Snecx Tan's New Lock Design

SpySmasher

SpySmasher

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If you don't know who "Snecx" Tan is, he's a new knifemaker who has made some waves on Instagram for his obsessive attention to detail, futuristic esthetic, and his willingness to talk his way through the design process. So far, he's concentrated on folders with a screwless disassembly mechanic. I own one of his two production models -- the CKF "Terra" (far right in the picture below). His other screwless disassembly knife models are also pictured. He also did a screwless spinner with CKF back when spinners were a thing and a more conventional collab with Jake Hoback (neither pictured).

Snecx-knives.jpg


He's recently announced a new model, the "P2036" which features a new lock of his own design. He has expressed a lot of enthusiasm for this mechanism. I ripped these two videos from his Instagram. This prototype doesn't represent a final knife design but is meant to test the mechanism.



He's also made some fairly bold and exciting claims:

  • He tested an all-aluminum prototype to destruction on a bench and when the aluminum frame failed (330 lb/inches, suspended statically) the lock seized open and didn't collapse.
  • He's hoping to match Tri-ad levels of static strength, as well as having the knife pass impact tests, etc. He is hopeful that he can achieve this because the lock has "a similar concept of load transfer" as a Tri-ad but it is not "a lockback of some sort" nor is it like a Scorpion lock. However, "the lock ... has similarities to other locks." He expects it to be stronger than a Compression lock.
  • Blade retention when closed, the force of breaking the detent, how the blade opens, how it locks in place, how it disengages, whether or not a change of grip is required for unlocking, and how the blade closes were all considered in the design.
  • Ambidextrous.
  • Grip reinforces the lock strength.
  • Minimal parts.
  • One-handed lock release without repositioning the hand.
  • User serviceability is a major design point.
  • Regarding the lock spring he believes that he "has some surprises coming based on this part alone."
If you've followed any of his projects before you know that the end results are not guaranteed. He's careful to use words like "hope" and "should" when describing the new lock. Still, as a "lock geek" I'm very interested

[UPDATE POST 26]
[UPDATE POST 34]
 
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SpySmasher said:
If you don't know who "Snecx" Tan is, he's a new knifemaker who has made some waves on Instagram for his obsessive attention to detail, futuristic esthetic, and his willingness to talk his way through the design process. So far, he's concentrated on folders with a screwless disassembly mechanic. I own one of his two production models -- the CKF "Terra" (far right in the picture below). His other screwless disassembly knife models are also pictured. He also did a screwless spinner with CKF back when spinners were a thing and a more conventional collab with Jake Hoback (neither pictured).

Snecx-knives.jpg


He's recently announced a new model, the "P2036" which features a new lock of his own design. He has expressed a lot of enthusiasm for this mechanism. I ripped these two videos from his Instagram. This prototype doesn't represent a final knife design but is meant to test the mechanism.



He's also made some fairly bold and exciting claims:

  • He tested an all-aluminum prototype to destruction on a bench and when the aluminum frame failed (330 lb/inches, suspended statically) the lock seized open and didn't collapse.
  • He's hoping to match Tri-ad levels of static strength, as well as having the knife pass impact tests, etc. He is hopeful that he can achieve this because the lock has "a similar concept of load transfer" as a Tri-ad but it is not "a lockback of some sort" nor is it like a Scorpion lock. However, "the lock ... has similarities to other locks." He expects it to be stronger than a Compression lock.
  • Blade retention when closed, the force of breaking the detent, how the blade opens, how it locks in place, how it disengages, whether or not a change of grip is required for unlocking, and how the blade closes were all considered in the design.
  • Ambidextrous.
  • Grip reinforces the lock strength.
  • Minimal parts.
  • One-handed lock release without repositioning the hand.
  • User serviceability is a major design point.
  • Regarding the lock spring he believes that he "has some surprises coming based on this part alone."
If you've followed any of his projects before you know that the end results are not guaranteed. He's careful to use words like "hope" and "should" when describing the new lock. Still, as a "lock geek" I'm very interested
Click to expand...

Snecx is the freakkin’ man! His folder designs are just on a technical level I don’t see elsewhere.

Btw I am also curious about the deadbolt lock by Ikoma. Too bad its only showing up on a crkt.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Color me interested, though I suspect his work will be out of my price range. Maybe we'll see someone license the lock.
Click to expand...
That would be my hope too. His customs are brutally out of my price range. The Terra I bought was, frankly, WAY overpriced even as a production knife but for reasons that don't really apply to this new knife.

Lapedog said:
Btw I am also curious about the deadbolt lock by Ikoma. Too bad its only showing up on a crkt.
Click to expand...
Ha! I had the same thought.
 
Lapedog said:
Snecx is the freakkin’ man! His folder designs are just on a technical level I don’t see elsewhere.

Btw I am also curious about the deadbolt lock by Ikoma. Too bad its only showing up on a crkt.
Click to expand...
Barring really bad reviews I may pick one up anyway just because curious, but yeah, hopefully CRKT aren't the ones that license this lock.
 
Lapedog said:
Snecx is the freakkin’ man! His folder designs are just on a technical level I don’t see elsewhere.

Btw I am also curious about the deadbolt lock by Ikoma. Too bad its only showing up on a crkt.
Click to expand...

CRKT is making a higher end knife with the deadbolt too, it's gonna have CTS-XHP, titanium liners, and carbon fiber handle scales. It's being made in Taiwan, so hopefully it'll be better than the run of the mill CRKTs
 
I'm all for innovation bringing us new stuff to play with, but I'm not sure if lock strength is much of a selling point for most people.

This forum loves Chris Reeve's Ex-Wife's Knives even though the Sebenza has possibly the most hilariously weak lock CS has ever tested.
 
jbmonkey said:
love strong locks. nothing wrong with having a strong lock. doesnt matter if you cut right and dont need a lock...having a strong one never hurt anyone.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. I whittle, and occasionally someone will point out that I don't need to use a crazy-strong tri-ad lock knife (the Tuff Lite) when folks have whittled forever with slip joint knives. I've carved with slip joints and never cut myself by having one close, but it can't hurt to have a rock solid lock anyway.
 
The action looks great in the second video, but the lock bar or whatever sticking up when it's open will hurt the knife's performance in tactical glamor shots.
 
Interesting...I know the triad lock lays claim to being the “strongest” blah blah (and maybe it is)...I would really like to see a head to head comparison between a triad and a Spyderco caged ball bearing lock, I have heard that’s actually the strongest lock Spyderco makes (in the manix 2)
 
Yeah his work is killer looking forward to this!
 
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