The difficult Tri Ad lock

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F22shift

Joined
Mar 1, 2017
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Yeah the tri ad lock isn't the best of locks for a knife guy to begin his journey but I sort of enjoy it. I enjoy that other knife people(not sheeple) struggle with it, complain about it, have to use two thumbs to disengage. I feel it's a sort of rite of passage or a learning curve to be a cold steel owner. It's probably not the best beginners knife and I like that. I'm weird or bored. Or both. Definitely bored lol. :rolleyes:
 
F22shift said:
Yeah the tri ad lock isn't the best of locks for a knife guy to begin his journey but I sort of enjoy it. I enjoy that other knife people(not sheeple) struggle with it, complain about it, have to use two thumbs to disengage. I feel it's a sort of rite of passage or a learning curve to be a cold steel owner. It's probably not the best beginners knife and I like that. I'm weird or bored. Or both. Definitely bored lol. :rolleyes:
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My second folder I bought was a cold steel voyager large. And then my third was the xl. I too enjoy the triad 👍. By now from all my folding knife companies cold steels are by far the most I have.

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i don't get the hard to unlock on tri-ads? maybe i just got lucky on my dozen or so, maybe i have supreme grip strength? who knows, but when i see these posts i am always confused on what everyone is talking about on hard to unlock?
 
I've had a couple tough one's in the past, but their latest iterations are easy and smooth (even the XL's). The only exception is the Espada XL. They have a lot of travel and a heavy spring.
 
What Dave said. The Tri-ad is a little heavy, but I've never required two hands or anything close to it. With the large Cold Steel knives, the only consideration upon closing is to get your dang fingers out of the way before the giant blade guillotines them.
 
I must've been very lucky, out of 23 TriAds only 2 required breaking in and were tough (Talwar XL, Espada L)

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even the Rajahs were smooth and easy to use and I have admittedly weak hands

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Just got a Frenzy 3. Moderate stiff opening but lots of trouble with unlocking. Mine requires a lot of thumb presure to unlock, and use of both hands. Will work it a lot and try oil. May have break it down and sand contacts.
 
I think the Spartan when it first came out was the biggest culprit for tough Tri-Ad locks. I remember some people were having to use the corner of a counter to pop the lock open. I am not sure what makes it so hard like that but I believe it has something to do with the tooth on the lockbar wedging itself against the stop pin. I definitely think the problem has been overblown.
 
The great thing about the Triad lock , even the ones that start out stiff , WILL eventually smooth out . Then they just get better with use .

Unlike other locks , the inherent design of the Triad is self adjusting with wear .

I still think that Cold Steel's QC could be better but the lock design makes it very forgiving . Just requires some patience .
 
DocJD said:
Just requires some patience .
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Over the years my Triad locks have lightened/smoothed up a lot. Not to the wimpy stage, but they are much easier to disengage the mechanism now. Part of Cold Steels appeal to me is inherent toughness. I prefer an initially tough disengagement which leaves a solid lock up years down the road, to a light engagement with a sloppy limp wrist lock up later on.
 
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The only difficult Tri-ad I've had so far has been on the 4 Max. And that's just a LOT of metal to disengage. It's breaking in pretty nicely, but it can still be occasionally stubborn.
 
I have a Counter Point XL that has to be pressed against the edge of a table to release the lock. It is the folding knife least likely to close on you accidentally.
 
Don't use the tip of your thumb, use the side of your thumb (inside) at the 1st knuckle and press with a fast motion, It's MUCH easier. If you press at the end of the lock-bar it's even easier. Once you develop a callous, it's easier yet. The only CS knives that gave me trouble was the Spartan, Espada XL and a defective 4-Max that was returned (it was REALLY bad) My current 4-Max unlocks easily and smoothly, yet has a satisfying crack when it engages.
 
hermit dave said:
Don't use the tip of your thumb, use the side of your thumb (inside) at the 1st knuckle and press with a fast motion, It's MUCH easier. If you press at the end of the lock-bar it's even easier. Once you develop a callous, it's easier yet. The only CS knives that gave me trouble was the Spartan, Espada XL and a defective 4-Max that was returned (it was REALLY bad) My current 4-Max unlocks easily and smoothly, yet has a satisfying crack when it engages.
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defective 4max being an american made version...not the italian right?
 
hermit dave said:
Don't use the tip of your thumb, use the side of your thumb (inside) at the 1st knuckle and press with a fast motion, It's MUCH easier. If you press at the end of the lock-bar it's even easier. Once you develop a callous, it's easier yet. The only CS knives that gave me trouble was the Spartan, Espada XL and a defective 4-Max that was returned (it was REALLY bad) My current 4-Max unlocks easily and smoothly, yet has a satisfying crack when it engages.
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YES THIS ^ +1000

Most of the complains i've seen(at least on youtube) are because people use their finger(thumb) tip to disengage. Use the joint.
 
I have an XHP American Lawman. Probably most would agree this is the most difficult example of tri ad lock to disengage. I don't have a huge problem with it but i don't remember the old ones being as difficult. Actually i feel the bigger problem on the knife is the thumbstud being a tad far out making deployment a bit awkward
 
I have maybe nine Tri-ads total and only one is consistently sticky to unlock, a Counter Point I. If I gently pull on the blade as if trying to open it more when I press the release it unlocks much easier.
 
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