Opinions on liner locks

91bravo said:
The Spyderco Military is an example of exactly how a liner lock should be.
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I agree.

I really like liner locks, don't know exactly why. Maybe it's their simplicity. Nobody should turn down a military because it's a liner lock, it's an excellent knife all the way around.

The lock on the military may look thin and flimsy, but believe me it's very sturdy.
 
Never had a military, but have had lots of liner locks. When done right, they are surprisingly solid. I would say try one and see how you like it.
 
i only like GOOD quality liner locks. its hard to find them. im not impressed when the lock face starts going from 10% lockup to 100% lockup to fail in a short amount of its life. this is my major problem with them. not only that but a design thats actually going to be useful in the hand without interference with the lock.

if those issues are not a problem i love liner locks. they are great, but they are not "IN" so to speak with the majority of knaf users.
 
I love the latest military models the best. The CQI has a slightly different clip, and stop pin that isn't attached with the old torx screw. Extremely smooth. Very solid lock. Mine is in cts-204p.

I only have 3 knives that I EDC right now. Two of them are liner locks. Simple and elegant. The other is a frame lock.
 
I don't mind a liner lock as long as it's on a Spyderco Military. I've carried a Millie in one form or another for more years than I have just realized and have never once had to worry about lock strength or slippage or any other issue. It has always locked and unlocked with flawless operation and has inspired more confidence in use than many other lock types. It is a very ridged knife for being a liner lock.
 
204p seems nice and aggressive. Dark green seems cooler too. FWIW

The m4 is out too.
 
If you look at the cut out in a framelock's lockbar you will see that it is not much wider than a liner lock. I am talking about the relief cut in a framelock's lockbar which allows for the lock bar to bend. This relief cut is often even thinner than the linerlock lockbar. If a framelock will fail this is where it will fail.
Thus I don't believe a framelock is much stronger.

A well designed frame or liner lock will bow against the scales and prevent blade closure in case of failure.
 
Just don't plan on batoning with it (Millie) and you should be fine. Although I'd seen batoning tasks performed by a YT reviewer (Gideons Tactical IIRC) using the little brother of the Military, the Paramilitary 2, which batoned like a champ (absolutely not recommended!) but then again the PM2 has a different type of lock (compression lock). Would not hesitate to recommend the Millie after grappling with and agonizing over the liner lock concerns myself. As a matter of fact, owned the RIL version of the Military which comes with their Ti version and I hated that model!
 
Never had an issue with my liner locks
It was my favorite lock type for along time
As time goes however I am more an more leaning toward frame locks
 
I purchased a liner lock Kershaw Clash (1678 in S30V) as an EDC and when I first got it the lock would fail if I struck the back of the knife. After working it for about two weeks the liner lock settled in and now the liner lock stays locked if I strike the back of the knife. I prefer frame locks as a stronger lock and have many frame locks with no lock fails. I really like the Clash over a Blur.
 
I received a Lil Sub Hilt yesterday. It's a liner lock and the knife is as solid as any other lock type I have........have a bunch!!
Spyderco does an excellent liner lock!
Joe
 
a properly designed and built liner lock can be as strong as a back lock. been proven many years ago, frame locks are no stronger than a liner lock all things equal.... being properly designed and built.

some just like frame locks and that's fine but they aren't any stronger, all things equal.
 
its all in the quality of the knife and the brand. a good liner lock can be great but a bad one can be terrible. with your case i would definitely do it. spydreco is a good company with great quality so i think your good to go
 
One of my favorite liner locks that I have is the Kershaw Tremor, it has a beefy liner lock that is sturdy.

I've had some cheap liner locks that failed in the past though.
 
I think a liner lock has every bit the potential that a frame lock has with one exception. And that is with a frame lock your grip reinforces the lock where as with a liner lock the scale usually prevents your grip from doing this. But a properly cut lock doesnt need it. If done the right way they are pretty much equal in my book. When you look at most frame locks the point of contact it makes with the blade tang is much less than the actual surface area available. And most times the lockbar cutout on a frame lock is just as thin and in some cases thinner than many liner locks. So imho there is very little difference aside from a more beefier appearance going to the frame lock. But in reality they use about equal amounts of real estate in regards to contact points.
 
I dont mind a thick linerlock like on the ZT0909 or the Gayle Bradley 1.... those are great!
 
K.O.D. said:
....I prefer liner locks to frame locks due to my disdain for metal handles.
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I have to agree. With a few minor exceptions, I am not fond of metal handles. So, in general, I don't like frame locks. Liner locks are fine if they are made well.

Now that I said that, watch me find a frame lock with Ti scales that I can't live without.
 
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