The problem with linerlocks

V

Vicarious Reality

Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
1,319
Most linerlocks are held closed by a tiny bump on the lock side that fits into a tiny hole on the blade.
I noticed that my Spyderco Military was getting really really gritty when i opened and closed it. I put some sowing machine oil on the area i mentioned above and now it's quite smooth.
Since the linerlock on the military is titanium, i assume it will wear down the tiny bump much faster than if the lock was steel.
Also;
I'm looking at the compression lock on my Yojimbo, and there appears to be some sort of cutout that holds the blade closed? Anyone know how that works?
 
I don't believe the liner lock on the Military is titanium at all. I've never seen one that was anyway. Magnets don't stick to titanium.

STR
 
The liner on the Military isn't titanium. Did you get this from the Nutnfancy review, as well?

AFAIK, the tiny bump is a steel ball bearing pressed into the liner. It shouldn't wear down at any appreciable rate.

I'm looking at the compression lock on my Yojimbo, and there appears to be some sort of cutout that holds the blade closed? Anyone know how that works?
Click to expand...

The lock spring presses against the milled out area, the tension created by this keeps the blade closed.
 
Just looked.

The Military uses a stainless steel liner with a pressed in bearing.

I have seen ballbearings rust, so that may have happened.
 
Holy crap, i just tested and it's magnetic! I just assumed since it was dull grey it was titanium, like my CS Scimitar lock. That isn't magnetic.
 
The ball bearing in the lock A/K/A the 'detent ball' is supposed to be the preventive device to keep the folder legal so its not deemed a gravity knife. This ball when properly done is put in place to prevent accidental openings of the blade either in full or partial openings like for the point to rise up out of the shielding of the body of the folder where it can be dealt with safely when closed and carried.

Some consider the detent to be a preventive for flicking as well as accidental openings while closed. In recent years many law enforcement representatives have deemed knives of this type gravity knives (same league as an automatic knife, IE, illegal) if they can be flicked open or if the blade can be made to fall out from the closed position from this motion used to flick the blade down without touching anything but the two handles.

The fine line of interpretation for gravity knife and what the detent is supposed to do is solely on the officer stopping one to examine his/her knife unfortunately. I would say personally that a properly placed detent should keep the blade from opening when held upside down. In other words it should defeat gravity. As for the flick test. Well, I think its nice when the detent is strong enough to also keep this from happening but I think if someone wants to bad enough that even the best done detents can be made to allow the blade to flick open if one sets out to do that.

Maintenance of the detent should be minimum. I'd suggest if one does oil or grease the ball to prevent a gritty feeling or sound that they use whatever lube they use very sparingly. Oil and grease can attract lint so only a light film is all that I'd use unless more was required. I'd recommend a dry lube like Tuff Glide over anything else because it goes on wet but dries after being exposed to the air for a while so you get lubrication without lint attraction in the pocket.

STR
 
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