Really stupid statement.

[stabman]

I'll stick to fixed blades for stabbing, if i have a choice.

No argument from me there.:thumbup:

 

[Ultimate]

Read it again.
I said it is safer when cutting THICK cardboard, which can bind the blade, causing injuries at times. It happens to people, even people who have used their knives perfectly safely for years beforehand.
And you know people cannot do things perfectly all the time(even you), which is why safety devices were invented in the first place.
If you're able to perform tasks correctly all the time, rip the seatbelts out of the car, don't wear a mouth guard when boxing, work installing steel girders with no safety harness, etc.
For us mere HUMANS, safety devices have their place.

Disclaimer: Please don't read too much into this, I'm only playing devil's advocate and you should not look at this post as a statement of my views.

First, I did read what you wrote; whether you said THICK or not does not matter. If the knife binds what do you do? Immediately push in the REVERSE direction with all of your force so as to fold the blade? No. You pull the knife straight out and start again. Second, pulling out seatbelts and not wearing a mouthguard is completely irrelevant. Those devices are there to save you from matters that you can not control. (Someone punching you in the face, someone running a red light) If everyone DID perform tasks the way they should, people would not drive through stop signs or not look where they're backing up. What I'm showing is that the safety measures in cars anyway are there to protect you from things you can't control. Of course your car can malfunction but again, that is out of your control. In terms of the boxing example, you are SUPPOSED to get hit in the face. Are you SUPPOSED to wack the spine of your knife on concrete? No. With a knife, you DO have complete control of what's going on. If you get cut it's your fault (barring defects in the knife) .

 

[stabman]

In terms of the boxing example, you are SUPPOSED to get hit in the face.

Actually, you're not; you're supposed to hit the OTHER guy in the face.
If you do it correctly, you'll be ducking his blows or deflecting them.

 

[Ultimate]

What I meant by "supposed to" was "expected to". You are expected to get hit in the face. It's still not expected to spinewack a knife though.

 

[stabman]

What I meant by "supposed to" was "expected to". You are expected to get hit in the face. It's still not expected to spinewack a knife though.

I'll concede that.
I do appreciate the extra safety factor though, as mistakes do happen at times.

 

[marthinus]

I like the added safety to a locking blade. Making holes in objects to put some twine through or making holes for testing tubes etc a slip joint has closed on my fingers. It happened with my old swiss where the springs are not that good any more. It is a nice added safety. Not fool proof and if used like stupid it will break.

A slip joint on the farm or where ever I might find myself doing research etc might not be enough. I do not carry fixed blade with me all the time. So having a locking knife really helps. So to me the statement is a bid rude and it is one minded.

 

[Ultimate]

I'll concede that.
I do appreciate the extra safety factor though, as mistakes do happen at times.

So do I. I'm glad this didn't turn into an argument haha. As I said, I was just playing devil's advocate.

I actually do prefer locking knives for the same reason you do.

 

[iambored388]

What if you want a knife that you can use hard but cannot carry a fixed blade?

exactly what i was thinking

 

[Bob W]

A couple of things jumped out from the original post:

1) The kid is brighter than most

2) Hopefully, he's also mature enough to not watch Cold Steel videos.

3) I hope he joins us here at BladeForums.

 

[Joshua J.]

I like locking folders but I got a Spyderco UKPK and realized (!) that sometimes (a lot) a slipjoint is better. You can open it, cut, fold it, put it away. The locking folder takes an extra step, which can be a nuisance, especially with a good strong lock. For small, frequent tasks, a slipjoint IS better.

:thumbup:
I still think a large, heavy duty slip-joint is a good idea.
A slippie version of the original Spyderco Manix for example. That I would like to see.

 

[Bill1170]

What I think some people are forgetting is that a locking knife will open much easier with one hand (do they make slipjoints with thumbstuds?) Point being, locking knives might be favored for that reason, not only because they lock open. In other words, I think people might be mis-attributing the reason why they prefer locking knives. If you have a Benchmade 940 and a Benchmade 940 slipjoint (doesn't lock open) which one will you take? If you want the ability to open one-handed, you're going to take the 940 that locks.

Let me add this so I don't get wrapped:
I agree that you don't need a lock and that a slipjoint is just as good as anything else. I only posted to suggest a different way of thinking.

+1, my thoughts exactly. I typically carry both a slipjoint SAK and a one-hand opening locking folder. There are jobs I'll do with a Delica or Mini Grip that I'd feel are too risky to do with the Tinker. However, I often use the locking knife merely because it is so much handier to deploy with one hand. Especially up on ladders. 90+% of my cutting tasks do not demand a lock.

In fact, the most important lock for me on the Victorinox One-Handed Trekker is the lock on the big screwdriver. Using a screwdriver to remove a screw is a "stabbing" motion that requires significant pressure to keep the driver in the slot, so there is a lot of risk that the tool will fold onto your fingers. In contrast to that, I seldom use the knife blade in such a fashion, i.e. - pushing on the end of the blade. There are times when a digging motion requires it, and then a lock is necessary.

Bill

 

[LX_Emergency]

If you NEED a blade that doesn't have lock failure....get a fixed blade.

That said I can understand that some people prefer a locking folder.

 

[singularity35]

sure we all will use our folders in the safe and proper manner but the lock is insurance when you make mistakes. you do make mistakes, don't you?

 

[gormandu]

If you're working in a tight area you'll want a knife with a lock on it. period. I've hit the back of the blade more than a few times, that would have easily closed almost any non locking blade. And yes, I've used my knife "improperly" more than once, but if you have a folder in your pocket, and you need to use it, then that's what you'll usually use, unless you want take a walk to get another tool.

 

[kreole]

You don't need a lock for something that requires a stabbing motion (I'm talking about something like a sealed box, not a knife fight).

You just don't do it with the knife horizontal; you push into it with the handle lower than the blade (like: box side--> | \ <--knife with blade up top).

 

[philwar]

People have gotten along fine without locks for ages.

I always love this argument. We've been getting along fine without <X> for ages.
Right. That's why we innovate and invent new stuff. Because we may or may not be able to get along with what we have, but we sure can always improve on it. It's why we have cars instead of horses and carriages, and why we open our cars with a remote instead of with keys. It's why we have cellphones instead of having to use a payphone, and why we have phones instead of the telex.

Using a knife without a lock teaches proper knife techniques.

What technique? Not having a blade fold on you? That would be proper for a slipjoint.

Locked folders are better than non-locked ones. They are safer and more useful.

I understand nostalgia. There may be other reasons as well to choose old stuff over new stuff. But it's wrong to rationalize it by pretending it's actually better in any meaningful way.

 

[philwar]

You don't need a lock for something that requires a stabbing motion (I'm talking about something like a sealed box, not a knife fight).

You just don't do it with the knife horizontal; you push into it with the handle lower than the blade (like: box side--> | \ <--knife with blade up top).

Or you could use a knife with a good lock.

 

[Ankerson]

So i was talking to a kid in my class that also collects knives. I know he doesn't know too much about knives(he collects the really cheap ones), but when he said this i was just like "you're kidding right."

Okay, so i was telling him about a video i saw demonstrating CS's tri-ad lock, and i told him that it looks really strong. And then he says, "yea, but you you don't really need a locking knife unless you're a retard." And i didn't want to say anything but i was thinking,"wow what stupid thing to say."

I know this really isn't important but i felt like sharing. Also i don't know if i'm posting this in the right area so sorry if i did.

That's true, you don't really NEED a lock, but they are nice to have depending on the use at hand.

I like fixed blades for hard use personally.

The way MOST people really use their folders they don't need a lock.

I don't think that knife is going to fold up on them opening mail, cleaning their fingernails, showing their buddies how sharp it is, showing it off for the OOOOOH AHHHHHH OHHHHH factor and sitting in their pocket.

 

[philwar]

I like locking folders but I got a Spyderco UKPK and realized (!) that sometimes (a lot) a slipjoint is better. You can open it, cut, fold it, put it away. The locking folder takes an extra step, which can be a nuisance, especially with a good strong lock.

Really? Honestly, really? Been using locked folders for 35 years or more now, it never once bothered me to unlock them, let alone that it occurred to me to 'save that extra step.'
You really saying you're THAT efficient with your time and effort that you'll notice being able to fold a knife without having to unlock it first? That 0.5 second or so?

For small, frequent tasks, a slipjoint IS better.

Nah. Not even close. Not ever.

 

[singularity35]

philwar your posts were what i wanted to say but don't have the word skill to do. couldn't have said it better. I was really wondering that something must be wrong with me since I feel lots safer with a hard use strong locking folder. I realized it just now that if poeple really did not want strong locks how could you explain the success of strider, sebenza ,and others. whether they want to face it or not, hard use folders are being used as weapons and as tools. with the technology we have today locks are getting even stronger. when the time and technology comes that folders will be the equal of fixed blades what will they be saying then?