Since when are the Chinese such huge fans of friction folders?

[Dan57]

I was browsing Aliexpress today. Not to buy anything, it's just interesting once in a while to see what the Chinese are up to. I noticed this strange pattern of liner and frame lock knives that don't have the lock bar cut out, but are otherwise completely normal. (Some even have the lock relief and lock bar insert, just not the actual spring.) I'm not the best at explaining things, but these pictures should do it.

Anyone know what's up with this? Do the knives actually come like this, or is it just in the pictures? And why? I looked through the user reviews and didn't see anything about a lock or lack of one.

I did a cursory search on Chinese knife laws as well as Aliexpress' rules for selling and didn't see anything prohibiting locking knives. Additionally, there are some knives on the site that clearly have functional locks. It's just really peculiar, the number that don't.

 

[wensynch]

Hard to comment as you're posting several different knives.

For instance, the first looks like a locking mechanism at be there unseen and operated perhaps using the clip. As you can see, the clip extends into and through the handle.

Second, has no clip, no back but in seen front.

Third has an inlay with again what appears to be s clip that does more than just clip.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

That website doesn't allow the sales of locking knives, so the sellers photoshop them.

 

[afishhunter]

Far as I know, it is illegal to carry a knife in China these days.
A business aquaintance relocated his yacht construction company to China. He told me knives are highly restricted there now; as much or more than firearms.

 

[LG&M]

That website doesn't allow the sales of locking knives, so the sellers photoshop them.

In one of the photos you can see the tang's are milled for a liner lock.

 

[wensynch]

So basically a really tight pivot?

2d pic shows nubs on top and below the protruding pivot.

 

[G. Scott H.]

That IS weird. When did you start seeing this? I haven't looked at knives there in probably over a year, but I don't recall seeing anything like this then. I'm guessing Blues is correct about the photoshopping (and the reason for it), but this must be a more recent policy.

 

[Pomsbz]

That website doesn't allow the sales of locking knives, so the sellers photoshop them.

this.

 

[Dan57]

For instance, the first looks like a locking mechanism at be there unseen and operated perhaps using the clip. As you can see, the clip extends into and through the handle.

Third has an inlay with again what appears to be s clip that does more than just clip.

I've never heard of a clip operated lock. Doesn't seem like a practical idea. And it doesn't look to me as if the clips do anything other than clip. The clip in the first one doesn't extend through the handle, it screws into the backspacer. The clip in the third looks totally normal to me.

That IS weird. When did you start seeing this? I haven't looked at knives there in probably over a year, but I don't recall seeing anything like this then. I'm guessing Blues is correct about the photoshopping (and the reason for it), but this must be a more recent policy.

The last time I was on Aliexpress was over six months ago, I think. I didn't notice this then. Photoshopping is the most likely explanation though I agree.

 

[Blue Sky]

In one of the photos you can see the tang's are milled for a liner lock.

Sure looks that way, though the others are not or don't appear to be. I wonder if these are prototypes, made without the locks for simplicity? The "not able to sell locking knives on the website" idea seems plausible too except those photos do not look photoshopped, they are too good IMO.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Sure looks that way, though the others are not or don't appear to be. I wonder if these are prototypes, made without the locks for simplicity? The "not able to sell locking knives on the website" idea seems plausible too except those photos do not look photoshopped, they are too good IMO.

Quoted from an Aliexp. dealer:

"Do not show the lock of knife in your feedback！！！Aliexpress not allow we show the frame lock,so we photoshop the knife picture,Business is not easy"

 

[NJBillK]

So the customer can't show the lock, but they can outright say that they do lock and that they photoshop them?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

The Bureaucratic State. (They're everywhere, they're everywhere!)

I Love Big Brother.​

 

[r redden]

The Bureaucratic State. (They're everywhere, they're everywhere!)

I Love Big Brother.​

:thumbup:

 

[ceptor781]

Looks like the Carson Boiling model, which is a frame lock with steel lock insert. Don't know about the photoshop or Chinese laws but the Boiling is a great knife.

 

[Scott321]

Sure looks that way, though the others are not or don't appear to be. I wonder if these are prototypes, made without the locks for simplicity? The "not able to sell locking knives on the website" idea seems plausible too except those photos do not look photoshopped, they are too good IMO.

If you do a blow up of the knives, you can see some irregularities in the picture which suggest digital enhancement. Most of this can even be done with a free program, i.e. Microsoft Paint. Additionally, it looks like all pics are taken with the blade just slightly closed (not fully open). This would place the liner/frame lock bar pretty close to where it needs to be to minimize digital enhancement. If you view the image in your browser and zoom in, it is easier to notice.

 

[Sosa]

Who wants to take the chance?

 

[Blue Sky]

Quoted from an Aliexp. dealer:

"Do not show the lock of knife in your feedback！！！Aliexpress not allow we show the frame lock,so we photoshop the knife picture,Business is not easy"

Well that pretty much answers it. Whoever did the pictures did a nice job.