Fox Predator folder claims "virtual fixed blade" status due to L.A.W.K.S system

harkamus said:
Is this some sort of trick question or was that sarcasm?:confused:
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I'm not speaking agressively, my intent is to add to the side discussion of a welded liner to tang knife vs. a FB.
I'm exploring the issue. Sorry if it was mis-interpeted Joshua J. ! :o
 
I don't agree with Ankerson in this ^^ regard. A folder is a compromise but with more deveklopment it really can get closer and closer to FB strength, and that's why that development should continue with efforts such as LAWKS etc.
It may even be possible to make Ankerson's "broken" into "fixed" but foldable and safe.

Don't forget the Earth used to be flat. :)
 
I think the closest you can get to a fixed blade in a folder is one of the ER folders that have the pin that you use to secure the lock. You'd have to break the pin before the blade unlocks itself.
 
"virtual fixed blade" is the CRKT catch-phrase for the LAWKS. It is a compromise, designed to make their basically light-weight folders a bit more reliable. But the more parts, the more problems. It is no coincidence that the Sebenza, for example, has very few separate pieces.

I have handled folders that were strong enough to match small fixed blades in reliability, chief among them the John Greco framelocks. But a single piece of well heat-treat steel with handle slabs for grip, is going to be the standard of knife reliability.
 
There is more to strength than locks. There are exceptionally strong folders which would outlive certain fixed blades.
 
Anybody that doubts that a folder can be as strong as a fixed blade try testing a CS Spartan. If you can break the thing using it in fixed blade tasks I will eat my words. If you break it doing anything short of insane abuse then I will eat my words.
 
Yea, Nternal, a Spartan @ 8.8 oz. is definitely going to either equal or outclass many, many fixed blades of equal weight probly even some "high end" ones, this is where i disagree with Ankerson as well, I'm not saying he is wrong per se bear that in mind.
 
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What CRKT's auto LAWKs system does is place a secondary obstruction behind the lockbar, preventing the blade from closing, since the liner lockbar cannot be completely disengaged. The lock can still fail, but it won't close the blade unless the LAWKs fails as well.

It's a safety feature, but it doesn't necessary turn a folder into a virtual fixed blade unless it's foolproof.
 
TheCarbideRat said:
Yea, Nternal, a Spartan @ 8.8 oz. is definitely going to either equal or outclass many, many fixed blades of equal weight probly even some "high end" ones, this is where i disagree with Ankerson as well, I'm not saying he is wrong per se bear that in mind.
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:thumbup: I just want people to test it for themselves because I think they might be eating their words by the time the testing is through.They don't need to take our word..I want them to see it firsthand.
 
It's not a virtual fixed blade by any means. There are a lot of folders that are closer to a fixed blade in feel because of how tightly and securely they lock up. The LAWKS system doesn't make the lock any stronger or tighter; all it does is add a safety onto the lock release. I had one on my CRKT Tiny Tighe Breaker. It was a neat idea, but it was annoying, so I took it out. The knife is much better without it IMO.
 
I strongly dislike exaggeration of any kind, I mean, there's ENOUGH bullcrap in the world to start with so when anyone stretches truth and shrugs when called on it I get really pissed ... :mad:

I'm leaning towards a guilty verdict for FKMD [Fox] grrrr.
But I also understand what Esav said ie that the 'virtual' tag was already there with the LAWKS so Fox just went along with it.
 
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The system is explained well & yes, it's CRKT catch phrase / marketing campaign. What it tries to say is not the 'strength' of the knife, but the mechanism causes the knife not to close due to lock release, so they call it 'virtual fixed blade'.

I dislike exaggeration in marketing campaign, so analyzing what it means helps me not despising it so much, more as enjoyment how people like to twist words ;)
 
I have a LAWKS equipped M16. Its a nice system, and is definitely a bit more secure than a liner lock. However, its still just another small tab of sheet metal, and does not compare to some of the the other hard use locks on the market. The Tri-Ad and the Extrema Ratio definitely beat it, and the stiffer framelocks are all probably stronger.

That being said, a LAWKS folder is still much stronger than the minimum necessary for a fighting knife, where you only care about slashing and stabbing. I've never heard of knife fighters having to baton through their enemies' limbs in a combat situation.
 
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