Original "Flip-loc"

mckgreg · Oct 9, 2002

This is fellow Forumite Mike Robuck's "Bob Cargill Flip-loc". It won Knife World's "Writer of the Year" award in 1984, which was the first and last time the award was handed out.
The "Flip-loc" was a "Bob Cargill invention", and it has no separate or moving parts for the locking mechanism. The flexible tab is part of the blade, and to close it, you bend the tab slightly out of the notch. There were only 4 of these knives made, each with different handle inserts. This one has mastodon Ivory bark. The damascus is by Christopher Yaun of Albany, LA.
Greg

mckgreg · Oct 9, 2002

Photo

Keith Montgomery · Oct 9, 2002

That's a beautiful and rare knife Mike has there. Wonderful looking damascus on this classy folder.

Mike Robuck · Oct 9, 2002

Thanks Keith, and thanks to Greg for posting it for me. A member of Bladeforums was generous enough to let me acquire this knife from him. Im still pretty pumped about it.

Greg has also taught me a lot about Cripple Creeks and Bob Cargill ever since I met him here.

Kit Carson · Oct 9, 2002

I'm proud to say that Bob Cargill was my primary mentor back in the last century. I sure miss him. He's not dead, just not knifemaking

mckgreg · Oct 10, 2002

The "Sidelock" or "Bolster Release" was another Cargill invention that is widely used in the knife world today. There are many variations of it.
Greg

mckgreg · Oct 10, 2002

Cargill Gunstock Sidelock.

Peter Atwood · Oct 13, 2002

That Flip loc is a thing of beauty. Really nice knife. I'm wondering though if you could elaborate a little more on how the lock works. I'm not quite getting it. Got any more pics that might illustrate it better?

mckgreg · Oct 13, 2002

I am sure that Mike will be along to describe this pic. I am glad to see that it has generated some interest!
Greg

Mike Robuck · Oct 13, 2002

Peter,

This is a shot looking at the back of the blade and the notch on the frame that it goes into. What this picture is trying to show is that the lever is actually part of the blade. It's all one piece, and the lever is curved to fit into the slot when the blade gets to the correct point. To unlock it, the flexible lever is pushed to the right out of the slot.

When you're holding the knife in your hand, you can flip it open with the top part of your thumb.

Hope that helps Peter.

Thanks for posting it Greg.

Peter Atwood · Oct 18, 2002

Thanks Greg and Mike for explaining that. I've got a much better idea how it works now.