Ti Framelocks: How much better do they get?

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OrangeJoe

Joined
Jul 13, 2004
Messages
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I just bought a Ti framelock Kershaw Junkyard Dog II in SG2. A "blem" from BFs Dealer section. <$80 shipped :)

It's my only Ti framelock knife.

I know the limitations of the framelock design so this will probably be my food prep/letter opener/steak knife (I'll leave the heavy stuff to my Spyderco Endura 4 Wave).

Everything seems well built and finished, tight lockup, no bladeplay open nor closed, silly-easy flipper action, a very simple, clean design.

The question that jumps at me from examining this knife is...

How much better can a Ti framelock get?

What could be improved? Even thou it's a 700 piece limited run, the knife is one of the most recommended sub $200 Ti framelocks in the forums.

In other words, if you could improve the JYDII what would you change?

What am I missing if I make this my only Ti framelock?
 
Trust me, most Ti framelocks are built to be hard-use knives. I doubt that your Endura will hold up to hard use any better than the JYDII will. Framelocks are great knives; I like them because of their simplistic nature. Just two slabs of titanium and the blade...that's it. You will be missing out on a bunch of great knives if you make the JYD your only framelock. I personally prefer framelocks and would probably buy one over any other type of lock. Think about it...you'd be missing out on the Sebenza which is probably the most desired knife out there. Not to mention lots of other production and custom framelocks. So please...don't limit yourself to just the JYD :).
 
You would be missing the refined feel of a Sebenza, the brute strength of a Hinderer / Strider / ZT. You'd miss out on the FFG Sage II, not to mention the large amount of custom makers that make framelock knives.
 
You would also be missing out on a Rick Hinderer XM 18 or a new ZT 550 that will be coming out soon which is a Hinderer design.
Enjoy them all. Kevin
 
A frame lock knife is Very Durable and Tough, Chris Reeve Knives has made a living on their frame lock sebenza. I have never heard of any frame lock failing due to breakage from use. I personally feel a Frame lock is one of the best designs for a folder. I have o have had Sebenzas, Mnandi, Umnumzaan, SMF, SNG, Blackwater Lum Tanto, etc and all were excellent. The JYD looks to be an excellent design, I dont have one yet, though I have looked at the JUD II Blems quite a bit. If you want the ultimate JYD, buy one from Tim Galyean as he designed it and its the best by far or look on the exchange for one..........I really like the frame lock design, nearly all my favorite folders and some of the most popular knives are frame lock designs, How could a whole industry me wrong ???
 
I would not give up my frame Locks for anything!!! I have traded or sold a boatload of other knives to acquire these. I plan on getting a large Sebenza and Ti Military then slow down for a bit...

DSC08247-1.jpg








:D
 
if the geometry of the lock is correct and kershaw is good at it you'll have no problems
I use FL a lot when hiking, no HARD use but just USE and the good ones hold, no problems there

just don't do batoning or chopping with a folder, cut and keep cutting istead
Maxx
 
OrangeJoe said:
I just bought a Ti framelock Kershaw Junkyard Dog II in SG2. A "blem" from BFs Dealer section. <$80 shipped :)

...

In other words, if you could improve the JYDII what would you change?
Click to expand...

I love framelock knives. Framelock and Benchmade's Axis lock are my two favorite locking systems.

I am not a fan of assisted opening knives and, although Kershaw is the master of that feature, thankfully the Junkyard Dog II is a manual opener.

I have several of the 1725SG2 Junkyard Dog II blems. It is one of the most perfectly balanced knives that I own. It is a hefty knife but, as you indicated, it opens effortlessly.

The one thing that I did change was the clip. I felt the standard clip was a little too "extreme" for my work-a-day world. I replaced it with a lowrider titanium clip that I found on this forum.
 
Thanks for the replies and the pic :)

I can name the Ti framelock options out there.

It would be really helpfull if specific features could be described as I only have the JYDII SG2 for reference.

For example, "If you moved up to a Benchmade xyz you would get a glass smooth opening, unlike the Kershaw".

That way I could tell myself "Hey! A smoother action would be really nice, I'm getting an xyz" or "I find the action smooth enough for my taste, the price jump does not justify it".

'Know what I mean?

Edited: Crossposted with road less traveled, That,s a great example. I thought I would hate the clip, but it actually looks great with the knife. If only we could get str to do a low rider inspired by the original.
 
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OrangeJoe said:
Thanks for the replies and the pic :)

I can name the Ti framelock options out there.

It would be really helpfull if specific features could be described as I only have the JYDII SG2 for reference.

For example, "If you moved up to a Benchmade xyz you would get a glass smooth opening, unlike the Kershaw".

That way I could tell myself "Hey! A smoother action would be really nice, I'm getting an xyz" or "I find the action smooth enough for my taste, the price jump does not justify it".

'Know what I mean?

Edited: Crossposted with road less traveled, That,s a great example. I thought I would hate the clip, but it actually looks great with the knife. If only we could get str to do a low rider inspired by the original.
Click to expand...

I based the low rider I make for it off the original and thought I kept it in line with the Kershaw designs seen on most of their knives. Kershaw, unlike other companies does make some nice clips that look like they belong on the knives they are installed on and have some thought into them rather than appearing to be afterthoughts and generic looking taking away from the folder.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7908993&postcount=44

For the most part they do an excellent clip. I've always liked most of their pocket clips personally. The JYD models not so much but they do blend well with the design. The only thing I dislike about them is the bulky size from the excessive width but other things about it are really quite good.

STR
 
OrangeJoe said:
I know the limitations of the framelock design so this will probably be my food prep/letter opener/steak knife
Click to expand...

OMG! Where does that come from? To me, the framelock is the best locking mechanism out there! Well executed, you get no blade play whatsoever, solid and secure lockup (Sebenza anyone?). Feels like a fixed blade. YMMV, I guess.
 
defaultuser said:
OMG! Where does that come from? To me, the framelock is the best locking mechanism out there! Well executed, you get no blade play whatsoever, solid and secure lockup (Sebenza anyone?). Feels like a fixed blade. YMMV, I guess.
Click to expand...

They are good, but not the best. ;)

That is well designed Frame Locks that is...
 
I like framelocks myself and the Ti SG2 has (for me) one of the nicer looking design of the framelock out there. However it is not the strongest. Right now it is the Tri-Ad lock.
 
defaultuser said:
What's the best according to you Jim? I thought i was done with the knife purchase :rolleyes::eek::D
Click to expand...

He likes the Tri-Ad lock. ;)

I view a lock as a safety. I would be very happy if CRK produced some form of slip joint / friction folder instead of a locking folder.
 
defaultuser said:
What's the best according to you Jim? I thought i was done with the knife purchase :rolleyes::eek::D
Click to expand...

The Tri Ad is the Strongest, but I do like Frame Locks too. :D

Josh K said:
He likes the Tri-Ad lock. ;)

I view a lock as a safety. I would be very happy if CRK produced some form of slip joint / friction folder instead of a locking folder.
Click to expand...


You have a point. :D
 
OrangeJoe said:
(I'll leave the heavy stuff to my Spyderco Endura 4 Wave).
Click to expand...

I think you have things backwards, a 0300 could break an endura 4 into 4 different peices using it as a hammer. I would like an endura break even the tip off a ZT.
 
Not exactly sure what limitations you're talking about but frame locks have imo the best combination of strength + simplicity. No it's not the strongest possible lock out there but its still plenty strong and the simplicity of the lock means less points of failure. Not to mention with harder use and harder grip you are pressing down on the frame lock making it impossible to get accidental closings.
 
It depends on how well the lockback is designed and how well the frame lock is designed when it comes to which is better. I'd put pretty much any frame lock with a Hinderer lock stop up against anything short of a Tri-Ad lockback. The Tri-Ad, if all I've seen is true, just so happens to be so far above everything else as to not be comparable.

Anyway, to the OP, that's where I'd point you next. Try out something like a Kershaw Volt (if you can find one) or an A.G. Russell Acies. Very well-built knives, buttery smooth openings, and the Hinderer lock stop prevents the lock from being opened too far, which adds to the lock's strength.

From there, depending on which direction you want to move, there's the "pinnacles" of frame lock designs: the Sebenzas, the Striders, and the XM-18/XM-24's. A Sebenza would be the perfect light/medium-use folder, outstanding fit and finish, beyond smooth opening, and outstanding "gentlemen's folder" looks. A Strider would be the ultimate hard-use folder, a thick, beefy blade ready for just about anything. An XM-18 would be somewhere in the middle, solidly-built enough to handle pretty much anything without looking like a sharpened prybar on steroids.
 
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