smoothest backlocks

J

Juice29

Joined
Jan 18, 2021
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12
Hey everyone
I was searching for a while and I couldn't find a thread on this. Does anybody know of some good lock back knives running on PB washers or bearings? Or just ones with very smooth action.
Thanks!
 
Ryu kawamura makes about the smoothest lockback I have ever felt. He uses PB bushings. Reese Bose makes a pretty smooth one also and has recently started using PB bushings like his dad did. GEC makes some that feel pretty good but lockup sometimes is a little loose. But they are a lot cheaper than the customs.
 
I’ve had multiple lock-backs from Buck, Spyderco, and Cold Steel. Smoothest I’ve felt so far was on the CS AD-10 that I got my son for his 18th birthday. I’m sure there are some customs out there that are on another level...
2DCD0BC4-CAEF-41BF-8D4A-F48E2D762D85.jpeg
 
scdub said:
I’ve had multiple lock-backs from Buck, Spyderco, and Cold Steel. Smoothest I’ve felt so far was on the CS AD-10 that I got my son for his 18th birthday. I’m sure there are some customs out there that are on another level...
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The AD10 is stupid smooth. It’s actually fun to fidget with. Something I thought I would never say about the triad lock.
 
Yeah it was kinda hard to give away - even to my own kid...
 
Production wise you get some good classics, Buck 110 etc and more modern ones include Cold Steel and Spyderco.

That being said, for exceptional smooth backlocks there are custom makers making backlogs that are mind boggling smooth. Des Horn, J Oeser etc.
 
The fluted Ti Native 5 is smoother than any of my other Natives. Even the G10 ones on PB washers are not as good. Probably, because polished Ti on polished steel moves smoother than polished steel on G10.

Out of curiosity I just dropped a bit of bike oil (heavier than sewing machine oil) on the pivot area of the tang on my Native Chiefs in Rex45 and S90V. The oil reached the washers and also both sides of the spring, interfacing the scales, the part that actually moves up and down. They improved nicely, but the fluted Ti Native is still the smoothest.
 
Have to agree my AD10 is so smooth as I kept flicking it open I thought maybe the pivot screw was loose or coming loose. No just a really smooth operating lockback that is even smoother than a S35vn Large Espada with the aluminun bolsters. Watch out for that free swinging blade when you push in on the back lock it's a really sharp blade. ;)
 
My Spyderco Endela has ridiculously good action. I can flick it open, Spydi Flick it, and it would drop shut if my fingers weren't in the way.
All with solid lockup.

The Cold Steel knives I've owned in the past had great action also, once dialed in.
 
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Spyderco Chinook 4 and Tatanka. The Power Lock takes a lot of pressure away from the tang, and makes both knives very easy and smooth to open.
 
kobold said:
The fluted Ti Native 5 is smoother than any of my other Natives. Even the G10 ones on PB washers are not as good. Probably, because polished Ti on polished steel moves smoother than polished steel on G10.

Out of curiosity I just dropped a bit of bike oil (heavier than sewing machine oil) on the pivot area of the tang on my Native Chiefs in Rex45 and S90V. The oil reached the washers and also both sides of the spring, interfacing the scales, the part that actually moves up and down. They improved nicely, but the fluted Ti Native is still the smoothest.
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I agree, the ti native 5 is really smooth. I have the fluted CF version and it's not as smooth as the ti version.

The Case Bose pictured is pretty good20200815_162701_copy_1942x3452.jpg . It has some QC issues that didn't get remedied even after a trip for "repairs", so it just mostly sits tucked away and aggravates me when I pull it out with my other knives.
 
The Cold Steel Air lite and Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter (once broken in) are by far the smoothest lockbacks I've gotten to handle.
 
If by smooth the discussion is about ease and lack of friction, I also would say Cold Steel wins. Unlike a lot of other locks, rather than how frictionless the pivot feels and other things, it's foremost about torsion bar pressure.

For comparison, Spyderco polishes all the friction areas of their lockbacks so are very smooth, but Cold Steel goes way lighter on the torsion bar pressure so that even with a lesser finish on contact points theirs open way easier (assuming on both that you don't hold down the lock).
 
60942D6C-1112-4D20-8CF8-35E02A6D2862.jpeg Reinhard Mueller MSP.
Very smooth backlock,runs on teflon washers and has S90V or like mine Damasteel blade.
 
Thanks for all the recs everyone! Does anybody have a rec for a smaller flicky lockback? I'm looking at the spydie chapparal atm and the spyopera was looking pretty appetizing too until I saw it's peened together. I like to take my knives apart a little too much haha
 
I have three Chaps and they are all flickable, the older versions esp if you adjust the spring. The latest birdseye maple version is flickable right out of the box.
The Chap is the best. I usually take off the clips and carry them at the bottom of my pocket. Just feels safer and nicer in the hand too.

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