I've read a few reports of Military lock problems.
As for "trusting" a liner-lock, I don't, and if by trust, you mean to stab, or put force against the spine, I don't think you should trust them either.
I bought a Koltzi liner-lock back in the 90s. -Very nice design, but I realized I could defeat the lock by holding it in both hands and applying pressure on the spine. I still had other liner-locks and still thought they were great even after that, -however, my only "test" they needed to pass for me was the same as I put that Koltzi (I'm pretty sure I'm spelling that name wrong)through.
Anyhow, come several years later I had a Microtech Amphibian. -Great design. One day I threw it at a stack of folded up cardboard boxes and when the blade stuck in the knife folded. Hmmmm. My first thought was the new Socom Elite I had just got, they had equaly thick locks, but surely the Socom was trust worthy. -That was a really great design. I had considered that Socom unstopable. -Of course, I hadn't done much with it, but the lock was so thick, and it cost so much, it had to be trustworthy.
Well, after seeing the Amphibian fold on cardboard, I spine-whacked that Socom on a carpeted wooden cat house, and it closed right up. I didn't beat it hard, I tapped it. Repeated with the same results multiple times. Hmmmmm. Maybe it's just the deisgn Microtech uses, I still hadn't given up faith in these locks yet. -Neither MT had any hint of play, FYI.
Found myself with one of those Buck/Strider folders, the cheaper SNG type. Cool design, used it pretty hard and the blade devoloped lots of play. I knew the lock wouldn't hold, and it didn't stand up to hand pressure.
So, of course I've had my fair share of Emersons. Most were babied, honestly, but I had a user CQC-10. -Great design. Well used, no play, gave it a spine whack one day (on my knee) and it closed. I got pissed and threw it at a wood fence and, of course, it closed again.
At this point, I had developed a lack of faith in these locks. -But then ZT came around. Wow, the ZT 0200. Monster knife, "the liners are thicker than some frame-locks" they'd say. So I was fooled into giving one a try. Used it pretty lightly. A little bit of a pocket-full, but still a great design. Don't recall what made me want to give this one a whack, but I did. -Take a guess what happened... it closed.
Now, I have seen some liner-locks pass a spine whack, both personally, and in videos. That tells me that these locks are totally unpredictable. Thankfully, you at least can't predict they're sure to close everytime.
Some will say, a "well fitted" liner-lock is as good as anything else. Some will say if it's from a dependible company, they'll make a good lock. Some will say as long as it's thick enough, it'll hold. Some will say, if you're using the knife properly "with the edge", locks don't matter. Some will say, get a fixed blade. Some will say these knives didn't fail during use, so what's the big deal? And some will probably say 1) I've been untruthful in this post, or 2) I abused these knives to the point of failure. None of any of these excuses matter. Not to me.
To me the only liner-lock that you can trust is one that you don't ever test in any way. I truly consider a liner-lock no different than a slip-joint. I'll stick with the slip-joints, and if I want a knife that I may need to put trust in, you can bet it wont be a liner-lock. Maybe someday I won't care about my knife locks, and I'll give a liner-lock a try again. I have an interest in owning an EKI Karambit, but other than that, it's probably not gonna happen.
FYI, I've tested saveral other locks no differently than these listed here and never had one fail. Since I have moved on from these locks, I've come to realize that some folding knives can be used in ways that would be dangerous to do with a LL. Liner-locks are outdated, lots of people just don't want to except it. There are several other locks that can be trusted these days.
I've also had a few LLs that would crunch and move during tight gripping. Maybe that makes the lock actually work, but I'd say it's not a design feature.
As they say, YMMV. But don't go thinkin you've got something in your pocket that you don't.
Just remembered an Al MAr Sere 2000 I had. I stabbed a phone book and it went from solid lock-up to having play instantly. Don't know what can/should be taken from that, but thought I'd add it. -Looking back, I'm greatful it didn't cut me.
Considering how many liner-locks are marketed as "hard-use", ect., I assume the only reason more people haven't been hurt trusting/using them is becuase they don't really use them hard, even though they've sold as such. -You may think that I just don't know how to use a knife proprely though. You might even be right. Saw a guy the other day bashing the Axis lock and I thought he must be high, stupid, or very confused. -Maybe that's the case here, now, with me. -But, at least I know I'm not high.
). My recent development of admiration for slipjoints has re-affirmed what he said. I have noticed since using them that using locking folders irresponsibly WILL ingrain bad habits into you. Once, if ever, that lock fails you are in for trouble. Locks, period, are not something to trust.
