Reliable Safe Lock Mechanism

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wildjim

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Mar 27, 2009
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Since reading about forced spine whacking Frame Lock and Liner Lock failures I would like to know without bias of manufacture which folding knife lock mechanism is "proven" reliable and safe and strong.

I understand that spine whacking is not recommended and unusual and I am not concerned with a test method debate. But would I like to know of the strongest safest lock design.

I am glad of my first instinct and attraction to the Kit Carson designed M16. I now also appreciate the feature by Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS®), designed by noted Knifemakers’ Guild members Ron Lake and Michael Walker.

I also have a Cold Steel Recon 1 with the Ultra Lock mechanism

I would like to know of other lock designs that are "proven" reliable and safe.
 
Frame locks and liner locks are some the the strongest locking mechanism's that can be had so don't give up on them so easy. I am not the best one to explain why but I'm sure someone else will. The one thing that these locks are prone to though is twisting force, this will cause the lock to fail when other locks like the axis or lock back will not.

All locks have their weakness you just have to find out what they are.
 
The reason why the spine whack test isn’t just abuse but a useless test is that for no particular reason a knife may pass or fail the test for no particular reason (as in it may pass the first 5 times fail the 6th, and pass the next 5 and so on). To buy a knife or not to buy a knife based on the test is absurd.
 
Axis, copresion lock, ball lock extreme ratio RAO pin lock. The ultra lock on a cold steel is designed on the axis and cold steel actually gave recocnition for benchmade for it on their earlier models. Do not give up on frame and liner locks as edc. I have batoned a liner lock from a maker (handmade knife) and it still locks up great because it was designed right!

If you want the absolute strongest lock ever....get a fix blade :>
 
marthinus said:
If you want the absolute strongest lock ever....get a fix blade :>
Click to expand...
+1 :D

But seriously when talking about "FOLDING KNIFES".
IMHO the best - but illegal in some countries (god bless that not in mine ;]) - locks, are ...

BALISONGS :D

There is no way to broke the "lock", other then turning the axle(s) or handles into pieces.
 
FWIW I have never had a lock of any kind fail on me. Use the knife as intended and you shouldn't have problems regardless of lock design. The possible exception being very cheap knives, and I mean cheap, not inexpensive. There are some good quality, inexpensive knives available.

Locks on folders are not intended to make them 100%, absolutely guaranteed, solid and fail safe. They are designed to prevent accidental closure of the blade under normal, reasonable use.

As already pointed out, if you need 100% guaranteed solid, you are wanting a fixed blade.

Kevin
 
amper124 said:
+1 :D

But seriously when talking about "FOLDING KNIFES".
IMHO the best - but illegal in some countries (god bless that not in mine ;]) - locks, are ...

BALISONGS :D

There is no way to broke the "lock", other then turning the axle(s) or handles into pieces.
Click to expand...

It figures the balisong knife is illegal here.

I noticed Cold Steel has a "legal" balisong style knife but I'd rather not challenge the law (police) in my area as they are pretty jumpy and opinionated around here ;)
 
Really, any lock can fail, and all your knives should be tested properly. That is, not spine whacked, but carefully apply a decent amount of pressure to the blade spine and see if the lock goes any closer to disengaging (remember, keep your fingers out of the blade path, just in case). This applies a static load, rather gentle, instead of shocking and breaking things like the spine whack.
Usually you can tell if a liner lock is holding it's own like this.
While liner locks are the most common to be built improperly, there are still good ones out there, and having a liner lock gives you good habits of checking lock security more often. Again, any lock can fail, and they should all be checked.
That said, I have never heard of a Spyderco Compression lock failing. It seems to be one of the most reliable locks out there. The Axis lock comes in second in my books, for the number of them out there, failure is very, very uncommon.
 
I have only had one lock failure, and it was my fault. A lock should never fail you under NORMAL use, with that being said, I really like the axis lock, its super strong and feels like it wouldnt fail under fairly extreme conditions. But I'm not saying that a frame lock or anything is any less reliable. My two cents
 
I agree with the any lock can fail statements, but for me it's .....
010-3.jpg
 
wildjim said:
Since reading about forced spine whacking Frame Lock and Liner Lock failures I would like to know without bias of manufacture which folding knife lock mechanism is "proven" reliable and safe and strong.

I understand that spine whacking is not recommended and unusual and I am not concerned with a test method debate. But would I like to know of the strongest safest lock design.

I am glad of my first instinct and attraction to the Kit Carson designed M16. I now also appreciate the feature by Lake and Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS®), designed by noted Knifemakers’ Guild members Ron Lake and Michael Walker.

I also have a Cold Steel Recon 1 with the Ultra Lock mechanism

I would like to know of other lock designs that are "proven" reliable and safe.
Click to expand...
Most locks are reliable and safe if you're not trying to cut with the spine.
 
Without question, Benchmade's Axis lock and Spyderco's compression lock are two of the most dependable locks around. That said, any currently produced locking systems are safe, if they have been manufactured properly out of quality materials.

Other than the Axis lock, one of my favorite locks is the Walker Liner Lock. It is easy to clean, check and maintain and with only one moving part, it is very dependable. I have never had a failure on a properly made liner lock, whether it is from Spyderco, Emerson or any other 'big name'. As with most things, buy quality and you will not suffer regrets.
 
If you buy a quality knife and use it as intended you will be fine. If you need to dig and prod and pry and you have to use a knife to do it get a fixed blade.
 
Axis lock is very reliable, but if you drop the knife in the sand and crud, you're screwed.

Liner locks and frame locks don't do as well under a twisting influence. There are exceptions....Chris Reeve developed the Sebenza frame lock with solid non twisting titanium slabs. Your hand is wrapped around the frame lock providing resistance to unlocking. If you get crud between the liner lock and handle scale, it is difficult to remove.
 
Now we're getting somewhere. It seems the Axis Lock is the best effort so far. Cold Steel's Ultra Lock appears to operate in a similar manner on my Recon 1
 
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