Tell me about button locks?

gamma_nyc said:
What are the pros/cons of the button lock versus frame lock and shark lock?

Is it as strong as a shark lock?

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It really depends on the knife IMO. I'm not much of a button lock guy, but my Heretic Medusa (automatic) is incredibly solid. My ad20.5 is just as solid.

The main reason button locks are becoming popular is for the "drop shut" action, which the shark lock and compression lock also offer.

I'm not particularly a fan because they are very difficult to close left handed, and I'm ambidextrous.
 
I had a Malibu for a bit. Neat little knife with the button lock, real fidgety knife/lock
 
When you two guys open up an ad agency, I want the opportunity to invest... 🤣


You can call it the "Superman Agency" - George Reeve(s)

(No offense intended. You are great ambassadors for George and CRK...)
 
Kettleman said:
I had a Malibu for a bit. Neat little knife with the button lock, real fidgety knife/lock
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I forgot I had a Malibu too. I traded it as the clip dug into my hand horribly. Solid knife otherwise.
 
Blues said:
When you two guys open up an ad agency, I want the opportunity to invest... 🤣


You can call it the "Superman Agency" - George Reeve(s)

(No offense intended. You are great ambassadors for George and CRK...)
Click to expand...
I like it! I’m ready when you are Kettle!

Btw kettle, do you have any George’s? 😂

And Blue, your going to have to invest in a George before your allowed to invest in The Superman Agency!!😉
 
I love them dearly. My typical criteria for locks are reliability, ease of use then strength and button locks are pretty darn good for all three in my experience. The button locks on my Freeman 451 and Hogue EX-01 feel particularly sturdy, but I also have a Kizer Begleiter XL that has very nice lockup, a Kizer Swayback that I dig, a Heretic Wraith that's great, a CIVIVI Cogent that's excellent and a Vosteed Corgi that feels like an absolute steal for a $50 knife.

I genuinely don't think I've owned a button lock that I really disliked the lock mechanism for, honestly. It just works exceptionally well for me.
 
Ive had them for many years Ive got a few Brian Tighe customs w button locks,2 freemans and a few others never had issues with them they seem to work great .Once in a while you might get one that sticks slightly but as they wear in it goes away.
 
I have three button locks.

I have A Pro-Tech TR-3 and a Pro-Tech SnG. Both have serious QC issues. The former will not open or close without high maintenance. The latter has blade play and is off centered if I dont do routine maintenance. Lesson learned. Won't return them because I think I voided the warranty. I won't gift them either.

My Spartan Pallas is also a button lock and its QC issues are as bad. It's my 'beater folder'.

So, not a fan of button locks so far...
 
What about button locks releasing in the pocket? That's why I've kept my distance. There are times when I'm working on a project and there is a lot of stuff crammed in that pocket out of necessity.
 
Fire King said:
What about button locks releasing in the pocket? That's why I've kept my distance. There are times when I'm working on a project and there is a lot of stuff crammed in that pocket out of necessity.
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I've had no issues with my VECP, and I've been carrying it for a few weeks constantly fishing other things from the same pocket. It's not like an auto under spring pressure.
 
The only button lock I have is a Spyderco Smock and it’s a great variation on their compression lock. It’s essentially using a button to activate the familiar compression lock. The only downside is that funky looking cutout (choil?) but there doesn’t seem to be a way around that if you are using this button lock design on the Spydercos. Many people have mused out loud that Spyderco should incorporate this design in some of their other models. I tend to agree

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Button locks are among the safest locks because you don't have to put your fingers in the path of the blade to operate the lock. They're also incredibly intuitive to use. I've never come across an unsafe button lock, and I've been using button locks for about 8 years at this point. Almost all of the ones I own are made in the USA by reputable companies, the others are a custom made by a Canadian, and a Kizer made in China. The only time I ever had a button lock close inadvertantly was when I was dong somethong incredibly unsafe and inadvisable with one. I was prying, trying to move what turned out to be an immovable object, putting a lot of pressure on the spine of the knife at the tip. I think almost any folding knife would have failed at that point, and I'm just lucky I didn't hurt myself.
 
I like cross-bar locks and button locks. I have had Benchmade autos with button locks for years. I love them. I have button locks from Civivi, Indiana Knives, Kizer, QSP, Sencut, and WE that are great.

But:

There is a KnifeCenter Exclusive CIVIVI Knives Cogent Flipper Knife 3.47" S35VN Satin Plain Blade, Ebony Wood Handles, that has a history of the button jamming in the depressed position. But I have 3 other Cogents from KnifeCenter that are great.

I have a Vosteed Valkyrie that went through a period of several weeks when the blade would jam in the closed position if I tried to use the thumbstud to open it, but it would open if I depressed the button first. Is that a good thing or a bad thing about the button? I don't know. It has been working fine for several months since then.

I had a Medford Smooth Criminal that was very difficult to open, but that may not have been related to the button lock.
 
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