Mechanically diverse custom folders?

E

enoreeriver

Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
260
I have discovered that even though I have some very nicely made traditional folders, I am more intersted in the ones I have with some advanced mechanical feature.

Some examples of what I find intersting:

The Hawk E.T. Toggle mechanism...very addictive
Darrel Ralph's robo assist
Scott Sawby button locks
Jack Levin autos
Ron Newton had some intersting stuff at Blade this year (gun knife and a tripple mechanism auto).

Anything else come to mind?

Let's please leave the Snap**** maker out of the thread. I won't deal with him ever again no matter how much his knives fall into this criteria.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
I'm personally interested in the Hawk MUDD knives. The Sawby Self-Lock is another good one that you don't see very much. It can even be interesting to see the variations in a "normal" lock- like the Lake Tab-lock or the Bail-lock I saw on a Bradshaw knife (both versions of the lockback).

Mind cluing someone in on the Snap**** maker? Just a nudge in the right direction would be fine.
 
SpyderJon,

Maybe I need to give the Sawby self lock another look. I liked the button locks so much I have actually turned away from some beautiful Sawby self locks because they were not button locks.

I guess that I just always thought the self locks were kind of like liner or handle locks. Please tell me more about them...I must be in the dark.

Thanks!
 
Button Lock-Gordon Chard
Button Lock-Allen Elishewitz(totally different, open frame build)
E-Lock-Allen Elishewitz
Side Lock-W.D. Pease
D.O.G. Lock-Grant & Gavin Hawk
T.O.A.D. Lock-Grant & Gavin Hawk
Studlock-Ken Onion
Swing Lock-Barry Wood
Compression Lock-Bob Dozier
BladeLock-Michael Walker

Just to name a few.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Barry woods MK1 Folder I'm looking for a pic.
Click to expand...



Obviously, this is the MKII, but I was not sure if this was a statement "I AM looking for a Barry Woods MK1 folder pic" or a request "I am LOOKING for a Barry Woods MK1 folder pic".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
enoreeriver said:
SpyderJon,

Maybe I need to give the Sawby self lock another look. I liked the button locks so much I have actually turned away from some beautiful Sawby self locks because they were not button locks.

I guess that I just always thought the self locks were kind of like liner or handle locks. Please tell me more about them...I must be in the dark.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have been very pleased with the self lock on my Sawby C/U and think it is quite clever in concept as well as execution. It provides truly solid lockup with no blade play and has a really great "gadget factor" appeal.

Its operation seems to work on the action of a concealed, closed system eccentric cam at the pivot. That is the extent of my ability to describe how it appears to function.

Sawby Self Lock - United States Patent #4604803
 
Obviously, this is the MKII, but I was not sure if this was a statement "I AM looking for a Barry Woods MK1 folder pic" or a request "I am LOOKING for a Barry Woods MK1 folder pic".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Thanks that'll do fine.
 
You mention the G&G Hawk ET; then you should look at their newest knife, the MUDD. And some of their past knives; TOAD etc.
 
enoreeriver said:
SpyderJon,

Maybe I need to give the Sawby self lock another look. I liked the button locks so much I have actually turned away from some beautiful Sawby self locks because they were not button locks.

I guess that I just always thought the self locks were kind of like liner or handle locks. Please tell me more about them...I must be in the dark.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

WrayH already covered most of the technical stuff. I'm not sure how the thing works, except that it's mechanism is fully enclosed in the handle so its less apt to get dirt and gunk in it. Its fully ambi, which I appreciate very much, and totally secure in the examples I've seen.

Some people have a hard time because you push down on the blade to close it- and some people fear getting their fingers cut by slipping off the lock tab and onto the blade. While this DID happen sometimes when there was a production version of the self lock (which by most accounts wasn't very well done at all), I've never heard of anyone having a problem with the custom versions.

I've handled a few of the self-locks and they were nothing but SMOOOOTH! I'd see if you can handle one, because if you think Mr. Sawby's button locks are good, the self lock should just blow you away!
 
SpyderJon said:
Mind cluing someone in on the Snap**** maker? Just a nudge in the right direction would be fine.
Click to expand...

Ed Van Hoy.

Best Regards,

STEven Garsson
 
There have been some mechanical geniuses mentioned, and I'd have to second Ray Appleton. Someday I'll have the cash sitting there, and I will own one of his folders.
 
This is great! Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I have learned about a few makers I didn't even know about.

Thanks again
 
Speaking on Sawby's self lock, which I think is the ultimate lock for a folder. The major benfits to me are the concealment and localization of the mechanism in the pivot of the blade. The lock is virtually sealed from dirt. Only very fine particles can get in as there is less than .001" clearance on either side of the blade. Scott also designed it to be self cleaning on the only exposed surface of the lock, which is the face of the spine where the blade seats. It also leaves the entire frame of the knife unincumbered by levers, springs or buttons, so it can be a clean tapestry for art work.

I have been carrying my prototype self lock for several months now, and have put it in some nasty enviornments. I have a couple of horses, ( Maintenance on four legs), and have had the knife fall into the water trough, in dirt and mud ( I have fine sand and clay dirt here), gotten blood on it and various medicines like iodine, hoof packing and sulfer wound dressing. None of the liquids carried any dirt into the lock, and when the knife was in the dirt itself, it never felt gritty even though dirt was every where on the knife. It is also very easy to close one handed, which has come in handy when a leadrope is draped over one arm, and holding an abcessed hoof with that hand.

Scott's lock is tops in my book.
 
Bailey, have you ever tested the Sawby lock for strength? If I recall, that is its major weakness and why it is normally used in smaller knives. Correct me if I am wrong. Also the reason why Warren Osborne's top-strap lock never panned out.
 
I don't think the Paul knife was mentioned.Also Ken Onion made a vault lock.Kershaw made a limited amount of them years ago.
 
That's right. The Gerber 'Paul' knife is patented. He's remaking them again. Neat stuff.

Paul Chen/Hanwei Forge has a crazy 'Stargate' folder. It's production, but it's definitely an unusual lock. You have to depress one of those ears to close AND open it. The split blade acts as the finger on a framelock, engaging a machined recess in the frame in two places.

orig.jpg


Dan Dugdale created this button lock, which Gerber has paid him for the rights (called a 'Chameleon'). Button locks are not uncommon, but this pivot is...

orig.jpg


Then there are the older Leon Pittman's folders, which I wish to acquire one someday. He as a similar setup to the Ce Sun folding subhilt, in that the well has a backpiece that pivots out from the rear, then the blade swings out and a then the well backpiece/cover falls back into place locking it in.

NO ONE tops Ray and Ron Appleton's locking mechanisms.

Here's a guy from France who isn't afraid to think out of the box: Robert Losson. Look at his XYZ series...

I'm a gadget guy. 30 years of making a living fixing mechanical problems does that to you. This is fun. :thumbup:

Coop
 
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