Lock quirks

[ARtsig1]

Not really quirks, just the way he builds them I guess. I've noticed that some linerlocks and framelocks have a flat even tang that the liner/frame locks up against, and I've also noticed that a hard grip will cause the lock to move up vertically. I got to looking at two J.W. Smith folders I have and found that on both he has overcome that little quirk by building the blade tang with a 90 degree angle that acts like a little ledge and no matter how hard you push on the framelock or on the liner lock the locks do not ride up. In looking over this way of building the lock I don't really see any disadvantages. How about it will this way present any problems down the road? Any other makers do it like this? How about production companies? I can't remember if my Sebbies were built this way or not so someone check it out.

Again not really quirky, just something I happen to notice that I had not paid any attention to in the past!

edited to add. Btw, one of these is a framelock, XL RF-1 and the other is a linerlock, LDC-5.

 

[AlonzoMosely]

I was thinking about this the other day. Here is what I think is the disadvantage, but this is pure conjecture on my part: Without the ledge, as the tang and the lock rub against each other and wear down, the lock can move a little further up along the tang to keep the blade locked tight. If you have a ledge, then as the two surfaces wear, the blade will not be locked as tightly, and will be able to wiggle up and down. In other words, without the ledge, the lock is self-correcting for wear and will slide further up to keep the blade locked tightly. Someone please corret me if this is totally wrong.

 

[ARtsig1]

Hi Alonzo. Thanks for the response. By "further up on the tang" do you mean over to the right or up vertically? The ledge doesn't prevent the lock from moving over to the right and keeping the blade in tight lockup. Granted it will not be able to move up any, but linerlocks and framelocks were not designed for their locks to move up vertically, but rather across the face of the tang. Of course I may be off the mark so lets hear from some more folks.

 

[theSavier]

from what ive seen, the majority of quality knives have the angled tang or "ledge"

 

[AlonzoMosely]

Sorry, misunderstood you. I was thinking a ledge to keep the lock from moving to the right across the tang, because I've read alot of stuff on this board about the proper position of the lock and that people don't like it when the lock moves too far to the right.

 

[ARtsig1]

I sorta thought that might be what you were thinking. I think the Spyderco compression lock has a set up sorta like that and Bob Dozier's folders have the same on the stop pin side but actually use a liner lock arrangement.

Your right about the lock moving too far to the right. In most things in life the further to the right it is the better, but not in knives!

 

[DaveH]

Sounds to me that the liner/lock material needs to be made stiffer. That is more resistant to force applied 90 degress from the left/right lock swing.