Ti framelocks - a longstanding fad, or the new standard?

[Skywalker31]

But with a frame-lock, no matter how you twist, if you keep your hand closed, the lock cannot slip.
I can see how on some liner locks it might happen, but I cannot fathom what weird way people must be gripping a frame-lock to get such results.

I think it's somewhat possible if you're LH and using a RH lock with a sizeable cutout for the stud/unlocking in the nonlocking scale.

For example, I've got my small LH sebenza in front of me right now - holding it in my right hand, if my index finger was smaller, I can see how trying to twist the handle while the blade was bound would allow me to slip my finger into the cutout on the front scale and put pressure on the lockbar... maybe enough to unlock it, maybe not.

I had a Buck folding Alpha Hunter years back (RH liner lock) that I could make the lock fail on pretty easily (in my left hand) this way if I tried, though it was never an issue in actual use for me.

 

[crom]

"These days". You say that like its a recent phenomenon. Frame locks in high end knives have been around for many years. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Pretty long lived fad I'd say. It's not a fad when it's on 2 or more decades. Jordache jeans were a fad just ask Powernoodle

 

[WRGreen]

Even though one of my favorite knives is a framelock, I think I like liner locks better. They exhibit symmetry and a better sense of "completion" to the handle. I think also my tastes are drifting back to lockbacks and slipjoints, since my knife use philosophy is leading in a 'think twice-cut once' direction, and if I'm in a very rare 'one-handed need for speed scenario', most likely a fixed blade will be forthcoming. As for safety, common sense and standard knife handling rules apply, so blind reliance on locking mechanisms and crazy manipulative actions and activities seem to me better suited to the 'Darwin Awards' arena. I still think of knives as cutting tools, not prybars, gouges, mauls or hammers. My Titanium frame lock is a great knife and cuts well, but my Vic Spartan is miles of cutting distance ahead of it.

 

[HwangJino]

Only time will tell...

Im right handed but find it easier to open and close framelocks with my left. I want to find left handed framelocks to see if my right hand finds it easier.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I don't like them. That's because I absolutely hate metal scales. Having worked outdoor construction, automotive, and my current job, I tend to be outside a lot. Sometimes you have to take your gloves off in the cold, and metal scales are VERY unpleasant when it's -20 degrees outside. Same for summer. Just a few minutes in the 105 degree sun and you could light a cigarette off of them. G10/micarta/FRN still get hot and cold, don't get me wrong. However, the temperature transfer is no where near as extreme as metallic objects.
Add in some oil or hand sweat and grippiness also goes out the window.

I also think most of them are ugly. I think the flat piece of metal approach is kind of cheesy when most of them have nicely carved G10/micarta on the other side.

Im in the same boat. Too cold in winter. Too slippery in the summer with sweaty hands. Only back locks and axis locks for me. Plus personally I think they are ugly.

 

[pvicenzi]

I tink due to their simplicity, they will be around awhile.

 

[JB in SC]

Like 'em...they're here to stay.

 

[Kai Corp.]

Almost every single high-profile knife is a Ti Framelock these days. Strider, Chris Reeve, Hinderer, ZT, and Spyderco's most-praised models are almost exclusively Ti framelocks. Boker, Quartermaster, and others also have an abundance of Ti framelocks that are also some of their best offerings. Even Benchmade's Ti framelocks are highly sought after.

High-demand customs and mid-techs are almost entirely Ti framelocks. Heck, the only "overbuilt" and "hard-use" custom I can think of that uses anything else is the AD-10. Curtiss, Grimsmo, Moon, Direware, and almost everyone else uses them primarily - if not exclusively. You might see a Shirogorov with an axis-style lock, and there are the slipjoints here and there, but when's the last time you've seen a high-demand or high-profile knife with a lockback or a linerlock? It's so rare that it's downright notable.

I'm not opposed to Ti framelocks. I like the lightness, I like the ability to anodize them, I like that they are nonmagnetic, I like that Ti doesn't rust, I like the simplicity, I like that framelocks give you a visible measure of the "life" left in a knife. Most of my favorite knives are Ti framelocks, I have an 0562CF on pre-order, there's a Kizer in my pocket and another on order, Will Moon has my 0801 and a MK7 on the way to me, I really like the look and concept behind Direware, the solidest-feeling knife I have ever handled was a XM-18, I'm looking at getting a large Insingo, the most awesome knife I have handled to date is the Benchmade 7505-132… Yet I'm also not opposed to other locking mechanisms. It would seem, however, that it's going to be Ti framelocks for now and for the forseeable future.

How long will it stay this way? Are we talking years? Decades? Will they ever fall out of favor?

Time has shown that Ti FL's are certainly not a fad. They're here to stay.

From my perspective, I will say they are a small genre category, that has a financial ceiling (low, watch your head ) attached to them. There are some specialized brands that the majority of the sales are caught up in Ti FL's, but big picture, they are overall an exotic small dollar category that grab a lot of industry headlines.

 

[crom]

 

[cutter17]

I like both framelocks and linerlocks, as long as the maker(factory or individual) makes the lock correctly. I agree with RamZar about carbidizing or hardened steel inserts being used on framelocks. CRK has been carbidizing the Sebenza lock for a while now. My framelocks include ZT's with the steel insert's, and LionSteel, also with the steel inserts.

But a well constructed linerlock is my favorite knife. I have/had several and the reason I like them so well is that the handle material is identical on both sides, no titanium/steel on one side and G-10/micarta/zytel/etc on the other side. Strider just ruined it for me with the intro of the SNG. Boker, ZT, Fox, and now Kizer are linerlocks that I really enjoy and feel safe with. Pat Crawford, Mike Irie, the already mentioned Bob T, Bob Dozier, and the master John W Smith are linerlocks I've had the opportunity to own and trusted them all without fail.

Fad or not? Only time can tell the answer to that. Whatever the case, I think this lock will continue to be around for some time to come.

 

[bigmark408]

I like frame locks....There was a time when a buck 110 was as good as it got for me and it handled every task i asked of it as well as every knife i have owned to date.

 

[whitty]

Love my frame locks and think they are here to stay. I just hate all the dialogue of which lock is better. I think unless it results in failure then any lock up is fine!

 

[MEJ]

I think frame locks are pretty spiffy, for me it comes down to the simplicity of it. Just two slabs of titanium looks :thumbup:

 

[Fred Sanford]

Much of knife usage and enjoyment is the bling factor, and this is especially true among those who are dropping hundreds of bucks on a mere knife. Titanium is basically there for the coolness of owning a knife made from the same stuff as the XR-71 Blackbird, and it may be easier to fabricate than a liner lock (not sure about that). But a titanium framelock is colder, heavier and slicker than its G10/liner lock siblings. Is a titanium framelock "stronger" than a stainless liner lock? First of all, if a guy is using a regular Spyderco Military (just as an example) in such a way that he "breaks" the liner lock (and I'm not even sure what that means), maybe he's not using it as a knife to begin with. So no, I don't think that a titanium framelock is "all that". Its basically bling. If a guy really wants a strong lock, he can spend $35 on a Buck 110. Or he can just be a little careful with his knife, like the WWII generation seemed to do just fine with their slipjoints. This whole "strong lock" thing is largely used as a justification for dropping $400 on a cool knife. Just my take.

Exactly.

In my opinion a frame lock seems like it is easier to make than a lock back and a liner lock. This combined with the coolness of titanium is why they are all over the place.

Fad if you ask me.

Far from the strongest locks.

 

[sector2]

I for one don't want them to go anywhere I love them

It's good to see some manufacturers retrofit new models with a steel insert. For instance, the latest Zero Tolerance 0300 series.
.

ramzar any link or more info on this great but expensive news

 

[RamZar]

It's good to see some manufacturers retrofit new models with a steel insert. For instance, the latest Zero Tolerance 0300 series.

ramzar any link or more info on this great but expensive news

See this thread: Zero Tolerance 0301 2014 updated model

 

[Goosey]

I vote "new standard". I don't see them being replaced anytime soon.


It's a pity because it would be nice to see more variety. It gets a bit dull seeing ti framelock after ti framelock. I'm biased though, I prefer lockbacks.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

It's a pretty good lock and it has a lot of sweet, visible, machined titanium. I think that about sums up why people really like them. Personally I like lockback or compression lock better. I'm also interested in Spyderco's new powerlock.

 

[mmarkh]

I like framelocks and liner locks. I really like any well done lock.

 

[sector2]

See this thread: Zero Tolerance 0301 2014 updated model

thanks for the link ramzar I don't know how I missed that thread I better spend more even time on blade forums I got to say though I am a little disappointed with it but that's for the other thread

back on topic I like he technical look that can be achieved with frame locks an really good example of this is the xm18 series or the lionsteel sr1 and while the lion steel may not be a frame lock (integral lock I think ,open to correction on that ) it does have that technical look I like if only it had a flipper