Lock Strength Test

That is the most flawed test I have ever seen. They should really stop doing that as they have no clue how to run a consistent test protocol. All this does is give bad information to those that don't know any better.
 
Jason B. said:
That is the most flawed test I have ever seen. They should really stop doing that as they have no clue how to run a consistent test protocol. All this does is give bad information to those that don't know any better.
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I appreciate the time, effort, and investment they put into the tests, but I agree with you.
Despite their disclaimer at the beginning, some people are bound to take the results as gospel.
 
The only instance where I can see applying comparable force to a folder in an EDC environment would be cutting through massive amounts of cardboard (or similar material) on a knife with a grind/shape that binds easily. The temptation to push harder (thus recreating the elements of this test) would be present, if not pervasive.

Case in point: I've had issues with my military when using a hammer grip and cutting through something using a lot of downward force—especially when using the section of the blade closest to the pivot. The material provides resistance against the edge of the blade, provoking a greater application of force against the back of the handle, which in turn encourages a tighter grip. I've had the blade slip due to the grip (in a tight hammer grip, I tend to disengage the liner lock with my pointer finger) and binding. I usually try to stop the cut and reset rather than push through the material now.

So yeah. I know that—generally—normal use doesn't create the circumstances where lock-failure of this type would be a potential issue, but, on occasion, it can happen.
 
FriarPhenn said:
The only instance where I can see applying comparable force to a folder in an EDC environment would be cutting through massive amounts of cardboard (or similar material) on a knife with a grind/shape that binds easily. The temptation to push harder (thus recreating the elements of this test) would be present, if not pervasive.
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Not really, imagine your knife is the hands of a a watch. The hour hand is the handle and the minute is the blade. At a quarter to three your knife is open and ready to cut.

In the filmed test the vector is pulling handle down towards 6 pm. The vector should be in a pressing motion up to noon.

The only way you could duplicate the vector in the real world is to spike the knife directly into a tree and then throw all your weight onto the handle closing it.
 
Danke42 said:
The only way you could duplicate the vector in the real world is to spike the knife directly into a tree and then throw all your weight onto the handle closing it.
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I'm saying this happens exactly, though.

Blade binds in material (your "spiked into a tree") while still exerting force on the handle in an attempt to push the blade through the material (your "throw all your weight onto the handle").

I'm not saying it's likely—only that it's possible. And it's more likely when cutting tough material with a blade shape/grind that's prone to binding.
 
I think a more informative test would be to stab the knife into something. Can't really stab anything with a slip joint and, in my experience, a lock is needed then and really only then on a folding knife.

The other day I was cutting and draining sacks of some really fine seeds from Africa. It was some kind of plastic mesh bag wrapped at the top with whatever they could use. Some zip ties, jute, cotton twine, tape, whatever they could get ahold of, I guess. I had to dig the knife in and twist cut out in order to keep from unnecessarily cutting the bags. It did put some reverse pressure against the lock but I was more worried about the twisting forces disengaging the lock.

As soon as I cut the string, rope, tape, etc, the seed would start coming out unless I kept the mouth of the bag closed with one hand. I could've closed my knife and put it away every time I opened a bag, one handed knives are good for that, but seeing as I was going to be doing it all day I decided to cut the cord and stab my knife into the side of a pallet to keep it handy for the next bag. I did that the majority of the day without issue. Good old trusty military.

I am more worried about the lock closing on me in that kind of situation than I'd ever worry about smacking the spine against something. Doesn't mean I don't care about lock strength. I do. I just think the way they're tested is kind of pointless. I'd rather see handles getting twisted around and knives stabbed into stuff.
 
FriarPhenn said:
I'm saying this happens exactly, though.

Blade binds in material (your "spiked into a tree") while still exerting force on the handle in an attempt to push the blade through the material (your "throw all your weight onto the handle").

I'm not saying it's likely—only that it's possible. And it's more likely when cutting tough material with a blade shape/grind that's prone to binding.
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If you're pushing the blade through the material then the vector should be through the sharp side.

This vector is through the blunt edge. In other words spine whacking.
 
SpeedHoles said:
Like someone on the Spyderco forum pointed out, the cable around the handle in the placement where it was on the handle, 1" from the pivot, actually held the lockback bar in place so it could not release. Either the lockbar tab, or the blade had to fail.
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If you look it's above the lock bar pivot pin. Not keeping it locked.
 
There are a million useless lock strength tests, so why don't Youtubers try something different? Like doing the opposite, and seeing how much force the knife can take when pressure is applied in the actual direction of cutting force? If a knife failed that kind of test, in a miserable, pathetic fashion, it might actually be informative.
 
Why didn't they show the force the delica withstood before the blade failed? We would know that lock holds at least that much. (Although I agree this all needs to be taken with a grain of salt)

Also, they really need to get the handles vertical before starting the test. Most of the knives failed after the cable slid up increasing the length of the lever.

The test could have been better but was still interesting.
 
I should be able to stab my folders into the side of a tree , then use them as hand and foot holds so I can climb to the top!
(cutting edge facing down, of course)



IMG_3866.JPG
 
robgmn said:
I should be able to stab my folders into the side of a tree , then use them as hand and foot holds so I can climb to the top!
(cutting edge facing down, of course)



IMG_3866.JPG
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And the liner lock would fail causing you to fall. They are not designed to hold that much weight.
 
KNIFEHQ youtube channel has great contents.
By the way, there are two videos out for their lock tests. Part 1 consisted of lock testing using gravity/weights.
And Part 2 used the wench. If you watch tI'll the end of Part 2 video, they show you the chart about what the pressure lb. would have been if they had used the weights instead of the wench.

It would be nice to see how the Axis lock would fare (whether its tested with weights/wench/or Cold Steel test method).
Viper has Smart Lock technology for one of their folding knives line up. I wonder how it would fare as well.
 
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