Origin & meaning of the phrase "walk & talk" >

[patrickb]

While talking to a cutlery store owner recently, he constantly referred to a folder's "Walk & Talk" mechanism.

To put it in context, I was buying a Benchmade 770 and the only one available was the display model. I asked how long it had been in the case and he replied, "It's been in there just a few days. Go ahead and open & close it, the 'walk and talk' isn't even broken in yet."

Just curious as to the origin and meaning of the phrase.

-pb

 

[DaveH]

I believe it originally refrred to non locking folders and the pressure of the backspring. Namely that it was stiff and the blade had a significant "snap" when opening or closing the final bit. The walk being the action ans the talk being the sound.

 

[Tightwad]

Dave H is correct. "Walk & Talk" apply to the older
non-locking knives that gran'dad carried. I'm not
sure that the term could be fairly applied to
the newer "hi-tech" knives we use today. The store
owner may be using the term to indicate that his
knife isn't broken in yet no matter how long it's
been on the shelf.

 

[Don M]

Or,

It "walks" when you open it, snapping firmly into place (a strong enough back spring to keep it open when in use, but not so strong it is hard to operate), and it "talks" when you close it, giving that crisp snap of the spring action. This is for slip joints, not locking blades, even those with something of a crisp spring action when opened or closed.