Lock strength?

I own a Military (440v version) and 4 variations of the SS Police model. I like the liner on my Millie, and the flat grind, but of the two, I carry the Police far, far more. There's something about the Police model that makes it not only rock-solid but particularly classy as well. I also own lockbacks that are a few decades old and still lock up fine, despite having endured lots of daily use. I'm not sure a liner lock would hold up over time as well. I'm not sure about sheer strength; so long as a liner doesn't pop off the mating surface, it's very strong. And I've had a (cheap, no-name) lockback's lock fail on me when the notch on the blade back wore to the point that the lever slid over it like a slip-joint, and I've heard a couple of instances where a lockback's lockbar sheared off, but overall, between the two, for a working folder I'd generally prefer a lockback to a liner lock, all things being equal.
Jim
 
I have both. Of the two, either lock will not fail you. I generally prefer a lockback knife, but the militarys lock inspires confidence and I have never worried about it.

Of the two, the military is so far the best damn pocket knife I have found. I've carried microtechs, emersons, protechs, daltons, bucks, pumas, and other spydercos and the military hands down is the best. The flat grind with the perfect length in a pocket knife and a nice big handle you can really get a grip on. Lightweight, a good clip, a good lock, and good steel. The military can't be beat.

I just ordered a carbon fiber bg-42 military but if spyderco ever came out with a military style blade and handle with a lockback i would order it in a heartbeat.
 
I've carried and used Spyderco knives for years and years and I've never had a lock even threaten to fail on me. (Not so with other makers!) In general I don't like liner locks any more. But I love my Military and have complete faith in the lock mechanism. I wouldn't worry about lock on either the Police or the Military. Both should be fine. It's really just a matter of which type of lock you prefer.

The main difference between the two knives (besides the lock) is the handle. I love the Police design and blade, but I hate the handle. It is very heavy, very slippery, and very shiny. I don't mind the weight so much, but the slickness and the fact that it screams "Knife!" to people across the street when it's in your pocket has kept me from picking one up. My brother has carried one for years and I just can't get into it because of the handle. The Military, by contrast, is light, grippy and relatively stealthy. If it were a lockback it would be close to perfect.

I echo the sentiment expressed earlier about the lock strength of the Manix. Mine opens with an authoritative "Whack!" and won't move a nanometer in any direction when open. There's a solid bar of steel, 3/4" thick keeping it from closing. (I just measured) The Hulk couldn't close the blade unless he disengaged the lock.
 
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