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

My favorite framelocks happen to be CRK's and my favorite linerlock is the Spyderco Military. These are examples of liner/framelocks done right. I trust their locks as much as I do with several other lock types with my fingers and perhaps even my life. Their chances of failing are slim like the axis, etc... perhaps not as strong pound for pound but many of their users will attest to that and if that weren't the case, they wouldn't be selling... CRK's are the type of knives their fans use as a daily tool...They are still in business... Now a badly executed framelock, yes that's something to worry about. Also I'm not a fan of tanks and hammer knives but that's not the framelock's fault that it is used by those makers for their "hard use" knives that invite batoning and nuclear bombing.
 
Strong-Dog said:
A Spyderco Tuff which I could push in all the way, and would fail literally using the force of my own two hands by pushing on the back of the blade. Two Spyderco Dominos which also had steel inserts, and also would slip around. A ZT 0561 which I could literally push to 100% with my pinky, and I didn't trust the lock at all so I never found out if it would fail. A Kershaw One Ton which goes to 100% when used and gets so stuck I have to use a tool to pry it use (I now know I could have pulled up on the blade). A Kershaw Leek which would fail under minimal use and slip to 100% with pretty much no effort. A had a Spyderco Southard which I actually liked the lock on, but didn't have enough use on it before I sold it to say definitively. And my Spyderco Ti Millie which to date is the only frame-lock that I've used extensively that didn't have any issues or hasn't developed any issues.
Click to expand...
Wow, that's some bad luck there. I'd like to see some pictures as well.
 
Stays Sharp said:
^^^
Care to share pics or videos? Did you have the manufacturers fix these obvious lemons or did you sell them off? That's some bad luck. Crazy how some swear by them and some like yourself get the worst of the worst. Like I said, as for myself, not my favorite, but I'm ok with liners and framelocks along with the many other lock options out there. Got a few sticky framelocks but thats with probably 50+ go through my collection. None failed or reached 100%.
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I sold every one one those except for the Ti Millie, and the Kershaw One Ton (just to have to try stuff on). I also wanted to clarify what I said about the Domino, the locks definitely weren't as bad as some other frame-locks I've had, but I think that with a steel insert since it doesn't gall (gal?) it just is much more "slippery", as in slipping around on the lock face. I have a Skyline which also fails under minimal force (with my hands), and a Gayle Bradley which has seen extensive use and is extremely solid. If I could figure out how to post a video I could at least demonstrate the One Ton, although it is very cheap but if you guys want to see that I could. Even though my Ti Millie has a steel insert, it suffers from none of those problems.
 
Strong-Dog said:
A Spyderco Tuff which I could push in all the way, and would fail literally using the force of my own two hands by pushing on the back of the blade. Two Spyderco Dominos which also had steel inserts, and also would slip around. A ZT 0561 which I could literally push to 100% with my pinky, and I didn't trust the lock at all so I never found out if it would fail. A Kershaw One Ton which goes to 100% when used and gets so stuck I have to use a tool to pry it use (I now know I could have pulled up on the blade). A Kershaw Leek which would fail under minimal use and slip to 100% with pretty much no effort. A had a Spyderco Southard which I actually liked the lock on, but didn't have enough use on it before I sold it to say definitively. And my Spyderco Ti Millie which to date is the only frame-lock that I've used extensively that didn't have any issues or hasn't developed any issues.
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OK, while I may not be the biggest fan of frame locks, I don't buy this at all. This seems like a load of crap. Come on bro.
 
Strong Dog,
Assuming that you notified the buyers that those you sold have defective locks, its a surprise that they bought it from you anyway because I sure wouldn't have! So you had a Tuff, two Dominos, a 0561, and a Leek to recap and still have a One ton and a Skyline that have failed locks in your possesion. You should send them out and have them fixed so you can either keep them as good knives or sell them without being faulty. I don't think Ive heard of the Domino or the Tuff having lock issues before, I guess you should stay away from framelocks with the bad luck that you've had.
 
David Lowry said:
OK, while I may not be the biggest fan of frame locks, I don't buy this at all. This seems like a load of crap. Come on bro.
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? I really don't care if you buy it, I'm giving my experiences with frame-locks. Let me clarify more. The Tuff was honestly ridiculous, it failed extremely easy and could have hurt someone (and I put that in my listing when I sold it that it slipped). The ZT 0561 could go to 100% with my pinky, o well if you don't believe that. The Dominos admittedly were not bad, but something about the steel insert just didn't make them feel as solid as just plain titanium. The Kershaw One Ton has been used for what you would probably call "abuse", so maybe that explains it. The Kershaw Leek was worse than the Tuff, idk how they can even call that a lock. The Southard was very solid and didn't have any issues, but I barely had any use on it. You don't believe this?
 
Stays Sharp said:
Strong Dog,
Assuming that you notified the buyers that those you sold have defective locks, its a surprise that they bought it from you anyway because I sure wouldn't have! So you had a Tuff, two Dominos, a 0561, and a Leek to recap and still have a One ton and a Skyline that have failed locks in your possesion. You should send them out and have them fixed so you can either keep them as good knives or sell them without being faulty. I don't think Ive heard of the Domino or the Tuff having lock issues before, I guess you should stay away from framelocks with the bad luck that you've had.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call the Dominos defects, maybe those were just me. The Tuff I have heard of issues with.
 
Yes, the Tuff has had some issues. The first version Military framelock apparently had some issues, too, though I think they were wear issues rather than lock strength issues - that appears to be why the steel insert was introduced.

Surprised about the Dominos.
 
My only current frame lock, a Spyderco Chokwe, gauls (?) Relatively often and has moved from ~30% to ~70% in less than a month of use. Is that a bother? Yeah. Does that mean the lock isn't secure? No. Do I still like the knife? Yeah, though I wish they had hardened the lock face like the techno or added a steel insert.
 
Odd, I've have a few framelocks and have never had any problems whatsoever with any of them. I've even had a few linerlocks converted to framelocks, and no problems there either. Mileage does vary widely, apparently.
 
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