My new view on linerlockers.

You can open almost any knife one handed, but linerlocks made it easier to make one hand knives, you didn't have all that pressure from the back spring keeping the blade in a closed position. Linerlocks make it easier by virtue of it's ease of opening, less resistance on the tang allows blades to pivot easier, with less pressure from your thumb to open it.
 
I find one-hand closing to be the big convenience factor of a liner lock, as opposed to something like a lockback. I can close a liner lock MUCH faster and with less thought than a lockback.

I've had a Spyderco Military for a couple years now, and the liner lock has not failed me yet.
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait
I find one-hand closing to be the big convenience factor of a liner lock, as opposed to something like a lockback. I can close a liner lock MUCH faster and with less thought than a lockback.
Click to expand...

I'm the exact opposite. I've been using lockbacks for quite a few years now, and I can close them much faster than any of the liner locks that I have. I can almost close a lockback faster than I can close an axis lock....almost. :)
 
scary!!:eek: This is why I ditched all my linerlocks and framelockers.
I cut myself with a normally very sturdy and very reputable Framelock knife about a year ago when a small bit of lube seeped onto the lockbar.
It popped right off the lockbar when I gave it a very light test and I got poked in the index finger pretty good.
I dont care for ANY locking mechs which have a sideways force on the lockbar.
 
The key to any locking mechanism is quality materials, precision workmanship, and a viable design. You get all three of these then you should have a lock that will stand up to what you would normally dish out and even stand up to a bit more than you would normally dish out. If the design is off, or if the workmanship is not precise on that particular knife then you will have problems.

A year or so ago there were many threads concerning the Al Mar SERE 2000 having problems with the linerlock failing. That was but a few in number to the amount that did not fail. I remember thinking that the one I had at the time could not fail as it locked up too well and had too stiff a lock that forced that liner to the left when opened and that it would not possibly slide off the blade tang............well I tested it with the "spine whack" and guess what.....it didn't fail. Obviously the workmanship in the lock area was correct on the one I had.

I currently have but two folders at this time. Both are customs and both are by the same maker, J.W. Smith. One is a framelock and the other is a linerlock. Both have the design down pat as the lockup is excellent. While no "spine whack" has been done I have tried applying pressure to the back of the blade several different ways in an attempt to produce a failure. To date no failures have been noted. To tell the truth I don't think any failures will be noted.

Again any locking mechanism is only as good as the materials it is made from, workmanship on those materials, and materials that have the CORRECT design!!:D :cool: :)
 
After reading this thread I felt obligated to test a couple of the liner lock folders I have. I just took out my CRKT M-16 without lawks engaged and CRKT Mirage and gave them a good spine whack against my desk. Both knives took it just fine and the lock stayed engaged. I think the liner just has to be done right, and this can still be achieved on less expensive knives like CRKT.
 
been abusing my millie since I got it in august 02... hasn't failed or slipped yet, and that's including having VERY slippery soap on the tang at work. Opened a pail(by cutting a hole in the sucker), it splashed, my hand got coated. I just gave it test for the hell of it and it stayed... sprayed the sucker out and oiled when I got home 3hrs later. nothing wrong with it at all.

Just tested my millie again as I was reading this thread, and it passed yet again. I'm concerned about my Native, but still haven't sent it in due to funds.
 
I have a Timberline Worden Tactical (small) and its lock does not fully engage unless I slam it open. Has anyone else had this problem?
 
I dont care much for liner locks as far as reliability. I have 3 of them now that include a Boker, a custom and a Swiss-Army. The Boker has been around for a while collecting dust. The SAK is the only Liner Lock I will use mainly because I use it as a slip-joint that just happens to have a lock.

Back in my tac-folder days I had reliable liner locks from Benchmade, Gerber, Microtech, Spyderco, Buck, Boker and CRKT. I also had faulty unreliable liner locks from each of those companies. I think I had enough to conclude that liner locks from production comapnies are kind of hit or miss, no matter the price or reputation. If I am going to trust my fingers to a lock at all its going to be a good lockback like a Buck 110.
 
I've proceeded in spine-whacking the utter shizzle out of the Magna, and it doesn't fail anymore.

Even so, that BM806D2 is looking better and better...

The current 550 Griptilian that's taking the Magna's place is nice, with a great design and the AXIS lock, but it just doesn't have that well balanced heft. I guess I'm looking for something nicely heavy (around 6 ounces would be nice), big, and solid, without zytel scales. Any suggestions for an abusable folder of reasonable price?
 
It is a liner lock and some people have spine whacked it to failure, though I've had several and all passed the spine-whacking, and it has the weight you seek and the toughness your after and Jeff Randall tested it in Tactical Knives and was so impressed that it is now their OFFICIAL folding knife and it is the Al Mar SERE 2000, and this is one long sentence!!
 
Maybe you just got a bad one (made on the Monday following a three-day weekend?).

I like lock-backs better than liner-locks but I own quite a few of each, and I've never had a liner-lock fail.

Of course you could just buy a CRKT BladeLock or a Balisong and never worry about your lock failing again...

Good luck,
Allen.
 
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