Strongest Lock?

D

dizos

Joined
Nov 22, 2002
Messages
385
Seeing some of the large folders on the market got me wondering. Are there any folder lock designs that could handle a large blade made for sustained chopping?

-- Dizos
 
People tend to consider axis locks and frame locks the strongest right now. I'd have to say that the way a Bali song locks has to be the strongest I can think of. Aside from shearing a pin I don't see how one could fail.
 
As far as I know, "old fashioned" lock backs can be made substantially stronger than frame locks. Compression locks are also inherently stronger than frame locks. But that doesn't answer the question, whether you can make a lock strong enough for chopping.
 
IMHO there is no more dependable locking system than the "Integral Lock" found on the Sebbie and Mnandi.
 
The big problem with chopping isn't just lock strength, it's the stress put on the pivot itself. So the short answer is no, folder choppers ain't gonna be around for a while. A lot of stress goes into the junction between the blade and the handle, so you really have to have a tang, preferably a full tang.
 
dizos said:
Are there any folder lock designs that could handle a large blade made for sustained chopping?
-- Dizos
Click to expand...

I don't think I'd trust any lock that's been used day after day for "sustained chopping." IMHO it's one of those tasks reserved for fixed blades.
 
Will P. said:
The big problem with chopping isn't just lock strength, it's the stress put on the pivot itself. So the short answer is no, folder choppers ain't gonna be around for a while.
Click to expand...
I've chopped threw 1" hardwood dowels with my Roton Monarch butterfly knife. And it held up very well.
 
Although I haven't tested it personally, in theory, A.R. Niemi's lock should be the strongest thing going, probably even stronger than a balisong's "lock" (try shearing through a big hardened S30V lug instead of a little pin!)

Joe
 
While I think it is great to discuss these things and try to think of ways to improve things, it ultimately has it's limits. You are trying to overcome the limitations of the compromise a folding knife is. The more you try to overcome those limitations, the closer you get to lsing the advantage gained from the initial compromise.

You're question is rather vague. So, in a sense, easy to answer. That answer would be, yes. Most well made locks will handle the stress of chopping. The main reason is that the lock isn't bearing the stress of the impact. The pivot and stop pin are bearing the impact.

Darrel Ralph had one of his Madd Maxxes tested through heavy chopping and had no problems with the lock, pivot or blade stop. I personally saw the knife when it was done. The lock had play in it, but that was from the handle having sveral hundreds of pounds hang from the end of the handle. The lock didn't fail, nor did it deform at the relief. The face of the lock actually flatten a bit. While there was blade play, the lock still wouldn't fail.
 
I agree with Joe:

A.R.Niemi's seems the strongest but it's only available on one specific knife.

Otherwise, the bali-song style latch-lock is definitely stronger than any other production folder lock.

Some "out-the-front" autos could probably be made for chopping since they really don't have a PIVOT to worry about.
Maybe someone with more knowledge on O-T-F autos could help?

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I wouldn't chop with any folding knife, but if I absolutely had to, I'd choose a well-made backlock like Spyderco's, Extrema Ratio's or Buck's.
 
I've done light chopping with a Buck/Strider, MOD CQD, Extrema Ratio Nemesis, and now a Strider SnG, and more than all of them put together, with a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande, to the extent I was surprised to see that even the edge holds up over the years.

For anyone who has "heard" that a framelock can fail, have you heard that it actually did, or was someone just speculating? If it did, was it a framelock from a reputable company or a clone?
 
When chopping with the edge, the blade stop takes the brunt of the abuse. If you are relying on a folder for survival scenarios make sure it has very strong blade stops, as well as a stout blade.

If you need to chop something tough, like hard wood. Use you edge like a splitting wedge and hit the spine with another piece of wood.

The strongest folder we make is the 880. The blade stops fail at around 2000lbs force.

Striders SNG/ SMF style stops seem to be very strong as well.

Josh
 
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