The “spine whack” test: Valid quality metric, or much ado about nothing?

[King of the Cheese]

I’m sure you’ve all seen it… YouTube videos of knife reviewers giving a knife the ol’ whack-on-the-spine. These “tests” range from a little tap on the table, to full-on slams into 2x4s. Some swear by them and will never carry a knife that “fails” the test.. and some consider them largely irrelevent.

So thoughts… what real-world practicality is there for the test, and why is it so important to many?

It is my observations that the shock of the vibration from the slamming of the spine into a hard surface is sometimes enough to cause a lock to pop out of place. But perhaps we can discuss and settle this controversial topic once and for all… if we can.

What say you all?

 

[91bravo]

It proves nothing in my opinion. I cut with the edge, not the spine, so I never put abnormal force on the spine side. If you you need to do some harder tasks, grab the right tool. Kinda makes you wonder how they did it back then when there were no locks on folding knives.

 

[kreole]

I thought it was dumb til I was helping my uncle gut his house years ago.

Working in a corner I used my knife to cut something it kind of got stuck in, and as I pulled it out of whatever I was cutting it smacked the spine against an exposed beam.

I was surprised first then happy it passed the test.

 OTOH, it's probably been over a decade since then, and I haven't had a real life experience again.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

It has entertainment value, only. Like Youtube celebrities fighting in televised matches with professional boxers. You watch like it is a car crash.

 

[Bob Denman]

Other than trying to "pop the lock": it's just a video stunt...

 

[CHNeal]

It proves nothing in my opinion. I cut with the edge, not the spine, so I never put abnormal force on the spine side. If you you need to do some harder tasks, grab the right tool. Kinda makes you wonder how they did it back then when there were no locks on folding knives.

40+ years with only a slippie in my pocket and never once did I think “ wow I wish I could use the other edge of this blade as a hammer”.

 

[justjed]

Never had a reason to smack something with the spine of a folder. Not that it matters. My EDC is a fixed blade, and my folders just back-up.

 

[baxtrom]

Interesting. Could you link to one of these whack-on-the-spine videos?

 

[HexY3co]

Pointless. My fixed blade passes it every time. Aside from accidentally smacking it on something I think it's primarily used to soften up the action or fitment on a new blade.

 

[MrStabby7]

Why stop with the spine whack test? I won't carry a knife that doesn't pass the certified crowbar test.

 

[Tapio]

A knife is not a substitute for hammer, axe or pry bar. Those tests are mostly just nonsense for me.

 

[Fred1950]

Personally, that kind of test has no value to me, and could possibly damage a knife that wouldn't otherwise ever fail. Entertainment only.

 

[Hammer67]

Similar to many of the so-called 'torture tests' on GunTuber channels - it's largely clickbait.

Actually, the 'spine whack' test is probably worse, because even in a lot of the ridiculous gun 'torture tests,' there's sometimes at least something marginally useful to glean from it. With the 'spine whack' it proves nothing in terms of the intended use of the tool.

 

[sodak]

If you want to carry the strongest lock, the ultimate is the Triad from Andrew Demko, I believe. But even that doesn't compare to a fixed blade. I treat all of my folders as slipjoints, just in case.

 

[pholder]

These people should drive their car into a wall to see if their air bags will deploy

 

[King of the Cheese]

Interesting. Could you link to one of these whack-on-the-spine videos?

Here is one of the more dramatic showings:

 

[King of the Cheese]

I mean whats next? Hammering a knife into the side of an oak tree and seeing if you can springboard off the side?

 

[MrStabby7]

Here is one of the more dramatic showings:

The best part about this video is he saws the tree and then it breaks off in a totally different spot

 

[King of the Cheese]

To all the defenders of the spine whack test: Don’t be shy, I’d like to hear your side of things.

 

[Danny Linguini]

Yes, yes to all this, but …

Will it blend??!!