Lockback Question

[jmccullough32]

Is there a reason that knife makers don't make more lockbacks with the lock up on the front of the handle. Are they not as strong, or are they more difficult to make?

I find lockbacks with the lock upfront much easier to open and close, some even one handed.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Gryffin]

Two reasons, I think: tradition, and safety.

Tradition: to a lot of folks, a rear lock just looks right, just like the old Buck 110 grandpa had.

Safety: with the lock further back, you can put a lot more tension on the locking part of the tang. This makes it a bit more secure if the lock is dirty, or not fitted just right. Spyderco and others have got the lock geometry perfected so that it doens't require much force from the lock bar to be secure, but cheaper knives are probably better off with a bit more pressure. Also, Spyderco uses the Boye Dent to avoid accidental lock release, but the Dent is licensed and/or patented; not everyone can use it. A rear lock is less likely to be accidently opened when "white knuckling" the handle.

 

[brownshoe]

In my experience, a tight grip opens rear lock knives, that's the advantage of the mid-lock. Your pinky can wrap around, pushing down on the lock and thus slightly unlocking the blade. I've had this happen a Puma and a coldsteel.

I read somewhere that it is more difficult, maybe more parts, to make a mid lock than a rear lock.

 

[jmccullough32]

Thanks guys, Your thoughts are pretty much what I was thinking.

I have a Beretta medium Airlight which has the locking lever just forward of center, and thumb studs on the blade. It locks up real tight with no blade play, and as I said before is easy to open and close with one hand.

---Jim

 

[Daniel Koster]

A lockback is a simple idea, just takes a little engineering to get it just right.

Have a look at this pic (not my work):

When you push down on the end of back bar, the front lifts and "releases" the blade. The back bar is held in place and against the blade by the spring (doesn't look like a spring, but it's a bar of steel that's been spring-tempered).



So, basically, putting the release farther forward means shortening the back bar and moving the pivot forward. Make sense?

Not a hard thing to do, but would require more effort on the opening, or a lighter spring. Could be done, I think. Very interesting suggestion.

I think most of them are on the back to keep it out of the way and make the handle more comfortable.

Anybody got pics of theirs?