Trick and Puzzle knives

T

tudall

Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
6
I am a collector of mechanical puzzles.

Recently I became interested in knowing about knives that incorporate "trick" or puzzle mechanisms. Unusual or hard to find opening, closing or locking mechanisms in folders qualify. I would like very much to hear about any such that you all may know about.

Examples from my currently small collection include:
Spyderco Meerkat: locks open, tricky closing mechanism (my favorite)
CRKT Glide lock folder: not too tricky lock
CRKT Fulcrum: very sweet opening mechanism
A Frost folder with a "Samurai" lock: bolster hides and operates lock
Antique pen knives with no "thumbnail" groove. You have to hold it just right and squeeze it closed to get it to open.
CRKT "Bladelock": The opening thumb stud also releases the blade lock.
A Russian pocket knife in the shape of a fish. Its hard to find that it opens like a Balisong.

What else is out there? I'd love to learn about more.
 
There are various automatics that have hidden releases like a bolster that moves or similar methods. An out the front automatic is a pretty neat 'gadget' which comes out when a slide is pushed forward and goes in when the slide is pushed in the opposite direction. Pushing the slide increases the tension of the spring enough to pull the blade out. Pulling the slide down then increases the spring tension in the opposite direction pulling it in.

As mentioned the E.T. is a pretty neat linkage or toggle design that opens and closes the knife. I'm sure there are others that I don't know about or I'm not remembering.
 
I too am interested in knives with interesting locking mechanisms and opening methods. Here are a few from my collection:

Pacific Cutlery
PCCWood.jpg


Aristocrat Majestic
AristocratMajestic.jpg


Rolox, also the newer version from CRKT
Rolox.jpg


TimberLite, by Timberline Knives
TimberLiteclear.jpg


AG Russell One Hand Knives
OneHandvariations.jpg


Blackie Collins' Thumb Bolt locking sheath, used on the AG Russell Hunters Scalpel, Bird and Trout, and Deer Hunter
huntersscalpel.jpg


Case Swing Guard.
cheetah-1.jpg


Kershaw ET
CRKT Van Hoy SnapLock
Bokermatic
Opinel, and their locking ring
AG Russell Funny Folder
Canal Street Cutlery Ring Opener
 
Any Barry-Wood folder--like the Pacific Cutlery model shown (almost had one broken by an over-eager friend)

Paul Chen "Starship" (sort of a reverse liner-lock where a split in the blade engages the bolster)

AG Russell "bolster lock" (haven't seen one up close, but it seems the bolster takes on the function of a frame lock).
 
Bob W said:
I too am interested in knives with interesting locking mechanisms and opening methods. Here are a few from my collection:

Pacific Cutlery
PCCWood.jpg


Aristocrat Majestic
AristocratMajestic.jpg


Rolox, also the newer version from CRKT
Rolox.jpg


AG Russell One Hand Knives
OneHandvariations.jpg


...Blackie Collins' Thumb Bolt locking sheath, used on the AG Russell Hunters Scalpel, Bird and Trout, and Deer Hunter

huntersscalpel.jpg


...Bokermatic
Opinel, and their locking ring
AG Russell Funny Folder
Canal Street Cutlery Ring Opener
Click to expand...

I have the same knives plus the PCC Barry Wood Flip Folder.

I gotta ask ya, what do ya thihink about the Aristocrat, I have the smaller version but I love the secure lockin' mechanisim, I've never seen another till yours, thanks for the pics
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I gotta ask ya, what do ya thihink about the Aristocrat, I have the smaller version but I love the secure lockin' mechanisim, I've never seen another till yours, thanks for the pics
Click to expand...

I purchased mine from AG Russell in the 1990s. AG was actually sold out of these when I visited the showroom, but there happened to be one just returned that day, which I bought. It was stolen shortly after in a home burglary. It took twelve years, but eventually was able to find a replacement on eBay.

So, at least in my experience, they aren't very common.

For anyone not familiar with the locking mechanism, I'll try to explain it.
There's a lever on the top of the knife that swings into a slot on the spine of the blade. To close the knife, push the lever down towards the rear of the knife to release the lock.

Another picture:
Aristocrat.jpg
 
The lock on the A.G.Russell One-Hand Knives was actually designed by Pat Crawford, who still uses it.
 
tudall, I'm glad you brought this up! The mechanical aspect of locking folders and the tactile feedback from fiddling with them is what attracts me to them.

I've found the majority of my hobbies involve similar mechanical aspects.
i too have a small collection of puzzles, however i feel the strong urge to find something new. i don't quite know how to explain it other than i've used up my current puzzles (they no longer work for me), and have been in search for a new fiddle-toy/mechanical puzzle. i've found knives only fill that gap to a point, until you start amassing a collection of scars. if you know of any cool puzzles, email me.



excellent post!
 
Went and browsed the collection last night after signing off the computer. Here are three more I forgot:

Camillus Lev-R-Lock (designed by Soque River)
Gerber Paul Knife (press button to open, and to close)
Spyderco Q (lift the bar out of the top to release the blade)

Here's one I used to own, a Queen Button Knife. It was defective and returned. Being discontinued, they couldn't repair or replace it.
Queenbuttonlockad.jpg
 
I used to have one like this...

The-Pantographic-Knife.jpg


I think it was this exact model, a "Paratrooper Knife" from Frost Cutlery or some such outfit.
0.jpg
 
The is a few German makers that use the second small blade to unlock the main blade when it is open.

There are many hidden button autos out there, and my favorite the old Sarco Rollx with the ball lever open and unlock lever at the top.....
 
Before I got into knives, a friend of a friend showed me a pretty neat auto he had.

Imagine the locking mech of the Meerkat, but instead of swinging the scale to unlock it, swinging the scale deployed the blade. I didn't lock out, but the pressure from the spring made it close like a slipjoint. The blade could be opened and closed like a normal knife though, and you wouldn't know it was an auto or even had a spring unless you knew to slide the scale.
 
ctk123 said:
Before I got into knives, a friend of a friend showed me a pretty neat auto he had.

Imagine the locking mech of the Meerkat, but instead of swinging the scale to unlock it, swinging the scale deployed the blade. I didn't lock out, but the pressure from the spring made it close like a slipjoint. The blade could be opened and closed like a normal knife though, and you wouldn't know it was an auto or even had a spring unless you knew to slide the scale.
Click to expand...

Dalton makes a nice Scale Release DA Auto, look him up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top