Framelock lockbar travel?

`br4dz-

`br4dz-

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So I've owned probably 8-10 knives that use framelocks, and I've noticed on 3 of them, that just so happened to be from the same company, had an issue of not locking properly when engaged. What I mean by this is, when I would bear down on the knife to cut something like cardboard, my fingers would squeeze the framelock all the way to the other side and it would sit there, and it would take a bit of force to disengage the lock. Opening the knife back again, it would open back to about the half across the blade tang position and seem stable, then I'd go to cut something again, and my fingers would once again squeeze it all the way to the other scale. It's only happened to me on those 3 knives, but again, they were all from the same company. I'm not going to say which company, because I'd rather not get into arguments and debates with fanboys, but I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem with a framelock before.
 
I've had some that do and some that don't... one brand in particular, all of my examples did this.
 
In my experience, CRK's and ZT's don't. Spydercos don't. These are pretty well my choices of products.
 
Sonnydaze said:
In my experience, CRK's and ZT's don't. Spydercos don't. These are pretty well my choices of products.
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In my experience, one of the 3 you listed do. At least a certain design and ones very similar to it.
 
I've had a ZT 0452 and a ZT 0804CF that both have lockbars you can just push all the way over to the other side with thumb pressure. The blade tang base, where it contacts the lockbar surface is cut straight on both these. The lock up goes to the same early lock up on both when you flip them. Other frame locks I own, of different brands and interestingly enough ZT too, won't move that far, due to an angle being cut in the blade base. I'm not sure at this point if there is an actual issue involving the ZT'S that exhibit the movement, because they remain solid and don't move unless forced. I'd think ZT would know how they cut the blade base and be aware that they can be forced over.
 
My ZT 0562cf will not move like this, and it has a liner over the carbon fiber side. Unlike the two above.
 
jill jackson said:
I've had a ZT 0452 and a ZT 0804CF that both have lockbars you can just push all the way over to the other side with thumb pressure. The blade tang base, where it contacts the lockbar surface is cut straight on both these. The lock up goes to the same early lock up on both when you flip them. Other frame locks I own, of different brands and interestingly enough ZT too, won't move that far, due to an angle being cut in the blade base. I'm not sure at this point if there is an actual issue involving the ZT'S that exhibit the movement, because they remain solid and don't move unless forced. I'd think ZT would know how they cut the blade base and be aware that they can be forced over.
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That's pretty much what I experienced, and thought too. I looked at the 3 that moved and noticed that the blade tang had a pretty shallow grind, where as the ones that don't move are steeper, to avoid them being pushed over.
 
A Benchmade Proxy, I bought won't move at all and has a pretty steep angle on the blade base. I know Strider changed their framelock to have a much less steep angle after years of complaints about lock rock developing. Which can happen when a lockbar wears and can't travel over to tighter lock up.
 
I've had problems with lockup on the 0562, 0452, and 0454. Most specifically, the 0452. When cutting wood or doing heavy rope cutting, the lock would travel all the way over and often require prying the lock opened with a screwdriver to close the blade. The 0562 would get a somewhat sticky lock, but nowhere near what the 0452 had. The 0454 is almost as bad as the 0452.

I was cutting lengths of rope at work and had gloves on, when the 0452s lock got stuck multiple times I literally threw it into a pile of trash and was about to walk away from it. With gloves on, I wasn't able to disengage the lockbar. I did eventually retrieve the knife, I was just really mad at the time.

Some mentioned that tightening up all the screws fixes the problem, but it didn't for me. I thought about sending it in, but never did. I just carried a different knife instead.

The 0454 is a knife I still carry sometimes, I've even carried the 0562 a few times after noticing this problem. But the 0452 and I don't get along very well:D
 
Blade tang angle, strength and tolerances all seem to be factors when a lockbar engages more deeply under heavy cutting load. I've had this happen without squeezing the lockbar. It's easy to test by adjusting your grip. Anyway, I don't like it when this happens.
 
I decided against getting an 0452 for just that reason, after seeing a couple youtube vids on just that issue and then reading numerous similar complaints subsequently. :grumpy: :(
 
yep zts were known for it. other brands not so much or so often. i personally haven't noticed it on my zt examples but i dont use them for hard cutting work either as they arent what i prefer for that kind of work. so i can imagine someone like me who doesnt do hard cutting work with their zts would deny this happening....ive seen too many videos though and it cant be denied. course i think zt made changes to eliminate this as i haven't seen any complain in awhile anout it. it was rampant a long while back though.
 
This was brought up not too long ago. Everyone then got out their ZTs and tried to get the lock bar to travel all the way over.
Checked my 3, 450, 452cf & 562cf......none of them moved.
Mine are about 1 year old.
Curious if any models are doing this when bought recently.......maybe they changed specs??
Joe
 
ZT 0804CF , bought last month

sziiv6.jpg


Lock up by flipping only:

2ewhd13.jpg


Lock up after thumb pressure:

2rogoc4.jpg
 
Last edited:
palonej said:
This was brought up not too long ago. Everyone then got out their ZTs and tried to get the lock bar to travel all the way over.
Checked my 3, 450, 452cf & 562cf......none of them moved.
Mine are about 1 year old.
Curious if any models are doing this when bought recently.......maybe they changed specs??
Joe
Click to expand...

It's possible zt changed something. I just bought a brand new knife a couple weeks ago that has if the worst, go figure.
 
I'm guessing the new knife is a ZT??? Which one?? If so, send it back. Don't know if this could be dangerous, but I wouldn't use that knife.
Joe
 
Man, the 452 & 804 have been in my cart more than once.
Just can't justify buying these with the LB travel issue.
 
Unless it causes difficulty in unlocking, I don't see full lockup as a bad thing.
From an engineering standpoint, the more metal-to-metal contact, the more positive the lock.
 
Nautique said:
Man, the 452 & 804 have been in my cart more than once.
Just can't justify buying these with the LB travel issue.
Click to expand...

My 452cf has been excellent after many thousands of flips and cutting stuff. Still centered with no play at all. The lock bar cannot be moved when the knife is open. Not even the tiniest bit.
If you like the knife, pick one up....from a reputable dealer. If there's an issue, they will square you right up. You can even ask them to try and move the lock bar. Before they ship to you.
GP, KSF, Blade HQ and USAmadeblade have all done this for me.
Joe
 
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