Opinions wanted..

[jb4570]

True,,, but had the LL been stronger, which is what the OP is asking, it might not have unlocked on me. One of those unknowns. Just an experience thing you learn by using, so when I need a blade in that kind of situation, will be a lockback.

Yes experience is a great thing....lol.

If you make the LL stronger many folks can't close them! I have broke my thumb nail many times already closing those suckers
jb4570

 

[Pack Rat]

Yes experience is a great thing....lol.

If you make the LL stronger many folks can't close them! I have broke my thumb nail many times already closing those suckers
jb4570

How funny,,,I was just sitting here smoothing a thumbnail with a 175 LL from playing with it while posting this. Maybe thats why the wife loads me up with vitamins.

 

[BG42EDGE]

I've tried to visualize a way that I would use a knife that would put enough pressure towards the closed position to make either type fail and I can't. If I'm using the knife to cut something, no matter how hard or tough the material is and how much pressure I apply, the pressure would be AWAY from the closed position.

Other than those already mentioned, two things come to mind.

1. When you need to punch a hole in something (plywood for example) you are pushing straight in and pressure varies from up to down, so a weak lock could snap the blade shut on your fingers.

2. God forbid you ever need to use your knife against an attacker, a good combat grip favored by some is the "Reverse," where you hold the knife like an ice pick and position the spine back along your wrist and under forearm with the sharp edge toward the threat. You can slash (same motion as throwing a right cross in boxing) and stab (usually a slash across to your left if you're right-handed and then a stab coming back to the right).

When you stab with this grip you can see that it would apply pressure (amount depending on how contact was made) to close a folding knife on the fingers.

Almost any knife use that involves punching a hole or stabbing can easily cause a weak lock on a folder to fold the sharp edge into either the wrist or the fingers, depending on the grip chosen.

 

[jb4570]

Other than those already mentioned, two things come to mind.

1. When you need to punch a hole in something (plywood for example) you are pushing straight in and pressure varies from up to down, so a weak lock could snap the blade shut on your fingers. Use the correct tool, for punching a hole in plywood use a drill or saw.

2. God forbid you ever need to use your knife against an attacker, a good combat grip favored by some is the "Reverse," where you hold the knife like an ice pick and position the spine back along your wrist and under forearm with the sharp edge toward the threat. You can slash (same motion as throwing a right cross in boxing) and stab (usually a slash across to your left if you're right-handed and then a stab coming back to the right). Again, use the correct tool (A gun should be used or run away) A knife is not an ice pick, it's for cutting not stabbing.

When you stab with this grip you can see that it would apply pressure (amount depending on how contact was made) to close a folding knife on the fingers.

Almost any knife use that involves punching a hole or stabbing can easily cause a weak lock on a folder to fold the sharp edge into either the wrist or the fingers, depending on the grip chosen. Use the correct tool for the job, or use the tool correctly and this is a non-issue

see comments above.

Your points are well taken BG. Folks will use what ever is at hand to perform many task's (a butter knife instead of a screwdriver, comes to mind) I always try to stress that folks should use the correct tool for the task at hand. If not, well then they can and will face their own consequences for their actions.
jb4570

 

[BG42EDGE]

Gosh, JB.....you sure are grumpy today.

Sometimes, when you're remote camping or improvising shelters or stands for hunting or photography.......you don't have a drill with you.



Same answer to your "have a gun" solution. Like it or not, the blade has a great tradition and is much revered as a last-ditch defense tool against man or beast.



As for always using the right grip.....kudos for your wisdom.

But everybody's not perfect like you.

 

[jb4570]

Gosh, JB.....you sure are grumpy today.

Sometimes, when you're remote camping or improvising shelters or stands for hunting or photography.......you don't have a drill with you.



Same answer to your "have a gun" solution. Like it or not, the blade has a great tradition and is much revered as a last-ditch defense tool against man or beast.



As for always using the right grip.....kudos for your wisdom.

But everybody's not perfect like you.

No BG not grumpy,

Not grumpy at all. Just poking some fun your way as you always have some thought provoking comments. I am not perfect in any way brother...I wish I were. Just trying to preach a little and pass on some of my experience (I had a non-locking knife close on my finger and got many stitches, I also broke a tip off of a knife prying a bullet out of a log, both of these were many many moons ago) no not perfect by any means. Look, we may all face some situations in life where we have to improvise to get by, as they say "Shxx Happens". In those time I just hope folks think things through before they get hurt is all. However, most of the time I think folks become lazy or complacent and use their knife as the screw driver, or drill because they don't want to walk the 100" to where they have the correct tool for the job at hand. Just some food for thought BG.

have a nice day & enjoy life
jb4570

 

[puukkoman]

In my experience, I've noticed minimal difference between liner-lock and lockback, in terms of strength. I've used knives for decades, and have never had a lock of either type "fail" during normal use.
As far as preference... I think I prefer the lockback, just because. No better reason than "it's what I like," I guess.

However, I was also raised differently than most contemporary knife-users. I was taught how to properly use a knife, by my Dear Ol' Dad, when I was a young boy. He gave me a slipjoint with NO lock at all, and made sure that I knew how to use it properly without injuring myself. Never rely on a mechanical safety. Same goes with firearms: "the safety is not safe." For years, the only knives I had were non-locking slipjoints (heck, I still use them today). When using a knife correctly/safely/respectfully, a lock is completely unnecessary. If you really need something that won't fold, you need a fixed blade.

Aaaaaanyway, sorry to run off-topic. The answer to your question is: They are both very strong, when properly built. It boils down to your preference, and what you get used to.

 

[CDNWIDE]

Ya..I learned a hard lesson as a boy about slip jpoints.