to what my original intentions were. You shoudl contact me via e-mail if you want to further discuss this. I will also remove anything that I have typed here involving your name, YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK ME TO.

JC
 
The Buck/Strider is absolutely b-o-m-b proof, and well, the only other folder I'd care to carry is a Sebenza, of which I own two: large and small.

When it comes to going the field, I grab the Strider Folder, I have a mini-spearpoint, though they make a tanto.

For everyday carry and normal use, then I carry a Sebenza. For extraordinary use, the Buck/Strider.

Rangers Lead the Way,
 
...Roger that, and no hard feelings here.

Are the answers here helping answer your question? They're certainly helping answer mine.

Ras, does that chainsaw come as a folder, and if so, what is the model #? (I was young when I 'attacked' that vicious palm tree, it was a good learning experience for me I think...lol)

It looks like Knife Expo 2002 in a few weeks should be a real eye opener...

"Folding knives, arrrghhh, I'm going over to the dark side."

Knife list, red pen, and wallet in hand...hmmm...
 
The Spyderco Vesuvius and Salsa are both under $60 and the Compression lock is great. The Griptillian and Mini Griptillian have great axis locks that are extremely study and can be had for under $60.
 
Melvin-Purvis, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about - I have managed to cut myself with Endura. When you grip it really hard (at the very moment you need the toughest lock) it releases the blade :barf:

Now, my daily carry is SERE 2000, which is probably longer than the blade you are looking for, but will certainly not fail... I banged and twisted that knife pretty bad...

The best knife under your requirements (IMHO) would certainly be Camillus EDC with D2 blade... It has a frame lock that locks up very good, but (get this) it locks DEAD when you squeeze the handle. I am talking opposite of Endura. You wanna punch an Oak tree? Just grip that handle and fire away, that blade will brake to pieces before the lock fails...

Rival
 
I'd recomend either a well executed liner lock (emerson is my fave, followed by spyderco) or an integral lock (try outdoor edge's paragee). I like titanium liners, they seem to stick to the blade and slip less.
 
I would recommend any of the TOPS folders. If size is not a concern, the CQT Magnum folders are great, and for something a bit smaller the Thunder Hawkes are also very nice and bomb proof.

I have spine whacked, torqued, stabbed, white knuckled, and otherwise abused both of these models, and have experienced no failures or anything even close. Additionally, both models have a finger choil that will prevent the knife from slicing into your fingers if the blade should close down, expectedly or unexpectedly.

Personally, I think every folder, regardless of the lock used, should incorporate a finger choil, as they serve a variety of purposes and do not detract from the functionality or looks of the knife.

But that is of course only my opinion, and is only worth what you paid for it.
 
Hi Mel,

IMHO Camillus EDC fits the bill. I got one for couple months or so and I'm very positive about it overall. Mine is D2, and other options are Talonite, 154 CM, and 420. I guess yor friend could pick sometihng :) Although talonite will be out of range.

<A HREF="http://zvis.com/knives/knimgtmpl.shtml?http://zvis.com/images/knives/fold/edc2.jpg"><IMG SRC="http://zvis.com/images/knives/fold/edc2i.jpg"></A> <A HREF="http://zvis.com/knives/knimgtmpl.shtml?http://zvis.com/images/knives/fold/smledcs1.jpg"><IMG SRC="http://zvis.com/images/knives/fold/smledcs1i.jpg"></A>
 
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