Liner Lock #2 - EDC Proto

[Jason Cutter]

This one (and the next folder) is really a tribute to Don Robinson. I'd previously stopped dead in my tracks with making liner locks because of problems with positioning and fitting the lock / stop locations. I got Don's book "My Way" which sorted out those problems in the first go. This knife is the result.

A bit of an achievement also, given that I've been laid up at home for the last week with fractured ribs. Couldn't forge or do the heavy duty work, so why not make a folder... ? (Besides, was getting bored to death.) I've been using this one for the last week and the blue on the blade is due to last nights T-bone steak dinner with my wife.

Specs - 8inch OAL, 3.5inch blade, about 3.25inch edge. O1 carbon steel, Scotchbrite finished very slight convex ground 3/32inch thickness. Single sided 0.60inch thick Titanium liner (MY FIRST work on Ti !!) Black G10 on the rest.

Questions - does the single sided liner make it look cheap ?? It locks up beautifully and is secure as any other folder I own, so strength isn't an issue. Its also certainly lighter... All other feedback also welcomed.

Thanks in advance, and thanks for looking. Jason.

 

[Chefget]

Your subjective feeling is correct...this configuration can have the tendency of looking less than sufficient.

Though for an ultra-light EDC it might just be what the doctor ordered!

-Michael

 

[Chiro75]

Sorry about your ribs! Knife looks great. I don't think a single liner makes it look cheap, personally, although if you REALLY want to do something incredible with it do a nested liner so you can't see the liner at the spine (like on Spyderco Military). Although, that would take a mill if you don't have one already. Anyway, looks great! Let me know if you need another knifemaker's perspective in a review or anything... I'll even send the knife back to you!

 

[Jason Cutter]

Sorry about your ribs! Knife looks great. I don't think a single liner makes it look cheap, personally, although if you REALLY want to do something incredible with it do a nested liner so you can't see the liner at the spine (like on Spyderco Military). Although, that would take a mill if you don't have one already.

Thanks man ! That is an excellent suggestion.

I can tell you that you don't actually need a mill to do that. I have been reliveing the inside surfaces of the slabs so that the lockbar can sit further into that side slab. I use a 1/4inch end mill in a drill press milling out one section at a time. Its actually reasonably easy to cut out a channel in Micarta and G10 because the individual "layers" can be flaked off and then trued up with a file. G10 is especially good for this technique. More work of course, but it could do !! Another idea for the long list of "things-to-do." Jason.

 

[Chiro75]

I thought about that, too, but it seems like it would take forever. To do a few prototypes, though, yeah, that would work great. I don't know if a lot more "engineering" goes into nested liners or if it's pretty much the same process and you just mill out a section for it to tuck it away. The Military has a really thin lock, so I think it's probably the same process. I haven't popped mine apart for a few years, so I don't remember 100% how it's held in place, although I think the screws for the backspacer go through the liner, too...if you need pics and stuff just let me know and I'll take it apart and email them to you (the pics, not the knife!)