Locking Blade Essential?

I really enjoy easy one hand opening. That’s hard to do with a backspring, so it’s mostly locking knives or friction folders for my main. Of course, there’s always a SAK in the back pocket too.
 
I carry both.

Non locking knives have worked for a long time. And in my opinion, locking knives should be treated as if they don't have a lock.
 
I like locks. A non-locking knife left a nice scar on one of my fingers. I still have it and use it on occasion, but it's not the first one I grab in the morning.
 
I grew up with slipjoints. I now mostly carry lockbacks. I still do like and carry old USA barlows and jacks in carbon steel. Those thin plain carbon steel blades can take great edges quickly and slice very well. I used to keep one blade of a multiblade slipjoint thinned out to shave with when I worked two jobs. It was an expedient measure that I don't recommend but those old 1070 or 1095 blades are easily up to it now at 50 years old plus. They are still very easy to find in like new condition for not much money at all.
 
Essential?

No.

Proper technique allows one to use a non locking folder. Like the vast vast majority of folding knife users had done throughout history.

In a situation where proper technique would put you at risk?

That's what fixed blades are for.
 
I grew up with slip joints , the Buck 110 was the very first locking folder around and that didn't happen until the mid 1960s.
 
marcinek said:
Essential?

No.

Proper technique allows one to use a non locking folder. Like the vast vast majority of folding knife users had done throughout history.

In a situation where proper technique would put you at risk?

That's what fixed blades are for.
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Yeah , when I was growing up , this made good sense .

But now we got very reliable locks and even secondary safety locks for lesser locks .

Technology evolves , I see no rational reason these days to be without a reliable lock .
 
A person could get by with a slipjoints, friction folders, and fixed blades. It's been done just fine for a lot of years.

If a lock is any good it should hold up to some lighter fixed blade tasks, so long as you use your head and recognize the limits of your tools.
 
marcinek said:
So do you reject fixed blades and only have folders?
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Heck NO , but I sure do end up carrying folders more often , the older I get . :p

But , still nothing like a fixed blade for big choppers , machete , food prep and dirty work , etc . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
What I like is a liner lock , press that liner lock and the blade goes back in almost by it's self . I have a Ka-Bar that has a wicked snap , It's strong and it's smooth .But you better be paying attention . Also what I find strange on this Ka-Bar , on the Marline Spike there is a lock press the bail down and the spike goes back easy .
IMG_0194 by mark westi, on Flickr
 
Fifteen years ago I would have said "Yes! Absolutely!"

Now that I'm older and patient enough to stop and go get the right tool, I would say "no, don't have to".
 
I’m a Tri-Ad lock fan. It’s nice to have the assurance of having a tough lock definitely, but not 100% necessary I think. As long as you know what you’re doing with a slipjoint or Higonokami, you’ll be fine.
 
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