Lock reliability, be carefull!

is about as safe as it can get, and even then I don't consider a folder to be anywhere near 'fool-proof'! In fact, I've always been a vocal supporter of testing one's gear before taking on faith that it'll stand up to the 'hard use' it's advertised for!

What Sal said has a lot of merit, however, Spyderco's ad copy for the Chinook has previously stated that it's strong lock makes it suitable for "passing and blocking." If a folding knife's lock is advertized as suitable for "passing and blocking", in a Martial Blade Craft realm, it darn sure better be able to withstand more than just a LIGHT spine-tap!!

As far as the OP not listing the make and model of knife that cut it's user's fingers, I'm in the group that thinks he should make that information known. Ultimately, it's up to him, however, he didn't hesitate to mention the specific knife (Buck 110) that failed and cut his co-worker's finger in a previous story he posted, so I'm not sure why he doesn't want to here.

Regards,
3G
 
Chris "Anagarika";6434339 said:
Can the blade shape contribute to lock failing when stabbed? A spearpoint has the point in the middle, while wharncliffe is low. During impact on stabbing, a higher point (nearer to spine) will transfer the impact to the stop pin and less on the lock (i.e. example using liner lock). As such, stabbing with wharncliffe will have more chance (given everything else the same) of lock failure?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know. I use knives for cutting, not stabbing.
 
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knarfeng said:
I wouldn't know. I use knives for cutting, not stabbing.
Click to expand...

Mistakes happen, even when "cutting" as opposed to "stabbing", Frank. Ever work with a knife in a confined space? I have, and trust me, as careful as one thinks they may be, accidents do happen! Furthermore, any folding knife marketed as suitable for 'self-defense' should have a lock that will stand up to "stabbing".

Regards,
3G
 
No problem. You posted while I was composing. When I saw it, I knew it would be easy to misinterpret my post.

Are people using wharncliff blades to stab? Sounds weird to me.
 
knarfeng said:
Are people using wharncliff blades to stab? Sounds weird to me.
Click to expand...

Well, the first examples that come to my mind are the Michael Janich designs, like the Snody/Janich Hybrid, the Spyderco/Janich Yojimbo, and the Snody/Benchmade Gravitator, all of which, to my knowledge, were specifically designed for self defense applications. Michael Janich talks about using the Yojimbo for "comma cuts", which is basically a 'stab' and a 'twist' as you retract.

Regards,
3G
 
Chris "Anagarika";6434339 said:
Can the blade shape contribute to lock failing when stabbed? A spearpoint has the point in the middle, while wharncliffe is low. During impact on stabbing, a higher point (nearer to spine) will transfer the impact to the stop pin and less on the lock (i.e. example using liner lock). As such, stabbing with wharncliffe will have more chance (given everything else the same) of lock failure?
Click to expand...

Yes, depending on the angle of stab.
 
knarfeng said:
Any mechanism can fail.

Go back and read the posts in this thread by Sal Glessar. You will learn something.
Click to expand...

Of course Sal has valid points. As do I. You don't spend top dollar to buy a good locking knife only to have to treat it like you're using a slippie. Neither does it mean you can abuse it like a fixed blade. But a good top dollar locking knife should be closer in safety to a fixed blade than a slippie, otherwise why invest in that kind of money.

I can understand if the OP doesn't want to mention the brand...it MAY be a slippery slope to a negligence claim.

If it were a non-popular/famous brand, I'm not sure if people would be as hesitant to disclose the brand.

All good points above...one should always exercise caution, but to have to exercise the same caution vis-a-vis a strong robust lock-back/linerlock/framelock as one does with a non-locking slippie just sounds like having to wear two condoms.

YMMV. and I respect that. :thumbup:
 
Sorry for the late post follow up. Evidently the Opinel lock ring vibrated loose while cutting the cardboard boxes up. Yes, I had it firmly locked at the start. It was a number #8 Opinel my former work knife. I now carry something else.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
There's an Extrema Ratio folder with a bolt that can be screwed into the frame. That's the closest I've seen.
Click to expand...

Extrema Ratio Rao. I'll be getting one in the mail soon so I'll judge for myself if it's safe :)

However the other Extrema folders (lockbacks) are not as safe. The closing forces are resisted (transferred from blade) by a small pivot pin (in the lockbar). The shearing resistance of the small pin is definitely the weakest link in this folder. Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock by someone called Andrew Demkvo (spelling???) is much stronger than Extrema's folders (exception of Rao in theory) since there is more steel to shear.
 
If you misuse anything mechanical it can fail but I have used a lot of even the cheapest frost folders and never had a lock fail on any kind of a cutting or stabbing job. My wife used to work at a gift shop where the owner sold Frost knives and she brought me several of them home to play around with. I don't know how you could make a Buck 110 fail, I have used several of them just as if it were a fixed blade. No sign of any failure or even loosening up. Of course with any sharp object you have to use reason to avoid injury. We all know that that are people around who are not nearly as smart as a knife.
 
udtjim said:
If you misuse anything mechanical it can fail but I have used a lot of even the cheapest frost folders and never had a lock fail on any kind of a cutting or stabbing job. My wife used to work at a gift shop where the owner sold Frost knives and she brought me several of them home to play around with. I don't know how you could make a Buck 110 fail, I have used several of them just as if it were a fixed blade. No sign of any failure or even loosening up. Of course with any sharp object you have to use reason to avoid injury. We all know that that are people around who are not nearly as smart as a knife.
Click to expand...

If you get enough pocket lint in the lock well of a lockback, it can prevent the lock from seating properly and compromise the lock.

sal
 
It does not matter to me what brand the knife was, what's important to me is the reminder to never trust any lock 100%. Since I only carry folders I appreciate the safety remainder as I am certain I "was" complacent
 
cbxer55 said:
I did not see this one asked.
What if one has a locking knife with a lock for the lock?
Lone Wolf Harsey Tactical T-1 Liner Lock with a LAWKS.
MOD CQD with a lock for the plunge lock.

I kind of view the LAWKS for the liner lock the same as I view the
firing pin safety on a Series 80 .45. As long as that LAWKS is engaged,
there is no way the liner lock is dis-engaging.

What is the opinion of locks for locks? In handling knives since the early 70s,
I have never had a lock release on me inadvertently. Not once. Even good old lock-backs.

I view secondary locks as making a folder practically fool-proof. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...
I think the only fool-proof mechanism is a fixed blade.

I recall seeing over the holidays someone posting about a Coldsteel lock that had a very strong lock but still ended up cutting his tendons and needing surgery.
 
Thanks for sharing the information jackknife. Its a sad story. Unfortunately not the first one I've heard where someone was seriously injured by a lock defeat. I think there are a lot of wise posts here. I've been very critical in the past regarding some lock types and their advertisements more particularly. Advice is always hard to give when after the fact but there are many factors relating to how well or how not so well a lock on a folding knife works as some have already stated. Manufacturer or type of lock are irrelevant I guess but perhaps some companies do share in the responsibility here in how their knives are perceived by end line users based on how they advertise them???

Many folks look at folder locks with one thing in mind, strength. They forget that reliability is just as important if not more so than strength but they also forget that a lock on a folder is just a mechanism and like all mechanisms it can have weak points. Reliability means more to me personally than strength. Strength is great to have and if you have that with high reliability and combine that with common sense usage and some maintenance to keep it up you'll find that you can have a very good relationship with your folding knife.

STR
 
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