Im no longer convinced

[ShaiHulud]

I have a number of lockbacks that I like, but not really because they are lockbacks.
I just like them and lockbacks are what they happen to be.

I haven't really needed locks , because I tend to treat all knives like they don't lock.

Its the same thing for me with christy knives, wish they were a bit longer but they only come one length, so have to take em as they're designed

 

[ferider]

The earlier people in history had tough jobs and most of them carried penny knives,

Actually, many of them carried fixed blades. And if you go to the country side even today, many people do. Also, the liner lock is > 100 years old, and the back lock > 150.

Generally though, I don’t disagree with you much, I like them all, slip joints, locks, automatics and fixed blades. As a little boy (7 or 8?), I once almost cut my finger off with a SAK that I accidentally closed on me - still have a deep scar to prove it, so locks do have value.

Every tool should be usable within its design goals … as such slipjoints can be very functional and pretty in their simplicity.

 

[mnblade]

Point of clarity: Knives don't close on people; people close knives on themselves.

 

[dantzk8]

I like traditional knives featuring locks thought i only own two of them. Not that i need a lock on a knife, i've never closed a blade on my fingers, but, as a former mecanich fitter, i appreciate what they are: a sophistication. Which means more difficulties in the making and when the result is flawless, no blade play, smooth action, that's beautiful and admirable.

Dan.

 

[RickHuf]

As long as you knife like a knife is supposed to knife with your knife.... It will be fine.

If someone stabs cars and stuff with it, that's on them if it closes on their fingers.

 

[abcdef]

Friction folders where the thumb can rest on an extended tang and the Spyderco Urban SLIPIT style represent the pinnacle of non-locking pocketknife design. If you need more protection from folding on your fingers than those provide, best of luck.

 

[ferider]

When I cut myself as a boy, I was whittling, looking away, and accidentally had the SAK 180 degrees turned in my hand. I.e., I tried to cut with the spine ...

Of course one learns, and it has never happened again, just pointing out that sh*t happens, and not because I wanted to stab a car roof.

Note also that back then, I always wanted to have a locking knife (a Buck 110 clone, actually), but my mom vetoed that (against my dad's support).

EDC of locking knives was also forbidden in Germany. Meaning not everyone has a choice.

 

[dmattaponi]

The good old Buck 110 was the knife to have, but it took me until nearly adulthood before I could get ahold of one. Still one of my favorites. Lots of good hunting and camping memories with a 110. Funny thing is I’ve probably cut myself more frequently with a 110 than a slipjoint lol

Note also that back then, I always wanted to have a locking knife (a Buck 110 clone, actually), but my mom vetoed that (against my dad's support).

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Sorry but I have to be able to stab if needs must (which I hope they don't).

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I've found greater value in a folding knife's ability to keep the blade fully closed when in the pocket. Some knives I've used had weak/sloppy pull, or a loose pivot in the case of a friction folder (like an Opinel). I've been poked in the fingertips when reaching into the pocket to retrieve them, because the loose pull allowed the tip to expose itself. And I had one that actually cut through my right front pocket liner when its weak closing pull allowed the tip to snag the liner in my pocket. That one really rattled me, as the tip of that blade would've been dangerously close to my upper, inner thigh. I mentioned Opinel, of which I do take advantage of its lock to secure the blade closed when it's in my pocket. A little more peace of mind in that.

I don't worry as much about the blade locking when it's opened. As has been mentioned, knowing and respecting the limitations of your knife will go a lot further in preventing accidents that happen if it's used carelessly.

 

[Peregrin]

I like 'em all! My only limitations are: no nail breakers or extremely lazy springs on slip joints.
You just have to remember what knife you have in your hand when you're using one, and hopefully, you have the best knife for the task.

 

[vnvman]

I wouldn't mind having someone pushing the envelope on non lockable folders, like making modern, high performance versions that are super thin, light and with a lot of blade and carry like a feather in your pocket.
But then I look at these Böker Atlas knives I have here:







The grey one has a lock, the brass one doesn't, yet they have the exact same thickness and general size, and the same weight in the pocket.
They carry virtually the same way. Why would I give up the lock if simply not having it gives me no advantage at all?

 

[SharpBits]

Spyderco makes some very lightweight slip joints in high end steels. They are fast to open, fast to close, and very easy to use if you need to do a lot of cuts. I sometimes prefer to use them over a locking blade due to connivence.

 

[Peregrin]

Perhaps it would be better to move this to the General Knife Discussion section.
See you there!

 

[Twindog]

The lock makes one-handed opening possible. I love that, along with the pocket clip.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Perhaps it would be better to move this to the General Knife Discussion section.
See you there!

Initially I was going to put it in Genpop but the subject started off as slipjoints so that's where It started off

 

[SharpBits]

The lock makes one-handed opening possible. I love that, along with the pocket clip.

I have several one-hand opening non-locking folders.

 

[VorpelSword]

When the Buck 110s came out in the 1970s, they were the first-ish and only-ish locking folder that I was aware of. they were marketed as a folding hunting kn ife. In my view, Buck created the whole genre of locking folders.

You may not actually need one yourself . . .that is up to you.

I no longer carry a large locking folder, but I used to. My EDC for the past 25-30 years has been and still is a Leatherman Wave Plus. . .and there blades do lock.

 

[Quiet]

I love knives, pretty much period. That's a complete sentence. I like em with locks, without locks, I like 'em all. The only ones I don't really like are friction folders, because most of the ones I have seen (and owned), are essentially relying on a small tang that hits you right in the area between the base of your thumb and index finger in order to stay open, which makes them not great for heavy cutting chores. This is my direct experience with them.

Everything else though, I like. These days however, I DO prefer knives with locks, because they also tend to be one-hand-open/one-hand-close in operation, which ultimately I prefer. Now, that doesn't mean I don't have a nice slipjoint in my other pocket, but if I have a quick cutting job in my daily life (snipping a tag off a new shirt, or opening a bag of whatever), I'm reaching for the modern locking folder first. Quick out, cut, close, back in. None of my slipjoints do this.

 

[David Mary]

I(')m no longer convinced

To be fair, isn't this every thread you make?