Relief grind on frame lock bars

[made2cut]

Does anyone know if there is a functional difference as to why the relief grind on the locking bar of a frame lock is sometimes done on the outside rather than the inside? If it was purely due to asthetics I would think makers would always put it on the inside of the knife (which is usually the case). The TNT and a few others I've seen have the grind on the outside.

 

[hardheart]

I'm wondering how it affects lock strength. Everyone says a frame lock is stronger than a liner lock, but those relief grinds take the frame down to the thickness of a liner on many knives.

 

[Peter Atwood]

Makers have differing opinions on this one but to my mind I don't think it functionally makes a damned bit of difference. Each maker should just do what they think is aesthetically correct for their style and knife design. The Sebenza has it on the inside, Onions and Mayos on the outside.....it's all good!

 

[made2cut]

Thanks for the reply Peter. Your knife is the reason I asked the question - I noticed the Snakewood had the relief on the outside - different from your other knives.

 

[stjames]

On a Mayo or Onion the handles are contoured and rounded on the edges. If they did the cutout on the inside it would cut into the rounded edge.

 

[Matt Shade]

Cutting it from the outside slightly reduces the amount it has to bend and makes it just a hair more inline with the load being applied.
I don't know that it makes a noticeable difference in real world use, but cutting it from the outside makes things potentially stronger without having to make it thicker and harder to use.

 

[Peter Atwood]

I like Matt's explanation. That's the best argument I've heard so far in the inside vs. outside relief scallop controversy. But does it make a difference in real life usage........probably not.

 

[stjames]

I understand Matt's logic, but take a look at the picture below of a Ken Onion Vapor. If you put that cutout on the inside of the handle slab then the lock bar would end up being narrower at the relief point because of the rounded sides of the handle. By putting the cutout on the outside the bend point keeps its full width.