Liner locks...

[Halycon]

I have never owned one, and have qualms. do the blades open while in pockets? it seems that one would either be too hard to open or too dangerous in a pocket. they seem to be sucessful, so I would like to know what you all have found.

 

[David2584]

Linerlocks don't open in your pockets unless the pivot is dangerously loose or the ball detent is missing.

The ball detent keeps the blade from falling out thus keeping it closed in your pocket. Linerlocks usually have smooth action as I have found no problems with mine.

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Dave

Some of my knives - http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=950012&a=7073911

 

[Knife Outlet]

You may need a better understanding of knife locks. Their purpose is to keep a blade open, not to keep one closed. So, no, a liner lock won't cause a blade to open in your pocket. Actually, the only real risk you would run of having a knife open in your pocket would be a switchblade which can open if you lean up against something that activates the release. I consider most switchblades dangerous for this reason.

I've had trouble with a product called the CRKT PECK which I found opened in the pocket when it was attached to a keychain but that's no fault of the lock, it's a fault of the design of the knife.

Liner locks are very popular. While not the last word in lock strength, they are certainly strong enough if the knife is used for it's intended purpose and a failure would be to allow a blade to close, not to open. Take care.

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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Originally posted by Halycon:
I have never owned one, and have qualms. do the blades open while in pockets? it seems that one would either be too hard to open or too dangerous in a pocket. they seem to be sucessful, so I would like to know what you all have found.

The liner lock format has one big problem: there are many little details that, if done improperly, can cause accidents.

One of those details is the ball detent system that most liner locks use. In a perfect liner lock, the ball should hold the knife in firmly, and should actually suck the blade into the handle at the end of its swing. Even done very well, in my experience, it won't work as well as the backspring on a lockback or even the spring pressure on an Axis lock, but the ball and detent system works acceptably well when done right.

The problem, of course, is that this is one of the many details that has to be just right on a liner lock, and many manufacturers and private makers don't get it right every time. I've handle scads of liner locks where the ball barely engaged the detent. Can a knife with an imperfect ball & detent accidently open up in your pocket? Not only can they, but they do!

If you get a liner lock, check the ball and detent carefully. When closed, the blade should stay closed, and opening it should be a noticeable bump over the ball. When the knife is only, say, 1/16" and maybe even 1/8" open, the ball should suck the blade back closed again.

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com