Spine taping a lock to induce lock failure?

[Popsickle]

so.... over on Facebook a Microtech fan is spine tapping his framelock on a table to get the lock to fail and asking if it’s a QC problem. He also states that the lock is rock solid and this is the only way to get it to fail.

Can we please get a ruling on this?

 

[Sergeua]

If it's light tapping and the knife is positioned as a self defense tool and it's not damaged then I'd say it's a fail.

 

[Hickory n steel]

You cut with the edge of a knife which exerts force in the opened position towards the stop pin, lock bar...ect, if you grab a knife's blade towards the tip for safety when trying to pierce something tough you won't have any issues.

In my honest opinion spine whacking is a bullshit irrelevant test.

 

[Leo3an]

You cut with the edge of a knife which exerts force in the opened position towards the stop pin, lock bar...ect, if you grab a knife's blade towards the tip for safety when trying to pierce something tough you won't have any issues.

In my honest opinion spine whacking is a bullshit irrelevant test.

Then there is a no need for a lock. Just a friction folder is good enough.

 

[spyderg]

When using a knife at work, it would often bump against stuff like metal racking. Not hard mind you but before using a knife there I would always test it against a block of wood. As long as it takes a decent bump without failing, good to go. No need for tests like Vininull on YouTube does, although it can make for an interesting video.

 

[marcinek]

so.... over on Facebook ....

Ruling made.

 

[danbot]

Is the knife lock designed to be "spine whacked"? If it is, then it shouldn't fail the test. Obviously it shouldn't fail with minor tapping.
If you can grip the blade and try and force it closed without dis-engaging the lock, then that is a much more valid test of the lock IMO. This would simulate having the blade getting stuck in something, and trying to pull up on the knife to free it.

When would you ever be causing real impact to the spine of a knife in any practical use?

 

[Hickory n steel]

Then there is a no need for a lock. Just a friction folder is good enough.

There is a need for a lock though.
With flippers, assisted, and autos, they open and hit the stop pin, but only stay there because the lock engages, without that they would bounce back a little bit

I wouldn't say locking blades aren't needed, but you need proper technique to not rely on a lock to keep your fingers safe, use your knife right and the lock should never have to potentially save your fingers or fail and cut them.

 

[marcinek]

You cut with the edge of a knife which exerts force in the opened position towards the stop pin, lock bar

Yes. Cut down.

...if you grab a knife's blade towards the tip for safety when trying to pierce something tough you won't have any issues.

Wha? You mind expanding on that one? If you grab a knife's blade toward the tip, you can only penetrate as deep as your fingers that are holding the blade.

 

[GermanyChris]

Then there is a no need for a lock. Just a friction folder is good enough.

And in 99% of the cutting we do it is my higonokami is just as safe cutting as my Sebenza, TR4, Endura, or GEC's

 

[PirateSeulb]

I mostly agree with Hickory n steel spine whacking is a waste and doesn't really apply to real world. L Leo3an you really don't need anything more than a friction folder.

 

[tltt]

In my mind, it depends on how hard it was done. If it was a reasonable amount of force, like you'd encounter in real life, and it failed, then it's a legitimate concern. If the guy was apeing out on it, and it failed, then it's no big deal.

 

[marcinek]

Then there is a no need for a lock. Just a friction folder is good enough.

No. Not at all true. If a friction folder is good enough (it is if you cut down), that does not mean there is no need for a lock.

If you back out of a cut, a lock is going to keep the blade from shutting on your fingers.

 

[GermanyChris]

No. Not at all true. If a friction folder is good enough (it is if you cut down), that does not mean there is no need for a lock.

If you back out of a cut, a lock is going to keep the blade from shutting on your fingers.

TBF a friction folder will too since the tang is under your hand, backing out is where slip joints get sketchy

 

[Todd21969]

, if you grab a knife's blade towards the tip for safety when trying to pierce something tough you won't have any issues

Somehow I don't think grabbing a knife's blade and safety belong in the same sentence. Especially when piercing something tough.

I'd be more worried about my hand slipping on the blade than my folder's lock failing.

Maybe my idea of hard piercing is differant than yours.

I don't spine wack my knives, though I know Sal has stated they do at Spyderco. So I feel safe using my Military a little roughly as needed.

 

[GWashington1732]

I only had a lock fail once and it was more of a me failure. I tried cutting a rope with the spine by accident. I got an owey.

 

[Popsickle]

Ruling made.

So true. I thought it might make for stimulating conversation with many more who actually know how a lock should operate

 

[Leo3an]

No. Not at all true. If a friction folder is good enough (it is if you cut down), that does not mean there is no need for a lock.

If you back out of a cut, a lock is going to keep the blade from shutting on your fingers.

Ah thanks. I did not think of blade shutting on the finger as backing out. But i think unless you are testing it by whacking the lock hard, it should not fail when spine whacking. But i maybe very wrong.

I should not rely on the lock for cutting, i understand that... but I do want it to lock strongly even if I should not rely on it.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Somehow I don't think grabbing a knife's blade and safety belong in the same sentence. Especially when piercing something tough.

I'd be more worried about my hand slipping on the blade than my folder's lock failing.

Maybe my idea of hard piercing is differant than yours.

I don't spine wack my knives, though I know Sal has stated they do at Spyderco. So I feel safe using my Military a little roughly as needed.

I get what you're saying, but I'm talking about pinching the blade with your fingers coming around the spine.
You have much more control this way because it limits the length of sharp blade moving around if it slips, it also prevents you from inadvertently putting backwards pressure that could close the knife on you.
This is more Important with slipjoints but any lock could fail on you.

 

[Todd21969]

I get what you're saying, but I'm talking about pinching the blade with your fingers coming around the spine.
You have much more control this way because it limits the length of sharp blade moving around if it slips, it also prevents you from inadvertently putting backwards pressure that could close the knife on you.
This is more Important with slipjoints but any lock could fail on you.

I am well aware of choking up on a blade for fine detail work. Piercing is another story. I pierce thin gauge metal and thick poly rubber. No way I am holding the blade in a pinch grip.

I have been carrying and using sharp pointy things since the mid 70's. Never had a blade close on me. Including slip joints.