Slip joints vs lockbacks

Woodrow F Call

Woodrow F Call

Joined
Jan 3, 2013
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I've been wanting a Tribal Lock for a little bit. I liked the blade shape and thought the size would be a nice combo for many tasks.

Well, I found a good one on the exchange and bought it. I've been carrying it a few days and generally like it except, I find the extra motion needed to close the knife to be a little annoying. Liner locks are a little easier as for economy of motion as I can still close with one hand, just being careful.

Still, as I handle a folding knife in such a way that I keep my hand out of the path of the folding blade, I don't see the need for a locking knife. If I need something that isn't going to fold on me, I'll go for a fixed blade.

Still deciding if I like the knife or not. I like the pinchable spear point. I think I'd like it better as a slip joint.

Anyways, is there anything else I'm missing on a lock back?
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I've been wanting a Tribal Lock for a little bit. I liked the blade shape and thought the size would be a nice combo for many tasks.

Well, I found a good one on the exchange and bought it. I've been carrying it a few days and generally like it except, I find the extra motion needed to close the knife to be a little annoying. Liner locks are a little easier as for economy of motion as I can still close with one hand, just being careful.

Still, as I handle a folding knife in such a way that I keep my hand out of the path of the folding blade, I don't see the need for a locking knife. If I need something that isn't going to fold on me, I'll go for a fixed blade.

Still deciding if I like the knife or not. I like the pinchable spear point. I think I'd like it better as a slip joint.

Anyways, is there anything else I'm missing on a lock back?
Click to expand...
Why is it so important to close the knife with one hand? I am guessing you started out with modern knives and just got used to them. Liner locks make me nervous. Much prefer lockbacks. There's something for all of us out there. :)
 
There are a couple of ways to close a lockback one handed. With something like the Tribal Lock you press the lock bar with your thumb, and close the blade by pressing the back of the blade against your hip or thigh.

I carried the classic Buck 110 for years, and eventually drifted to carrying a slip joint. Don't really remember why. I've never had a slipjoint close unexpectedly on me, but I don't really remember being annoyed with using a lock back. I really think it's just a matter of getting used to the new hardware.
 
I like the pinchable blade on most lock backs too. I also like that the blade action on many lock backs is smooth and easy. Very easy to open and close. I do not find the lock release annoying unless it's sticky or difficult to manipulate.
 
Prester John said:
Why is it so important to close the knife with one hand? I am guessing you started out with modern knives and just got used to them. Liner locks make me nervous. Much prefer lockbacks. There's something for all of us out there. :)
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Nope. My first knife was a slip joint. Sometimes, I'm holding something with my hand after the cut. Even if I use two hands to close, I find there is more economy of motion.... and if I'm handling a knife correctly the lock is unnecessary. Besides, about 25 years ago, I had a liner lock on a Klein version of a TL29 give and cut my hand pretty good as I was using the flat tip to turn a screw.

I'm not saying one is better than the other really. I'm just looking for other reasons that I might like a lockback better.
 
dsutton24 said:
There are a couple of ways to close a lockback one handed. With something like the Tribal Lock you press the lock bar with your thumb, and close the blade by pressing the back of the blade against your hip or thigh.

I carried the classic Buck 110 for years, and eventually drifted to carrying a slip joint. Don't really remember why. I've never had a slipjoint close unexpectedly on me, but I don't really remember being annoyed with using a lock back. I really think it's just a matter of getting used to the new hardware.
Click to expand...

The 110 has the lock at one end which makes one handed manipulation a little easier. The tribal lock is in the middle making it a little less easy.

I do have an old 110 with "Buck" written upside down on the blade.
 
One of my pet peeves regarding modern locking knifes is the hassle closing them. I grew up closing slipjoints one-handed by pressing the back of the blade against my thigh, and the extra step of disengaging the lock (not to mention placing my thumb in the blade path) annoys me.

Curiously, Tony Bose says he chose the mid-lock design to make one-handed closing easier. See the 3:40 mark in this video:


FWIW, count me among those who’d also like Case to offer this knife in a slipjoint configuration.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I've been wanting a Tribal Lock for a little bit. I liked the blade shape and thought the size would be a nice combo for many tasks.

Well, I found a good one on the exchange and bought it. I've been carrying it a few days and generally like it except, I find the extra motion needed to close the knife to be a little annoying. Liner locks are a little easier as for economy of motion as I can still close with one hand, just being careful.

Still, as I handle a folding knife in such a way that I keep my hand out of the path of the folding blade, I don't see the need for a locking knife. If I need something that isn't going to fold on me, I'll go for a fixed blade.

Still deciding if I like the knife or not. I like the pinchable spear point. I think I'd like it better as a slip joint.

Anyways, is there anything else I'm missing on a lock back?
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with what you are saying. I have lockbacks and like them but I never feel like I need a lock and prefer a multi blade non locking knife anyways.
 
Not a lockback necessarily but a locking knife beats a slipjoint for tasks where piercing is involved. Also I find a locking knife good when cutting through something thick and binding like rubber for example, sometimes you need to rock the blade or back it out.
When I can, I like to carry a slipjoint in my back pocket and a modern locking folder clipped to my front pocket.
Today I’ve got my GEC 35 calf pen
 
My old man carries a Mercator black cat that I gave him every day, I'd also consider them a mid-lock, he closes it one handed very much like everyone else has described. Pressing the lock and using his hip/thigh. I bought one at the same time but switched to a douk douk when that came because I liked the blade geometry better. I haven't found any reason that a locking blade would suit me better for what I do with a folding knife than a slippie. However if the black cat had the better geometry ( mind you this is all my opinion) I'd carry that. I will add that I carry a small fixed blade every day as well. My advice here for what it's worth is if you like the blade shape/geometry of the tribal lock, then stick with it for a while. I'm sure you'll find a way to get it to work for you if you truly like to carry it... If not then I'm sure something in a slip joint format will come along and present itself to you. That's most of the fun with our hobby... If we all were able to find that perfect knife on the first try then life would be pretty boring.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
The 110 has the lock at one end which makes one handed manipulation a little easier. The tribal lock is in the middle making it a little less easy.

I do have an old 110 with "Buck" written upside down on the blade.
Click to expand...

I actually find mid-back locks much easier to close one handed than traditional "end" back locks. That's really the reason they came about.

These pics are little off as I was trying to show it in one hand and snap a pic with the other but I just slip my fingers forward a bit, finger on the spine with a tiny bit of pressure, depress the lock with my thumb and the blade breaks free. Then pull my fingers out of the way and snap it shut with my finger or on my leg or whatever.

t1bV8rK.jpg


uVLssPJ.jpg


Unless you never wrap your fingers around the handle of the knife, it's always possible to get cut by one. I have no issue with slip joints for sure but you do need to be conscious of making high angle cuts through things with some resistance. No biggy, just something to be mindful of. And I still wrap my fingers around the handle of them.
 
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Frailer said:
One of my pet peeves regarding modern locking knifes is the hassle closing them. I grew up closing slipjoints one-handed by pressing the back of the blade against my thigh, and the extra step of disengaging the lock (not to mention placing my thumb in the blade path) annoys me.

Curiously, Tony Bose says he chose the mid-lock design to make one-handed closing easier. See the 3:40 mark in this video:


FWIW, count me among those who’d also like Case to offer this knife in a slipjoint configuration.
Click to expand...

Maybe if I pinch the knife between the thumb and middle finger and press the lock with the index finger.... that's an idea!
 
spyderg said:
Not a lockback necessarily but a locking knife beats a slipjoint for tasks where piercing is involved. Also I find a locking knife good when cutting through something thick and binding like rubber for example, sometimes you need to rock the blade or back it out.
When I can, I like to carry a slipjoint in my back pocket and a modern locking folder clipped to my front pocket.
Today I’ve got my GEC 35 calf pen
Click to expand...

When piercing, I tend use the knife in such a way that there is always pressure that'll keep the blade open. If I need more than that, I'll get a different tool.

I do see your point though. ;)
 
I also pierce while keeping forward pressure on blade. I cut rubber with it layed on a wood backing and cutting nut from edge but from flat so never really saw that.

Lockbacks a are one of my favorite cause it’s what I carried as a kid in Boy Scouts. Still have my BSA buck lite! Stockman is the other cause it’s all daddy and grandpa carried.

Woodrow, I have a tribal lock that I won from randy in a giveaway. I use it sometimes but if you want to try it on for awhile, I don’t mind loaning it out to ya. I find one handed lock operation is no harder than back lock. Different but no harder. Maybe even a touch easier once you get the muscle memory down.
 
SVTFreak said:
I also pierce while keeping forward pressure on blade. I cut rubber with it layed on a wood backing and cutting nut from edge but from flat so never really saw that.

Lockbacks a are one of my favorite cause it’s what I carried as a kid in Boy Scouts. Still have my BSA buck lite! Stockman is the other cause it’s all daddy and grandpa carried.

Woodrow, I have a tribal lock that I won from randy in a giveaway. I use it sometimes but if you want to try it on for awhile, I don’t mind loaning it out to ya. I find one handed lock operation is no harder than back lock. Different but no harder. Maybe even a touch easier once you get the muscle memory down.
Click to expand...

I appreciate it bud. I acquired one in whiskey bone.
 
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