How Reliable is CRKT's LAWKS?

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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I'm not fool enough to think a folder can be made into a fixed blade, but just how strong is the Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS) employed by CRKT? Has anyone ever actually tested it? Has anyone ever experienced a failure with it? (Not a failure to employ, but a failure to hold.) When force is exerted downward, a liner lock knife lock can fail. Is the slim metal shank that moves into place enough to keep the force directed downward? Just curious.
 
I've got a couple of M16s and M21s with the LAWKS feature.

It very effectively blocks the liner from disengaging (to the near side, anyway).
 
I have never had a problem with any of mine...and I have never heard of the system failing...so Im sure there is nothing to worry about...
 
Huh? No, the LAWKS doesn't deal with any vertical forces. And linerlocks take vertical forces rather well, considering that the liner "bar" goes all the way down the handle. The LAWKS was meant for accidental deactivation of the linerlock by your fingers when you twist the knife, and all it does is prevent the liner from moving sideways. I guess it is technically possible, as CRKT liners are wedge-shaped, for the blade to squeeze so hard that the liner is wedged out, but the coefficient of friction is so great that I don't think that'll happen before the liner actually bends.

Here's a picture of my M21. The LAWKS (activated) is the J-shaped thing to the left of the liner, with the bottom turn of the "J" touching the frame.
crktm2104sb4.jpg
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znode nailed it. I've had no problems on the M1, nor any problem with the M-16 pre LAWKS either. Nice to have LAWKS just the same.


Matador-
 
I don't have as much faith in liner locks as I do lock backs, but I picked up an M1 over at the Exchange, and the LAWKs let me put the knife through more abuse than I would otherwise.
 
there were some pics somewhere of a failed LAWKS, the thin metal was bent from the liner being forced from closing force. I have have many liner locks fail by spine whacks. The LAWKS should keep the liner from jumping out in that situation, but constant pressure against the spine apparently can force the liner over and crush the small safety.
 
I have been able to defeat the LAWKS on an new-out-of-box M1 through a moderate spine wack test.

In a fashion very close to how hardheart described, there was sufficient gap between the LAWKS "washer" and the tang/lockbar mate junction that the lockbar slid off the tang.

I'm not sure how this happened, but it seemed like an incorrectly cut LAWKS washer, or a washer between the blade and the LAWKS system.

Test your equipment before you use it hard.

-j
 
That's one reason I don't like liner locks, though I do have a $7 Maxam Large Knife that opens so authoritively that I need a screwdriver to close it. Now that's a knife! Wish it would keep an edge....
 
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