Liner locks- why?

Night Rider said:
Listen Guy! It was/is a piece of :poop: knife my 12 year old bought from the local hardware store and all he did with it besides carrying it around in his pocket was whittle some sticks and cut some apples up :eek:!! Far from abuse or HARD USE. As for lack of Maintenance! Up yours BUD. I'm probably MORE Mechanically inclined than you by far and have been doing Mechanical related things from the age of 10 (Thanks to my dad, Best mechanic I ever met) and over 30 years as an electrician. Just Face it! It is a poorly designed/built liner lock letter opener at best, it happens and they are out there and this is a perfect example of one. Poor Maintenance? What a joke! :thumbsup: Yours.
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Oops! Excuse me! Didn’t realize you were that sensitive. I can claim the same background as you and still am doing it. If the knife was a cheap poorly made knife that doesn’t mean all liner lock knives are like this example. Any good and reputable knife manufacturer will most likely have quality materials and construction. A cheap pos knife from a local hardware store more than likely made from cheap foreign materials and construction? I would almost always consider them ready to fail at any time. The design was in question not the manufacturer quality.
 
cbrstar said:
Notice how there's only a liner on one side? I can't help but think there's maybe some scales warping and the knife isn't perfectly straight anymore resulting in the poor lock up.
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Yes that very well could be part of the problem compounded with some bad geometry. The non locking scale does have quite a bit of flex to it but when holding the knife and applying downward pressure (Not striking) on the tip the liner lock will move to the left and with a little more pressure or a light tap it will close. This is nothing more than an overpriced Jarbenza. Myself I have no problems with liner locks and personally I feel that liner locks can make most knives look better having the appearance or the ability of having 2 show sides. Most of the people I hand flippers to seem to have a hard time with frame locks and prefer my liner locks but they all love the Axis lock.
 
Most every mechanical design can fail. Just use your knife safely knowing that a lock can fail.

I appreciate the detailed discussion on design. It is a bit over my head and perhaps more than I am even interested in knowing. ;)
 
falar said:
This took a turn from informative to 3rd grade level shit flinging rapidly.
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I apologize for that sir but when someone takes a poke at my mechanical abilities who has no clue I'm going to strike back twice as hard every time. That said again I apologize to you and the Op because this is a useful informative thread and I for one would like to keep it that way by sticking to Facts and not making accusations like someone did. So let's get back to the facts and Carry on :):thumbsup:
 
Lesknife said:
Oops! Excuse me! Didn’t realize you were that sensitive. I can claim the same background as you and still am doing it. If the knife was a cheap poorly made knife that doesn’t mean all liner lock knives are like this example. Any good and reputable knife manufacturer will most likely have quality materials and construction. A cheap pos knife from a local hardware store more than likely made from cheap foreign materials and construction? I would almost always consider them ready to fail at any time. The design was in question not the manufacturer quality.
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Yes you Butt hurt me but i'm thick skinned and over it and one More thing! I agree with everything you stated above and not only that I like linerlocks and feel that some of the knives I own would be better off with one aesthetically and mechanically. No hard feelings on my end Lesknife and if you ask me there's nothing wrong with two adults having a heated discussion on something that they are passionate about as long as we stick to facts.
 
91bravo said:
Imagine growing up in the days of no knife locks on Case Trappers and Stockmans, etc. Spyderco does an excellent liner lock in their Military model and though the design is almost 30 years old, it's still a formidable cutting tool just the way it sits.

Common sense here folks.
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You mean like me?

I never saw a locking blade knife when I was a kid, unless it was one of those eye-talion switchblades like in the James dean movie. I still carry slip joints exclusively. No liner locks, no lock backs, no axis locks.

I just wish I could figure out though, why my Case peanut and SAK keep flunking the spine wack test! I'm running out of bandaids!:eek:
 
So hot right now "Momo Challenge".

So hot next week "Liner Lock Challenge"; buy two dollar jar knife and demand it perform like hundred dollar knife because they're really all the same. Get mad when it doesn't hold up and post about it.

It could happen,,,
 
I never owned a locking knife of any kind until I was in my 40's. That was a back lock on a Gerber. It is just something I don't worry about or even consider arguing about. They say you can one hand close a liner lock knife, but it is a whole lot easier with two hands, one holding the knife and the other fiddling with the locking mechanism (safer too). I personally prefer axis locks if I had to choose a lock design.
 
A well made liner lock is perfectly suited for 99% of all tasks a pocket knife could legitimately be used for.

Obviously there are other locks that are stronger and easier to manufacture.

Most people don't require a folding knife lock that will hold 400 pounds.
 
Anyone can make a liner lock, and that's the problem. To some designers and manufacturers, it's just a bent piece of metal that jams against the blade. Easy, right? Well, as discussed in this thread already, there is a lot of science that goes into making a good liner lock. People just aren't putting in the effort.

That being said, there are some very reliable and functional liner locks out there. What I like about them personally is that you get full scales on both sides of the knife. To me, it's more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and it helps protect the locking mechanism.
 
Why liner locks
Because they are easy to close one handed and reliable when used properly and some idiot doesn’t spine whack them
Least that’s been my experience last 15 years
EB7D1334-0F8A-4A8F-A5A6-06137ECF13CA.jpeg
Maybe I’m just lucky
 
marthinus said:
Updated 2018, February.

Additional to the above based on Bob Terzuola’s and Michael Walker’s work Andre Thorburn has adapted a radius lockface, however slightly modifies it through manual adjustment to stop any lock stick from occurring. It is difficult to explain the process and I do not have permission from him to disclose additional information, but it proved once again for me, that geometry is key, above all else.
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I think you should start a separate thread for all of this great information that you have compiled. It would be less likely to disappear in the flotsam and jetsam. Have you compiled anything on the compression lock? I've been mulling over putting a few paragraphs together (not as detailed as your stuff) for a thread.
 
I'm okay with a well done liner or frame lock, but they evidently can be problematic to get right in a production knife, considering the difficulty in getting the contact angle juuuust right. I've had a number of them with rock/slip issues, and to me that's unacceptable.

Compared to a properly made liner or frame lock, I'd still rather have an axis/CBB/compression/triad/button lock 99% of the time.
 
Mechanical Advantage said:
....That being said, there are some very reliable and functional liner locks out there. What I like about them personally is that you get full scales on both sides of the knife. To me, it's more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and it helps protect the locking mechanism.
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I like scales on both sides of a folder. I resist buying anything with a metal side. I own one such knife (Benchmade) and a stainless steel Spydie Endura.
 
BilboBaggins said:
I think you should start a separate thread for all of this great information that you have compiled. It would be less likely to disappear in the flotsam and jetsam. Have you compiled anything on the compression lock? I've been mulling over putting a few paragraphs together (not as detailed as your stuff) for a thread.
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Might be worth starting a thread your right.

I have looked at the compression lock via patent but have yet to take one apart and do some measurements.

I would like to ad my setup of tips and tricks into my post but in the process of relocating so nothing is set up at this stage. Normally it takes me an hour to set one lock if all goes well. I measure in 0.01mm or 0.0003937008 inches :) when cutting locks. A cut of 0.01mm can be the difference between 30% lockup and 80% lockup. So it is a slow process for me setting locks and still want to get a micrometer for more accuracy.

Additionally Bob T is doing an update to his book so would love to get that in hand to review.
 
I have acquired a few of LL over the years, but none of my "good" knives are LL. It's a personal preference as there are a zillion "good" knives that are LL's. It's a proven and solid design.
 
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Cvrobinson said:
Why liner locks
Because they are easy to close one handed and reliable when used properly and some idiot doesn’t spine whack them
Least that’s been my experience last 15 years
View attachment 1084605
Maybe I’m just lucky
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The one-handed closing feature is what makes the linerlock so popular as stated in the article about Mike Walkers first knives using it. Many experienced knife owners/users understand this. Some others just don't get it unfortunately or criticize it because they bought junk knives which is silly.
 
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The best liner lock I've ever had was a custom Emerson model 8. It had one really thick liner lock and was so smooth to operate. I just wish I would have kept it. The liner lock knives just look so much nicer than a frame lock to me, but everyone has their choices.
 
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