Speak Up! Frame Locks Vs Liner Locks

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Niall88

Niall88

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Gotta admit, I am really enjoying all the feedback from all of you on this forum. Great opinions, information, wisdom, experience. It helps me learn super fast at an accelerated rate. I am not trying to start a thread, obviously totally worn out by now, on what the best locking system is, compression, axis, button, etc. However, I am looking for your opinions/wisdom regarding frame locks vs liner locks. I find myself moving toward liner locks these days and keep falling in love even more, if you don't mind the expression, with my Spyderco Military. To me, absolutely simple perfection for deployment and closing. Sure, I like all kinds of knives, but am not really a collector, although I do have 11 knives in my possession at this time. I think I am trying to grind down my preferences based on practicality, simplicity and the easiest deployment of the blade in case I needed to use the knife in a self protection emergency. And I am certainly not needing to compare frame vs liner locks in regards to the total abuse of a folding pocket knife! Just normal EDC use. What are your thoughts? I am anxious to hear from the wise guys...I say this with total respect by the way!
 
I own and have carried and used both extensively.

I'd say how an individual lock is designed and actually manufactured is far more important that the "type" of lock.

Over the years I've seen issues with several different types of locks. I've seen frame locks suffer lock-slip (lock slipping towards disengagement under pressure), and I've seen liner locks that flex, and ones that suffer from lock slip.

I dismiss anyone who declares that any particular type of lock is garbage or unsafe. My favorite knife has a liner lock, and there are torture-test videos on Youtube showing just how much extreme abuse the lock can take without failure.

In choosing a type of lock I'd say it comes down to personal preference, and the quality of the design as produced by any given manufacturer. All frame locks are not the same. All liner locks are not the same.
 
In my relatively brief time in this madness, I’ve come to prefer liner locks. Biggest reason is that the few frame locks I have, the lock takes up a lot of handle real estate, and you have to hold it just right so you’re not putting any pressure in it while opening or closing, or it won’t open or close easily (maybe not at all). I don’t want to have to think that much when opening and closing a blade. The one exception to that is my Ochs Worx Solarstorm, which has a CF inlay that comes down over the frame lock, which makes it almost as forgiving as a liner lock. If I’m doing something that requires a stronger lock than a liner (pretty rare), I’ll just grab a fixie.
 
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I tend to prefer framelocks because I like the elegance and simplicity of only needing one piece. They are also easier to clean because nothing can get trapped between liner and scale.

Not everything works well as a framelock though: many times flippers with framelocks are difficult to open because putting pressure on the lockbar makes the detent too strong. In those cases I think a liner lock would be better.
 
Definitely prefer frame locks. I’ve had liner locks from Buck and CRKT fail/wear out in the span of 2-3 years of use.
 
Danny Linguini said:
In my relatively brief time in this madness, I’ve come to prefer liner locks. Biggest reason is that the few frame locks I have, the lock takes up a lot if handle real estate, and you have to hold it just right so you’re not putting any pressure in it while opening or closing, or it won’t open or close easily (maybe not at all). I don’t want to have to think that much when opening and closing a blade. The one exception to that is my Ochs Worx Solarstorm, which has a CF inlay that comes down over the frame lock, which makes it almost as forgiving as a liner lock. If I’m doing something that requires a stronger lock than a liner (pretty rare), I’ll just grab a fixie.
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I am in 100% agreement with you. You used the precise words I was trying to find about my concerns regarding frame locks. I have a Medford Nosferatu Flipper, button lock on the way. I am curious to feel it out with no frame or liner lock.
 
I don't have a bias or preference.

Depending on the design and execution though, I am thinking that the frame lock is stronger . . ??

And how strong does it have to be? an SAK is sort of a "gent's kniofe" , not likely to see heavy use. A knife in use by some special operator or a cattle rancher may be however.
 
.I find either of them could fail quite easily if the geometry is not good. I hate early lockup and I hate very slanted lock engagement surfaces that give tight lock up with sloppy tolerances but can fail at any time if lightly bumped the wrong way. I find gall prone bare titanium lock frames/lock liners with a little bit of lock stick beneficial to making this design safer but I still won't take that for granted.
 
I like liner locks too where I like that hand pressure doesn't matter. Like you, I'm a Spyderco Military fan. (and GB[12], and Vallotton, etc., etc.).

Have plenty of frame-locks, though.

That being said, there are hybrids:

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Easier to maintain than any CRK, BTW :)
 
OP, if you haven’t tried one you might really like the compression lock. It’s like a reverse liner lock with a stop pin taking the pressure, making it much stronger than a liner or frame lock. I find it very convenient, easy, and fun to use. It’s my favorite lock.
 
Me likes both. I really do. As long as I can have at least a few of each I'm doing real good. They both have their positives and negatives, as you've already seen. But really though as long as a lock is well done, easy to manipulate, reliable, and safe I like having multiple lock styles in my repertoire.
 
It depends. For titanium, I like a frame lock. That includes when the titanium has inlays. For any non-metallic scale material, I prefer it to be the same on both sides. That means a liner lock.

This thread has been pretty good so far. There is a historical trend of claiming frame locks to be much stronger or safer than liner locks. In reality, any job that will test the strength of your lock such that it might come down to the difference in strength between lock type A or B is already beyond the safety margins of either. In other words, it isn't a job for a folding knife in the first place.

For frame locks, I need space to hold it without pressing the lock bar when I open it. Either should be made well.
 
I generally prefer the frame lock. It is simple enough to service and clean. It flips well - which to me simply means easy opening. I don’t usually load the top of the blade, so the lock strength rarely matters; and I still consider the frame lock an improvement over the liner lock.

n2s
 
I like them both, as long as they are done in a way I consider to be ideal..

An example of what I prefer is the GB1 liner lock. It's very robust and has great tolerances. I also prefer a stop pin.

An example of a liner lock I don't care for, is when the lock bar is thin, and also acts as the blade stop. I also don't like when the liner moves when pressure is applied to the blade, or when it engages almost at 100 percent.

A good frame lock also must engage the lock-face correctly, and not move when applying cutting force. I also want a blade stop pin. Lastly, I really don't like when you can feel a sharp edge on framelocks either.
 
I like them all, it's usually not the lock that puts me off a particular knife. Sometimes a lock isn't even needed, like in a traditional.
 
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