Framelock Lockup Percentage

J

Jdturner697

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Sep 3, 2015
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Hey y'all I received a knife the other day and the lockup looks to be about 70-80% and that seems to far over to me.What's the percentage supposed to be on a framelock and is that bad that it's that far over?
 
no there is not a standard. As long as it is not 100% and no lock rock you should be fine. I mean Hinderer is often about 30% while CRK 70%. Am I correct?
 
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This really depends on the knife.

While a frame lock seems like a very simple Mechanism, getting it all right is not that easy.

Most designs these days are geared toward early lock-up, and I am not sure how they will perform as that lock wears, but generally, not well, and you start to notice play and slippage.

There are exceptions, Like CRK, who's frame lock design is 60+ % lock-up.

I don't know what knife you have, how well the geometries and tension where designed to handle certain amounts of travel, or even where the initial lock-up was at?

Everyone seems to like earlier, but considering the function of the lock, I think a well designed "later" lock-up makes more sense.
 
Budget knives will generally lock up fairly late as tolerances are looser. High end "art" knives will lock up ridiculously early because collectors love super early lockup. Even though the saftey aspects are questionable. Wear will cause the lock to move inward over time so earlier lock up is generally preferred. A property cared for and used frame lock should well outlast it's user.
 
Well the knife that I received was an esee brk avispa folder and it was about 40$ so it does fall in the budget knives I would say,so that might be why it is a little later.Thanks guys for the replies!
 
Any issues with the Avispa? How is the detent and are there any lockbar/finger pressure problems when opening? Thanks-
 
The only issues are just a little late lock up and the Lockbar is a little hard to close,but those are not that big of a deal really.The detent is good.
 
The goal is to keep the tang of the blade on (top) of the lock bar/insert. So, having only a slight percentage of contact on either end is bad, let's say 5-10% at the minimum, as we know 15-20% is ok adjusting for lock and lock cut out thickness.

ZT 0450 is lock draws more attention to me, as it does others, just because it adjusts a lot, so a lot of feel happens in between for many. It begins >50%, but is easily manipulated and can be pushed to the other side, but I think it's designed with that in mind considering the distance between blade and handle for the washer is the same as the detent, with the size of detent ball clearly a deliberate choice so it can act as a stop. There's not enough space for the blade to ever fall off on that side and if it's moving toward that direction, it shouldn't be tipping over the other side, so it looks okay to me. The lock may not feel safe but it looks safe to me, relatively.

Now how much contact to each side depends on designs and I guess mat strength. Go with your gut. It if feel weak, old, unmaintained, tampered, unsafe, trust your instinct.

Edit: maybe like 1-3% cause there are knives that sit at 5% like the BM 761/765.
 
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My Lionsteel SR knives lock up at about 20% and can not be pushed in, my other, more expensive ZT 804 framelock locks up at 50% and can be pushed to 75% just by gripping it hard... mildly displeased by this... i have had to dig the lock out with my left thumbnail several times due to the nonexistant lock access offset to the other handle

Is it normal for the lockbar to dent the tang?
 
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