i don't understand some of the overly abusive lock testing methods.

C

cards94

Joined
Jul 23, 2013
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We've all seen the videos where a folder lock is tested by beating the heck out of it in the woods to see if it holds up. i don't get it. if you beat the heck out of the knife and the lock fails, shouldn't that tell you to use a fixed knife for a heavy duty chore?
 
Nor do I.
I was taught to use the right tool for the job and to take care of my tools.
Today, it's anything goes. Sheer madness.
rolf
 
There is something to be said for destructive and or abusive testing, but it has to be done in a controlled (gasp! Scientific) manner if you actually want to gleam any important data out of it. Spinewacking the knife into a tree doesn't mean a thing, the lock failing while digging does.
 
Cold Steel's videos are definitely over-the-top, but it's known they do it more for fun than anything else.

AS for the testing vs. a fixed blade. I work on an Air Force base, and fixed blades are as big a no-no as guns. So it is nice to know if I should need to beat up something with one of my folders, it is up to the task. I like to keep a fixed blade in my truck, but cannot due to where I work. And because of that, I usually forget to put one there when off base. So usually all I have on me is some nice folders and a Leatherman.
 
I think it is ok for survival knives. In a situation that is life or death if a folder is all you have then you need to know it will perform when expected to.
 
I think anyone with common sense will know that a a folder is not the same as a fixed blade, given both are quality products. However, I do appreciate people who have gone out their way to do a destructive/torture test because it will give us an idea that when a flxed blade is not an option(lost, forgotten, etc), to what extend can we rely on our folders.

Personally, it is nice to read how robust/durable is certain lock/construction/material, but only well planned 'torture' test could reveal to us what does all those numbers mean in real life. Does it mean I will go out and randomly do the same torture tasks for no reason? No. But are those info good to know. Absolutely.
 
Spudly94 said:
It's people trying to prove oh my knife is better then this knife , it's dumb
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Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Cold Steel has challenged other companies and makers to match their tests, has not happened yet far as I know.

Not being a fanboy of Cold Steel. Just stating the facts, Maam. I bought a handful of their Tri Ad lock knives because of their test videos. If not for that, I may never have bought one. So say what you will, they're videos convinced me to buy some knives.

I am quite certain (100%) that I am not the only one.
 
comis said:
I think anyone with common sense will know that a a folder is not the same as a fixed blade, given both are quality products. However, I do appreciate people who have gone out their way to do a destructive/torture test because it will give us an idea that when a flxed blade is not an option(lost, forgotten, etc), to what extend can we rely on our folders.

Personally, it is nice to read how robust/durable is certain lock/construction/material, but only well planned 'torture' test could reveal to us what does all those numbers mean in real life. Does it mean I will go out and randomly do the same torture tasks for no reason? No. But are those info good to know. Absolutely.
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maybe but sometimes it can give a false sense for a particular knife. if someone beats the crap out of a knife and the lock doesn't fail, i'm sure you would have some people out there saying, hey i can use this knife in for batoning with no problems. maybe i'm reading into this too much.
 
comis said:
I think anyone with common sense will know that a a folder is not the same as a fixed blade, given both are quality products. However, I do appreciate people who have gone out their way to do a destructive/torture test because it will give us an idea that when a flxed blade is not an option(lost, forgotten, etc), to what extend can we rely on our folders.

Personally, it is nice to read how robust/durable is certain lock/construction/material, but only well planned 'torture' test could reveal to us what does all those numbers mean in real life. Does it mean I will go out and randomly do the same torture tasks for no reason? No. But are those info good to know. Absolutely.
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Exactly. Just because some one is willing to do this to their own gear, doesn't mean I have to do the same. Like comis stated, I don't live in a bubble. Sometimes you have to make do with what you have at the time and it's good to know the capability threshold of your equipment. If I purchase a vehicle with a 5 star crash rating, I sure as hell won't be testing that out for myself. But it doesn't bother me to see the test performed by some one else to verify the actual facts. I must admit that it is entertaining to see some one destroy their OWN knife to prove, or disprove a point.
 
Don't worry much about it. If you're not into overbuilt, survival themed knives then you don't need to understand it.

I appreciate that everything has a niche. Lots of people love their big ole Striders or Cold Steels with their apocalypse-proof locking mechanisms and 1/4" thick blades.

They're fun, they're tough, they're manly -- and, for people who want to use knives for all sorts of crazy stuff, they probably work.

Lately I'm only interested in traditional slip-joints, and Spydercos before that. I can appreciate the übertactical knives for what they are, and I'll probably eventually get some.

Obviously, all that toughness and indestructibility is rarely ever necessary, but, hey -- most of us probably have at least a dozen(s) different knives... we're all out of the realm of what is necessary.
 
Guess it looks good for YouTube. Any post that starts with something about a test on YouTube, I just skip it.
 
If someone wants to push their knife to the limits of destruction, oh well. All knives will break at some point if pushed hard enough.
 
For me, a knife lock is there to keep the blade from swinging freely and that's it. I don't understand the overbuilt pocket knife thing as IME a good multitool or SAK is far more useful for "survival situations." To each their own but I don't see how a ZT, Strider, etc is any more effective then a SAK. In fact I see them as less effective. YMMV
 
My $.02: Most of the video's out there are simply for entertainment. Guys and gals trying to destroy a knife just to see where it gives. Is my 200 lbs. body ever going to use a knife with a triad lock to do pull-ups? NO. But it gives me a sense of false security knowing that the lock on any particular knife will not fail under normal use. I don't think that any lock will ever fail as I do not abuse my knives. I use them, but do not abuse them. I do not have the time or the money to put a Griptillioan between two 4x4 and stand on it to see when the handle is going to break (yeah its on youtube) :eek:.

Anyway like I said my $.02
 
cards94 said:
We've all seen the videos where a folder lock is tested by beating the heck out of it in the woods to see if it holds up. i don't get it. if you beat the heck out of the knife and the lock fails, shouldn't that tell you to use a fixed knife for a heavy duty chore?
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Yes.

But knife people do/believe silly things. Where to begin? :D

But, hey, it's their stuff. I used to blow up my HotWheels and model cars back in the day.
 
Benchmade actually does their own video.
[video=youtube;verXb0gZoM8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=verXb0gZoM8[/video]
 
Hey, if somebody wants to be a crash test dummy, and do stupid $hit with their stuff, I'll watch and laugh at them.
 
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