Framelock vs Everything else combined

Spyderco compression lock is probably my favorite - part advantage being the closing action doesn't require your fingers in the way . OTOH -In 50 plus years of using folders - I've never cut myself closing a knife -so this isn't the biggest worry for me.Compression locks are not the best when you're wearing gloves .
There are more absoulutly garbage - unsafe liner locks out there than all other designs combined.Most of these are either cheap tools or cheap tools being sold by once fine tool companies on the strength of past reputation . Well executed liner locks have the definite advantage of being easier to close than most other designs . Afterall - you're not done using a folder untill you've stowed it. I've spent more time using linerlocks in the last 15 years than all other lock designs combined and then tripled. Only lock failures have been from my first one ( A gun show "custom" knife that probably qualifies as my worst knife purchase of all time - lasted about a year and a half.) and a couple of times when i accumulated absolute carpets of pocket fuzz in the lock area (maintence is important obviously).
Own a number of really solid framelocks - they got relativly limited EDU time from me - simply because they were stiff/sticky to close. If you're using a knife anywhere from 6 to 60 times a day - this get's annoying. Recently acquired my first Strider SNG - perfect lock up and smooth and easy to disengage the lock -has changed my mind to some degree about the day to day utility of frame locks.
Would have to agree - it's the combination of attributes that makes a superior tool - quality will win out.
Sorry 'bout the spelling - something's wrong with the spell checker ?
 
elkins45 said:
I used to prefer frame locks above all, but that honor now goes to the compression lock. Sal said that frame locks fail long before the compression locks do in their destructive testing. Since the compression lock is equally as simple as the frame lock and is stronger, that makes it better IMO.

The new Para 2 should be just awesome-I can't wait to get one.
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I also really quite like the compression lock. Not necessarily for strength reasons, but it's much faster and easier to open and close than the conventional liner/framelock models.
 
JNewell said:
Lock - I couldn't care less, honestly. I don't hold the lock. I don't cut with the lock. A great lock with a lousy blade in a pair of handles that are uncomfortable is useless. :) A good knife is a combination of good steel, good grind, good heat-treat, good lock and good handle design and materials, no??? ;)
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The lock generally determines how fast and easily one deploys or retracts the blade. That's the most relevant feature in day-to-day use.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
The biggest advantage I see in a framelock is it's simplicity. It's integral to the handle, so there's an absolute minimum of moving parts. When it's designed and executed well, there's very little that can go catastrophically wrong under normal, and in many cases, hard use (stopping short of abuse, like batoning with a folder). Locks which rely on small, delicate parts (like little coil springs), and the associated hardware to hold those small parts in place, I think will be more vulnerable to failure of one kind or another, eventually. I own many of the knives with the coil springs & such, and I do like them. But, I'm always a little more aware of the possible ways they can fail.

Well-executed simplicity is always better, in my opinion.
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A framelock is actually much more complicated, in my opinion, than say, the axis lock (but less than a lockback). There's all sorts of things to take into consideration, like the angle of engagement, the amount of lockup, wear over time and so on. It has very few parts (arguably two), but there's a lot going on there if it's going to work well.
 
I really like the lines and the whole concept of frame locks but I prefer to carry an Axis for daily use. When I'm working I prefer the way the Axis closes as I've always had the habit of closing a knife on my thigh ... I don't like having my finger in the path of the blade .... some of my framelocks have pretty stiff spring tension.
 
Axis for me followed by framelocks. I really dont have a reason its just how I am. I enjoy using the axis lock more and I have never had any lock, or slipjoint for that matter, fail on me mainly because I learned to cut treating every knife like a slipjoint.
 
I like two things: being able to see the lockup, and using as few parts as possible.

This is why I prefer framelocks.
 
Not a fan of framelocks for "serious" use anymore. The generic framelock design has had issues in my use that I don't need to deal with. Same with liner-locks.

I usually carry a knife with an Axis lock, but I feel a couple of the locks Dalton used are superior.

There are other lock designs out there, too, that I'd rather have on the knife I carry, e.g. BBL, CBL, Bolt-Action, etc.

Or even folding knife designs that don't need a blade lock, e.g. the balisong and the tri-folders.
 
It's interesting to read posts by people who really prefer framelocks and others who really don't like or trust them at all. I think it's very hard to generalize across a lock type, though. There are junk framelocks and extremely high quality framelocks. Even within a single manufacturer (Benchmade Axis) there are variations in the lock (ramp length, angle, size of springs, how far the lockbar protrudes from the scales, etc.) that make it hard to make a categorical statement...at least IMO...
 
Honestly, I can't recall buying one single knife for the lock except to satisfy a first time curiosity such as my first Axis lock to see what it's all about, etc. Other that seeing what a lock I've never used is all about, I have never purchased a knife because of it's lock.

That said, I do prefer locks that allow for easy one handed use over those that I have to muster some contorted method to close one handed.
 
Artfully Martial said:
I'm a bit puzzled with the enduring success of the framelock. But who knows, maybe it's less successful than I think.
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The prevalence of the frame lock puzzled me as well for a while. But after looking more closely at knife manufacturers, I've come to the conclusion that the prevalence of the frame/liner lock is not (entirely) due to any superior performance qualities that they have over other locks, but rather their relative ease of manufacture.

Why do you suppose that Kershaw, a company which prides itself as an American manufacturer of (relatively) inexpensive high value cutlery, uses liner/frame lock almost exclusively?

Or what about the knife maker who just got into building folders? He may not have the tools or experience to design and machine a lock back or other type of lock. Once again, the simplicity of what is little more then a bent liner or piece of the frame makes it an excellent choice.

Personally, I've just run into too many faulty liner/frame locks to really feel comfortable with one as an edc, with the exception of knivesvery well known to be reliable. (Sebenza, maybe Military)
 
+1, and add ease of ambidextrous use.

Reeek said:
Honestly, I can't recall buying one single knife for the lock except to satisfy a first time curiosity such as my first Axis lock to see what it's all about, etc. Other that seeing what a lock I've never used is all about, I have never purchased a knife because of it's lock.

That said, I do prefer locks that allow for easy one handed use over those that I have to muster some contorted method to close one handed.
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I've never remotely understood the Spyderco compression lock. So I got a very good teaching video on it "bullet proof" yada yada - now I stil have no clue wth, it is and how it works. :confused: :o :o

Looks like a posible guillotine to me if you're not careful.

[YouTube]SPb1pyLLZ4E[/YouTube]
 
framelocks/linerlocks are in last for me even though I really like some of the knives that use the designs.

The tolerances are more demanding (even the weather or slightly loose pivot from actual use can affect them easy enough) and you always put a thumb or finger in a bad place to unlock the knife.
 
Lockback
Simple, doesn't wear out over the years, and I believe that for the most part it is more secure and reliable than a frame lock of equal quality. While I do love the axis lock, arc lock, liner lock, frame lock, etc. I love lockback the most for reliability, simplicity, and longevity.
 
A.P.F. said:
Yes, I agree with Greater. I have 30+ year old Buck 110 knives that still lock up solid and dependable. The fact that Andrew improved on the concept is a plus for everyone. Now, truth be known, I have a sampling of every lock in common use and I have never had a failure with any of them. The secret is to buy quality and maintain your equipment.
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This.
 
Artfully Martial said:
A framelock is actually much more complicated, in my opinion, than say, the axis lock (but less than a lockback). There's all sorts of things to take into consideration, like the angle of engagement, the amount of lockup, wear over time and so on. It has very few parts (arguably two), but there's a lot going on there if it's going to work well.
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This applies to ANY locking mechanism.

Which is why I stressed "When it's designed and executed well..." in my post. If I'm given a choice between two well-designed and executed knives (or for that matter, if forced to choose between two poorly-designed knives), one with few moving parts, and one with many more, I'll take simpler construction every single time, if long-term reliability is the main concern.

There's 'a lot going on there' with any lock mechanism, if it's going to work well. Throw in more parts, and there'll be a 'lot MORE going on', with that much more possibility for failure.
 
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