Tightest Locking Folders

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knifezoid

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Apr 17, 2009
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What are your tightest locking folders? For me I think it's my Kershaw Leek.
It has not play whatsoever. Feels like a fixed blade when open.

My Spyderco Delica Wave is not too far off the mark either.
 
My axis-lock Benchmades and my frame-lock folders are all pretty solid. So is my Spyderco Military, with its superstrong liner lock.
 
All of mine are very tight, if not there sold quick(to friends that get a deal and know of problem) if not sent back. But I havn't seen many top notch folders that didn't lock up tight.
 
My tightest lockup is on the Ontario RAT 1. The liner lock slams shut with a loud click, and leaves absolutely no play.

Second best is my Buck Parallex framelock.

And lastly I will mention the CS Kudu, which feels very solid for such a slender and lightweight folder. Very nice lock design in a very useful knife.

Don't own any axis locks :(.
 
My tightest lockers are my Kershaw G-10 Tyrade, and my ZT0205KW. I've "worked" on 'em just a smigden to get the tighter than normal lockup. I am counting tight as not only an absence of bladeplay, but also in how stiff the lock is to disengage.
 
I just finished writing a knife review that included a Benchmade 520, a Sebenza, a Diamondblade Monarch, and several others. The Benchmade was the easiest to open, but the Sebenza clearly had the tightest lockup.
 
If you take a framelock (SMF, XM-18) and after opening it press the lock bar a bit further over you can get a very tight lockup.

That being said, Spyderco Military for me. :)
 
I've got a few Barry Wood swing-lock folders that are tight and solid as a fixed blade... a few of his folders that aren't so tight. It's kind of hit-or-miss.
 
Rat 1, Tenacious, Kershaw JYD. I seem to be in the minority but my axis lock is less than perfect.:rolleyes:
 
All the customs that I own, lock up like a bank vault. If they didn't, I wouldn't have them. I own mostly frame locks & one Scott Sawby self-lock.
 
In my experience, well made framelocks seem to have the tightest lockup; no wiggle side to side (when adjusted properly) or front to back. A couple brands I have had positive experiences with are Emerson :thumbup: and Reeve :thumbup:. Strider is probably pretty good as well, although I have no personal experience with their knives.
 
Without testing them all my belief would be:
Spyderco Phoenix (Ball Lock)
SpydercoPhoenixMark.jpg


Allen Elishewitz Anubis (Button Lock)
ElishewitzKhepri2.jpg


Kershaw Spec Bump (Stud Lock)
KershawSpecBumpStudLock.jpg


Also very solid are frame locks, but I've had frame locks fail so I think least likely to fail are my Mikkel Willumsen Mr. Mugs.
MikkelWillumsenMrMugs.jpg

MikkelWillumsenMrMugsLockUp.jpg


I'm not as confident with liner locks as I've had them fail as well, but one that is least likely to fail is my Ontario Hossum Retribution 2. It is a user that I've batoned with complete confidence.
OntarioHossumRetribution2LockUp.jpg
 
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I loved the way my spyderco delica snapped into place. I don't know if it's the tightest overall, but it sure was the nicest I've ever felt.
 
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