simple lock definitions....

[Warthog]

Sorry, I searched and read many posts on locks in general but I still can't find the basic info I'm looking for. Also a knife newbie here.

What is a liner lock? I hear it being bashed or on the other hand, praised at times.

Is it the "push button" type of lock? Or is that the axis lock?

I have a SOG Tomcat II....the lock seems VERY strong to me. What kind of lock is that?

Thanks

Warthog

 

[martin j]

Your Tomcat is a lockback folder, it is the most common type of lock. Among SOG, the Jet-edge has a liner lock. That means the lock is on the bottom of the knife handle, a piece of the liner attached to the inside of the handle scale is formed to bent inward when the knife is open so the blade is "locked" in place by the stop pin on top and the liner on the bottom- it moves into the locking position when the blade is open. To close it you use your thumb to press it back into place along the side of the scale then close the blade.
This is a picture of a "integral lock" (or some say "frame lock") which is similar in concept to a liner lock, ecxept there is no thin liner so the whole piece of the frame moves into place. This is on aSebenza:
http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.html
Same concept, you press the integral lock out with your thumb to close the blade.
The liner lock can be well-made, along with Sebenza my favorite folder is the Spyderco's Tim Wegner model which has a liner lock which is extremely strong and reliable. The margin for error in manufacturing is very low for liner locks, however, many co.'s make weak or ineffective liner locks, hence it can have a poor reputation.
Martin

 

[Warthog]

ahhhhhhh thanks for your time. My previous daily carrier had a liner lock...and I thought that was a weak way to make a lock (in comparison to the Tomcat) before I even knew about this stuff.