I understand the Liner Lock...

[batosai117]

Over the years of buying and using knives of all kinds, I now understand the usefulness, practicality, and simplicity of the liner lock.

First I will start with my brief history with the liner lock. My first real user was/is the 2003 Emerson Commander. I put money down and traded knives of lesser value to get the commander from a surplus store. At the time I wanted the commander for the wave feature and "tolerated" the liner lock. All was good and I still have the commander after light chopping, batoning, slicing, hacking, prying, going fishing, camping, and to the beach.

Moving along, I have always been on the lookout for the latest and greatest. For a while I put the commander aside and only brought it out when I needed a no frills folder. I've owned and used folders with locks that include: axis, arc lock, piston lock, frame lock, LAWKS, auto LAWKS, lockback, triad lock, ultra lock, etc...these are all great but I've always liked less is more.

I have had issues with certain locks snagging the lip of my pocket, not fully engaging due to pocket lint, being able to disengage on accident, etc...

The liner lock isn't perfect, but it's simple, doesn't snag with parts sticking out the sides, and it works. With the liners on Emerson Knives being titanium, they are impervious to the elements, the G-10 handles don't get hot or cold, and well made liner locks are very comfortable.

People that complain about Emerson liner locks, pricing, materials, etc... Just don't get what a no BS knife is about. My Emerson Knives keep on kicking and there aren't any springs or gizmos to worry about

 

[Lycosa]

The LL is a damn good lock bro. You have to go through various knives until you find what you really like.

 

[vwb563]

A properly designed and constructed liner lock is a great lock. It's the cheap made ones that give the liner lock a bad name. It's so simply made that most of the "cheap" China made knives tend to use them. People buy this junk and then when their lock fails they blame the type of lock rather than the it possibly being the brand they purchased. Emmerson, Spyderco, Benchmade, and CRKT just to name a few build liner locks that WORK!

 

[cutter17]

I don't have any Emerson knives, but I wanted to say that the liner lock is a good lock, despite what you read to the contrary. As long as the manufacturer/custom maker knows how to build it, it works fine, and is stronger than most people give it credit for being.

 

[EricV]

Heck yeah!

Can't disagree with anything in your post! I had a similar epiphany a year or two ago.

 

[missin_hobo]

I'm with the OP too. A liner-lock is an easy thing to half-ass or screw up, which is why it has a bad rep in some circles, but a well made one is as strong and reliable as any other kind of lock. The truly well made ones are designed so that when they do happen to fail, they collapse inwards and jam the blade open, rather than simply allowing it to close.

One of my favorite knifemaking books is Bob Terzuola's The Tactical Folding Knife; There's a whole chapter in there about how to make a liner lock properly, and the geometry involved is truly meticulous. One can see why there are so many poorly made liner locks out there. If the lock face on the blade is ground at the wrong angle, or if the leafspring in the liner is even slightly over (or under) extended, or if any number of things aren't just right, then the lock can become a dangerous liability.

 

[toker]

The liner locks on my Emerson CQC-10 and Combat Karambit are definitely top notch for liner locks, but I'm just not a big fan of them at all. I much prefer frame locks to liner locks in general. But my favorite lock is the Benchmade Axis lock. It's much easier to open and close in either hand and it's a rock solid lockup that is very consistent. I don't have to worry about how much it drifts over time or if it engages properly every time.

My dream knife would be a Waved Emerson with an Axis lock.

 

[Lycosa]

Gang- I rediscovered the balisong. Now THAT'S a lock!
And your hand never has to touch the blade. I wonder if Ernest will ever do one?