Spine taping a lock to induce lock failure?

Perhaps there is a difference between spine whacking (tough test) and spine tapping (what the OP refers to)? If it will close with a tap, that isn't a lock, it's a detent.
Totally agree. Spine tapping ok. Spine WHACKING no not ok. There’s a big difference between a tap and a whack.
 
Yep. And men somehow miraculously survived for decades with only a slipjoint in their pockets.
Because times are exactly the same as they were then, and fixed blades didn't exist. Good grief.

People survived with just sticks and rocks, let's just do that... great logic.

People treated fevers with cutting veins, and survived, let's do that.

Men got by their entire lives, until they died of course, breathing in coal dust. Let's do that.

Or we can make use of innovation :eek:
 
Last edited:
Yep. And men somehow miraculously survived for decades with only a slipjoint in their pockets.
And used a fixed blade for anything the slipjoint couldn't do. I don't buy the above argument. Until the era of the lock people used fixed blades for when you would require a lock in your folder now.
 
You know I wonder, if people back then had access to modern locks for folders if they would choose not to use them. Perhaps some would. I'd wager more would try out a nice locking folder and warm up to it.
 
And used a fixed blade for anything the slipjoint couldn't do. I don't buy the above argument. Until the era of the lock people used fixed blades for when you would require a lock in your folder now.
And it was more socially acceptable to do so back then. Different times.
 
And it was more socially acceptable to do so back then. Different times.
Yup, the idea that the slipjoint can and should do anything a modern folder can do now is ridiculous. This from someone who only ever EDC's a slipjoint.
 
A knife should never, ever, fail due to a spine whack. Liner locks and frame locks are prone to this kind of failure unless they are precision made.
 
Yup, the idea that the slipjoint can and should do anything a modern folder can do now is ridiculous. This from someone who only ever EDC's a slipjoint.
I carry a slipjoint every day too, along with my modern folder.
 
You know I wonder, if people back then had access to modern locks for folders if they would choose not to use them. Perhaps some would. I'd wager more would try out a nice locking folder and warm up to it.

I'm not all that old, about to be 49. Though when locking ,one hand openers, with pocket clips became locally available in the late 80's I fell in love.

Nostalgia is a great thing. Though having a Spyderco Military clipped in my front pocket now sure beats a scout pattern in my pocket PLUS a fixed on my belt like in the days of my youth.

Just my opinion of course.
 
Do the folks that spine whack their folders also slam on their brakes at 70mph to check their anti-lock brakes? I do neither and so far my folders and brakes are doing just fine.

I think your on to something, one could spine test on the brake petal going 70 and accomplish both tests at once
 
Hey, if some people want to do destructive testing on their own knives, I won't try to stop them! But don't blame the design or quality control for a failure that you intended to produce!
If a knife fails at something it was designed to endure, or in the way it was meant to be used then there is an issue.
 
Do the folks that spine whack their folders also slam on their brakes at 70mph to check their anti-lock brakes? I do neither and so far my folders and brakes are doing just fine.
No but I do test the stopping ability of my new tires on snow and ice on our back country roads. Good information to know.
 
Emerson knives are desgined to be a "weapon" and their liner lock should not fail from a few spine whacks. If one did, I would not trust my life to it anymore than a handgun that jams or misfires.

I consider most other production knife brands to be utilitarian 1st and tactical 2nd.
 
No but I do test the stopping ability of my new tires on snow and ice on our back country roads. Good information to know.
Not the same thing. That would be testing the normal usage of your breaks. The equivalent with a knife would be see how it cuts. Spine whacking is supposed to test for extreme use which is more in like with extreme braking to check your antilock brakes. I'm just asking if folks that feel the need to spine whack carry that over to other everyday events? Doesn't seem like they do.
 
Not the same thing. That would be testing the normal usage of your breaks. The equivalent with a knife would be see how it cuts. Spine whacking is supposed to test for extreme use which is more in like with extreme braking to check your antilock brakes. I'm just asking if folks that feel the need to spine whack carry that over to other everyday events? Doesn't seem like they do.
Under perfect circumstances cutting only applies pressure on the stop pin. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world and everyone uses their knife for different purposes. Spine taps are not the same as spine whack, a lock should not fail under reasonable pressure on the lock, if they were to fail, than why even have a lock?

The whole cutting edge pressure only, was addressed earlier.

The spine tap is a normal pressure the lock may encounter in the event negative pressure occurs. A full on swing for the fences whack isn't in the same league and would constitute abuse.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top