Suggestion on improving the Dodo and similar locks

[DaveH]

Here's my idea. who said the pivot must be along the centerline of the blade and handle, if the pivot was moved lower there would be more room for a larger lock ball which would be easier to work and reach.

In the paint sketch below, the top one the pivot is on the centerline. In the lower sketch shows how much room you would gain by moving the pivot lower.

Not shown in this sketch is perhaps the Emerson wave feature could be combined with the lock.

 

[spyderknut]

I dunno Dave.

First of all, the Dodo is not that hard for me. The D'Allara is a different beast but is greatly improved with the upcoming changes.

Moving the pivot to where you suggest seems like it would make for a very bulky knife with an exposed sharp corner when closed. The design constraint of the Spyder hole makes it even bulkier.

 

[DaveH]

Yes it could leave a sharp corner, but It think that the exposed spine could be radiused

I think you could actually do away with the spyderhole and use the lock/wave as the thumb hole.

I think moving the pivot down would make the knife less bulky, not more. When the pivot is on the center line, the blade must either rotate further to the closed position, or the handle is wider to cover the edge.

With the pivot off center below, the edge is much closer to the pivot center. It would take less "Handle" to cover the edge. While you might want more handle for other reasons, it gives you more "freedom" in design.

 

[Carl64]

Not a bad idea. The area below the pivot doesn't serve much purpose. You have two "hold" points that keep the blade from folding--the pivot and the lock ball. Same for lockbacks and compression locks.

There are two problems with this though.

1. Cosmetic and size issues when closed. The blade will hang out further.

2. There has to be some tang area below the pivot when opened so it can remain closed properly. So when the blade is opened, you still have tang material hanging below the handle.

I guess either of these could be considered a sacrifice for the sake of improving the lock strength.

 

[DaveH]

good points about being wider when closed. hmmm