I never thought before that expiration of the Tri-ad lock patent might actually be a GOOD thing for enthusiasts ?

DocJD

DocJD

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IDK ? o_O

Could happen that some other maker might arise with better new BIG folder designs, with decent quality and performance at reasonable prices . 🙏

GSM seems to be trying to pull away from the Tri-ad in favor of the Atlas .

I can't say it's not better without trying it , but I suspect its all about owning the rights and having something "new and improved " to market .
 
I think patents expiring is almost always good for enthusiasts. I appreciate that patents encourage and reward innovation, but their expiration doesn't limit the patent holder from still using it, but does allow others to incorporate it into their designs. I've very much enjoyed the proliferation of crossbar lock designs since the Axis lock patent expired and I'm hoping to see a similar number of compression lock folders in the coming years. Hopefully, the Triad sees the same widespread use once the patent expires.
 
A bit OT, but if the Atlas lock is actually good, then it means that GSM actually has some talent, which is promising (unless they just acquired it through some other buyout). But they need overall knife designers that match that talent, otherwise it's pointless. The best lock in the world won't matter if the rest of the knife is crap.

So far the Drifter is doing nothing for me. The Verdict looks better, but doubt I will get one. But if it had the Atlas lock I might try it.
 
Yes, this has the potential to have promising results, that is, if the right company comes along.

I am liking the ABLE-Lock folders from Hogue.

They are doing a better AXIS-style lock than Benchmade ever has.
 
I got the notion somewhere , (maybe from something AD said ?) that the Tri-ad lock is fairly difficult to manufacture to work smoothly .

This translates to added costs of production .

It's also not a lock that lends itself to fidgeting type , super easy one handed opening and closing .

I'm not sure of the market demand for Tri-ad type , improved back locks vs the huge glut of liner locks that seems to dominate currently , at least in value lines .

I do feel that the Tri-ad lock has huge potential for larger , hard use type folders , but not sure of how much interest exists for such . :confused:
 
DocJD said:
IDK ? o_O

Could happen that some other maker might arise with better new BIG folder designs, with decent quality and performance at reasonable prices . 🙏

GSM seems to be trying to pull away from the Tri-ad in favor of the Atlas .

I can't say it's not better without trying it , but I suspect its all about owning the rights and having something "new and improved " to market .
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I agree with you. Until proven otherwise, tri-ad is still the king of locks. I'm hoping Ka-Bar or Ontario puts out a folder worthy of a Marine using the tri-ad.
 
That’s what i was hoping for after a series of disappointing releases the past few years. CS went downhill since 2019.
 
The Triad has been on top for a while, and there has been attempts to dethrone it. I think that the selling point that a folding lock's system is superior to the others, is a feature that a knife brand wouldn't mind having. It's also very likely seen as a challenge to many of those that design locking folding knives, and so why wouldn't one of those folks want to be the next to design the newest and best locking system 👍
Will that design be the latest CS offering?... Maybe. But, even if it is, it won't likely be the final one to hold the crown.
Maybe Demko himself comes out with a new, even tougher, and hard to beat, locking system. Maybe it will be some other individual. Maybe it will be accomplished by some design team's efforts. In any case, I think the search for an ultimate folding knife locking system is something that there is still likely folks out there striving to achieve.
In any case, the Triad, even if it gets solidly dethroned, will not mean that the many knives out there having the Triad will somehow be considered unsafe or unworthy of continued use and ownership. Heck, the Buck folding model 110 came out as one of the best locking systems around, and although no longer thought to be anywhere near that level by today's standards, the knife is still a great seller, and it's locking system still seen as a decent design.
I personally hope someone out there gets inspired to invent the next and greatest... I mean, that's how it should be, humans thinking of ways where improvement can be made. One' got'a love human ingenuity! 👍😊👍
 
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DocJD said:
I got the notion somewhere , (maybe from something AD said ?) that the Tri-ad lock is fairly difficult to manufacture to work smoothly .

This translates to added costs of production .

It's also not a lock that lends itself to fidgeting type , super easy one handed opening and closing .

I'm not sure of the market demand for Tri-ad type , improved back locks vs the huge glut of liner locks that seems to dominate currently , at least in value lines .

I do feel that the Tri-ad lock has huge potential for larger , hard use type folders , but not sure of how much interest exists for such . :confused:
Click to expand...
I dunno, they were able to bring the tri-ad to inexpensive knives like the prolite, tuff lite, grik, and kiridashi. I think we will see $20 knives with a tri-ad lock, albeit not as well made as CS knives.

The tri-ad is inherently simple, without little sliding parts or springs. It will be around for a long time.
 
dogstar said:
I dunno, they were able to bring the tri-ad to inexpensive knives like the prolite, tuff lite, grik, and kiridashi. I think we will see $20 knives with a tri-ad lock, albeit not as well made as CS knives.

The tri-ad is inherently simple, without little sliding parts or springs. It will be around for a long time.
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A Tri-Ad lock with the fit and finish of a Chris Reeve knife would probably be the “perfect folder,” eclipsing even the AD-10.
 
It would help if they were better at quality control on the locks. I can see many people not being happy having to use a table edge to work it. I know you can work it out, but should you have too?
 
nephron said:
It would help if they were better at quality control on the locks. I can see many people not being happy having to use a table edge to work it. I know you can work it out, but should you have too?
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No , a brand new knife should come usable out of the box .

If my first Tri-ad lock had been as bad as some I got later , I may have never bought a second one . And that was long before GSM and not on the cheaper models .

It's just poor QC / lack of finishing on the lock surfaces .
 
dogstar said:
I dunno, they were able to bring the tri-ad to inexpensive knives like the prolite, tuff lite, grik, and kiridashi. I think we will see $20 knives with a tri-ad lock, albeit not as well made as CS knives.

The tri-ad is inherently simple, without little sliding parts or springs. It will be around for a long time.
Click to expand...

There are cheap knives with the Triad lock. They are illegal copies though. A counterfeit AD10 was was tested and compared with a real one in a youtube video and the Triad lock on the copy held strong. The copy did not even come close in edge retention and quality of materials used and although it took an impressive beating and was rated as the best cheap knockoff/counterfeit the softer cheaper metal battered easily and the knife got a little loose. Edge retention was not even close to the original. The copy was pretty close as far as looks but not anywhere as good the real one. The original remained tight with good edge retention despite the same abuse.

The point is the Triad Lock is a practical design for mass production and will safely lock up even a crap folder with soft steel that is easily battered.

If it saves fingers it's a good thing and I am very thankful to Cold Steel (a company that always took knife lock security seriously) and Andrew Demko for introducing safety to a market that previously had little regard for until profits from people who valued their digits became too large to ignore.
 
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