liner locks

[DANTHEMAN123]

how do they make the part of the liner on a liner lock bend inwards to lock the blade open? just cutting a line of metal out of the liner wouldnt cause that part of the lijner to bend inward would it...

 

[STR]

You have to physically bend it. Titanium is what most are made of and it has what we call "memory" so it always springs back once you make the bend.

You basically do the same thing on stainless but it won't spring back until it is heat treated.

STR

 

[orthogonal1]

Ah, but what is the better geometry for the blade portion?

The curved (like BM and Spyderco) or flat (like some less expensive knives). If curved (as I believe), then how much of a radius or parabolic is best?

 

[Confederate]

Can't answer your question on geometry of the blade, but when you talk about Spyderco and Benchmade v. less expensive knives, it should give you a clue as to which is better. I'm not a big fan of liner locks, however, unless they have some kind of a backup like the LAWKS. That's not to say they're bad; it's just that I prefer lockbacks. Framelocks made of titanium I also would tend to trust. CRKT's S-2 framelocks use titanium's strength for locking the blade. Some of the other designs just throw titanium in, but then use other means of locking the blade. Why? Who knows?

 

[orthogonal1]

Well, TI is softer. Some manufacturers may consider that for varied reasons.