Have super locks - still carry liner locks + lockbacks?

I've noticed lately that I've taken up carrying my only liner lock a whole lot - my BM 910. This is even though I have a compression lock, a axis lock, and a rolling lock. I even still carry my Spydie endura occasionally (and other lockbacks)

I know that the super locks are superior. I know that the liner lock could fail under much less extreme of circumstances. Goodbye, fingers. Still, I can't seem to break the habit of carrying it. The 910 has such smooth action, snaps open almost like an auto, and has such an unusual look and feel. I just can't seem to leave it at home. It even takes the place of my 710 in my right front pocket.

How do I cure myself of this? I'm starting to think that an Elishewitz custom might be the cure, but that kind of cash is a little out of my range for the next 5-6 months, unless I sell a good portion of the rest of my knives (not gonna happen). Buying a custom is something I'm trying to avoid if possible, mostly due to its possible addictiveness.

Does anyone else have this problem? Am I nuts for liking the liner lock? Do those of you who have superlock-type knives no longer carry the liner-type?
-- Rob

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Me fail english? That's unpossible!
 
The Magician

The Magician

Illusionist
Joined
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Messages
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I personally like liner locks just fine. They seem to have the reputation of failing about every time you use the knife. Out of the 11,000+ members here I have never heard of anyone getting hurt from liner lock failure. It has probably happened, I just don't think it is that common. If it was so bad it would not be so popular. Maybe the new generation superlocks are better. IMO, the knife is a folder. It will fold under enough stress. ANY knife lock can fail given enough stress. If you are really woried about the safety of your lock, get a fixed blade. As long as the knife is decent quality and you are not doing abusive things, it should be just fine. I personally cary a small fixed blade and a slip joint.

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Brian
The first knife was probably used to cut stuff.
 
Oh ya. Still carry my beloved little Mini-AFCK. In fact, I almost always carry a "pocket" knife plus a larger hard-use folder. My pocket knives are the Mini-AFCK, and several lock-backs, my favorites being the David Boye lockbacks. Love 'em. Just treat them as slip joint folding knives and be careful. Keep an Axis lock in your back pocket for hard times.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 05-23-2001).]
 
Originally posted by Steve Harvey:
Oh ya. Still carry my beloved little Mini-AFCK. In fact, I almost always carry a "pocket" knife plus a larger hard-use folder. My pocket knives are the Mini-AFCK, and several lock-backs, my favorites being the David Boye lockbacks. Love 'em. Just treat them as slip joint folding knives and be careful. Keep an Axis lock in your back pocket for hard times.

Recently at my part time job, I had to move a case of full beer on the floor and pull it toward me. But I couldn't reach it. But I knew I could reach it with a knife in such a way that the blade had to be pointing up, towards my fingers. I had my 710, and my SERE 2000 on me. Can anyone guess which one I used?
Click to expand...
 
I have a variety of lock backs (Buck, Cold Steel, etc.) I carry when I'm not carrying a fixed blade (which is almost always), I don't really worry too much about getting into a situation in daily life that would cause the lock on one of them to fail.
 
I have axis locks, rolling locks and a compression lock, as well as a few of Spyderco's superb liner locks, but I just ordered a back lock, a Chinook to be precise. I ordered the whole knife, not the lock. I am old time Bowie fan and the Chinook appeals to me in ways that I cannot even begin to explain, so I was bound to get one sooner or later.
smile.gif


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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller

[This message has been edited by FullerH (edited 05-23-2001).]
 
i never thought much about the axis lock...till today

i wasup at ag russell,looking around (again) and saw the october knife of the month...so i asked to see it. WOW!
incredible. i looked at it,and it looks to me that the ONLY way the lock could fail is to break a steel bar inside.i dont think that would happen except in the most extreme situations (ex: a house falling on it
wink.gif
)

if i have any money left after blade (which i highly doubt) im gonna get me one of these.as i said before...WOW!

fwiw-i carry an afck as my edc.all i have is liner locks and and lockbacks.
 
I also carry a 910 on a regular basis. I've had it for over three years and the liner has never even come close to failing.

IMHO, well-made liner locks can hold their own with just about anything out there.

To be really top rate, I think liner locks need to be "hand-tweaked" a bit at the manufacturing end.

Not to detract from the other excellent locking systems that keep coming out. The Axis lock particularly stands out. I have immense respect for my 710, 720, 730.

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Dick
 
Yep, I carry either a lockback Delica or a liner lock. I don't have a S/A plunge lock auto, but that would be another good choice, like an LUDT. Three concepts which have been around for a while.

I think reliabilty and simplicity is where it's at. Not sheer brute strength or complicated mechanisms.

As for the Axis lock I can only consider it in the context of BM products because they're the sole source, except for a very expensive custom from the originators. The BM models available with the Axis lock don't appeal to me for overall design reasons. This isn't BM bashing, just my personal preference. The best thing about the Axis (since it is only available from BM) is that a prod company like BM can achieve more consistent results with it than they can with their liner locks, of which there seem to be more problems reported. Things like faulty lockup, blade rubbing against liner, etc., things requiring warranty service.

A well fitted liner lock has adequate strength, is simple in concept, and is easy to use. But, what I really like about it is this; I can open it, turn it upside down and visually inspect the lock. I can immediately ascertain the condition of the lock; whether it needs adjustment, is wearing, or needs to be cleaned, and review the results if adjustment or cleaning was needed. With other locks, I can only rely on whether it failed to lock successfully or exhibits blade play to realize something is going wrong without resorting to disassembly.

This last point may be why BM doesn't make a Mini-AFCK with the Axis lock. While it will serve dual purposes, as most knives will, it is primarily seen as a defensive folder and you can't wait till the lock begins to fail to realize maintenance is needed.

Just my .02



[This message has been edited by RKnight (edited 05-24-2001).]
 
The Axis lock is self adjusting for wear, it'll probably out last the owner.
smile.gif
I still carry my 910HS and my AFCK occasionally but a 710 now permanetly resides in the right front pocket for defensive use and a 940 rides shotgun for use as a utility beater.
 
I haven't been carrying any liner locks lately since I got my Chinook. I am a die-hard lockback fan, and as yet I have none of these "superlock" folders. (Although I played with a 735 in green/black G-10. Nice. Would have bought it if they'd had a plain satin one.)

I really didn't plan on the Chinook becoming an EDC item, but it's so beefy and cool and carries very easily for such a beast of a folder. I'm pretty much 100% sure that it will be locking up tight many years from now when I am old and gray, all my liner locks have worn out, and the little springs in my future Axis knives have long been broken...
 
I still carry my MT LCC sometimes and it is a liner lock. I have no worries about it failing because it is a very well made knife and lock. I do have 4 Axis lock knives and a Sebenza but I still find that I like the LCC a lot. Like I said it has a really good liner lock on it and I have no reason to beleive it will fail. I also carry a Spyderco Delica sometimes and have no worries about it either.
 
I usually carry a Spydie Endura or a Gerber Folding Sportsman II that I just bought. Both are old-school lockbacks. Not being the "latest and greatest" lock mechanisms, these close up on me all the time. My fingers, the ones I have left anyway, are covered with deep scars where I've been cut to the bone. They know me by name at the emergency room now, because I have knife locks fail on me so often. Because of these suspect locks, I only have the use of one nub on my right hand, the one I'm typing with now, as a matter or fact. Guys, do whatever it takes, but RUN (don't walk) away from your lockback knives. The horror. The horror.




PS: Oh yeah, :p
 
I have an 806, and it is strong. However, it does not provide the satisfying lockup sound that my 910 does. I carry it, but it could never eplace my 910 as my favorite.
 
I'm a big fan of the Axis Lock, Compression Lock, and IBL. Still, some of my favorite production and custom pieces are liner locks and I still rotate them in and out of my EDC carry system on a regular basis. A properly executed liner lock is very safe and secure.
 
I'm a fan of the liner lock, as well....if well done. Part of my job as the user is to check and make sure my equipment is in good working order. If a liner lock starts getting play or fails a test, it no longer will be used. But there are some very fine liner locks on the market.

The lock back is a tried-and-true design that I also like a lot. The newer locks are certainly a wonderful addition to the knife market. Because they are so good, the tendency might be to "toss" the other locks because they are "inferior." That would be unfair. They are certainly adequate for most all tasks.

Ultimately, if lock failure is truly a concern, get a fixed blade. :)
 
Fella's, I'm sorry but all this hand wringing over which lock
for folding knives is such a terrible waste of time. I simply don't
understand how this lock or that lock is better than a no lock slipjoint
IF the knife is used properly. If a user NEEDS a lock just to use a folder
he be one careless dude for sure. From where I stand trying to use a folder
(by adding a lock) as a fixed blade is just begging to get cut. If the lock is
added for a bit ,now just a bit mind you, of saftey OK,but not so much the
user gets the idea that he now has a fixed blade.

From where I stand a good lockback will do the trick IF it's well made.
The same goes for all the other types of locks. Quality always counts.
 
I own Axis locks and frame locks, but I also still carry lockbacks and occasionally liner locks. I also carry at least one slipjoint knife with no lock at all. To me, it's more what I feel like carrying on a particular day than if it's a super-lock or not. The past eight months I've daily carried a Benchmade Griptilian, but in addition usually have a lockback and a couple non-locking pocketknives in my pockets.
Jim
 
seen them all, owned most of them.

My favourite lock is the liner lock, if it has a reasonable thick liner (preferablly steel) and has little handle lock flex, of all my liner locks the LCC is my Favourite.

WHen i look at my knives and think about the lock failing, i think it would result in a broken lock, that would still keep the blade from folding.

All of my knives are rock solid and stable. And liner locks are simple to clean, operate, allow ergonomic handles, and minimize moving parts.
 
I ride the fence on this issue. Most of my small cuting jobs are done with a slipjoint. Slipjoints are plenty good in the hands of a person with more than 2 brain cells. It's pretty obvious what will cause a slipjoint to fold on you, and you just don't do those things. When teaching kids about knives, I have them start with a slipjoint, just so they learn how to cut properly. Proper technique solves 99% of the problem.

But when it comes to larger jobs, I prefer a lock. I don't really use large slipjoints much. Mistakes happen, and mistakes with a big knife can bring big problems. I like the frame lock, lockback and Axis lock for my larger folders. It's not that the linerlock is bad or anything, I just figure that I might as well use the strongest lock I can find, if I'm truly going to depend on one. My fingers are worth too much to me to skimp on lock strength.
 
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