The Irony of the Lock...

Thalestin

Thalestin

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
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Trail wolf's post bout knife cuts got me thinking about locks on knives. Of all my time on Bladeforums, I have read about many cuts (some really bad) that have occured from failed locks. Different locks, but probably most often frame and liner locks.

Ironically, I cant remember one such incident that occurred with a non locking blade or slipjoint style blade. Ironic? I think so. Just goes to show that having a lock may in fact be much less safe as people tend to push things when they should not. With a slip joint, it is pretty obvious that doing so would be a very bad idea.

Just some food for thought for those that may be pushing those locking folders to the limits. Have a great new year guys, and be safe :)
 
I'm very much of the mind that, regardless of the locking mechanism, one should use a knife as carefully as if there was no lock. :)
 
I think sometimes a lock gives people a false sense of security. Just remember, locks are a safety device, but they are not impervious to failure.

Be careful with your knives.
 
People usually get cut while opening/closing the knives, which could happen with any form of folder regardless of lock style or lack thereof.
 
All you have to do is TRY to treat every folding knife the same (locking or not). I do not think that locks are only safety devices because they are also needed for certain tasks and can be very functional. Take a folding hunting knife for example: When you are processing your kill you pretty much need a locking knife and couldn't really use a slip-joint that easily because your stabbing, slicing, and making a lot of cuts where you wan't a sturdy blade. As for most peoples edc knives the lock is for safety and honestly we could probably all get around everyday cutting tasks without a locking blade. If you are going to abuse a knife enough for the lock to fail, then you mite as well use a fixed blade because it actually does take a lot of force to make locks fail on well made folding knives.
 
I have been cut a couple times and it has been from the lock failing (if it closed unintentionally that is a failure IMO). Every time I was using the tip of the knife to poke a hole in something and I was not using excessive force - maybe 10 lbs of pressure. Some may consider that unsafe use of a knife but I think a knife should be able to do that as the need to do so comes up from time to time. The 3 times I can remember were a lock back and as you mentioned, once was a liner lock and once a frame lock which just happened a couple weeks ago.

Another reason I try to stay away from frame and liner locks if I can and why my go to knife is an AXIS lock.
 
I've never been cut from a lock failing as i'm super freaky nervous about it and so maintain a high level of caution (i have a recurring mental image of a knife blade closing across my finger and nearly completely severing it - i wince just thinking about it).

However, i recently bought a CS American Lawman with the "triad" lock designed by Andrew Demko (?). The lock-up is simply amazing and leaves me confident it would never fail. The Cold Steel video, while otherwise cheesy, for this knife is great showing how strong the knife/blade/lock mechanism is with the standard stabbing through a car hood, cutting some meat and rope.

Also, i think Andrew Demko made another one highlighting specifically how strong the lock is and was very confidence inspiring.
 
@knivesngear- i may not be the best example, but i know that my grandfather would skin all his game(deer mainly) with his old timer slip-joint.
 
nutnfancyfan said:
@knivesngear- i may not be the best example, but i know that my grandfather would skin all his game(deer mainly) with his old timer slip-joint.
Click to expand...

It's not impossible to do, but it can be dangerous and in my opinion is not the best kind of knife to use. my great grandpa would use a fixed blade and my grandpa used a lock back folding knife, and my dad likes fixed blades. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of slipjoint knives that I use for fishing, edc, and lots of other things but when it comes to hunting I either have a fixed or locking knife.
 
I've cut myself with kitchen knives, fixed blade hunting knives, locking folding knives, and non-locking folding knives. I've never cut myself with a locking folding knife due to it unexpectedly folding up on me (lock failure). I have, however, cut myself while closing a non-locking folding knife (strong spring + lack of attention = index finger - tip). I tend to think that the lock failure hysteria is mostly due to a few scattered "reports of failure" and a lot of people playing "what if..."

There is nothing done during the skinning of a deer that cannot be accomplished safely with a non-locking folding knife and the proper application of your brain...
 
As far as I can remember, I have never been injured by a lock failing. all my cuts were from not paying attention to what I was doing.

I've seen alot of cuts here on bf from fixed blades though...
 
I've never been injured from a failed lock, and thats not to say my hands are scarred up. I'm just a clumsy guy. :) That said the only slipjoint I've cut myself with do to not expecting it to close was a SAK, a climber, that had a very weak back spring, I accidently tapped it on a counter edge while working and it closed on my finger, had there been even a crappy lock, that wouldn't have happened, of course if I had just looked at where my hand was going it wouldn't have been an issue.
 
The only knives I've ever been cut with are balisongs and a SAK when I was young and dumb(er).
 
I've long believed that locks on folding knives allow you to develop bad habits in your knife handling. Those bad habits will result in more severe injury on that fateful day when the lock finally fails to protect you from your poor technique. If the task at hand really requires a lock, a folding knife is the wrong tool for the job. There have been far too many animals dressed out with non-locking folders to say that it is a task that demands a lock - as long as your knife handling techniques are correct for the tool in use. Alas, using a non-locking folder requires a bit of skill, developing skill requires effort, and far too few people are willing to put forth the effort required.
 
Thalestin said:
Trail wolf's post bout knife cuts got me thinking about locks on knives. Of all my time on Bladeforums, I have read about many cuts (some really bad) that have occured from failed locks. Different locks, but probably most often frame and liner locks.

Ironically, I cant remember one such incident that occurred with a non locking blade or slipjoint style blade. Ironic? I think so. Just goes to show that having a lock may in fact be much less safe as people tend to push things when they should not. With a slip joint, it is pretty obvious that doing so would be a very bad idea.

Just some food for thought for those that may be pushing those locking folders to the limits. Have a great new year guys, and be safe :)
Click to expand...

i dont know how many slip joint users may of had the knife close on there fingers while using and wouldnt say based on no information either way that that must mean they are inherently safer to use. ive had slipjoints close on me and have only by luck or dull edge not been cut by them. on the other hand ive never had any locked blade collapse on my fingers. so to rebut what your trying to say id have to argue that the reverse is true, just not bragged about.
 
0807101712.jpg



This Cadet drew red making my only "serious" knife related cut.

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Have yet to have a Locking Knife fail me and hope it stays that way!
 
The only knife I've ever had close on my fingers repeatedly throughout my ownership was a leatherman w/ slipjoint. I prefer being able to use my tools in a versatile manner, without the ever-present concern that they'll mutiny and attack me... If you like slipjoints, though, carry what you like.
 
Slipjoints are just as safe as locking folders or even fixed blades. It all comes down to the user. If you disagree, you are agreeing that you personally using any of three you admit you will cut yourself even knowing the the type of blade you are using. I'm not saying you may not have to be more careful on your cutting situation depending on what style of blade you are using, but really, anyone who safely uses a knife should be able to use any style of blade/lock without the risk of cutting themselves. Sure it happens, but don't blame the knife, its you that cut yourself with the knife you were using, not the knife.....

its like the saying, guns dont kill people, people kill people... knives don't cut people you cut yourself...
 
i personally think we expect way too much out of folders in general if you want a really hard use knife use a fixed blade and even then you should always be paying attention and be aware that you are using a very sharp tool

my folders even with locks are still light duty knives that i use for pretty mundane tasks even tho they may be capable of more
 
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