Spyderco's LOCKBACKS -- why are they better?

[Full Tang Clan]

In this day of liner-locks, axis/rolling locks, and even Spyderco's own compression lock, you'd think that the lockback would be relegated to cheap, drugstore, knives.

Many knife knuts -- as well as high-end knife manufacturers -- feel it is an economy feature: easy and cheap to manufacture.

Yet Spyderco's lockbacks survive and even thrive. There are people who will dismiss liner-locks, and axis locks in favor of Spyderco's lockbacks.

My question is WHY? What makes Spyderco's lockbacks better, and able to compete with more non-traditional locking mechanisms?

 

[sgtmike88]

Quality and reliability seem to be the two words that come to mind for me.

 

[whosyour]

All I can say is hold a chinook in your hand,the mere sound of it locking lets you know its strength,and for so many of spydercos folders,quite simply they work every time,and I have never had one fail on me and I have many.

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Someday my friends ,I'll own em all

 

[Paul Work]

Spyderco still produces quality and reliability.

Paul

 

[grantdouglas]

Quality.Innovation.Reliability.Integrity

The Spyderhole is the best design out there for opening a kife with one hand.period. The rest are second-best compared to the Spyderhole!

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Full Tang. I guess the first question would be "better than what?"

The lockback is a good concept that has been well refined over the years.

At Spyderco we pay attention to detail, so the lock is made to spec. We break knives on a regular basis to make sure that the lock strength of each particular model is up to our required standards.

We have found that generally, we can make lockbacks stronger than linerlocks (despite differing opinions) for equivalent blade thickness. Especially on longer blades.

sal


[This message has been edited by Sal Glesser (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[mr44]

Amen. My micarta Calypso Jr. locks up like a bank vault. Also, I have first-gen Endura that is still locking up tight and shows no signs of letting up despite being close to a decade old. This is far more of a life expectancy than I'd give to my CQC-7, the liner of which has crept over quite noticeably in the one year that I have owned it. I'm even questioning the integrity of the liner lock on my beloved LCC at this point after playing with it yesterday and noticing a few things...

I for one would be very appreciative of more Spyderco lockback models in the future, preferably with adjustable pivot pins and not made of FRN

(As I ponder the credit card purchase of a G-10 Police or Civilian...)

 

[Full Tang Clan]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mr44:
I for one would be very appreciative of more Spyderco lockback models in the future, preferably with adjustable pivot pins and not made of FRN

</font>

What a coincidence. I just wrote a commentary on FRN/Zytel handled knives at the General Discussion Forum: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum64/HTML/001345.html

You will not agree with my "editorial", but you might find it interesting.