Knife Locking Blade Mechanisms?

G

Gunnie 12

Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
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New to the BLADE forums and new to knives in general.

I spent the majority of yesterday reading the posts regarding locking mechanism; however, I could not find mention regarding the L.A.K.E. locking system with liner lock or the application of a liner lock with safe lock. (e.g. CRKT knives)

Comments?

Recommendations on folder characteristics I am looking for are:

Custom or Production
Good to Great ergonomics of handle
Great locking mechanism
One-handed opening capability
S30V steel
Provides a sure gripping on the handle material
Semi-thick blade
Plain edge


Thanks in advance!
 
Benchmade Ritter Griptillian and the Spyderco Paramilitary are good choices meeting those requirments.
 
+2 on Benchmades. The Axis mechanism is the tops in production knives, and either Ritter Grip or 615 Mini Rukus will do nicely.
 
I'm going to offer up the Kershaw MUDD. A collaberation between Kershaw and custom makers Grant and Gavin Hawk. It fits all of your requirements, plus offers a completely sealed pivot and lock, so you can play with it in sand or mud without fear. It has, in my opinion, the strongest lock of any production folder I've owned. And that includes a bunch of BMs, Spydies, SOGs, etc. Oh, and as a bonus, it's 154CM, too.

There's a review of this knife here.

It's worth a look.
 
+1 on the MUDD, or any ZT knife for that matter. The 0302 i believe comes in S30V and is a Titanium frame lock. only way to describe it would be a tank in knife form. the 0300 series is a collaboration between Kershaw's Ken Onion (browse the net for him. you wont be disapointed in what you find), and Strider knives.

oh yeah, it fits all your requirements easily :D

let me give you a couple of links http://www.kenonionknives.com/ http://www.kershawknives.com/searchresults.php?search_by=category&search_value=5
 
I generally try to avoid liner locks in general. I have found the Spyderco Military to be a good one, but that thing probably has the best engineered liner lock in existence, custom or production.

After reading what you are looking for, I'd say take a look at, guess what, the Spyderco Military! It has a huge, extremely comfy handle, very grippy G-10, is very light weight, is available in four high end steel types, BG-42, CPM D-2(limited availability), CPM S30V, CPM S90V, and the blade cuts like a laser (it makes most knives feel like they were made for digging). The only potential downside is the thin tip, you have to be careful or the nice point will come off if you get too aggressive with it (digging in wood, any amount of prying, hitting it on something hard, etc).

Other than that, just pick out anything that tickles your fancy from Spyderco, Kershaw, or Benchmade. They generally put out high quality products all around.
 
The Spyderco Military and Paramilitary are two *excellent* choices. The locks are strong and ultra reliable.

If you are talking about the added safety to the liner lock that CRKT uses, you may find it referred to here as LAWKS or Auto-LAWKS. I think on a good liner lock it should be unnecessary.
 
Kershaw makes as good a liner-lock as you are likely to find.

Liner locks get a lot of bad press because a lot of cheap knives have liner locks. So people look at the cheap liner locks and think the issues are with "liner locks" instead of with "cheap knives".
 
Have you taken a look at the ZT line?? Personally I think they're tops in there class.
There's several models to choose from. IMHO the MUDD is where it's at but they're
all top notch folders. Here's a link to a really great review on a pass-around MUDD.
Starting at post #44 there is a really in depth review with some great pics
of a beast of a knife. :thumbup:
 
What blade length and, more importantantly, what uses are anticipated.

I'm not a fan of liner-locks or frame-locks anymore. Too many failures for one reason or another.

So, I'd steer you to Benchmade (H&K and Harley, too) and one of their Axis-lock knives, as well as one of the SOG ARC-locks, Spyderco Ball-locks, older Cold Steel Ultra-Locks, etc.


I'm a big Benchmade model 710 fan, so take a look at that classic model.
 
I don't care for Spydercos, but the Native is $40, has a lockback, some sort of plastic handle, and is S30V.
I handled an Al Mare SERE the other day. It was nice, with a strong linerlock. VG10, I believe.
 
orthogonal1 said:
I'm not a fan of liner-locks or frame-locks anymore. Too many failures for one reason or another.
Click to expand...

I'd really like to see all the information you have collected in order to make this statement...

As knarfeng said: "Liner locks get a lot of bad press because a lot of cheap knives have liner locks. So people look at the cheap liner locks and think the issues are with "liner locks" instead of with "cheap knives"."
 
Gunnie 12 - I have a foster knife, that I believe is one of the best kept secrets out there. Check it out here: http://www.fosterknives.com/lakec.php
On mine, the lockup is perfect, and so is the Fit and Finish. The best part, even over and above a great lock, is the great blade shape. It is very hard to describe, but it is awesome. Check it out. I think it is worth your consideration. :)
Dave.
 
orthogonal1, why did you post this:


Today, 07:53 PM
orthogonal1
Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: VA
Posts: 2,237

I figured it was simply a lack of inventiveness - why design a different lock when you can use Mr. Walker's idea without paying intellectual property use fees?

Then, too, most other locking mechanisms require more parts and fitting, which would take time to implement.


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20 minutes before your astute comment above? The link Offsetlover provided, with your quoted post, gives a lot of information from knowledgeable people...did you just not want to believe them?
 
I'm not a big fan of liner-locks either, probably because I've never really used any of the high end ones. I'm a big fan of the Axis lock and Lockbacks, especially Spyderco's with the Boye dent.

I found the liner lock on my Lone Wolf T1 extremely sturdy, but tend to do some cutting where I torque the knife. IMO, not good tasks for liner locks.
 
Gunnie 12 said:
Recommendations on folder characteristics I am looking for are:

Custom or Production
Good to Great ergonomics of handle
Great locking mechanism
One-handed opening capability
S30V steel
Provides a sure gripping on the handle material
Semi-thick blade
Plain edge


Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you just described the Benchmade 930 Kulgera.
 
SPXTrader said:
I'd really like to see all the information you have collected in order to make this statement...

As knarfeng said: "Liner locks get a lot of bad press because a lot of cheap knives have liner locks. So people look at the cheap liner locks and think the issues are with "liner locks" instead of with "cheap knives"."
Click to expand...

I no longer recommend liner-locks and the liner-lock's cousin, the frame-lock, simply because I've had too many personally fail (as well as trying to explain to friends why their knives with these locks failed - that becomes an annoyance quickly).

Failure can be from a number of easily observed reasons, e.g. bad design, improper material choice, poor craftsmanship, FOD (dirt or whaterver), wear, etc.

The cost issue is brought up regularly, to which I ask "and your point?" If you wish to justify buying expensive knives, such an argument is nice. But the issue is what you are willing to recommend to someone else, a recommendation that puts their well being at risk. I'm more cautious with the well-being of "the other".

As for the use of the liner-lock being due to the lack of inventiveness of makers, it seems appropriatte. Patents are still being issued for new lock designs (start looking in US class 30) and there is an apparent need for a reliable, one-handed, easily operated ambidextrous lock. Using a design that is known to have issues and then claiming it is alright because it is a "custom" seems a bit unsatisfactory. Then there is the cost issue; a bit of sheet titanium with a cut in it versus multiple components.

There are knives being made with innovative, reliable locks. Benchmade, Cold Steel, Kershaw, and Spyderco are all well known firms that offer such. There are other firms as well. I see no reason for the custom maker not to do likewise. After all, the Paul lock started as a custom proposition.
 
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