Turning a Triad Lock into a slip joint?

M

Murphenstein44

Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Messages
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Has anyone ever modded a Triad Lock folder (or any other lock back for that matter), to be a slip joint? I'm looking at my Micro Recon 1, and it would make it unique and easy to close one handed. With that small of a knife, a locking mechanism isn't really necessary, like Spyderco's keychain knives, but it actually would lock by putting your thumb on top of the Triad Lock, almost like a friction folder. All it would take is rounding/ramping the right angle of the tang where the bar locks in, and the Triad Lock's spring is certainly stiff enough to give a significant resistance to closing. I don't have any legality issues as far as locking folders, but it seems like those who do have to worry about laws against locks could use this to carry something like the Micro Recon 1.

I'm not meaning to start a slip joint vs. locking debate, as there have been plenty of those. I'm just a bored tinkerer who got slip joints in his head. So is this just a silly idea or has it been done before?
 
You're essentially thinking of radiusing the rear of the tang cutout enough that it will lever the lock bar up and out of the way when you press on the spine of the blade? That sounds feasible enough. The trick is gonna be getting it to do this while still keeping the blade open without any play. I say give it a shot, though. I'd be interested in seeing the results. :thumbup:
 
I have modded spyderco's and fallkniven lock backs.A diamond file was used to round the square end of the blade where it contacts the lock.Only a small amount of steel needs removing.
 
I've modded cheap gas station knives in the way described above, although I finished with fine grit sandpaper to fine tune thigns. Don't have any pictures unfortunately.
 
So, I did it today. I'll admit that there is a slight amount of vertical blade play that wasn't there before, but I was taking it really slowly and being careful and it just wasn't budging once it locked up. I think the only way there wouldn't be bladeplay is if the lock face of the lock bar was angled to fit flush against the now angled lock face on the tang. Otherwise, it works great. I think it would work a little bit better with a stronger spring tension, but putting my thumb on top of the lock bar keeps it open. I'll post pictures and maybe a short video when I get the chance.
 
Would it be possible to bend the spring pushing on the lock to make it push harder, or is the risk to big for destroying it?
 
Your idea sounds a lot like how a Laguoile works. They are almost locking slip joints. I try to post a picture of mine when I get a chance.

You said there is vertical blade play? How about tightening the pivot, would that help?
 
Tightening the pivot doesn't fix it. It just lost the slightest amount of material between the lock face and the lock bar, which was necessary in order to let it slide off. As for bending the springmore, I've thought of that, but I'm a little concerned about breaking it. I could try doing it gently, but it's such a springy material, I'd have to REALLY bend it in order to get it to stay. Actually... It might be easy to just curve the tip of it up...
 
You will find it hard to bend. I converted a Paradox into a full bali song and it involved bending the springs. I had to clamp the springs in a vice and push on them. It tooks both hands on a piece of wood between my hands and all the strength in my whole body. But these were five inch long springs. The triad lock spring will be lots smaller.
 
The spring itself is a millimeter thick, 4 millimeters wide, and less than an inch long, so I was able to stick the end in a small notch, and bend the tip of it. It's not a whole lot harder to open and close, but the action feels a lot snappier and "positive," so that's a success in my book. I think I like it how it is now.
 
So I know it's been a while, but I finally got the time/remembered to take a video for you guys, in case if anyone is interested. (I apologize for the quick, crappy filming.)

[video=youtube_share;7LlgtlC0GRA]http://youtu.be/7LlgtlC0GRA[/video]
 
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