Spyderco's compression lock very impressive

M

mike_mck2

Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
301
I have been carrying & using a few Paramilitaries for a few weeks now, and have "tested" the compression lock's reliability until I am completely satisfied it is 100% reliable on all 4 Para's that I own.

I have completely "spine whacked" through sheets of cardboard approx. 30" long using the back of the blade like a hatchet to chop through. I completely cut boxes in half lenghwise by ramming the blade backwards through the cardboard, fast & slow, from tip to base, back & forth for sudden impacts and with constant steady pressure as well. Never moved even a bit that I could see, and certainly never failed in any way.
I torqued it in triple thickness cardboard, left & right, no problems.

And of course I have them daily for food prep & everday chores.

Still zero blade play in any direction, lock still engages just a hair over the width of the lock bar, and the action is still flawless.

The compression lock is a true winner, no doubt about it.
 
I agree with you about the compression lock. Mr. Glesser certainly did his homework in regards to this one. I love my Para and my Yojimbo. Great blades, great locks!

Best wishes,
3Guardsmen
 
I got to play with a para in a store a week ago. One of the paras had kind of a rough, sticky compression lock, and the other had a beautifully smooth one. The smooth one I really enjoyed. It's no axis lock, unfortunately, but it is a really cool alternative. I think I'll buy a para pretty soon.
 
mike_mck2 said:
I have been carrying & using a few Paramilitaries for a few weeks now, and have "tested" the compression lock's reliability until I am completely satisfied it is 100% reliable on all 4 Para's that I own.
Click to expand...

I don't think ANYTHING is 100% reliable. And if by chance something were, I would treat it as if it were not.

My (unfortunately now discontinued) Sypderco Guntings have compression locks. For the most part I have found them to be very reliable. However, a bit of pocket crud in the blade notch can prevent effective engagement of the lock. I avoid this by cleaning the knife occassionally, with special attention to the notch on the blade.

I posted about this on the Spyderco forum a few years ago at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146183 . At the time I posted I did not know that the cause of the problem was an almost invisible piece of crud in the blade notch, that prevented the compression bar from engaging. By prying up the liner I could temporarily compress the crud. The crud was very hard to see and only after some thought did I reach in with a dental tool and remove it.

By the way, I think the compression lock is a very good lock.
 
I just had the pleasure of picking up a S.S. ATR and it really blew me away for the price.I primarily collect customs and was intrigued by the compression lock.I find the lock to be a rock solid set-up,though it took a little work for me to get use to closing it with one hand.This knife is as smooth as butter, smoother in some cases than some custom folders I own.I think I may look for a ti version. :) Well done Sal.
 
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