Lockup, early and late

[JJR512]

I have seen comments here and there with people referring to early lockup, or late lockup. Forgive me, but I don't understand either term. What do these terms mean? What are the causes and consequences, and what are the solutions?

 

[oromoto]

When the titanium lock face rubs the steel blade tang over and over, the lock will eventually move closer to the other scale. But the process is very long, sometimes takes many years. All depends on how hard you use the knife.

 

[Silvanus]

In theory, the earlier the lockup when new the longer the lockup will remain solid as the knife wears. Titanium lock bars will wear more and therefor travel farther because Ti is softer than the blade steel. In my opinion, the early/late lockup is not as big of a deal as people make it out to be. My very oldest Emerson at 17 years old has a lock at that's traveled about 25% of the available distance. The lock is solid and there is no play. I have one much newer that's nearing 60% travel, lockup is still solid and it's been there a year or so with no movement.

 

[JJR512]

Ok, so...When the blade is fully open and locked, are you talking about how far towards the non-lock liner the lock has moved?

Is it early or late if the lock has moved closer to the non-lock liner than is ideal, or desired?

Where exactly is the ideal lockup?

On my new CQC-8, the lock bar winds up where the edge of the locking surface of the blade that's on the locking side is at about the middle of the locking surface of the lock bar. I hope the way I described that makes sense... let me see if I can take a picture.

Ok, here's a picture I just took. Keep in mind, I don't think there's anything wrong with my knife. I'm just trying to understand the terminology that everybody else is throwing around. So what I'm asking is, first of all, a confirmation that mine is "normal", or is it early or late, and also, if the lock bar was more to the right in this photo, would that be early or late, or if it was more to the left, is that early or late.

 

[rayster357]

Your knife has early lockup. I would say that is perfectly fine. Some prefer it that way to start as it will settle in just a little bit as the fresh linerlock interface wears to the angle of the interface on the blades tang. Late lockup would be where the liner swings over to the right side (as pictured) of the blade's lock interface potentially touching the other liner with enough wear/use.

 

[Sosa]

Mine was like that. Wasn't comfortable with it so I waved it until I liked it.

 

[Silvanus]

My personal definition of "ideal lockup" is pretty much shown in this picture. The lockbar is almost flush with the blade on the left side. The full width of the lockbar is touching the tang providing the most contact. It also allows for the lockbar to settle over time and there still be no lock rock.

 

[Sosa]

Mine was just like the OPs. Broke right in after some waving sessions and robust opening.

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[dalefuller]

... So what I'm asking is, first of all, a confirmation that mine is "normal", or is it early or late, and also, if the lock bar was more to the right in this photo, would that be early or late, or if it was more to the left, is that early or late.

Yours is considered "early" and quite normal. As the lockbar moves to the right in your pic it becomes "later". This happens as the Ti lockbar face wears a bit. As Silvanus said, this takes years under normal use. My earliest Emerson is from 2006 and it still locks up just the width of the lockbar. My most used Emerson is a 2012 mini-15 and it hasn't moved from it's original new lockup position yet, just about where Sosa's is in his pic.

IMAO, the "early" vs. "late" thing is a little overdone. "Solid" vs. "weak" might be more appropriate. If a liner lock moves into position, locks the blade solidly (no vertical play or lock rock), and doesn't move with reasonable spine pressure (no "whacking"), then it's a good solid lockup even if the lockbar is 50% or 60% across the blade tang. It'll likely stay that way for years under normal use and the knife will be fine. Chris Reeve actually like a 50% - 75% lockup on the framelock Sebenzas he builds. He feels like it's a safer position for the lock to be in under strong use.