liner locks or back locks ? who wins this one?

TODD1

TODD1

Joined
Nov 21, 2000
Messages
475
I like both BUT I've notice that some liners are so recessed into the handle that it kills your thumb to close, Thats why i've never liked the AFCK what other ones if any have noticed this also????
 
I like both, but prefer the lock back. Some liner locks are easier to manipulate than others. If it fits my hand, I'll carry it regardless of lock type as long as the lock-up is secure.

Paul
 
I used to prefer liner locks, but recently their shortcomings have manifested themselves to me.
frown.gif
Lockbacks are no good for one hand operation, at least for me. Of the two, the nod goes to the liner type lock. My preference is really towards the integral and axis style locks.

-IPR
 
I personaly dont like lockbacks at all.

They have thier place...but not in my pocket.

My vote is for liner.

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Lockbacks for convenience.Some liner locks are OK, but I do find them more difficult to close on handed, and their more prone to accidental opening.

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I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.
 


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"Some days you're the dog, and some days you're the hydrant"

[This message has been edited by cobb (edited 02-28-2001).]
 
*cough*rolling lock*cough* what? that wasn't one of the choices?

actually, i was surprised noone said this yet..

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Sean

If you find you must throw something at me, please make it a custom.
 
I prefer liner to lockback. But what I really like is the ARClock on blades like SOG NightVision. Now that really takes the 'chore' out of your thumb.
smile.gif
 
Axis lock
smile.gif


Seriously, if it's well-made, I prefer linerlocks over lockbacks. However, if I'm buying a knife on a budget and can't afford a well-made one, I'd rather trust the mediocre lockback than a mediocre linerlocks.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
it looks like linerlocks wins this one hands down
biggrin.gif
now if spyderco would only come out with a G10 endura with a liner lock???!!!
 
You know, sometimes I wonder if you guys just post these questions in order to see my do my broken-record act on liner locks.

For an alternative view to this thread, check out the folder lock thread in Knife Reviews.

Joe
 
1.Frame lock
2.Axis lock
3.Liner lock
4.Plunger lock? MOD CQD DD
5.Lockback
6.Slipjoint

These I have tried! In order of preference.

W.A.

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I prefer a liner-lock, however, Benchmade's Axis lock is one that I have to say is the best to surface in a while. Unfortunately, most liner-locks are made for right handed people. A few companies make versions for lefties, but most of my lefty friends carry Spyderco lockbacks with reversable clips or Benchmade Axis lock folders.
 
I have begun to come to the conclusion that the question of which lock is best is rather like which Scotch Whisky is best or whether a Mercedes-Benz is better than a BMW. If they are well-made, I suspect that they are all strong beyond the average user's abilities and that the differences are somewhere up where only the very most demanding will ever test them. I have lockbacks, linerlocks, a compression lock, two rolling locks, and three Axis locks, all by quality makers and I can honestly say that, for my uses, there is hardly any difference among them in durability. There are, of course, differences in ease of use. For that, I would rate them as follows: Rolling Lock, Axis Lock, Linerlock/ Compression Lock, and Back Lock. I put the Rolling Lock ahead of the Axis lock only due to its larger controls being easier for my arthritic hands. I find the Compression Lock and the linerlock to be so similar in use as to have a negligible difference in convenience. All of my quality linerlocks are Spydies, but I have had a couple of bad linerlocks that weren't Spydies over the years. My God, but were they awful! I think that the linerlock is a bit like the little girl in the limerick:

There was a little girl,
Wo had a little curl,
Right down in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good,
She was very, very good.
But when she was bad, she was horrid!

Linerlocks are very dependent upon proper fit and upon proper materials. If you don't have them, man, you have problems. I truly believe that Spydies have the best, what with their eccentric pivot and all.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by FullerH:
If they are well-made, I suspect that they are all strong beyond the average user's abilities </font>
Click to expand...

Fuller: I agree with that. However, when it comes to reliability, which is different from strength, there seem to be definite differences in the various formats. My experience is that liner locks in general have the worst reliability, pretty handily at that. That doesn't mean all liner locks are unreliable. What it does mean is that making a reliable liner lock depends on a number of subtle features that are difficult for even the best makers to get right consistently. I'm sure that the most reliable Tauruses are more reliable than the least reliable Sig P226s. But by and large, if you're going to play the percentages, you're going to go with the Sig for reliability. And in the knife world, you're going to veer away from liner locks.

Some of these new lock formats seem to positively be leaps over the liner lock in terms of reliability. I say "seems" because many of the new formats are too new to really draw conclusions about. The axis lock seems pretty proven to me at this point. Between a well-done lockback and a well-done liner lock, I'll take the lockback any day.

Again, I do feel there are some very good liner locks -- and liner lock makers -- out there. I think anyone who buys a using knife should test our their lock immediately, using some reasonable tests. This is particularly important for buyers of liner locks -- you want to make sure you get a good one.


Joe




[This message has been edited by Joe Talmadge (edited 03-01-2001).]
 
Joe, I was talking about well-made locks in any of the types. I have seen, and even bought, back locks and linerlocks that are sh*t. The linerlocks either collapse as the liners fold or they swing all the way to the far side and the blade starts to close or they are so unstable as to unlock when you squeeze them in your hand. The back locks either never seat properly or have a spring so weak that it releases when you look at it or, like an Al Mar Folding SERE Attack that I once saw, had a spring soo strong that , once locked open, most people could not release it. At least you didn't have to worry about it closing on your fingers!

The point is that decent quality is to be assumed in any lock for it to work.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
Between a liner lock or lockback, for me it depends on the knife itself which I would prefer, then if the lock is well-fitted, that's my choice. I've encountered good and bad in both categories.

I find many lockbacks (particularly Spyderco)are very easy to open/close one-handed, just as is a liner lock.

One big potential problem I see in a liner lock is that except for that liner, there is nothing else holding the blade in place when open. And if there is any tiny imperfection in construction, during cutting pressure the liner can start to move over to the right. On a good lockback there's a decently solid backspring. I see the potential for a liner lock to wear faster than other locks. On the other hand, the simplicity and lack of small parts in a liner lock means cleaning is usually easier.

I also find lockbacks can be made in more different sizes, and can be thinner (though the BM 350 is quite thin for a liner lock).
Jim

 
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