SAK - liner lock vs. slidey button

F

Franco G

Joined
Dec 29, 2000
Messages
399
I would like to get following infos on large SAKs:

1. The Rucksack (red handle, basics + saw) has a slidey button lock, and the Forester (black handle, basics + saw) has a liner lock.
Question: which one (liner or slidey-button version) is stronger for the outdoor/woods use?
Comment 1: Black handle knives are advertised by the Victorinox as 'Sturdy Pocket Tools...' and the red handle ones as 'Picknick/Pocket Tools...' It sounds like black ones are stronger?
Comment 2: I have read recently that it should be easier to clean the SAKs with liner lock than the other ones...
Comment 3: I noticed that Rucksack is very popular in the US. But, maybe, people do not distinguish Rucksack from the Forester. They are the SAME knife except for the locking mechanism.
A would appreciate any answer.
Regards,

Franco
 
i have an adventurer and a fireman, and the one hand trailmaster. my observations are that the linerlock type knives seem to be of more robust construction and are heavier than the red handled slide lock versions of the knives. the handles are heavier. they both seem to lock up tight, and i have used both of the knives to carve things, and to use on trips. the red handled knives are much lighter and if i would use a neck sheath i might like the lightest of the knives. the heavier knives feel better in my hand i will admit.

alex
 
Hey Franco...

There are many SAKs that are the same,yet different in some ways...

As far as the locks go....

The Slide lock on SAKS such as the RUK and Outrider are plenty strong to do most of your tasks...

If you are doing anything that would possibly make them fail, you may want to move up to a fixed blade.
Use them for what they are intended to be used at and you won't have a problem...

As far as preference goes.. I prefer the slide lock on the RUK and Outrider rather than the liner lock. However both work well...

ttyle

Eric....
 
I'm with Normark on this one....

Using any folding knife in such a fashion as to stress the lock significantly is just asking for trouble, and is definitely not using proper knifecraft. I use my locking SAKs in the same way that I use my slipjoint SAKs, assuming that the blade can fold onto my fingers. I treat tactical folders in a similar fashion. I have both a liner and button lock SAK and they are both fine locks. I prefer my liner locking Trailmaster mainly because the big screwdriver locks as well as the blade; other than that my Rucksack does the job beautifully. The button locks are plenty strong enough for heavy duty knife use. I wouldn't try and stab one through a steel door, but then I wouldn't try that with ANY folder.

And whatever one you decide on is always nicely enhanced by one of Normark's fine concealex neck rigs! ;)
 
I have a Wenger Mountaineer model with the button\slide lock that was dropped from about 6' onto a terrazzo floor where I work. The knife was closed at the time but the lock-side scale was damaged slightly. The damage was enough so that the scale will lift off just enough so that the button will not properly engage the tabs on the steel part of the lock to release it. Now sometimes the lock will disengage and sometimes not.

Because of the above experience I would highly recommend the liner-lock version of any SAK over the "button-slider" type lock.
 
I'm not sure how the Wenger button locks compare to those from Victorinox. It might not be a valid comparison, but someone who's compared the two might be able to shed some light on this...
 
I have a Victorinox Cowboy with slide lock and the liner-locking Trailmaster. Both are solid, but of the two, IMO the liner-lock version is more solid and stronger. I also would not set out to purposely stress the lock; I just consider it additional insurance when using it for normal cutting chores. Also, I don't know if Victorinox even makes the button-sliding lock anymore, or if they now only make the liner-lock on the large models.
Jim
 
Originally posted by numberthree
And whatever one you decide on is always nicely enhanced by one of Normark's fine concealex neck rigs!
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I've got one for my Outrider and it's great.

No complaints about the Outrider (side lock) either. You'd have to put enough closing force on the blade to bend or break the spring or the bar that engages the hook on the underside of the spring for the blade to close up on you. The main advantage of the liner locks in my mind is reliability--pocket crud could get in the recess on the underside of the spring and prevent the locking bar from doing its job on the side lock models. I think that would be less likely in the liner-lock designs. I wanted scissors and a woodsaw on the same knife, however, so my options were limited. No complaints, though.
 
Hi Eric,

I just received my one-handed Trailmaster (SAK) and I LOVE it!
The frontal serrations work great for me and the strait 1/18" edge near the pivot point is just right for my wood cutting work.

Regarding your great concealex neck rigs for the SAK's, how far is your plan for making one for the one-handed opening SAK (Trailmaster)?

I still want 2 of these and I have had several dreams lately that a combined neck sheath holding an ASP 1 AAA LED light alongside the one-hand opening Trailmaster would be an absolute hit, well at least for me.

With your knowledge on forming the concealex/kydex it should be possible to make such a combined LED+SAK sheath :D

Hope to hear from you,

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera
 
Originally posted by Franco G
Question: which one (liner or slidey-button version) is stronger for the outdoor/woods use?
Click to expand...
This was discussed awhile ago in this thread. It doesn't provide a definite answer, but it does have some interesting comments.
I've never owned or even held a Vic SAK with the slide button, so I can't presonally comment on that. I do swear by my Trailmaster, though, which has a liner lock. It's never failed on me, though I do not overly abuse it -- I also agree with the point of view expressed above that folding knives with locks are not equivalent to fixed blades, and should not be treated as such.
 
I thought slidey lock was older lock style that was discontinued, and any more left are just remaining stock? Or Victorinox still is making these along with liner lock?!!!!!
Also, somewaht tangent- is liner lock still made "backwards" for right handers (or "proper way" for lefties) ? This was always peculiar to me.
 
Thank you very much for your kind and very useful comments. Two days ago I bought the Trailmaster, which is really a sturdy knife.As numberthree said, the big screwdriver locks also (with the same liner that locks a blade). This SAK would be very useful for hiking and outdoor activities in general. I shall combine Trailmaster with the Fallkniven A-1 and Spyderco's Chinook for a 'heavy' hiking, or with BM Nimravus Cub and Spyderco's Wegner Jr. for a 'light' one.
Yes, the price for Trailmaster here in Croatia is something around $20.

Regards,

Franco G
 
Sorry to repeat my question but just curious, is the liner still machined "backwards" for righties and "correct way" for lefties?
Thank you-
Martin
 
Martin,
To answer your question, the SAK I just bought has "the liner still machined "backwards" for righties and "correct way" for lefties". I didn't realize it until I went to close it for the first time. It works fine for me.
Jim
 
By me, the liner is still machined "backwards" for righties and "correct way" for lefties", too.

Franco
 
Thanks for claarification! I have old Rucksack and Trailmaster, wonder why Victorinox choose to machine them this way...
Martin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top