Titanium framelocks - are they used to much in todays knifeindustry?

I have examples of most lock types mentioned. My edc for jeans is a XM18 and if Im wearing slacks its a large Sebenza. The frame lock just works for me and it seems most high end knives are framelocks.
 
I actually like Axis lock, very much. But again, what you said does not make any sense.
 
sharp_edge said:
I actually like Axis lock, very much. But again, what you said does not make any sense.
Click to expand...

Please explain for us all what does not make sense about this statement: "you can open and close a knife with an axis lock twice as fast as you can open and close most liner and frame lock knives (safely)"

I almost think you're trolling. In fact i'm almost certain you are. If you can't comprehend that statement perhaps you shouldn't be playing with sharp things.
 
OK you win. I am trolling. And Axis lock can be easily twice faster than any frame lock or liner lock. Happy now?
 
Axis locks can be fast if you pull back on the slider to relieve the spring pressure and flick your wrist. Opening or closing it can be very fast. A frame lock is slower to close because you must move your thumb/finger out of the way. It is fairly fast though.

I think that frame/liner locks are popular because of a couple of reasons. The lock allows for a lot of flexibility in the design of the knife. Big, small, tall, narrow, whatever, it doesn't matter. Also, it's an easy lock to make (hard to make well). Custom makers can make liner locks without having a milling machine. CNC machines are not necessary. Many other lock types require a lathe and/or other CNC equipment.

At custom knife shows I'd say that at least 95% of folding knives are frame/liner locks.

For me, Axis, ball bearing, piston type locks are my favorite. Very strong, ambidextrous, and symmetrical. Frame locks just seem out of balance with the presentation side and the lock side being different.
 
sharp_edge said:
OK you win. I am trolling. And Axis lock can be easily twice faster than any frame lock or liner lock. Happy now?
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to win anything, you for some reason decided to not understand with a simple factual sentence. It's just a discussion, I don't understand why you had to get weird about it.
 
Mick_1KRR said:
Please explain for us all what does not make sense about this statement: "you can open and close a knife with an axis lock twice as fast as you can open and close most liner and frame lock knives (safely)"
Click to expand...

It's only possibly quicker if you pull the lock and flick it as an opening method.

Many of us don't bother doing that.
We use the hole or stud to open the knife, and use the lock as a lock.

And since I have AXIS and frame-locks, I can say that I've found zero speed difference even when doing the "AXIS flick."
 
If one is not quick, one will be dead.
Not really. :D
I do like the Axis lock, tho. But, I like the Frame, aka RIL and I like the Liner Lock. Oh, and the Balisong...
rolf
rolf
 
I think they are used too much....yes. I think a lot of folks seem to think that a frame lock is the best kind of lock and view it as such.

I don't like having knife handles that are different on each side. I don't want a knife with G10 on the right, and the raw frame of the knife open on the left.

Just not my thing.
 
I like and have a majority amount of ti frame-locks (both flipper and folder) in my collection, but I've also made a point to have at least one example of most lock types produced. Really enjoying the MUDD Hawk-lock lately. I never really consider which lock is "best", as they all have advantages and disadvantages in reality. I do wish the bolster-lock was more widely used, especially for the aesthetics, but I don't lament the popularity of any one lock setup over another. So many options, it seems pointless to be overly concerned about.
 
I think they are overused because they are quality locks. I love the titanium frame lock on my Spyderco techno and my southard. I like the compression lock on my pm2 and the ball bearing lock on my manix 2. Kind of over liner locks but I don't have any issue with them
 
I love me some framelock. One of my favorite lock types by far. I actually like the look of non-symmetrical scales. I've always been attracted to the industrial look of the lock side paired with the G10 or CF presentation side.

I do think they're used a lot right now, but like others have mentioned I believe the market has made it that way. They're hella popular right now, and fun to use IMO.
 
Let's have a contest and see which lock wins in which category, speed open and close, good looks-sex appeal, strength, price, ease of use doing daily chores-cutting an apple, etc.

This is way too complicated for a big dummy like me. In the world of tools, knives are still much less complicated than most.

Now if I could find a knife with something that makes it easy to find when I forget where I left it I would be happier. Until then my good old Gayle Bradley will just have to do in my shop and yard.
 
Missed this thread for a few days despite starting it. And meanwhile a lot of responses and different views has been shared. Exactly what I wanted! :) I own quite a few framelocks myself and some of the most iconic ones as well (Like Sebenza and Sage 2). Nothing wrong with them when they work. I myself prefer a working lock if there is going to be one at a foldingknife. And most locks can be made both poorly and excellent no matter what type. But I still think that titaniumframelocks are used a bit too much out of routine and that is of course connected to the flipper madness since it works good together. Nothing wrong with flipper either but not EVERY knife need to be of that kind. And someone wrote that linerlocks in steel also suffers from lockstick and lockslip....well, I kind of argues that compared to "Ti" they don't.

But I also like diversity and as I see it right now is kind of "the golden age" for us knifenuts. There is more to choose from than ever which this conversation is an good example of. And trends are followed by countertrends, flipping framelocks grows in popularity but so seems to be the case with slipjoints and other traditionals as well.

"so many knives, so little money"

/ J
 
subdude said:
I think you are overthinking this;)
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+1
Simple supply and demand.

Do they work adequately?
Do they sell?

Sure some folks would even go as far as to hate them, but apparently they are in the vast minority because companies keep making, because apparently they keep selling.
 
They do keep selling, but is that because of true love for the frame lock or lack of other options? It would be interesting to see if a company offered say all of their knives with a frame lock and the same knives at the same price with a different lock say the Axis lock etc. what customers would choose. You have to remember probably 90% of the people or more that buy Spyderco, BM, even ZT etc. are not knife enthusiasts. That % probably drops some with price somewhat, but until you get pretty expensive the majority of customers are not knife nuts. That means they are not emotionally attached to any blade steel, lock type, etc. It's like flippers, right now I think if you put 20 of the same design knife except 10 are flippers and 10 are thumb studs, you're going to sell the flippers long before the thumb stud knives, that's just the market right now.

After all BM didn't start with the Axis lock, the bulk of their knives were liner/frame locks, but it didn't take long after it was produced for the majority of their knives to use it. Perhaps that's simply a marketing tactic to set them apart, but it obviously it's worked and well, as even on the forums we see people that may not like BM's pricing strategy or their QC, myself included, but many like the Axis lock.

Variety is good in the marketplace, having been here since 98' I can remember various features, steels, designs etc. that people thought would quickly take over the marketplace that never did, probably because other companies would have to pay for the use of that feature or it made production more expensive/complicated, I doubt locks are any different.
 
If I had to guess, most of my locking folders are back-locks, then frame-locks, then liner-locks. Kinda like 'em all. Lots of each to choose from on the common market.

When it comes to frame-locks, I'd rather have titanium over steel due to weight, but I'd rather have a steel lock bar in a liner-lock for strength.

I wouldn't mind seeing a larger variety of button-lock folders though...

-Brett
 
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