Most injury prone lock types?

cgmblade

cgmblade

Joined
Jun 4, 2009
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I'm typing this with band-aids on my left thumb and right index finger. The result, over two days, of playing with (repeatedly testing the opening and closing mechanism) of my new Sage 2.

It got me thinking about previous mishaps with knives and I realized that most of the bites I've received have come from liner locks or frame locks.

Fortunately I've never had any cuts that required medical attention and my current injuries are also very minor, even so it seems that certain lock types by virtue of their design are more prone to such mishaps than others. In fact, I can't remember when or if I've ever cut myself with a lock-back. I seem to remember a small incident with an axis lock but I'm not even sure about that.

If I were to rate locking mechanisms for user safety in opening/closing then I think these would be my picks from most safe to least:

1) Lockbacks
2) axis locks
3) frame/liner locks

What are your experiences/thoughts on the subject?
 
My experience is I don't like being cut, so i'm careful enough with all of them to avoid it.:)
 
1) Lockbacks - When closed with one hand, thumb or other fingers are in the way of the closing blade. Least control during closing.
2) frame/liner locks - Thumb on the way of the closing blade.

3) axis locks - The way I close them, my fingers are no where near the edge.
 
Can't remember ever cutting myself with anything but a slippie. Blade locks are like safeties on guns; you ain't spozed to count on them; they are just there in case you screw up.
 
The rusty padlock at work, that thing's mighty dangerous. :p
It all depends on you, no knife is any safer or more dangerous than the next, if you are flinging around your knives like a TV ninja than you're going to cut yourself; if you don't mind what you're doing, you'll cut yourself, if you stab a folder into a tree full force, you'd better bet you're going to cut yourself. It's not the lock at all, the lock is there as a convienience just in case. The only times I have ever cut myself, severely or otherwise, was while being careless and/or stupid.
 
The second you loose respect the knife will let you know.
 
The knife you are most likely to cut yourself with is the one that you use the most.
Preparing food in the kitchen has taught me a lot about how not to get cut. Slicing a pork loin into chops will give you a good example of how easily steel will separate flesh.
 
I've never had a lock of any kind fail and I've been carrying knives for almost 50 years.

All my wounds have been due to being careless or getting distracted and not paying attention. All had to do with wiping the blade or cutting incorrectly, never from opening or closing the knife.
 
knarfeng said:
I've never had a lock of any kind fail and I've been carrying knives for almost 50 years.

All my wounds have been due to being careless or getting distracted and not paying attention. All had to do with wiping the blade or cutting incorrectly, never from opening or closing the knife.
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Yeap.

Personally I prefer framelocks , IMO they are the strongest , thus the safest - an opinion which has been strongly debated like a dead horse on BF and other forums.

I think it is because I can actually see the lock engaged , maybe it's the added sense of visual security...

I have heard axis lock is very strong and I do not doubt it that they work ( I own three knives with the axis lock ) but for me framelock is the safest way to go.


Tostig
 
i haven't had a lock fail on me, but i did get nipped by my kershaw E.T. so i smacked it with a rolled up newspaper and made it stand in the corner! :D
 
I think no lock at all is the safest as you dont start feeling like you have a fixed blade. So long as you learned how to use it safely from the get go. I find I see a lot of people that play with their knives and get cut. Knives arent toys and should be respected as such imo. If you want a toy, get a trainer imo
 
Most injury prone lock type?
Definitely the swing handle balisong. I bet bali owners alone have cut themselves enough to out-do the rest of humanity in self inflicted knife wounds.
 
cgmblade said:
I'm typing this with band-aids on my left thumb and right index finger. The result, over two days, of playing with (repeatedly testing the opening and closing mechanism) of my new Sage 2.

It got me thinking about previous mishaps with knives and I realized that most of the bites I've received have come from liner locks or frame locks.

Fortunately I've never had any cuts that required medical attention and my current injuries are also very minor, even so it seems that certain lock types by virtue of their design are more prone to such mishaps than others. In fact, I can't remember when or if I've ever cut myself with a lock-back. I seem to remember a small incident with an axis lock but I'm not even sure about that.

If I were to rate locking mechanisms for user safety in opening/closing then I think these would be my picks from most safe to least:

1) Lockbacks
2) axis locks
3) frame/liner locks

What are your experiences/thoughts on the subject?
Click to expand...

I've played with my Sage 2 plenty since i've had it and have yet to cut myself with it...what are you doing that you cut yourself?

hah just curious, maybe playing to hard?
 
Liner-locks and Frame-locks do tend to cut you if you try to close it too quickly. Lock-backs do snap close because of the spring/tension bar. Axis-locks can get you as well if your finger tips are in the path of the blade.

Knives just want your attention like women. :P
 
I've had bad luck with the Axis-lock. For me, liner locks are the safest. I don't close the blade until my thumb is out of the way. For some reason, (maybe it's my long fingers) I always seem to be in a bad position when operating the Axis. As stated above, the tips of my fingers are always in the path of the blade. My most used Axis knife is the Benchmade 940, so maybe it has something to do with the narrow handle.
 
ZippoThisKnifeThat said:
I've played with my Sage 2 plenty since i've had it and have yet to cut myself with it...what are you doing that you cut yourself?

hah just curious, maybe playing to hard?
Click to expand...

I'm right handed but was lying on the couch watching TV and operating the knife with my left hand. I didn't get my thumb out of the way fast enough one time. My right index finger was the same thing. I got careless and had a little bit of my finger in the way when I closed it. They're both very minor nicks. But it got me thinking (which is always dangerous) and it seems that my fingers get in the way most often with liner locks and frame locks.

It seems like l've done the same thing with my mini grip, but I don't remember for sure. It's not something I really keep track of.

Lockbacks are a little slower to close one handed and require more changes in hand position. Maybe because it requires more thought and it's a little slower I haven't had as many mishaps.

I was just curious what other peoples' experiences were. I don't mean to suggest that any of the locking systems are bad or that the locks failed. I was just careless.

100eyes said:
Liner-locks and Frame-locks do tend to cut you if you try to close it too quickly. Lock-backs do snap close because of the spring/tension bar. Axis-locks can get you as well if your finger tips are in the path of the blade.

Knives just want your attention like women. :P
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup:
 
cgmblade said:
I'm right handed but was lying on the couch watching TV and operating the knife with my left hand. I didn't get my thumb out of the way fast enough one time. My right index finger was the same thing. I got careless and had a little bit of my finger in the way when I closed it.
Click to expand...

There's your problem. If you're anything like me, your left hand isn't good for much more than holding your beer (and I don't even trust it for that). I can barely manipulate an Axis lock with my left hand.

I've been cut plenty of times, but never because of a lock failure or when closing a knife. Any knife can and will cut you if you handle it wrong and accidents will happen even if you're careful.

I think there's some degree of muscle memory involved in knife use and after a few repetitions of opening and closing your hand begins to lean how to close and open the knife without any conscious thought.
 
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