Opinion: Frame Locks are Ugly

Dimashkieh

Dimashkieh

Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
215
Hello knife lovers,

I own many knives of all shapes and forms and from different brands and budgets. I totally appreciate the safety and functionality of frame locks. After all, who am I to question the great Chris Reeve’s design? But, I really find them ugly, especially on cheaper knives. I also hate the asymmetry with the scales of frame lock knives, especially when you have CF or Micarta on one side and titanium on the other.

For a sub 3.5” EDC knife, when was the last time that a well built liner lock failed you? Do we really need a less esthetically pleasing knife in our pockets for our daily chores?

I would love to hear your opinions.
 
Dimashkieh said:
Hello knife lovers,

I own many knives of all shapes and forms and from different brands and budgets. I totally appreciate the safety and functionality of frame locks. After all, who am I to question the great Chris Reeve’s design? But, I really find them ugly, especially on cheaper knives. I also hate the asymmetry with the scales of frame lock knives, especially when you have CF or Micarta on one side and titanium on the other.

For a sub 3.5” EDC knife, when was the last time that a well built liner lock failed you? Do we really need a less esthetically pleasing knife in our pockets for our daily chores?

I would love to hear your opinions.
Click to expand...
Knives are tools and as you say framelocks offer "safety and functionality".
 
Take a look around the forum. It seems obvious that knives are more than just tools. They mean different things to different people.
 
I much prefer a framelock to a linerlock...
Linerlocks look like they couldn't quite make the grade to be a good framelock.
The linerlock mechanism is thinner and just isn't as robust...does NOT inspire confidence.
IMO
 
Dimashkieh said:
For a sub 3.5” EDC knife, when was the last time that a well built liner lock failed you?
Click to expand...

The last two I’ve owned Buck Odessey eventually the liner lock went all the way to the other side and developed more blade play than I cared for. CRKT liner lock would go past the blade interface and no longer provide any locking capability.


Dimashkieh said:
Do we really need a less esthetically pleasing knife in our pockets for our daily chores?
Click to expand...

(In my best Dude voice)
Well that’s like your opinion man.
My Spyderco K2 and Nirvana are quite pleasing, functionally and esthetically.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I much prefer a framelock to a linerlock...
Linerlocks look like they couldn't quite make the grade to be a good framelock.
The linerlock mechanism is thinner and just isn't as robust...does NOT inspire confidence.
IMO
Click to expand...

But what about other locks (Lockback, Tri-ad Lock, Axis lock, Sub-frame lock, etc...)? They are all esthetically better than frame lock in my opinion, and some may be arguably stronger. This is not about frame lock vs liner lock. It is mainly, why does a good reliable EDC knife have to be ugly?
 
3fifty7 said:
The last two I’ve owned Buck Odessey eventually the liner lock went all the way to the other side and developed more blade play than I cared for. CRKT liner lock would go past the blade interface and no longer provide any locking capability.




(In my best Dude voice)
Well that’s like your opinion man.
My Spyderco K2 and Nirvana are quite pleasing, functionally and esthetically.
Click to expand...

Because both have Ti scales on both sides. You can basically add any high end titanium scale knife to this list and I would agree with you. The asymmetry and different material on each scale is what bothers me most.
 
Dimashkieh said:
But what about other locks (Lockback, Tri-ad Lock, Axis lock, Sub-frame lock, etc...)? They are all esthetically better than frame lock in my opinion, and some may be arguably stronger. This is not about frame lock vs liner lock. It is mainly, why does a good reliable EDC knife have to be ugly?
Click to expand...

Nothing has to be anything. There are different choices and options. Not all makers want to make the same knife. Some can't or won't make slipjoints. Some can't make a good liner lock or frame lock. Some refuse to build back locks. Some folks want embellishment. Some folks simply want utility.

There are many faces of beauty. Perhaps you should either learn to broaden your perspective or at least be willing to simply go your own way in a direction that satisfies your own taste.

If you go to the Blade Show you'll find any number of people that like work that you don't particularly care for. Your position that they are wrong is probably the wrong starting point.
 
Dimashkieh said:
Because both have Ti scales on both sides. You can basically add any high end titanium scale knife to this list and I would agree with you. The asymmetry and different material on each scale is what bothers me most.
Click to expand...



I’m with you on the asymmetry being sub-optimal. That’s why I didn’t include my Spyderco Southard.
 
My first frame lock was a Kershaw Leak. Being small and having a comparatively large clip, it didn’t seem asymmetric or unfinished. I came to love the frame lock flipper design, so when I upgraded to larger G-10 scaled models, I was willing to overlook the differences. 20 years and 150+ knives later, they are still my go to design.
 
Blues said:
Nothing has to be anything. There are different choices and options. Not all makers want to make the same knife. Some can't or won't make slipjoints. Some can't make a good liner lock or frame lock. Some refuse to build back locks. Some folks want embellishment. Some folks simply want utility.

There are many faces of beauty. Perhaps you should either learn to broaden your perspective or at least be willing to simply go your own way in a direction that satisfies your own taste.

If you go to the Blade Show you'll find any number of people that like work that you don't particularly care for. Your position that they are wrong is probably the wrong starting point.
Click to expand...

I literally started my thread with the word “opinion” in the title. I didn’t say there is anything right or wrong, and I mentioned that I have several knives of all kinds (frame lock included). How did you managed to take my simple “opinion” to not liking other people work and consider them “wrong” and judging that this is a “wrong starting point” is beyond my comprehension.
 
Dimashkieh said:
I literally started my thread with the word “opinion” in the title. I didn’t say there is anything right or wrong, and I mentioned that I have several knives of all kinds (frame lock included). How did you managed to take my simple “opinion” to not liking other people work and consider them “wrong” and judging that this is a “wrong starting point” is beyond my comprehension.
Click to expand...

Here's a quote by you: " It is mainly, why does a good reliable EDC knife have to be ugly?"

Who says they do?

They don't. They aren't.

I don't like every style of knife, nor the work of every maker. Thankfully, for myself and everyone else, I don't feel the need to try to homogenize the endless variety.

Good luck in your search for Platonic perfection.
 
Let’s see some sexy frame lock pics!

fMrN6IN.jpg
 
Jsega51 said:
That orange Spyderco Positron you own is quite ugly, so why do you own it? And let’s not mention the Medford you tried to buy o_O:poop:
Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong in sending an offer to someone selling an item with “best offer.”

Now that you exposed my identity (I use my real name everywhere), and the fact that I own ugly knives and “try” to buy knives (whatever that means), and especially after the lovely emojis you posted, I should live in shame for the rest of my life in the knife community and beyond. Well done man, you must feel satisfied with your supposed victory or whatever feeling that gave you.

Ironically, this is my second post on this forum, and just before this post I was reading a lovely post titled “We were all new here once.” Now I understand and appreciate it even more.
 
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