Locking Methods: What do you like or find convenient? What seems most secure?

[ShaiHulud]

Love a good liner lock, im left handed so the compression lock feels awkward every time I disengage it. But im fine with all the usual suspects, as long as its well-crafted

 

[Daedric Panther]

Convenient? Axis lock. Secure? Get a fixed blade if you’re that worried. Most locks will be secure enough if you use them reasonably.

 

[Henry Beige]

Axis lock, but truth be told, I am fine with friction folders.

 

[kobold]

Back lock, frame lock, liner lock are my favorites.
I don't feel like I need a super strong lock, I am fine using slipjoints.
Not a fan of comp locks, because of the cutout and its placement.

 

[edgelion]

I don't buy or carry slip joints anymore, as i have had bad closing incidents. What happened is probably on me. I've never had a locking folder disengage, so that's what I stick with. For my typical level of use I have yet to find a locking mechanism to dislike.
Lockback is probably my favorite, but compression has become a close second.
I like a frame lock just fine, especially if it has a replaceable friction piece (I forget the technical name for the part). I have only had a few of those in the last several years, though, and have no idea how to get a replacement for that piece.
Liner locks are perfectly fine for thinner blades.
I won't have anything negative to say about wire spring secured locks such as axis until one fails due to corrosion someday, eventually, maybe, but at least they're easy to replace and will hopefully be widely available when I need them.
There's only the one button lock that I carry sometimes, just to try it out. It works, though I have the same concerns as with omega springs, and this one may be more of a challenge to reassemble some day.
That's about all I've managed to get my hands on so far. Will keep exploring.

 

[Drop bear]

I go two ways.

I like the triad locks for camping and bushcraft. Because the lock probably won't fail.

I like liners and buttons for work Because I can use it and then store the knife closed in my pocket. Rather than leave it on a desk somewhere.

 

[Shorttime]

Lock-back-style locks, even though Demko's Triad is mechanically different enough to be it's own thing. I like that the location makes it harder to run the locking mechanism as you're using the knife. I stumbled over a closing technique which keeps my fingers out of the way, reducing one of the main concerns for using a lockback.

I have a button lock. Seems secure enough for what little I use a folding knife to do.

I have various slipjoints. I'm lazy about going and getting the right tool, and being too conscious of the lack of a "locking" mechanism helps combat that.

 

[DMG]

I have been really happy with both Hogue and Benchmade axis locks. Also liner lock in the GB2 and the CRK lock.

 

[XJ-linux]

Most folders are a compromise relative to a fixed blade. Same with their locks… everything is a trade off depending on application. I like a frame lock most of the time. Easy to manipulate for me and solid enough as well. I don’t mind a lock back or liner lock too much either, though most I’ve owned don’t feel quite as solid as a frame lock. I don’t smack spines or use pocket knives as shovels or axes, but barring that they work fine.

 

[DangerZone98]

I like lockbacks, Triad lock, liner lock, ball bearing lock. Most locks from proven makers will serve the average Joe just fine, IMO. As long as you don’t abuse the folder, you’re golden.

I prefer the Triad lock for the perceived security I get from it. Cons: it’s not as fast, smooth, or as easy to disengage as the other locks. I’m not a knife opening world champion so the Triad lock is just fine.

 

[donnord]

Personally I like back locks, and axis or ball bearing locks I also like the oddballs like CRKT's Deadbolt which seems pretty strong, but the mechanism is not very smooth in contrast to the William Henry button lock which is nice and smooth. Framelocks are ok, nothing really wrong with them, except your finger placement can increase detent resistance.
About liner locks, I never really cared for them as I thought they were cheap. That said I have a Schrade X-timer liner lock for about 25 years that has seen some stuff and still works fine. So how many liner locks have actually failed in service. Its a rhetorical question I know, just saying, I personally have not seen one liner lock fail. I have had a cheap plastic handled backlock knife become unreliable though.

 

[IUKE12]

I find my Spyderco liner locks to be both reliable and easy to use. Liner locks have been very, very good to me

 

[BladeCommander]

I like Axis lock and frame lock. Thicker liner locks like ZT liner locks are good. Super thin liner locks I don't like. I want a little more contact surface.

Back locks are two-handed close, so I mentally treat them like they don't have a lock since my slip joints are two-handed close. Modern folders I prefer one hand manipulation.

Button locks and compression locks are fine, just not in my top 2. I don't currently own a compression lock simply because I don't own many spyderco's. I like slim knives and spyderco's just tent to be a little wide on average.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

Andrew out-did himself with the TriAD.

I'd argue it's gonna be hard to design a lock that's better with fewer parts that functions that optimally.

It may very well be impossible to top it. Heck, it even self adjusts accounting for wear.

The only-- repeat, THE ONLY downside I'd say the TriAD has is, that you have to depress it deeper than ordinary midlocks to get it to disengage to shut the blade.

And, by gosh, even that isn't a true disadvantage for safety-- only for convenience.

TriAD first place. Next closest competition is a distant second place, imho.

 

[SharpBits]

I can close all my Spyderco mid-locks one handed. Not sure why others cannot.

 

[J. Doyle]

Super thin liner locks I don't like. I want a little more contact surface.

Contact area is probably very close to the same on all frame locks and liner locks.

Generally the contact area is very small. That leads to the the tightest and smoothest lock.

Frame locks and thick liner locks are not stronger than thin liner locks. The lockbar cutout (for ease of operation) is the equalizer when talking about strength in this style of lock. It really has nothing to do with the contact area.

 

[Terry M.]

I’m going to buck the trend and say how I dislike the shark lock. Just seems to not fit my hand correctly. Seems in the way of my use.

I do love frame locks and button locks though

 

[ferider]

I can close all my Spyderco mid-locks one handed. Not sure why others cannot.

They are scared. Which is fine .... I also rather use my leg to close them.

Regarding locks I don't like ? The only one that comes to mind is the comp lock on the PM2.

I am particularly fond of the Spyderco BBL on the Manix, though.

 

[Weiss]

I think I like most locks I've used, from back locks to Tri-ad locks, button locks, liner locks, and whatever one might call an OTF, because I'm curious about how well each of those things works in my hands in accordance with my uses. Were I to rate those in order of preference, it would look something like this:

1. Tri-ad

...and then a whole lot of space here between my favorite and "everything else" ...

2. button lock
3. back lock
4. frame lock
5. liner lock
6. slip joint

Yet this order might change depending on the day, what I'm doing, and which of my knives seems best suited to the day or moment or simple neat-o factor.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

I’m going to buck the trend and say how I dislike the shark lock. Just seems to not fit my hand correctly. Seems in the way of my use.

I do love frame locks and button locks though

Terry, it's clear I'm huge fan of Andrew & John Demko's work, but I agree, Shark Lock is not the greatest for me, either. Secure, yes. But ergonomic-wise it's a turd, imho.

I realize I'm a retired dude who's posting up something is "not the greatest" which in actuality has made CS & the Demkos many more $ than my net worth. But the "fin" is a huge hot spot for me in just about any grip.

I think a lot of the shark lock fans are fidgeters. I get it.

I really like AD's Scorpion Lock. That's something very innovative and very secure. It's only limits are the quality of the materials it's made of.

Here's an AD15 I bought off the Ex, aluminum OG handles and scorpion lock stripped down to raw aluminum, also shown are my XL Voyager with carved wood handles <Etsy> and Broken Skull regrind courtesy of David Mary-- both of which feature TriAD locks :