-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Warning and advice for liner lock owners!
- Thread starter The General
- Start date
- Joined
- May 22, 2001
- Messages
- 270
It does adjust the way the liner meets up with the tang. I recently mentioned that I dropped my LCC and the linerlock loosened. I had to shift the liners back into the right position. It's the same sort of idea, except with the wack test you're doing it with the knife fully assembled and you're accomplishing the same thing by force. I prefer to loosen screws, adjust it, then tighten them back down. But that might get you into trouble with companies who don't want you taking their knives apart. If you care about your warranty, that is.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2000
- Messages
- 3,625
KC Slim, thats great! If one person gets something from this thread then I am happy
. I tried Joe's lighter whippy snap and it fails with a lot less force, doing this it will fail with a snap into my palm...
. I will send this knife back and see what Spyderco can do with it. Simple fact is I no longer trust this knife now and if that is the case, I will always be thinking about lock failure and not knife use
. I am confident that Spyderco will make it better
!
. I tried Joe's lighter whippy snap and it fails with a lot less force, doing this it will fail with a snap into my palm... . I will send this knife back and see what Spyderco can do with it. Simple fact is I no longer trust this knife now and if that is the case, I will always be thinking about lock failure and not knife use . I am confident that Spyderco will make it better !
GigOne
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 1999
- Messages
- 15,783
I've never "spine whacked" any of my knives. . .simply because it's exactly that. . ."whacked!"
The point that it does prove. . ."use the tool for it's intended use/purpose." Ask yourself the following questions
1. Would you use a stapler as a hammer ?
2. Would you use a hammer as a glass cutter ?
Then why use a knife (a cutting tool) as a hammer. . .
Besides, while engaged in cutting something ~ when would you ever exert enough force on the spine to cause the lock to fail ? If holding the knife properly wouldn't your hand get in the way ?
I've been using knives on the job for years and in very severe and extreme conditions. I've never had a liner lock fail when used for their intended purpose !
The point that it does prove. . ."use the tool for it's intended use/purpose." Ask yourself the following questions
1. Would you use a stapler as a hammer ?
2. Would you use a hammer as a glass cutter ?
Then why use a knife (a cutting tool) as a hammer. . .
Besides, while engaged in cutting something ~ when would you ever exert enough force on the spine to cause the lock to fail ? If holding the knife properly wouldn't your hand get in the way ?
I've been using knives on the job for years and in very severe and extreme conditions. I've never had a liner lock fail when used for their intended purpose !
Good luck, General. Keep us updated on how your problem works out.
The Axis lock is starting to look better to me.
Also looking better are folders with a substantial choil that allow for placing a finger on the choil so that if the lock fails and the blade closes on the fingers, the finger on the choil blocks the cutting edge from hitting the fingers. Knives like that are the Native, the Military, and the Buck Odyssey.
And, the spine-whack test seems quite valid to me.
Finally, I still like my Starmate a lot.
The Axis lock is starting to look better to me.
Also looking better are folders with a substantial choil that allow for placing a finger on the choil so that if the lock fails and the blade closes on the fingers, the finger on the choil blocks the cutting edge from hitting the fingers. Knives like that are the Native, the Military, and the Buck Odyssey.
And, the spine-whack test seems quite valid to me.
Finally, I still like my Starmate a lot.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
GigOne -- I've heard that argument a lot, and I still think it's weak. Well, it's a fine argument for gentleman's knives -- if all you're doing is trimming your nails and opening envelopes, it's very easy to control the forces on your knife. But if you're doing even moderate-duty cutting, it's not so easy. If you've been paying attention, you'll have read of real world liner lock failures like the following:
- User is cutting plant stems, gets knife stuck in stem, and it fails as he pulls it out
- User is cutting cardboard and the cardboard binds up the blade. When he does what anyone would do -- torque it out a bit -- liner lock releases and cuts him
- User is cutting and the knife binds. He pulls it out a bit too hard, it springs out and the spine hits a work surface
[/list=1]
Anyway, that's just a few examples, all involving getting the knife stuck and having to pull it out. In the last case, we see a direct spine whack as a result. There are loads of these types of stories around, and this is really moderate use. Many of these knives are advertised for hard use or defensive use, and we haven't even gotten started on how many different ways that spine pressure can be generated in defensive applications.
I also completely disagree that uses which generate spine pressures, impulse or otherwise, are not "using the knife as intended". In either defensive use, or moderate utility use -- which all the knives discussed in this thread are advertised as being designed for -- there are plenty of ways to generate spine pressure.
Lastly, I believe the spine whack test doesn't just test the lock's reliability in the case of spine impulse pressures. Knives fail this test when there's a basic problem in the lock geometry. A knife that fails a light spine whack will fail a torquing test if you try hard enough -- the problem is, getting torque tests just right is difficult, whereas the spine whack test is quick and easy. In either case, you know there's a lock geometry problem when you're done. Of course, as someone pointed out earlier, the spine whack test isn't an exhaustive test of all possible failure modes.
Torquing can put loads of pressure on the spine. In defensive applications, there are lots of things that can lead to spine pressure. All in all, it's really not that hard to see spine pressures!
Joe
With all the information about the difficulty in producing a 100% all the time reliable liner lock one has
to wonder why even make them at all. The venerable lockback (there are many types of lockback by many
names / methods) have racked up years of rock solid performance. I distrust liner locks to the point that
I no longer own / use them. No one in his right mind would "whack" a slip joint because that is not the
INTENDED use for them. So any kind of lock should do just that .....lock . To me a liner lock is a
slipjoint with an attemped lock. One that doesn't always work.......
to wonder why even make them at all. The venerable lockback (there are many types of lockback by many
names / methods) have racked up years of rock solid performance. I distrust liner locks to the point that
I no longer own / use them. No one in his right mind would "whack" a slip joint because that is not the
INTENDED use for them. So any kind of lock should do just that .....lock . To me a liner lock is a
slipjoint with an attemped lock. One that doesn't always work.......
- Joined
- Feb 22, 1999
- Messages
- 3,357
It is incorrect to suggest that rocker-bar locks are impervious to spine-whack induced failure, however. While they are easier to do well than linerlocks, rocker-bar locks will fail the test on a case-by-case basis.
Properly-made linerlocks equipped with detents to keep the blade closed do have certain advantages over rocker-bar locks:
1. Ease of closure; great strength is not required to disengage the lock, whereas I've seen rocker-bar locks with springs so strong that they were difficult to unlock and close.
2. Less potential danger in deliberate closing; linerlock blades do not spring shut when you close them.
3. Ease of one-hand closure; this is perhaps the reason the linerlock was invented in the first place.
4. Provision for adjustable blade tension (depending on the pivot design).
Now, these advantages may indeed be outweighed by the disadvantages inherent in trying to do a linerlock well. But the fact remains that they constitute understandable motivations behind why someone would want to create such a lock.
I think we tend to lapse into a certain Knife Guy Prejudice around here; those of us who dislike a certain design, blade shape, locking mechanism, or manufacturer tend to think -- wrongly -- that no one else could possibly have a reason to like such a thing.
Properly-made linerlocks equipped with detents to keep the blade closed do have certain advantages over rocker-bar locks:
1. Ease of closure; great strength is not required to disengage the lock, whereas I've seen rocker-bar locks with springs so strong that they were difficult to unlock and close.
2. Less potential danger in deliberate closing; linerlock blades do not spring shut when you close them.
3. Ease of one-hand closure; this is perhaps the reason the linerlock was invented in the first place.
4. Provision for adjustable blade tension (depending on the pivot design).
Now, these advantages may indeed be outweighed by the disadvantages inherent in trying to do a linerlock well. But the fact remains that they constitute understandable motivations behind why someone would want to create such a lock.
I think we tend to lapse into a certain Knife Guy Prejudice around here; those of us who dislike a certain design, blade shape, locking mechanism, or manufacturer tend to think -- wrongly -- that no one else could possibly have a reason to like such a thing.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
And, liner locks are easy to manufacture by a single custom maker with minimal tooling.
Razoredj is absolutely right, any folder can be susceptible to spine whacks on a case-by-case basis, although no other lock format has the huge failure percentages that liner locks do. I spine whack, torque-test, white-knuckle test, check for accidental unlocking under various hand positions, and perform other tests on every folder I buy, just to make sure everything is sound. I have not had any non-liner-locks fail the spine whack, but theyi can. A few years ago Turber found that a bunch of the large size Benchmade Ascents failed the spine whack tests regularly! Just the large size, no other size. Benchmade made some changes shortly thereafter and to my knowledge the large Ascents no longer pretend they are liner locks Although they remain an abomination.
Joe
Razoredj is absolutely right, any folder can be susceptible to spine whacks on a case-by-case basis, although no other lock format has the huge failure percentages that liner locks do. I spine whack, torque-test, white-knuckle test, check for accidental unlocking under various hand positions, and perform other tests on every folder I buy, just to make sure everything is sound. I have not had any non-liner-locks fail the spine whack, but theyi can. A few years ago Turber found that a bunch of the large size Benchmade Ascents failed the spine whack tests regularly! Just the large size, no other size. Benchmade made some changes shortly thereafter and to my knowledge the large Ascents no longer pretend they are liner locks
Although they remain an abomination. Joe
- Joined
- May 26, 2000
- Messages
- 1,922
Appreciate the posts on how to "set" a liner lock.
One other thing... try spraying the tang down w/ solvent to remove any overspill of lube.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As usual, Joe Talmadge's posts make much sense.
Others have been given a real world view of "the water", but are under no obligation to enjoy a free drink.
I am employed as an engineer, and part of my job is to provide overall technical assurance for some significant safety shutdown systems which we install on potentially dangerous refining and chemical process equipment. We do our best to take risk to very low levels.
Years ago, we used to fall into the trap of saying "well, we've run this plant for 30 years, and never seen such an incident." That is foolhardy, and is, fundamentally, very flawed logic. There are dozens of others who have 30 years of experience, and some of them have suffered great tragedy around similar equipment. To ignore the opportunity to learn from their incidents (many tragic, involving loss of lives) is both myopic and irresponsible.
My learnings at work have improved the risk profile of my family life as well.
There are many, including knife makers, who have suffered permanent impairment of their dominant hand from knife accidents. Nerve damage, loss of finger movement or flexibility, etc. As Johnny Cochran would say, "Think about it! ... Think about it!"
:= END RANT
One other thing... try spraying the tang down w/ solvent to remove any overspill of lube.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As usual, Joe Talmadge's posts make much sense.
Others have been given a real world view of "the water", but are under no obligation to enjoy a free drink.
I am employed as an engineer, and part of my job is to provide overall technical assurance for some significant safety shutdown systems which we install on potentially dangerous refining and chemical process equipment. We do our best to take risk to very low levels.
Years ago, we used to fall into the trap of saying "well, we've run this plant for 30 years, and never seen such an incident." That is foolhardy, and is, fundamentally, very flawed logic. There are dozens of others who have 30 years of experience, and some of them have suffered great tragedy around similar equipment. To ignore the opportunity to learn from their incidents (many tragic, involving loss of lives) is both myopic and irresponsible.
My learnings at work have improved the risk profile of my family life as well.
There are many, including knife makers, who have suffered permanent impairment of their dominant hand from knife accidents. Nerve damage, loss of finger movement or flexibility, etc. As Johnny Cochran would say, "Think about it! ... Think about it!"
:= END RANT
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
Out of all my folders, the only one I have that fails the spine whack test is an old BM Ascent lock back with the 3.5 inch blade. It fails every time, but I've also heard that they redesigned the lock since it first came out.
There's no doubt that liner locks are generally less reliable than other mechanisms, and people should keep that in mind. However, I must admit that I still like them though. As Razoredj pointed out, liner locks do have other advantages besides reliability. One additional advantage to liner locks is that you can actually see the locking parts engage.
Not to let Spyderco off the hook - they sold a defective knife that should be repaired or replaced free of charge (and probably will be in all fairness) - but I personally try to treat all folders as if the lock might fail at any time. I take advantage of choils, try not to torque the blade, and stay aware of anything that might close the knife accidently.
There's no doubt that liner locks are generally less reliable than other mechanisms, and people should keep that in mind. However, I must admit that I still like them though. As Razoredj pointed out, liner locks do have other advantages besides reliability. One additional advantage to liner locks is that you can actually see the locking parts engage.
Not to let Spyderco off the hook - they sold a defective knife that should be repaired or replaced free of charge (and probably will be in all fairness) - but I personally try to treat all folders as if the lock might fail at any time. I take advantage of choils, try not to torque the blade, and stay aware of anything that might close the knife accidently.
GigOne
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 1999
- Messages
- 15,783
Thanks for the input Joe. I hope that you don't mind if I disagree with your assessment of my "weak" argument. Must agree though that your logic makes minimal to no sense !
By the way. . .a liner lock is a liner lock no matter if it's a "gentleman's knife" or not. You're using terminology that infers the wimp factor. For example, "gentleman's knives" are make for "trimming finger nails, cutting tape or opening envelopes." While it's understandable that you wouldn't use a "gentleman's knife" for chopping down trees they're allot more versatile than what you're implying.
Mishap records show that approximately 88% of all mishaps are due to the unsafe acts of people while an additional 10% are due to unsafe conditions not identified or corrected by people. In other words. . .98% of all mishaps are due to unsafe acts and conditions caused by human beings and are therefore preventable.
Joe. . .each example that you've used point directly to the "human factor" causing the liner lock to fail. . .not the liner lock failing due to poor design or a failure in materials.
1. User is cutting plant stems, gets knife stuck in stem, and it fails as he pulls it out. If a stem gets caught in a liner lock ~ it can't be too large and no way in hell could it cause a liner lock to fail. Unless your "user" torques the stem in a fashion that causes the lock to unseat.
User is cutting cardboard and the cardboard binds up the blade. When he does what anyone would do -- torque it out a bit -- liner lock releases and cuts him. Here is a prime example of the "user" causing the lock to unseat.
User is cutting and the knife binds. He pulls it out a bit too hard, it springs out and the spine hits a work surface. I take that your example of "springing out" refers to the knife being released from it's binding state? If "user" properly gripped the knife, it binds up and "user" pulls it out a bit too hard and it hit a work surface ~ "user" would hit the work surface with his/her hand or fingers.
If you've been paying attention, you'll have read of real world liner lock failures like the following. . .
Not sure what you're trying to imply here Joe. I've been paying attention and I've yet to read nor see substantial proof that liner locks fail. I do hear, periodically, where Joe Blow (no pun intended) gets in his kitchen and scientifically tests "his" theory that a "spine whack" test is proof that a liner lock fails. lol
Pay attention here Joe. . .I'm not talking "your moderate-duty cutting" here ! Have you ever shoved a liner lock knife into someone wearing body armor Joe? Well I have ~ and it was "a real world liner lock" and the lock did not fail. The difference though. . .when I pulled it out. . .a rose stem wasn't hung up in the lock nor did I torque it to the left of right nor did it bind as I withdrew it. Amazing isn't it Joe ?
Like I stated earlier. . .(and above wasn't a isolated incident) I've been using liner locks for years. . .20+ years Joe. . .and in very severe and extreme conditions (and you can't get more severe and extreme than in my job). I've never had a liner lock fail when used for its intended purpose and when used properly ! Nor have I "spine whacked" any of my knives. . .simply because it's exactly that. . ."whacked!"
Believe the "spine whack" test if you want. . .personally ~ it's BS !
- Joined
- Oct 16, 1998
- Messages
- 2,395
All liner locks will fail(accidental disengagement), some way, some time. The spine whack test may wear away some metal on the lock face, allowing the lock to move to the right on the blade tang, creating more surface area in contact between the lock and the blade tang. Or it may just clean the surface of the lock and tang, increasing the friction between the two. The bottom line for me is, no matter how well it works, it ain't as reliable as an Axis lock or a Rolling lock, or an integral lock. That makes it third or fourth best.
As for the appropriateness of the spine whack test, let me ask any nay sayers this: what genre of knives has popularized the liner lock and why?
One answer would be hand made art folders, for which liner locks are adequate, I suppose. The reason being that they are inconspicuous and easy to manufacture by hand.
But the other answer would be "tactical" folders, becuase the liner lock is supposed to be "stronger". And what is a "tactical" folder? One meant for extreme use, such as perhaps self defense and puncturing metal. The liner lock may be strong, but unfortunately, it is based on a poor principle, the friction between the lock bar face and the angled blade tang. That friction varies greatly depending on how much of the lock face actually contacts the blade tang, and the angle at which it contacts the blade tang. Lubrication and dirt are other constantly changing variables in the operation of the liner lock.
Liner locks are fine for gentlemen's pocket folders, but they are not up to snuff for extreme use folding knives. If a slip joint folder fits your needs, then you don't need a lock at all. There are a lot of really fine slip joint knives. Just don't try to sell them as "tactical", extreme use tools. In my humble, though strongly held opinion.
As for the appropriateness of the spine whack test, let me ask any nay sayers this: what genre of knives has popularized the liner lock and why?
One answer would be hand made art folders, for which liner locks are adequate, I suppose. The reason being that they are inconspicuous and easy to manufacture by hand.
But the other answer would be "tactical" folders, becuase the liner lock is supposed to be "stronger". And what is a "tactical" folder? One meant for extreme use, such as perhaps self defense and puncturing metal. The liner lock may be strong, but unfortunately, it is based on a poor principle, the friction between the lock bar face and the angled blade tang. That friction varies greatly depending on how much of the lock face actually contacts the blade tang, and the angle at which it contacts the blade tang. Lubrication and dirt are other constantly changing variables in the operation of the liner lock.
Liner locks are fine for gentlemen's pocket folders, but they are not up to snuff for extreme use folding knives. If a slip joint folder fits your needs, then you don't need a lock at all. There are a lot of really fine slip joint knives. Just don't try to sell them as "tactical", extreme use tools. In my humble, though strongly held opinion.
Sal Glesser
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 27, 1998
- Messages
- 11,677
Hi General. Sounds like you got a bad piece. Sorry about that, glad you weren't hurt. Unfortunately, mistakes do occur, as least thats what Boeing abd NASA say. I guess it's unavoidable, although with Spyderco it is not a common occurance.
We would like to get the knife back though. Obviously there is something wrong with it and we'll need the piece back for study. You can do this through the distributor or directly to Spyderco. Certainly we would get you a new one.
Contrary to "popular" opinion, spine wacking does not "set" the lock. If it's bad, it's bad, period. your "success" is suspect and I wouldn't rely on it. I'm sure you damaged the lock. secondly, once a lock fails, it will NEVER again be reliable. That's why we replace bad locks even if the prblem was caused by the customer. Repeating the test and expecting different results is not logical.
Michael, I'll stack Spyderco linerlocks againse ANY custom made folder for reliability and strength.
BTW General, It would have been much easier to solve your problem had you come to the Spyderco site. I heard about your complaint through the "grapevine".
sal
We would like to get the knife back though. Obviously there is something wrong with it and we'll need the piece back for study. You can do this through the distributor or directly to Spyderco. Certainly we would get you a new one.
Contrary to "popular" opinion, spine wacking does not "set" the lock. If it's bad, it's bad, period. your "success" is suspect and I wouldn't rely on it. I'm sure you damaged the lock. secondly, once a lock fails, it will NEVER again be reliable. That's why we replace bad locks even if the prblem was caused by the customer. Repeating the test and expecting different results is not logical.
Michael, I'll stack Spyderco linerlocks againse ANY custom made folder for reliability and strength.
BTW General, It would have been much easier to solve your problem had you come to the Spyderco site. I heard about your complaint through the "grapevine".
sal
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2001
- Messages
- 1,256
Mr. Glesser,
That is a very strong statement indeed. Are you stacking Spyderco linerlocks up against linerlocks on any other custom made folder, or against any other lock, period?
It would be interesting to hear your point of view on the liner lock versus other (Axis, rolling, etc.) locks!
Respectfully,
Matthew
dogboye
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 1999
- Messages
- 7,149
Seems to me a wimpy linerlock failing is due to that 10% attributable to unsafe conditions not identified or corrected by people.
If Joe is talking about the same thread that I'm thinking about, the user didn't get a stem stuck in the knife, he got the knife stuck in a plant stem. Whether it was small enough to wedge in the lock or not was not specified, nor relevant. It was not what happened.
So a better way would be.....? Orrr, in other words, the user needs to compensate for a design deficiency in the lock of the knife?
So you're saying that the proper grip on the knife would have been with the hand firmly wrapped around the blade instead of the handle, then. Again, sounds like the user needing to compensate for a design deficiency: improper placement of the handle, apparently. Although I don't think that's something I'm willing to do to make sure my folder doesn't fold on my fingers.
Then I'd have to assume just like Joe did that you HAVEN'T been reading enough. I have read at least three particular instances right here in Bladeforums of linerlocks failing without being "whacked".
Then I'd say that you have been lucky well beyond the "three sigma" range. I have and use several linerlocks, but all of them (except the MT LCC) have enough dull blade in front of the grip that if they fail I HOPE I will only get a severe pinch. And I am very careful with all of them, and very, VERY careful with the LCC. I will never trust a linerlock completely, because I know they can fail (I've had it happen, even though it was a crappy knife), and if it does fail, the results can be disastrous.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
Frankly, I'd put Spyderco's liner locks up against any other production liner locks as well. I consider Sp[yderco to be among the best, I don't pay enough attention to production liner locks anymore to have a strong opinion on who is doing the best. Among custom makers, I have to tell you that I feel that there are a disappointingly large number of unreliable custom liner locks, including some very big names. I know some custom makers who I feel would beat any production company on liner lock reliability, but I'd put good production liner lock makers like Spyderco and Benchmade up against a whole lot of custom makers.
I view the compression lock as a tacit confirmation from Spyderco that the liner lock can be improved on, and in fact my first impressions are that the compression lock does succeed in doing so. I'd be interested in hearing Sal's opinion on these other locks as well.
Joe
Cougar Allen
Buccaneer (ret.)
- Joined
- Oct 9, 1998
- Messages
- 75,832
Well, I have long maintained that if you must put a stoopid joint in the middle of a knife the good old-fashioned clasp lock is the way to go -- it's easy to operate the cam and close it one-handed, and more important you can grip it any way you want to without any fear of accidentally unlocking it. But ... a few minutes ago I was looking at this picture:
http://www.1sks.com/store/kershaw-1620-ken-onion-scallion.html
It doesn't matter if the liner lock on that knife fails -- and notice the edge is sharp all the way to the handle. When I was a young fellow I used slipjoint folders because that was all I could get (my favorite design was the ribtickler, the classic slipjoint fighting knife), and I gripped them in a saber grip with my forefinger on the ricasso and my thumb half on the spine and half on the spring, and if it folded a little at the joint it didn't matter. Since locking folders became popular it seems people consider a ricasso a waste of blade length -- well, the Scallion proves you can have safety and a full-length sharp edge too. And a liner lock for convenience.
http://www.1sks.com/store/kershaw-1620-ken-onion-scallion.html
It doesn't matter if the liner lock on that knife fails -- and notice the edge is sharp all the way to the handle. When I was a young fellow I used slipjoint folders because that was all I could get (my favorite design was the ribtickler, the classic slipjoint fighting knife), and I gripped them in a saber grip with my forefinger on the ricasso and my thumb half on the spine and half on the spring, and if it folded a little at the joint it didn't matter. Since locking folders became popular it seems people consider a ricasso a waste of blade length -- well, the Scallion proves you can have safety and a full-length sharp edge too. And a liner lock for convenience.
Gigone,
I dont understand your logic.
"Besides, while engaged in cutting something ~ when would you ever exert enough force on the spine to cause the lock to fail ?"
If you didn't foresee the possibility of having force exerted on the spine during cutting why would you choose a lock over a slipjoint?
On the other hand if you foresee the need for a Lock as a Safety Device why would you argue against testing the reliability of that safety device?
A large percentage of Linerlock knives are designed and advertized to be for Hard use and/or Defensive applications.
The need for a safety mechanism to prevent the blade from closing during use is acknowledged by the designer by incorporating a Lock in the first place.
Why would you berate anyone for wanting to validate the reliability of that safety mechanism?
If a consumer group reported that they had tested the seatbelts on a number of models from a manufacturer and found that the belts were prone to break would you attack the need for Seatbelts or would you demand that the manufacturer fix the problem?
IMHO If a Maker incorporates a Lock as a safety mechanism it is only reasonable that the Maker and Consumer validate that the safety mechanism is reliable.
I dont understand your logic.
"Besides, while engaged in cutting something ~ when would you ever exert enough force on the spine to cause the lock to fail ?"
If you didn't foresee the possibility of having force exerted on the spine during cutting why would you choose a lock over a slipjoint?
On the other hand if you foresee the need for a Lock as a Safety Device why would you argue against testing the reliability of that safety device?
A large percentage of Linerlock knives are designed and advertized to be for Hard use and/or Defensive applications.
The need for a safety mechanism to prevent the blade from closing during use is acknowledged by the designer by incorporating a Lock in the first place.
Why would you berate anyone for wanting to validate the reliability of that safety mechanism?
If a consumer group reported that they had tested the seatbelts on a number of models from a manufacturer and found that the belts were prone to break would you attack the need for Seatbelts or would you demand that the manufacturer fix the problem?
IMHO If a Maker incorporates a Lock as a safety mechanism it is only reasonable that the Maker and Consumer validate that the safety mechanism is reliable.