- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 3,221
Well, after what happened with the other lock strength thread, here's a new start. Here are my rankings (all assume ideal specimens of each lock design, so don't complain about the el-cheapo liner-lock which closed by pushing on the spine with your hand, only discuss the locks as the should be made) (locks which are not included are ones which either don't appear in current knives, or which I have no experience with, or the balisong-type lock, since I consider balis more of a fixed blade with can fold than a traditional folder
):
Initial strength (how much it takes to damage the lock):
1. Frame lock
2. Axis Lock
3. REKAT's Rolling Lock
4. Sog's Arc Lock
5. Linerlock
The frame lock is just plain strong. The Axis follows next with a thick pin to take the force. The Rolling lock follows closely with a decent pin of its own. The Arc lock is currently pivoting on its much thinner pin, and the liner lock is being a typical liner lock.
Final strength (how much it takes to make the lock fail):
1. Frame lock
2. Axis lock
3. Sog's Arc Lock
4. REKAT's Rolling Lock
5. Liner lock
In this case, the Arc Lock's lock-pivot pin has sheared, converting it into pretty much the same thing as the Axis lock and bumping it up a notch, although the knife is now damaged significantly.
Wear resistance:
1. Axis lock
1. Frame lock
1. REKAT's Rolling Lock
(the above three are so close during normal use that there is almost no difference, however, I did place them in order, if you actually care about a margin that small)
4. Sog's Arc Lock
5. Liner lock
The only note I really have here is that, if you have more of a tendency to abuse knives, the frame lock may jump to number 1, as it's lock bar can act as a spring and absorb impacts with little damage.
Resistance to dirt:
1. Frame lock
2. Axis lock
3. Sog's Arc Lock
4. REKAT's Rolling Lock
5. Liner lock
Shouldn't be much controversy here. The more open a design, the less dirt accumulates, and the easier it falls back out when you pick the knife up.
Ergonomics (these are for me, since ergonomics depends on the person using the knife):
1. Axis lock
2. Sog's Arc Lock
3. REKAT's Rolling Lock
4. Liner lock
5. Frame lock
Both the Axis and Arc Locks are fully ambidextrous, which is a huge plus to me. Liner locks and frame locks sometimes stick, so they are a little lower, and the ability of the liner lock to have contoured scales in place over the liners bumps it up above the frame lock for general comfort.
So, there you have it.
Some caveats are:
1. Folding knives are folding knives; do not expect the same from a folder as from a fixed blade.
2. Try and get in the habit of assuming that the knife does not even have a lock when you are using it.
How this works:
-If you just want to flame me, save it for somewhere else.
-If you want to actually suggest a change in my rankings, please post actual reasons and back up your statements.
-The only reason my own statements aren't more thouroughly backed-up is that I didn't want the post to get too long; feel free to ask me to back anything here up, as long as you do it politely.
-Everyone is free to post their own ergonomics rankings, since that is solely personal choice.
-Yes, I know I left out lockbacks and many other locks; don't point that out as if it were a revelation.
-Keep posts on-topic; if you have something to say about something off-topic, by all means, start your own thread, but keep this one on this topic.
-No posts about locks which are not currently in existence (ie, something which is not available to the public at this point in time).
-Above all, let's play nice, shall we?
--JB
------------------
e_utopia@hotmail.com
Initial strength (how much it takes to damage the lock):
1. Frame lock
2. Axis Lock
3. REKAT's Rolling Lock
4. Sog's Arc Lock
5. Linerlock
The frame lock is just plain strong. The Axis follows next with a thick pin to take the force. The Rolling lock follows closely with a decent pin of its own. The Arc lock is currently pivoting on its much thinner pin, and the liner lock is being a typical liner lock.
Final strength (how much it takes to make the lock fail):
1. Frame lock
2. Axis lock
3. Sog's Arc Lock
4. REKAT's Rolling Lock
5. Liner lock
In this case, the Arc Lock's lock-pivot pin has sheared, converting it into pretty much the same thing as the Axis lock and bumping it up a notch, although the knife is now damaged significantly.
Wear resistance:
1. Axis lock
1. Frame lock
1. REKAT's Rolling Lock
(the above three are so close during normal use that there is almost no difference, however, I did place them in order, if you actually care about a margin that small)
4. Sog's Arc Lock
5. Liner lock
The only note I really have here is that, if you have more of a tendency to abuse knives, the frame lock may jump to number 1, as it's lock bar can act as a spring and absorb impacts with little damage.
Resistance to dirt:
1. Frame lock
2. Axis lock
3. Sog's Arc Lock
4. REKAT's Rolling Lock
5. Liner lock
Shouldn't be much controversy here. The more open a design, the less dirt accumulates, and the easier it falls back out when you pick the knife up.
Ergonomics (these are for me, since ergonomics depends on the person using the knife):
1. Axis lock
2. Sog's Arc Lock
3. REKAT's Rolling Lock
4. Liner lock
5. Frame lock
Both the Axis and Arc Locks are fully ambidextrous, which is a huge plus to me. Liner locks and frame locks sometimes stick, so they are a little lower, and the ability of the liner lock to have contoured scales in place over the liners bumps it up above the frame lock for general comfort.
So, there you have it.
Some caveats are:
1. Folding knives are folding knives; do not expect the same from a folder as from a fixed blade.
2. Try and get in the habit of assuming that the knife does not even have a lock when you are using it.
How this works:
-If you just want to flame me, save it for somewhere else.
-If you want to actually suggest a change in my rankings, please post actual reasons and back up your statements.
-The only reason my own statements aren't more thouroughly backed-up is that I didn't want the post to get too long; feel free to ask me to back anything here up, as long as you do it politely.
-Everyone is free to post their own ergonomics rankings, since that is solely personal choice.
-Yes, I know I left out lockbacks and many other locks; don't point that out as if it were a revelation.
-Keep posts on-topic; if you have something to say about something off-topic, by all means, start your own thread, but keep this one on this topic.
-No posts about locks which are not currently in existence (ie, something which is not available to the public at this point in time).
-Above all, let's play nice, shall we?
--JB
------------------
e_utopia@hotmail.com
