Modern slipjoint without breaking the piggy bank

E

Etna

Joined
Jun 17, 2015
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Hi all, will like some opinions and recommendations with regards to the topic.

I currently have at least 1 of every single non-locking Sanrenmu knife that has been released within the last 12 months, and intend to keep building my collection of non-locking folders for as long as Sanrenmu will continue cranking them out.

The problem is, the majority of SRM's non-locking knives use their double ball bearing detent system to snap the blade at the open position. While closing the blade merely involves grasping it and pushing it down firmly to dislodge the bearings from their detents, there is some concern on my part that LEOs will try all ways and means to classify it as a locking system due to the fact that it requires a lot more force to close the blade as opposed to simply closing a slipjoint (the very loud smacking sound created when the detents engage does not do the mechanism any additional favors too).

So, as much as I like SRM's non-locking detent mechanism, I have decided to look at a few slipjoint knives that employ a modern folding knife design, all in the name of staying out of the grey area of the law as much as possible. Currently, the following three have caught my eye due to their designs and pricetag:

CRKT 6530
SOG SlipZila
SOG SlipTron

What are your views on those knives? Will they be 'safe' enough to go unmolested in most regions with restrictive knife laws? Or should I just keep using my existing SRM's with their detent mechanism?

Thanks in advance.
 
Spyderco makes an assortment of slipit knives. The ones that feature CTS-BD1 steel are very good and are affordable.
 
Boker also makes many non locking models that are quite affordable. You may yet checking them out.
 
Where are you located? I can't really see any LEO considering a ball detent as a lock. It's no different than a back spring in the fact that it merely provides a bias towards being opened or closed. A lock must keep the blade in position until disengaged by a motion that is different than the motion required to open or close the blade. I would continue to carry and use what you have, without fear of molestation from law enforcement. Knives like the spyderco UK pen knife and the others that follows suit are designed to work within the respective laws that permeate the European countries.
 
For quality you need look no farther than one of the many offerings by Spyderco such as the ukpk, Pingo, Squeak, Urban, and more.
 
Spyderco UK Penknife, Spyderco Roadie. I'd go with either over all 3 knives you posted.
 
Cold Steel Lucky slipjoint
 
The Case Sodbuster is as honest as it gets, even the Senior version. The Junior, a tad smaller, seems tailored for today's ambient. And the Junior comes in a variety of scales options... Hem, I missed the "modern" part in your post : the Cold Steel "Lucky" and the Spyderco "Grasshopper" are right up your alley...
 
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Perhaps I should have worded my concerns a little more clearer. Apologies for that, and thanks to those that took the time to reply.

The 'will the ball detent mechanism be classified as a locking knife' is a concern, but the real issue is the ability of an imported knife to pass the dreaded "flick test" used by Customs in some places (Australia and NYC comes to mind) in determining whether the knife is classified as a flick or gravity knife. Granted, I'm no Australian native and I'm definitely not an American, but there has been some rumors going around in my region that the dreaded one-handed opening definition and flick test may be introduced here since there were quite some brawls with severe injuries and, unfortunately, fatalities in here involving knives.

In addition, we have laws similar to those in the UK that prohibit carrying of knives without lawful purpose (carrying it as a what-if utility tool is deemed unlawful). The only difference is that the UK makes concessions for non-locking knives below three inches to be legally carried without lawful purpose, whereas in my country it's a clear cut no, locking or no-locking.

So I guess that, given such circumstances, what I'm really looking for is a knife that can be legally imported and comply with a combination of the restrictions found in UK and Australian laws, since my country's laws appears to look that way, namely:

1) Pass the dreaded "flick test". Somehow it seems that smaller folding knives with blade lengths in the region of 2.4-2.8 inches, especially those using liner locks, have a greater chance of passing this test
2) Be incapable of one-handed opening
3) Not be mistaken for a locking folder in any way regardless of the mechanism used
4) Not be on a blacklist maintained by Customs officers
5) Less than 3 inches

Unfortunately, all of my knives fail at least one of the four requirements listed. My locking S&Ws are on Australia's blacklist, and since I have no idea whether my country will start implementing a blacklist as well, I am not about to take the gamble. All of my Ganzos fail 1, 2 and 5, and three of my seven Enlans failed 1 and 2 (although for some reason, one of the knives which failed #2 is cleared as a non-controlled item in Australia...go figure).

My non-locking Sanrenmus, on the other hand, fail #2 because they have a flipper on the blade. Whether my country decides to ban flippers under one-handed opening restrictions remain to be seen, but for now let's just assume the worst and consider it illegal.

Given this list of restrictions, a budget of <$55 and my earlier stated preference for modern folding knife design, what will you recommend? I know for a fact that slipjoints and ball detents should have no problem clearing requirement 1, hence their focus. Also, you may notice that Spyderco is conveniently left out; for personal (and quite illogical) reasons, they are not up for consideration, along with any Victorinox knives.
 
For Scagel's sakes. The 2 makers make knives that meet your Byzantine set of conditions (Spyderco and Vic), you eliminate for some other cryptic conditions.

Get a Sodbuster, as Harrison mentioned.

Crimoney.
 
How did you get the srm knives you have now? Whatever you did it seems to be working. Like others have said there are tons of modern slip joints from various companies. The spydercos look like a great deal.
 
craytab said:
How did you get the srm knives you have now? Whatever you did it seems to be working. Like others have said there are tons of modern slip joints from various companies. The spydercos look like a great deal.
Click to expand...

Bought and shipped them before the laws were reviewed due to the brawls and stabbings that took place.

It's always the case. People decide to take advantage of the fact that manual folding knives were not restricted imports and do stupid things, and because of this legitimate users suffer the consequences when laws are tightened.
 
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