Interesting knife lock test methodology and some "big name" surprising fails .

RPZIP said:
Spyderco Manix 2 Salt which fails
Click to expand...
No it didn't ! Where the video did you see that happen ?

You seeing a different video somehow or what ?

Is this the Twilight Zone ? šŸ¤Ŗ

Watch again sober please . start 7:30min. Manix 2 Salt is first one tested . Hits it three times . No unlock . Test done with a passing grade ! šŸ„³
 
(Asked AI if ball lock can withstand spin whacking . ) They are never wrong ! ;)

GPT-4o mini
Yes, the Ball Bearing Lock is designed to withstand spine whacking, which is a test of a knife's locking mechanism by striking the spine of the blade against a hard surface. The design incorporates a ball bearing that engages with the blade tang, providing a secure lock that is resistant to accidental disengagement during such impacts. However, while the Ball Bearing Lock is robust, it's important to note that no locking mechanism is completely impervious to failure under extreme conditions, and proper care and maintenance of the knife are essential for optimal performance.
 
DocJD said:
No it didn't ! Where the video did you see that happen ?

You seeing a different video somehow or what ?

Is this the Twilight Zone ? šŸ¤Ŗ

Watch again sober please . start 7:30min. Manix 2 Salt is first one tested . Hits it three times . No unlock . Test done with a passing grade ! šŸ„³
Click to expand...
Woops, you're right - had to watch it all again. It was the second one. I was actually more interested in the contention that stronger locks are not any big deal as opposed to which knife or knives fail, and wrote up my thoughts while simultaneously preparing dinner. I have a couple of serrated Spydercos which I have sort of retired from daily carry in the role of SD/ERs in favor of a larger CS Kobun and a Pro Lite.

Anyway, the potentially stressful demands on knives chosen for certain activities, professions etc are not the same as minor day to day cutting tasks, so therefore lock strengths are an issue in my opinion. That is my take on the video and the general subject.
 
RPZIP said:
Woops, you're right - had to watch it all again. It was the second one. I was actually more interested in the contention that stronger locks are not any big deal as opposed to which knife or knives fail, and wrote up my thoughts while simultaneously preparing dinner. I have a couple of serrated Spydercos which I have sort of retired from daily carry in the role of SD/ERs in favor of a larger CS Kobun and a Pro Lite.

Anyway, the potentially stressful demands on knives chosen for certain activities, professions etc are not the same as minor day to day cutting tasks, so therefore lock strengths are an issue in my opinion. That is my take on the video and the general subject.
Click to expand...
Agreed . :)
 
Are people really too stupid to understand that these tests are simply to show how strong a knifes lock is? Its obvious its not some "real world" test. Its so obvious it shouldnt need to be said that no one is actually going to be spine whacking their knife in real actual use, its just nice to know how well a lock holds up to abuse.
 
jacrispy223 said:
Are people really too stupid to understand that these tests are simply to show how strong a knifes lock is? Its obvious its not some "real world" test. Its so obvious it shouldnt need to be said that no one is actually going to be spine whacking their knife in real actual use, its just nice to know how well a lock holds up to abuse.
Click to expand...
75


"Take it easy..."


ā˜ŗļø
 
jacrispy223 said:
Are people really too stupid to understand that these tests are simply to show how strong a knifes lock is? Its obvious its not some "real world" test. Its so obvious it shouldnt need to be said that no one is actually going to be spine whacking their knife in real actual use, its just nice to know how well a lock holds up to abuse.
Click to expand...
i remember Lynn at cold steel said and im paraphrasing.....what got him interested in strong folding knife locks was watching guides on african big game hunts use spine whacks to crack bones. also remember some fella talking bout watching someone pound in nails using the spine on a folder opened. so i guess some folks actually do spine whacking with folding knives.
 
I just put Lynn's comments to the test in my backyard on some mammoth bones I happened to have lying around. Naturally, I used my Cold Steel AD10 with Tri-Ad lock...

The results are incontrovertible...

images


It was a whole mammoth when I started. I need a beer.

ā˜ŗļø
 
Blues said:
I just put Lynn's comments to the test in my backyard on some mammoth bones I happened to have lying around. Naturally, I used my Cold Steel AD10 with Tri-Ad lock...

The results are incontrovertible...

images


It was a whole mammoth when I started. I need a beer.

ā˜ŗļø
Click to expand...
I see some mammoth bone knife scale making in your future.....
 
AntDog said:
People still do spine whack tests? What year is it? 2005?

I could whack the hell out of ANY folding knife hard enough and make it fail. ANY of them. Because they ā€œfoldā€.

Yes, even your precious Tri-ad cold steels, DocJD DocJD

I donā€™t know when people will learn folding knives are made because theyā€™re convenient to stick in your pocket, not to make em ā€œsuper dee duper strongā€.
Click to expand...
Well said, these sorts of "tests" are so unscientific, not to mention anyone ones hands would suffer severe damage should they be holding a folding knife and exerting such forces LOL!
 
Lesknife said:
In my time as a senior mechanical tech and operator we employed lock out tag out where we de-energized the equipment disconnected power , locked the breaker in open position and cooled it down before working on it. This is Required by osha and company policy. Itā€™s smarter that way but much safer. Thatā€™s what Iā€™m getting at, work snarter not harder . Gloves and other safety gear help prevent injuries as well. Thereā€™s a reason bad things happen if youā€™re not working safe and smart.
Click to expand...
Emphasize "smart".
 
Iā€™m not surprised by the results.

Iā€™ve seen high end customs fail with light hand pressure. Many liner and frame locks will fail with very light impacts.

I think the Triad lock is probably the most robust current design. I still wouldnā€™t spine whack it though.
 
kreole said:
Exactly the situation where I went from "spine whack tests are useless" to appreciating them. Helping my uncle gut the second of his house, I went to cut something in a corner. Pulling it out of whatever I cut, the spine smacked a stud. Instantly I was like, well, dang, I get why that matters now.

A lot of stuff seems pointless til you end up in the situation where it isn't. I see why people would think it is useless, and I can't judge for it because I was the same.

And it's good people test because the buzz gets manufacturers thinking more about it as well. I remember Sal @ Spyderco saying they changed the ramp of the compression lock to pass spine whacking after they failed in videos causing some stir, and further back their MBC testing really emphasized strengthening locks to meet those situations because of all the self defense stuff getting published back then.
Click to expand...

I've done much the same thing with a slip joint (have a scar to show for it) and Benchmade's version of Emerson's liner-locking CQC-7.

In both cases, I was working in confined spaces and unintentionally spine-bumped the knives. The slip joint cut to the bone in my right ring finger while the Benchmade nicked a knuckle. I still have those knives and use them, but rarely and cautiously (hmm ... sounds like suspiciously good advice for using any sharp, pointy things).

Thus "spine whacking" seems a useful test. Maybe that's why I prefer Demko's Tri-ad lock. Sure, I have and enjoy other lock types, but I trust all of them less than the Tri-ad.

As to the video, I watched it and found it interesting and informative: fellow explains his methodology, demonstrates repeatability, provides a source for his 80 lbs of striking force reasoning (which I haven't bothered to check and could be bogus for all I know). Agree or disagree as one might with any of it, it nonetheless provides a series of useful data points I could repeat on my own without first accidentally spine bumping my folders and chopping up my fingers, as previously mentioned.

Having said that, I was disappointed to see Microtech's Ram-Lok fail. I like the knife and would rather it have a stronger lock. Maybe his sample was an exception...
 
So please tell this retired Infantry NCO, and abuser of tools, exactly how I needed a stupidly tough folder. I've never seen anyone have a folder fail, other than some no-name garbage that was weaker than a slip joint. Also someone who knows a lot of cops and fire fighters, sold them a lot of guns, and trained with some fire fighters when I was licensed as an EMT. I'm trying to understand the comments about how any of these would need to have a lock as strong as a fixed blade. Combat? In the very few times knives have been used they have almost never been folders, and even when they were, I never read a report about a lock failing. In the very, very few times ever, is there anywhere even near this amount of force being applied when say slashing and the blade hits something hard? It's not like the blade is getting caught and no longer moving. Chopping or whittling points for sector stakes? Chopping wood for a fire or as a brace for overhead cover? Better handled by a fixed blade, or borrow an axe or hatchet. Cutting seatbelts? That's not a hard task, and also better handled by a blunt tiped webbing cutter or EMT shears.
I've seen a couple comments about this, but not one explains how they are used to harshly that they need to be so strong or what they fail at doing, or how they fail.

A spine whack test on the edge of a table is enough for almost any and every real world task you'll ever find. The most I've ever seen any folder fail is trying to cut zip ties because of rotating the handle towards the blade. Also seems the be the number one cause of chips in blades too.

It's cool to see what the toughest is just to know what it is. And sometimes I like things overbuilt, or to have the strongest, but much of that I admit has no basis in real uses. But it's still cool to know it can.
 
Last edited:
How do ā€œsomeā€ people even survive using a slip joint ?????
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top