Remember when "lock stick" was a good thing?

[Thomas Carey]

I see so much complaining about sticky locks and I guess I don't get it.

I remember first reading about the new Walker LinerLock in the 90's. One of the many benefits touted was the fact that titanium galls to other metals.

In other words, it made the lock stick open better. Which was a GOOD thing back then.

Now, like anything else in this hobby, we've found a new thing to make into a THING. Then we made it trendy.

Personally, all these trends annoy me. But I have an especially hard time trying to stay open minded to someone complaining :

"My lock is hard to close!"

Whut? Isn't that the POINT?

"But it hurts my thumbs."

Really? Don't be a wussy, then.

I don't think myself especially strong. In fact, I'm pretty much a weenie. But I've had ZERO problem disengaging the stickiest or stiffest of the culprits Im always hearing about. Compression, Triad, titanium liner, titanium frame. . .

I just use the right application of leverage, and there we go. Some of the stiffest have given me a welt. But that's when I'm using it as a toy to play with instead of cutting stuff with it. And I still can't grasp why that's a problem.

Anyway, I'm just as guilty of getting hung up on dumb things as the rest.

But dang, unless you have arthritis or are a 7 year old girl, this one I just can't accept.

What are your thoughts on this and other goofy trends that seem to make or break people's opinion of their knife?

And the fact that many people don't have a thought on the matter until they read about it?

Answers such as "Well if you don't like it then blah blah" need not apply here.

I'm interested in reading some real opinions here.

There was mine.

Thanx.

Great post very good posts and I sure do remember back when sticky was good. =)

 

[Eliteone2383]

Remember when smooth bore muskets were the best? Remember when black and white tvs were all hyped up? Remember when pong was the best video game ever? Things evolve and get better.

 

[KBA]

Remember when smooth bore muskets were the best? Remember when black and white tvs were all hyped up? Remember when pong was the best video game ever? Things evolve and get better.

I remember when things made used to last decades with a bit of maintenance. Things last a few years tops nowadays. Things don't always "evolve" for the better of the product or the patron, but more here lately they seem to evolve more so for the bank account of the producer. Could the "non-stick" lock be marketing hype that people have bought in on?

 

[Sergeua]

Is a traveling lockbar while using the knife a good thing too?

 

[Jamesh Bond]

I remember when things made used to last decades with a bit of maintenance. Things last a few years tops nowadays. Things don't always "evolve" for the better of the product or the patron, but more here lately they seem to evolve more so for the bank account of the producer. Could the "non-stick" lock be marketing hype that people have bought in on?

O absolutely.

I had a horrid stint working at SEARS in my 20's.

Over HALF the craftsman mowers sold came back the very first week.

I could pick any one of these up and flex the entire deck just by grabbing both ends!

The tool warranty was still implied, but to actually be able to use it, you had to buy the extended warranty. BTW, I saw a LOT of broken Craftsmen hand tools too. I was still rocking a rachet I had found on the street when I was four.

I felt bad for the older people who came in thinking Craftsman still meant quality. Hell, at the time I had one from the 80s that my family got used at a garage sale, and it ran strong.

Glad that career was short. It was shameful to be representing such an outright lying perversion of a once great brand.

Nothing is safe from this phenomenon.

 

[whp]

We have become a bunch of wimp whiners.
Just use the freekin knife!!
rolf

Absolutely right. People complain about closing a Cold Steel. If you don t want a strong lockup, don t buy a knife that has one!
Most of the complaints about about disengaging a folder lockup are due to the user, rather than the knife.
Some people s hands are stronger and more coordinated than others. I can t flick open folders as well as a lot of reviewers on the internet. But I can close almost all of my CS knives with one hand.
Each has his own capabilities.

 

[whp]

^ This has to be one of the most enjoyable OP's I've had the pleasure of reading here on BF's. :thumbup: BladeForums has made me even more biased and jaded regarding this subject; regardless- you pretty much nailed both the internet/millennial generations in a nutshell, JB!

As for my opinion, I would be willing to bet that a solid 50+% of the people on this forum, never actually use a knife out in the field. They may use them in the kitchen, helping their mom or significant other spread frosting on birthday cakes, but not outside.

Regarding lockstick: I've purchased several knives from member's on this forum where this so called issue wasn't disclosed. I never mentioned a word to the seller, because it really didn't bother me.





^ +1 < Because they more often than not, they never even removed the knife from it's box.



^ Please Rolf- don't include me in with this bunch! I grew up on a ranch, riding bulls, eating mountain oysters cooked right on top of a cut out 30 gallon barrel used to heat up the branding irons, with some of the toughest hard working Salinas Valley cowboys, served my country at a time when we didn't have all of this BS military PC put in place. I could go on & on... If John Steinbeck were still alive, he'd probably be writing a new book: Of Mice And _____ (for fear of not being PC & offending anyone- please fill in the blank).


While this video maybe a bit of an exaggeration, this Owen guy is pretty much like a lot of the younger generation I see out in the World today...except for the fact that they always seem to be holding a phone typing away, or taking selfie pictures of themselves while they're twirling around.
EDIT: Another thing that disgusts me, is the fact that much of our population, is becoming hooked on pharmaceutical medication to help them cope and make it through a freaking simple day. The Vet's coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, went through hell...while these types do nothing but complain and protest the World around them...and need anxiety medication to help take off the edge of living everyday life. WTF!!! :sorrow:

I don't think I even want to be around in 20 years. It will be like some horror Sci-Fi movie where Doctor's are delivering male babies born without testicles...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xGoBlI_fdg




^ Dream on! It ain't gonna happen! FWIW: Knives aren't the problem! If BladeForums weren't around, these non knife types would find another forum to troll on (probably a clothing forum).




^ Key word: "Some"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xGoBlI_fdg




^ Unfortunately, yes, this is the age of the internet. Thanks for the reminder- I need to turn this computer off and get outside in the real World. Thank you! :thumbup:



^ +1 This is one of the best 2 pages I've read in quite sometime. I don't really feel a need to read any further past this post... VVV I can already see what's waiting below. :yawn:

Thanks for the fun thread, Jamesh Bond! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Go for it!
Very good thread Jamesh.

 

[draperfish]

My 0561 had such bad lockstick I had to carry a companion screw driver with me to pry it open after use. However, that is relatively easily fixed with a little sharpie.

My problem is this: for my uses, I've never had to worry about lock failure, so the question became: why have lockstick if I get literally no loss in my personal use with a steel lockbar insert? The added bonus being decreased lock wear, although I've never worn a lock bar out, or even seen one move a considerable degree


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That! Had a lock that was so sticky it took a key or something else to disengage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DaNuke95]

Good thread, Mr. Bond. Agreed. And as a few have pointed out, a little bit of honest use evens things out. Lock stick I can live with, and corrects itself. Lock flex or slip... that's a different story altogether.

Amen!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[klute]

I don't mind doing some work on a knife to get it where I want it to be, especially [but not limited to] if the cost of the knife has been kept down. It's not that hard to take a knife apart and do some sanding etc. is it? And well duh, you might have to do it 2 or 3 times to get it right, OMG! Horrible!

I have a bunch of Cold Steels and the Triad can fairly easily be modified for less tension / easier action. Same with the Pocket Bushman just cut a few coils off the engagement spring [start with removing 2 or 3 coils and see how it goes].

I think a large part of the problem is the lack of mechanical will to get the knife right.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I'd certainly prefer a sticky lock to one that slips or rocks.

I've encountered only one knife where the lock stick actually bothered me. Generally it was just very hard, but if you used any wrist flick when flipping you'd need a hammer to disengage the lock.

A little bit of stick, which I believe was the point in using Ti to begin with, was and still is a good thing in my book.

Generally, when I hear or see petty complaints like "this knife sucks! The lock is sticky!" I figure it translates to "I bought the wrong knife for me."

 

[Herlock]

Hi. Funny and interesting thread :thumbup:. As far as me, I would say it depends really on situations. I don’t mind lock stick on my “heavy duty” outdoor use folders. When it comes to these, I also stretch this to the point of considering some lock stick as an “extra safety” feature. For example, this knife of mine has a fairly noticeable lock stick and it’s OK for me, it’s a workhorse for my hiking/camping tasks and needs.

On “gents” folders, for me it’s still acceptable, but I’d rather do without. Lock stick here, for me, it’s more a minor annoyance than anything else, when/if using these knives for their intended use.

On those “work around the house” knives, climbing, fishing or hunting folding knives, lock stick for me it’s unacceptable and, in these cases, I see this feature as potentially dangerous: carrying out tasks hanging from a ladder, a climbing rope, hanging out from a boat holding fishing lines, etc., for me, I need a reliable and smooth opening and closing. In these situations, not always I can afford having to “fight” with the knife and eventually resorting to close it with two hands .

On the other hand, “slipping” locks or locks which are too weak and disengage too easily I personally would always consider dangerous and a product defect.

 

[Heirphoto]

Lock stick is probably why guys carry those tiny pocket pry bars

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Lock stick is probably why guys carry those tiny pocket pry bars

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk

Haha well played!!

Those things are just precious, aren't they? Useless, but damned adorable. . .

 

[KELAMA]

Haha well played!!

Those things are just precious, aren't they? Useless, but damned adorable. . .

Good morning James! The thread that keeps on giving. :thumbup:

Thanks for another laugh...just before I head out the door for a long day at work trying to do my part in making, "America Great Again." :thumbup:

As for those "precious" titanium pry bars... I myself prefer using a gorilla bar, or a flat wonder bar when I'm hanging doors. I've never needed any type of pry bar, for any knife I've used. I just use my very strong, tough, calloused hands...

which reminds me; maybe I do need to use a moisturizing lotion, or something. This lady friend of mine that I was with on Saturday night, kept telling me that my hands were too rough. :couple_inlove:

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Good morning James! The thread that keeps on giving. [emoji106]

Thanks for another laugh...just before I head out the door for a long day at work trying to do my part in making, "America Great Again." [emoji106]

As for those "precious" titanium pry bars... I myself prefer using a gorilla bar, or a flat wonder bar when I'm hanging doors. I've never needed any type of pry bar, for any knife I've used. I just use my very strong, tough, calloused hands...

which reminds me; maybe I do need to use a moisturizing lotion, or something. This lady I was with Saturday night, kept telling me that my hands were too rough. :couple_inlove:

Top O the morning to you too, sir.

Might I suggest a bronze Altoids tin that really isn't an Altoids tin but just looks like an Altoids tin to carry your lotion in?

Unless it prefers to place the lotion in the basket. . .

 

[craytab]

Good morning James! The thread that keeps on giving. :thumbup:

Thanks for another laugh...just before I head out the door for a long day at work trying to do my part in making, "America Great Again." :thumbup:

As for those "precious" titanium pry bars... I myself prefer using a gorilla bar, or a flat wonder bar when I'm hanging doors. I've never needed any type of pry bar, for any knife I've used. I just use my very strong, tough, calloused hands...

which reminds me; maybe I do need to use a moisturizing lotion, or something. This lady friend of mine that I was with on Saturday night, kept telling me that my hands were too rough. :couple_inlove:

Okay then.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

I don't know how anyone can read this thread and still find a frame lock an acceptable knife lock. Literally any other lock, besides a liner lock which is essentially the same lock, does not have these types of issues with lockup and safety.

I just don't get it unless you don't need any lock in the first place but I would rather have something that is reliable should I ever need to really push the knife that's in my pocket to get out of a bad predicament. I guess people will accept anything with the right marketing or if it becomes popular with others for some reason. Strange things can happen in groups of people that wouldn't happen if a person was alone and thinking like they normally do.

 

[Lycosa]

Pry bars are more adorable when they come with a pocket clip.
rolf

 

[stabman]

I don't know how anyone can read this thread and still find a frame lock an acceptable knife lock.

Maybe because I have used them for years for real life tasks, and even abusive ones with zero issues whatsoever?
I guess if I based my opinions on what some guys I don't know for most part wrote on the internet, then I'd be worried.
Since I base my opinions on my own experience--especially when I have years of experiences to base those opinions on--I am not worried at all.

And that's just some.

But yeah, I guess I'll start worrying because of some internet complaints.