Liner Lock problems

E

eduard

Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
100
ive realized that most guys here on the forum are not very big fans of liner locks is there something linerlocks dont get right like strenght or something else ?
 
Linerlock quality varies from manufacture to manufacture, model to model spyderco have got it right eg military etc. Twisting motion on cutting can stress knife frame to encourage linerlock failure ,along with accidential finger releasing liner when gripping hard on knife frame. I am sure more technical answers will follow.
 
eduard said:
ive realized that most guys here on the forum are not very big fans of liner locks is there something linerlocks dont get right like strenght or something else ?
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No, not from a quality maker - but I'm not sure that your guess is right. There are, for example, quite a few Spyderco linerlocks that are incredibly popular here: Military, Gayle Bradley, Sage 1, to name just three...

Edit to note that this post was written when the thread was originally posted in the Spyderco forum before it was moved to General.
 
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Faron said:
Linerlock quality varies from manufacture to manufacture, model to model spyderco have got it right eg military etc. Twisting motion on cutting can stress knife frame to encourage linerlock failure ,along with accidential finger releasing liner when gripping hard on knife frame. I am sure more technical answers will follow.
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100% agree:thumbup:
 
Liner locks have gotten a bad reputation among knife nuts because they can easily be knocked out quickly and cheaply by companies just out to make a buck, so there are a ton of poor ones out there. Flat lock faces, weak springs, thin stock and poor fit (usually too loose, giving vertical play) are hallmarks of those. It takes a great deal more effort and precision to do one right. A close examination of some of Spyderco's Walker Linerlocks reveal features that you won't find on cheap ones, such as the offset arc lockface on the blade tang of the Sage 1.
 
yablanowitz said:
Liner locks have gotten a bad reputation among knife nuts because they can easily be knocked out quickly and cheaply by companies just out to make a buck, so there are a ton of poor ones out there. Flat lock faces, weak springs, thin stock and poor fit (usually too loose, giving vertical play) are hallmarks of those. It takes a great deal more effort and precision to do one right. A close examination of some of Spyderco's Walker Linerlocks reveal features that you won't find on cheap ones, such as the offset arc lockface on the blade tang of the Sage 1.
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:thumbup:
 
The Liner Lock is more difficult to set up correctly than most locks. The trade off is ease of use, so it can be very nice.
Regardless of that, as a matter of principle I try not to trust any lock. Every knife is man made, and therefore will be flawed in some way (even the Sebenza).
The only knives I will trust with hard cutting have a kick (e.g. Endura) Choil, or flipper that is big enough to stop the blade from cutting you when the lock fails, as Murphy's law dictates it will.
I have plenty of knives that don't fit that description, and they get plenty of use, always being careful not to "cut with the spine".
 
yablanowitz said:
Liner locks have gotten a bad reputation among knife nuts because they can easily be knocked out quickly and cheaply by companies just out to make a buck, so there are a ton of poor ones out there. Flat lock faces, weak springs, thin stock and poor fit (usually too loose, giving vertical play) are hallmarks of those. It takes a great deal more effort and precision to do one right. A close examination of some of Spyderco's Walker Linerlocks reveal features that you won't find on cheap ones, such as the offset arc lockface on the blade tang of the Sage 1.
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Exactly what I planned to say.:thumbup::)
 
+1, the linerlock is easy to do badly, very difficult to do correctly, but when its done correctly, its pretty nice.
A lockback, on the other hand, is easy to do correctly and cheaply, meaning they are more reliable between brands, ie, IMHO, if you gathered every lockback in production and every linerlock in production, the lockbacks would probably fail less, as a group, b/c the cheap linerlocks would fail more than the cheap lockbacks. I'm thinking this is where most of the anti-linerlock prejudice comes in. That said, a linerlock from any of the most-recommended manufacturers will be fine.
 
i think liner lock is fine for anything but heavy duty use. i edc a spyderco lum chinese and the liner is great
 
Some people might not like liner locks or frame locks if they're left handed, but they're great locks for right handers.
 
And it might be fair to call it by its full name, the Michael Walker Liner Lock to add even more clarification and value to Yab's "Walker" comment ;) Credit does go to Michael Walker which says a lot.
 
Unlike other lock formats, liner locks, even the expensive ones, have a bad habit of closing when you don't want them to.
 
Liner locks are my least favorite locking mechanism. People say that Spyderco and other companies do it right, but why would I want one? Wouldn't I want another locking mechanism that was done right?

I'll buy CRKT knives because they have the LAWKS, but if you took any liner lock by any company and put them through the tests that Cold Steel does, I think you'd find that liner locks don't hold up very well to weight. Frame locks are much better and I've seen some cheap Maxam knives with frame locks that have excellent lock-ups (see photo). The blades are pretty horrible, but the frames are great. And the blades in most Maxam knives sharpen better than some of the 440A knives made for Boker Magnums.

MaxamFolder.jpg
 
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I'll buy a well made liner lock over any other lock out there. Its simply the most practical lock for me and my needs, quick to open as there is no back spring pressure on the blade, simple to close while maintaining a good grip on the knife, and offers all the strength I'll ever need while allowing me to have handle material on both sides of the knife. If executed well its the best knife lock design. Of course many disagree, everyone has to make their own opinion on what to trust their fingers too.
 
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I love linerlocks. Having said that, the only linerlocks I buy are ones that do not have a recess cut out to make disengaging the lock easier. I also buy linerlocks with .95 or thicker lockbars.

My DDR HTM has a thicker ti liner than some framelocks out there.

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I may be in the minority, but I prefer liner locks over just about anything. I've owned quite a few different lock types, too (RIL, back lock, CBBL, axis, arc, ect). A well made liner lock is simple, looks good, doesn't mess up handle feel, and works perfectly. FWIW, I've gotten a few back locks to fail on me, but never a liner lock.
 
Handwrecker said:
I may be in the minority, but I prefer liner locks over just about anything. I've owned quite a few different lock types, too (RIL, back lock, CBBL, axis, arc, ect). A well made liner lock is simple, looks good, doesn't mess up handle feel, and works perfectly. FWIW, I've gotten a few back locks to fail on me, but never a liner lock.
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I'm with you in that minority.
 
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