Triad lock vs...

gooeytek, how aboout a knife that cuts well, and has a great lock too...?

There's lots of them out there. But by making the type of lock the main criteria for judging how well it's supposed to be made, you're counting out every multi-tool, SAK, slipjoint (traditional folders), and friction folder out there. If you are using a folding knife properly, you will never have to worry about the blade closing on your hand while cutting something.
 
Man I'm so glad I haven't tried hanging weights off the end of my knives while I've got the blade clamped in a vise, or holding it down on a brick wall and beating it with the handle of an axe.....


I'm sure glad i didn't buy a car based on how easy/hard you can destroy it with a bulldozer.

Have you tried some normal abuse like opening, closening and pressure times a few thousand times? Most locks will sooner or later fail from "normal" wear and tear and though the abuse tests may seem crude you could also look at like a very rough method of quantifying the wear over it's lifespan in a very short time frame. Personally I prefer a lock that can take the forces applied and have it break later (axis, tri-ad etc) rather than sooner (lockbacks, liner locks, frame locks, compression locks etc) – and I strongly believe the tri-ad is the most well equipped lock to do so in todays market. There's no need to be in the bricklaying business to appreciate that.

Axis and Tri-Ad, they're both great selling points. Just as the pivot bushing, clip-it and frame lock once was – and the Spyder hole still is. Anyone is welcome to argue against it but they'll be missing out on some terrific innovation and interesting knives...
 
Well worth a closer look:

IMAG0086.jpg


(those are phosphor-bronze and teflon bushings on the CS btw. One of each on each side)
 
... Anyone is welcome to argue against it but they'll be missing out on some terrific innovation and interesting knives...

I don't think anyone here is disputing the strength of an Axis or Tri-ad lock, but rather the decision to buy knives solely based on whether the lock is as strong as those. Whoever does it, is missing out on some terrific and interesting knives.

The question should not be "Is it stronger...?", but "Is it strong enough?" If its able to hold the blade open without blade play, then yes.
 
I don't think anyone here is disputing the strength of an Axis or Tri-ad lock, but rather the decision to buy knives solely based on whether the lock is as strong as those. Whoever does it, is missing out on some terrific and interesting knives.

The question should not be "Is it stronger...?", but "Is it strong enough?" If its able to hold the blade open without blade play, then yes.

Almost any knife is "strong enough" when it's new. What's more interesting is if it will develop blade play with time. I'm sure the Tri-Ad will do it eventually, but you can tell just by looking at it that it will take far longer than most types of locks... and the tests confirms it.

Edit: And I think everyone should buy a CS just for the sake of trying the Tri-Ad. They should also get a Spyderco for the Spydie hole, a Benchmade for the axis, a CRK for the tolerances.... you get the idea...
 
Yes, but all of my Vics hold the blade open without play. Yes, they are strong enough for most basic use. But if you want or need a knife with a lock, shouldn't that lock be the best possible, just in case you need to rely on it, or if you have an accident.

In the end, some people get it, some people don't. Many would say I don't get it, and I'd say many others don't get it. Just depends on your individual perspective, I guess. I don't think either way of thought is wrong, even though some of you just don't get it. :p
 
I have fairly equal examples of knives in the Endura and the American Lawman (meaning, same basic size, price point, etc). There are things about the Endura which I like better and things about the Lawman which I like better. They are both good knives.

The Spyderco compression lock may well be the equal of the Triad. (Please understand? that I respect the Spyderco guys when I say this)

When Spyderco starts offering the compression lock on $20-40 knives like CS does with the Triad, let me know.


Why is it that we cannot talk about one line of knives on here without bashing another?
 
Some knives don't even have locks.

I had a CS Voyager, and it was ok. The lock is indeed very strong. Overall though, I didn't like it enough to keep it, and that's saying a lot because I tend to keep my knives around even after I've stopped using them regularly. My nephew saw it, he liked it, lent it to him, and he lost it. In the end it wasn't a big deal and felt like I had just lost a throwaway knife.

I've had a number of Spydercos throughout the years, but never really liked them a lot. The ones I had during the early 90's were FRN-handled Police, Enduras, Dragonflys, and gave them away. I recently acquired an Orange Manix 2 and a couple of Militaries, and my opinion of them has gone a complete 180.

I still have a hard time opening them smoothly with the Spydiehole, but I don't care. I don't care if I have to use two hands to open up my Military, or that it's only tip-down carry, it slices like a demon, it looks amazing, Titanium + M4, it's that good. I flip open a ZT0200, and I don't care that it's bulky and heavy. It feels great in the hand, very sturdy, cuts well and sharpens easy. It's that good. I got my Voyager and locked it open, held it, sliced with it...cleaned it off, then put it in the cabinet. Didn't get that same feeling. Hell of a lock though.
 
I have fairly equal examples of knives in the Endura and the American Lawman (meaning, same basic size, price point, etc). There are things about the Endura which I like better and things about the Lawman which I like better. They are both good knives.

The Spyderco compression lock may well be the equal of the Triad. (Please understand? that I respect the Spyderco guys when I say this)

When Spyderco starts offering the compression lock on $20-40 knives like CS does with the Triad, let me know.


Why is it that we cannot talk about one line of knives on here without bashing another?

When cs starts offering triad locks on usa made knives, let me know. I can play that game too.
 
Yes, CS is a international/intergalactic collaboration! US, Japan, Taiwan... and whatever planet Lynn Thompson is from.
 
My two-cents is almost worthless to this thread, but here goes... nothing. :D

There are just some things one shouldn't do with a folder. There are things one shouldn't do with a knife, period. I regard a lock as an added measure of safety but there are no locks that can guarantee zero failure. In a world of possibilities, any number of things can go wrong; it would be foolish to wager a finger or more on lock strength. Even when one does take the time to go and get the proper tool for the job, observe all safety precautions, and wear the proper PPE, accidents still happen.
 
Most things labeled American made are actually American assembled with varying amounts of American parts - very tiny amount actually 100%

Anyway - talking about strength...

If you watch those Hogue EX-01 videos on youtube you notice it is really struggling before hitting 170lbs with a 30 degree+ bend and is already on the verge of collapse/slowly closing before the last "5 lbs." is put on going to 180lbs. If you compare that to the Lawman with Demko beating on it, standing on it, then hanging 235 with hardly any visible flex and collapse no where in the near future - it's a pretty big difference.

Most of the other brands and other lock types that Allen was testing in the EX-01 vids were collapsing at 90-120 lbs.

If you think about it in the context of Spydeco developing better locks for MBC folders - if you stab an object and the object is in motion immediately pulling away in the other direction - that could easily be a lot more pressure than hanging 200 lbs. on the end of the handle. The 160-240lbs. object going one way and your stabbing energy going the other way oppose in violent action and put a ton of pressure on the lock.
 
Reading these topics feels like participating in another CS advertising videos...

The important thing is not to overdo - CS always do that with their marketing in my opinion. One topic per day? One per week? Would one per month be sufficient in fact? Or it is when the previous "Triad Lock Supreme" thread goes off the first page?
And I am Not CS Hater. Yet. ;)
 
Wow to this whole thread. No wonder the average person isn't an engineer. Actually it wouldn't be surprising if the average person can't do their kids algebra or Trig homework.


Most things labeled American made are actually American assembled with varying amounts of American parts - very tiny amount actually 100%

Anyway - talking about strength...

If you watch those Hogue EX-01 videos on youtube you notice it is really struggling before hitting 170lbs with a 30 degree+ bend and is already on the verge of collapse/slowly closing before the last "5 lbs." is put on going to 180lbs. If you compare that to the Lawman with Demko beating on it, standing on it, then hanging 235 with hardly any visible flex and collapse no where in the near future - it's a pretty big difference.

Most of the other brands and other lock types that Allen was testing in the EX-01 vids were collapsing at 90-120 lbs.

If you think about it in the context of Spydeco developing better locks for MBC folders - if you stab an object and the object is in motion immediately pulling away in the other direction - that could easily be a lot more pressure than hanging 200 lbs. on the end of the handle. The 160-240lbs. object going one way and your stabbing energy going the other way oppose in violent action and put a ton of pressure on the lock.

I'm not sure how stabbing something (point in?) will result with the object going the opposite direction? And if pulling away wouldn't that decrease force? But just because an object is 160-240 lbs and you stab it, and it moves, doesn't mean anywhere near 160-240 lbs of force is put on anything in the knife. Especially since the knife won't be held rigidly.


[youtube]wEH2erOh5Zw[/youtube]

I've had a shitty linerlock S&W Homeland Security I've banged up more than that, which lasted a helluva lot better. Wouldn't expect a skimpy soft piece of steel like the liner in the compression lock not to deform though...

[youtube]yJ1moCHqa6E[/youtube]

I could swear I'm spotting a Endura @ 4:02...

So your S&W knife was beat on more than that Para 2? Sorry I call bull$%*#. You may have used it hard but unless you were smashing the back of the blade into a wall or hitting the blade with an axe handle the amount of forces were no where close if you were holding it in your hand. The compression lock is one of the strongest locks there is and those kind of forces will peen just about any metal. On a side note the kid in the video is an idiot. If he thinks a piece of shipping tape and an oven mitt are going to stop a razor sharp knife from severing his fingers if the weight did cause the lock to fail, he should probably be required to wear a helmet at all times. Especially when he grabs his hand with his other "oven mitt-less" hand and puts his fingers right in the path of the blade.

And I stopped the video and I sure can't tell what knife that is. Not that I would expect the back lock on the Endura to hold much at all, but what I saw proved the knife had a pivot and a handle and that's about it.
 
I'm not sure how stabbing something (point in?) will result with the object going the opposite direction? And if pulling away wouldn't that decrease force? But just because an object is 160-240 lbs and you stab it, and it moves, doesn't mean anywhere near 160-240 lbs of force is put on anything in the knife. Especially since the knife won't be held rigidly.

I'm pretty sure you got what I meant, but just in case I was talking about a man, using object to be more polite and tactful since it isn't Prac Tac section. If you was to step in on a guy diagonally and give him a stab in the torso, there is a good chance he instinctively lunges back and you have his mass moving at whatever speed going against the mechanics of the knife.

Alternatively you checking him with your free hand and stabbing at the same time can have him going down by loss of balance and his body weight temporarily pulling down on the blade able to force it to close. Could also be going for a stab on his upper thigh and hit something solid which is putting intense pressure on the lock mechanism based off the arcing motion of a stab.

There are lot of different ways it could exert more than 100 lbs. of force on the end of the blade. That's why Spyderco spent months and months designing the Yojimbo to be just a little stronger....just a little stronger. Not to mention emergency utility/rescue use that does happen.
 
some of you guys just need to break down and admit you need a fixed blade and stop playing with toy knives.
 
I wish we could all carry 5 in. fixed blades everywhere we go without any legal issues. Half the people saying they EDC a fixed blade in many of these forum threads are probably doing it illegally or just talking out their a$$ and putting a folder in their pocket like every one else.
 
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