liner lock vs frame lock vs lock back BHQ video

[pinnah]

Blade HQ ran this test on the knives. Any surprises? I thought the Esee performance was disappointing, and the cryo a pleasant surprise. I didn't realize lock backs were so inherently strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KmHfbG7z7g

I like it.

Any test tells you what it tells you. What this tells us is strength as it relates to straight closing force. Important, yes. But not the whole picture.

What the test doesn't tell us is what happens when there is closing force at an angle, which can deform the frame faster than straight closing force, thus causing the lock to fail faster. Would love to see the test redone with the knives held at 45 degrees from vertical.

Another thing the test doesn't tell us is durability UNDER HARD REPEATED OPENING PRESSURE. My experience is that most lock backs can develop significant vertical play when used for repeated hard cutting and over time, this vertical play gets worse. A key issue is how to stabilize the blade and lock bar as the blade presses back against the pivoting lockbar. My Opinel, which probably has a closing fail pressure of 14 lbs, has outlasted all of my lockbacks from several manufacturers in this manner. I suspect that frame locks have the edge among the groups tested here.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Someone here seem to have it against the humble backlock LMAO. I guess when 99% of your knives are frame/liner locks, getting a bit defensive is possible for some.

Not test is a be all end all but I like backlocks so I'll take it. I don't look at liner and framelocks any less after watching the video because the backlock averaged higher, I still like them too

 

[crom]

Truck rotors? How scientific are the weight measurements? Go Buck!

 

[bradytx]

According to Buck the Strong Lock System (strap lock) on the new Buck Marksman withstood 600 pounds and is the strongest lock they've ever tested.

 

[Scurvy092]

Someone here seem to have it against the humble backlock LMAO. I guess when 99% of your knives are frame/liner locks, getting a bit defensive is possible for some.

Not test is a be all end all but I like backlocks so I'll take it. I don't look at liner and framelocks any less after watching the video because the backlock averaged higher, I still like them too

I don't think anyone has anything against back locks. Several people openly have something against liner/frame locks and wasn't too use this test as some kind of proof.

 

[stabman]

Several people openly have something against liner/frame locks and wasn't too use this test as some kind of proof.

You mean the proof that the reputable ones held as much weight without failure?

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Interesting, but the test does not mirror real world use.

 

[Stays Sharp]

It works for us. Who cares what they (parrots) think.

 

[Stays Sharp]

As unscientific as this "for fun" test is, to me it's refreshing to see the lockback getting good numbers. It's often overlooked as obsolete/old... I do like the axis,frame/liner locks among others as well but backlocks to me still belong with the big boys. Completely ambidextrous, strong, reliable, makes for a thin folder etc etc.

Can we at least "up talk" the liner/frame lock without diminishing the lockback's results in this particular case? Let it get some shine hehe.

 

[stabman]

Can we at least "up talk" the liner/frame lock without diminishing the lockback's results in this particular case? Let it get some shine hehe.

Lock-backs kick ass too.
My Spyderco Mini Manix is a true beast, and my brother has put his through total hell. He didn't get the memo that he was supposed to baby it, I guess.
He liked it so much, he bought a back-up one for it.
He's cut roofing tiles, aluminum, tons of cardboard and tape, plastic, copper wires...whatever needed cutting in a physical job out in the field (solar panel installation gets you doing all sorts of stuff along the way).

The G-10 has gone smooth from carry and use, yet it just keeps going strong.
I'd like to see a sprint run of the Mini Manix.

 

[pinnah]

Stays Sharp,

I dunno.

I regularly use my knives to bend cut brush on my property. I also use them making shavings for fires and rough cut carving. These things put a great deal of opening and lateral stress on my knives. I rarely am in situations where I put large closing pressures on my knives.

I've pushed numerous lock backs into sloppy blade play from this sort of rough treatment, so much so that the knives were wrecked. This test does nothing to test for that kind of "strength" or, perhaps better to say, durability.

The test I would like to see is for knives to be subjected to a cycle of 100 (or 1000) 300 lb loads of opening force - enough time to start to grind down the surfaces that stop the blade from opening more.

I suspect the only lock mechanism that will still lock up tight after that will be the camming lock ring type of lock on the Opinel.

 

[stabman]

I suspect the only lock mechanism that will still lock up tight after that will be the camming lock ring type of lock on the Opinel.

Or the AXIS, compression, liner, frame, or Tri-Ad locks, as they all have that stop pin which takes the force from opening/cutting pressure.

Based on what I've seen from actual, repeated hard cutting use, a beefy lock-back like the Mini-Manix will keep locking up tight too, though.

 

[Stays Sharp]

I'd like to see a sprint run of the Mini Manix.

This has to happen.

 

[stabman]

This has to happen.

I know, right?
Strong lock, great ergonomics, a stout blade that cuts well and has a pointy tip...there's literally nothing but good things to be said about it!

 

[Stays Sharp]

Stays Sharp,

I dunno.

I regularly use my knives to bend cut brush on my property. I also use them making shavings for fires and rough cut carving. These things put a great deal of opening and lateral stress on my knives. I rarely am in situations where I put large closing pressures on my knives.

I've pushed numerous lock backs into sloppy blade play from this sort of rough treatment, so much so that the knives were wrecked. This test does nothing to test for that kind of "strength" or, perhaps better to say, durability.

The test I would like to see is for knives to be subjected to a cycle of 100 (or 1000) 300 lb loads of opening force - enough time to start to grind down the surfaces that stop the blade from opening more.

I suspect the only lock mechanism that will still lock up tight after that will be the camming lock ring type of lock on the Opinel.

It's been fine in my uses (35 years?). In fact, all these locks have. If it's done right, they will all serve you well.

Everything wears down, and the test you suggest will yield data as well as prove as much. For several decades, all there was- was a Buck 110 lockback many of them survive to this day after years of real world use from outdoorsmen, craftsmen, hunters etc. Tests are entertaining and we learn a few things for sure but I'm not too concerned when I see all the proof I need everyday.

I've used folders for those tasks in a pinch... Usually a fixed blade though but I push my carry folder pretty hard. I guess if I used any of these locking folders on the tasks you named day in and day out I'd run into problems. If they (lockbacks) showed it a few days sooner, what's the REAL difference?

 

[D-R0CK]

So nobody was surprised to see the zancudo beat by the cryo? When the zancudo is supposed to be the hard-use, outdoors knife?

 

[Scurvy092]

Nope.

 

[RevDevil]

So nobody was surprised to see the zancudo beat by the cryo? When the zancudo is supposed to be the hard-use, outdoors knife?

Zancudo is made by the same factory that cranks out Rat 1/2 folders, Kershaw is in another league with their offshore production.

 

[D-R0CK]

Zancudo is made by the same factory that cranks out Rat 1/2 folders, Kershaw is in another league with their offshore production.

I was under the impression that the Rat 1 & 2 were both very highly regarded. I would have guessed the products between both companies were pretty comparable.

 

[jac_solar]

I was under the impression that the Rat 1 & 2 were both very highly regarded. I would have guessed the products between both companies were pretty comparable.

It's probably mostly theoretical at the values in the video, though. I don't think a lot of people have put over 150 lbs pounds of weight on those folders, let alone any folder.