[Poll] Are lock strength tests pointless?

Are lock strength tests pointless?

  • Yes, they have no bearing on actual knife usage

    Votes: 31 24.0%

  • Yes, it is purely a marketing strategy

    Votes: 17 13.2%

  • Yes, it's just stupid YouTube antics

    Votes: 20 15.5%

  • Yes, "hard use" is just abuse

    Votes: 8 6.2%

  • Yes, other

    Votes: 7 5.4%

  • No, I just like an added feeling of security

    Votes: 16 12.4%

  • No, I've had a lock fail on me before

    Votes: 17 13.2%

  • No, it shows me the limitations of each design

    Votes: 58 45.0%

  • No, I use my knives hard and I like a strong lock

    Votes: 10 7.8%

  • No, other

    Votes: 13 10.1%
  • Total voters
    129
  • Poll closed .
I guess I am the weird one here. I like the suspense of when is it going to fail? How long will it take? There is some good entertainment watching a knife lock undergo a lock strength test until failure.
 
Yes, the tests are pointless and frequently meaningless. This whole "testing" thing really took off with Lynn Thompsons Cold Steel videos that were solely marketing strategy. As clearly pointed out in the original video that opened this thread, its really easy to skew test results. The knife that failed at 47 pounds in the video actually held out to 200 pounds in a real world static load test. This wasn't shown and only a quick mention of this fact was made.....
 
My only real concern is will the lock hold up to stabbing... but more of in a self defense situation instead of practical every day cutting use.

Would be un-fun for a lock to fail right at the moment you needed it the most.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
My only real concern is will the lock hold up to stabbing... but more of in a self defense situation instead of practical every day cutting use.

Would be un-fun for a lock to fail right at the moment you needed it the most.
Click to expand...
K killgar raised the same point. In a melee, what if someone's weapon struck the back of your knife?

A lot of folks here would dismiss the idea of knife fighting, much less with a folder. But that is a discussion for prac-tac.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
My only real concern is will the lock hold up to stabbing... but more of in a self defense situation instead of practical every day cutting use.

Would be un-fun for a lock to fail right at the moment you needed it the most.
Click to expand...

Good news! the likelihood that you'll be in a self defense altercation, let alone one where a folding knife is your only means of defense, and have any given locking mechanism fail is abysmally small.
To put it in perspective, you will dramatically improve your survivability by not getting in your car and driving to work.

on a slightly related note: I wonder how many forum members within our illustrious history have ever had to stab someone with a folding knife?

Just to be safe though, perhaps the knife-wielding defensive public should carry a "waaaa waaaa waaaaa waaaa waaaaaaaaaaaa" sound track in the event the lock lets go.
 
dogstar said:
K killgar raised the same point. In a melee, what if someone's weapon struck the back of your knife?

A lot of folks here would dismiss the idea of knife fighting, much less with a folder. But that is a discussion for prac-tac.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't dismiss it and I say that as a non tactical and very practical kind of guy.

What a person uses to defend themselves is usually what they have on hand (edc in my case) which is a 3.5" to 4" liner lock.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Good news! the likelihood that you'll be in a self defense altercation, let alone one where a folding knife is your only means of defense, and have any given locking mechanism fail is abysmally small.
To put it in perspective, you will dramatically improve your survivability by not getting in your car and driving to work.

on a slightly related note: I wonder how many forum members within our illustrious history have ever had to stab someone with a folding knife?

Just to be safe though, perhaps the knife-wielding defensive public should carry a "waaaa waaaa waaaaa waaaa waaaaaaaaaaaa" sound track in the event the lock lets go.
Click to expand...

I feel like you and I live in very different cities.
 
Just to answer the original question : No, they are not pointless. If my knife has a lock, I'd very much like to know how reliable it is.
This said, I trust no lock and am comfortable with slipjoints and friction folders. But I prefer pocket fixed blades anyway. So, there's that.
 
I'd like to know the type of steel and the exact weight of the lock. It doesn't seem fair to say that a knife with a beefy lock is stronger than a knife with a skinny lock. It would be better if the same knife was used with all the different locks. all of the same weight.
 
GatorFlash1 said:
I'd like to know the type of steel and the exact weight of the lock. It doesn't seem fair to say that a knife with a beefy lock is stronger than a knife with a skinny lock. It would be better if the same knife was used with all the different locks. all of the same weight.
Click to expand...
Where does the lock end, and the rest of the knife begin? I think this is the pitfall of trying to make things perfectly "equal." It's not possible.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
I feel like you and I live in very different cities.
Click to expand...
Might as well tell me your retirement plan is to hit the lottery, but just to be clear... you choose your locking mechanism based on how well you think it will hold up while stabbing someone? What lock has proven itself worthy for when life is hanging in the balance?
 
EngrSorenson said:
Might as well tell me your retirement plan is to hit the lottery, but just to be clear... you choose your locking mechanism based on how well you think it will hold up while stabbing someone? What lock has proven itself worthy for when life is hanging in the balance?
Click to expand...

Apologies, but you're not making any sense to me in relation to this thread.

A question was raised by OP, I answered it in earnest and you've seemingly taken issue.

The reality is (and truly I mean no offense)... if I had a 3.5" to 4" folding knife and you didn't... were you to attack me, I'm positive I could make you piss blood all over the concrete.

Some defense is better than no defense at all. As I previously stated, I don't have many concerns over lock strength in an edc setting - my only concern with lock strength is in self defense use.

I don't carry a gun with me at all times (I do in my car) but I do carry a pocket knife with me at all times. I spend 60% of my work time in New Orleans.. and on more than one occasion I've seen groups of 3-4 people beat the hell out of 1 person and it's happened in a heart beat, without apparent reason.

Is it ideal? No. But knowing I have a strong folder with a blade big enough to open an artery comforts me. Doesn't just apply to humans either.. jog around the neighborhood an encounter an off leash pit bull while you have a folding knife clipped to your pocket and see if you don't think about that knife ;)

For the record, I do very much hope you are correct about the odds.
 
I’m a structural strength engineer, so for me there is nothing not to like about destructive testing. I mostly own traditionals but I have a cold steel mini recon 1 too, partly due to their pitching of the tri-ad locking system. Will I ever need the strength? The probability is negligible.
 
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