Never Had a Framelock. Are They Uncomfortable?

redsquid2

redsquid2

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I look at the pictures with the bare frame on one side, and I think it would hurt your hand with extended use. Also what is the advantage of framelock vs lockback or liner lock?

Thanks,

Andy
 
redsquid2 said:
I look at the pictures with the bare frame on one side, and I think it would hurt your hand with extended use. Also what is the advantage of framelock vs lockback or liner lock?

Thanks,

Andy
Click to expand...
Not uncomfortable, never hurt my hand. In my experience frame locks are as strong as a back lock and as easy to close as a liner lock. Frame locks are my favorite of the 3.
 
For "everyday" tasks they are pretty comfortable.
They just aren't as nice as the wooden or rubberized handles when doing some hard cutting like wood carving, or breaking down a lot a lot of cardboard.
I have the Kershaw 1870, it's not perfect but it's
a good enough knife for me..


Lockbacks.Have the strongest lock but are the hardest to Open
Ex:brand new cold steel or a stiff, cheap lockback.

Linerlocks.Have the weakest lock but are the easiest to open if the liners dont have sharp edges.Take my opinion with a grain of salt because ive only handled the cheap linerlocks.

Framelocks.They can be pretty strong,and be quite slim depending on
which knife you get, opening them isn't very difficult but i've handled few that were a pain in the thumb to open.


These are my generalizations on the 3 locks...You might get to have a linerlock that feels like its strong but hard to open or a lockback that is really easy to open but feels like it would be easy to make the lock fail.

Knives come in many different shapes,sizes, colors,locks (if they fold) and prices.You should check out the knives that are out there before
deciding to buy one.Blade HQ made a video about the 3 locks you mentioned here on the forums a while ago...
 
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The lock type doesn’t lead to discomfort in extended use*. It’s a very simple construction type, allowing for extreme ease of disassembly and maintenance. Because of the exposed lock bar, holding the knife in use further supports lock strength.

*For context: leading up to reviews, I do 100-150 feet of mixed double and single wall cardboard cutting in a sitting, in addition to typical EDC carry and use during evaluation. The more quirky or busy the handle design, the more cutting I do during the concentrated cutting session.

Between this and what I was doing at work until leaving that job yesterday, I was frequently going through 500-1,000 or more feet of cardboard in a week.

My general preference is framelock.
 
IME, what hurts your hand more on folders is pass-through designs. It seems like it creates more hotspots with the reduction of surface area. Usually only a concern when cutting cardboard or wood, things with a lot of cutting resistance. The only lock design I found uncomfortable, for me, was the compression lock, but plenty of people love it just fine.

There is potential on a few liner locks and frame locks that over-expose the lock to become somewhat uncomfortable, like how much of the opposing side is milled away on something like the spyderco military (love my millie still). But, that also makes it very nice with gloves, so you win some and lose some. I still find the pass-through design to be more noticeable and I seem to gravitate towards those with backspacers or backlocks for harder use knives, or slipjoints even as long as stabbing isn't needed.
 
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Depends on the knife but a lot of knives are uncomfortable bearing down hard like the pm2 is regarded for its ergos but hammer grip that thing and push down on it. It’s very painful. Not a frame or liner lock I know it’s just a popular example many knives exhibit that. You have to find a knife with rounded or softened edges. I’ve not yet to have a knife that had a hotspot on the lockbar either it’s always been the back into the palm or bottom in to the pinky and palm.
 
redsquid2 said:
I look at the pictures with the bare frame on one side, and I think it would hurt your hand with extended use. Also what is the advantage of framelock vs lockback or liner lock?

Thanks,

Andy
Click to expand...

I honestly think framelocks being stromger than linerlocks is highly debatable and completely model dependant.

The main reason I get them is because they tend to be thinner than linerlocks and so are more comfortable in the pocket than their often thicker linerlock kin. A folding knife is always going to be spending more time in my pocket than in use anyway. Of course you could negate that benefit by choosing an overbuilt framelock such as a Medford.

A well designed framelock is not at all uncomfortable in the hand. Linerlocks may tend to be more hand filling but unless there is something wrong with your grip (like arthristis or something) they are plenty comfortable for any folding knife tasks. Again model dependant.
 
sXePhenomenal said:
Depends on the knife but a lot of knives are uncomfortable bearing down hard like the pm2 is regarded for its ergos but hammer grip that thing and push down on it. It’s very painful. Not a frame or liner lock I know it’s just a popular example many knives exhibit that. You have to find a knife with rounded or softened edges. I’ve not yet to have a knife that had a hotspot on the lockbar either it’s always been the back into the palm or bottom in to the pinky and palm.
Click to expand...

QFT. This is consistently where I find emergent ergonomic issues in extended use, when they present.
 
As far as advantages, I don't attach huge weights to my knives while they are locked open like they do in the videos. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

And I cut down, and don't stab trees, and if lock strength enters my mind use a fixed blade.

What I do do is close my knives. And with a lockback, my thumb is not in the path of the closing blade.

I find that an advantage.
 
redsquid2 said:
I look at the pictures with the bare frame on one side, and I think it would hurt your hand with extended use. Also what is the advantage of framelock vs lockback or liner lock?

Thanks,

Andy
Click to expand...
To your question...maybe. Can you tell me if boots, in general, are uncomfortable?
 
My edc rotation includes 4 frame locks, all ZT. They are not at all uncomfortable. I won’t get into the strength advantage/disadvantage but I can’t imagine any of my knives failing when used properly.
 
I wouldn’t call frame locks uncomfortable, but I don’t care for the feel in hand. Frame locks do look pretty cool.
Advantages, not really. Most locks work pretty well.
 
I love a framelock. The more i grip it the less chance it can close on my fingers.
Ive had lockback, liner and axis fail on me. The first two required stiches on two fingers. Maybe that is why i like the framelock
 
I’m left handed and find frame locks (and liner locks) very uncomfortable as they’re almost always designed to be used with a right hand. I’m also uncomfortable with putting my digits in the path of a closing blade.

I don’t find them particularly uncomfortable to hold on to, though. Mostly depends on the knife.
 
:) This is not a simple question ! Depends on the specific model / brand .

If you need or just want the strongest lock , IMO that is a back lock and the best is (of course :p) the Cold Steel Tri-ad lock . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

My Cold Steel "Ultimate Hunter" has a very comfortable handle that fills the hand better than most folders .

Some framelocks are pretty dang strong and can be more "self cleaning " than back locks . Hinderer ZT's for example .

Probably more a matter of personal preference than actual performance . ;)

 
I personally think the 'righthanded' framelock is better suited for my left hand, considering how its held when opened and where you can hold it to open it.
The righthand lefthand thing seems backwards to me.
 
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