What are your thoughts on lock back knives fit and finish? How about lock bar gaps?

[Luke_Chambers]

A bit less than half my knives are lockbacks (from Puma, Hubertus, Fontenille Pataud, Moki). The blade play is similar to the slip joints. There is none discernible when open, but a few blades shot a little bit when closed.
I was tempted to buy a GEC Cody Scout #721123LB or a Bull Buster Lockback #215124LB in the secondary market, but the lock bar gaps as seen on the pictures seem a bit large.

 

[Will Power]

View attachment 2463422

Case in point. This is the Moki Kronos that I am carrying today. Very smooth action.

Mine has superb F&F but it does not have this attractive Amber Bone, instead it's a garish Red & Black with rather lame jigging. I've always longed to have it re-handled but never really trusted anybody to dismantle it and then have the competence to put it back together again to MOKI standards! Not all re-handling projects are fairy-tale endings.

 

[Will Power]

The 'other' MOKI I have gets a lot of time, 3 3/8" the smaller Blakiston's Fish Owl. Linerless Micarta with astounding precision, if you can get linerless 100% correct you know how to make a lockback You'd have to break it to develop blade-play! And some fine W&T too.

 

[Chui]

Prefer lockbacks to any of the newer fandangled axis-lock jobbies - whatever they're called - the former to me are far more a 'pure' form of pocket knife without any holes or interruptions to the scales/handle.

On my trips to South Africa and being fortunate to meet and become friends with a few makers, they have often said the most difficult folder to make, properly, is a lockback.

Like many of you, have Buck 110's and various others - all very efficient and functional - none though are works of fit n finish and sliky smoothness.

Two that fit into this latter character are the Oeser and Pena below - bring a smile every time they're opened and closed. No blade wobble, anywhere - that said, there are very tiny 'gaps' down the side if you want to be ultra critical. However, given the individual skill of these two makers, perhaps there's no other way..?

 

[lambertiana]

The 'other' MOKI I have gets a lot of time, 3 3/8" the smaller Blakiston's Fish Owl. Linerless Micarta with astounding precision, if you can get linerless 100% correct you know how to make a lockback You'd have to break it to develop blade-play! And some fine W&T too.

Of all my Moki knives, my small Fish Owl is the one I carry the most. I have handled four of them (I got some to give to each of my sons), and every one is flawless. And since they are the least expensive Moki, they can be considered a gateway drug. I have been tempted to get the large Fish Owl, too, but haven't done so yet.

 

[crufflers]

Of all my Moki knives, my small Fish Owl is the one I carry the most. I have handled four of them (I got some to give to each of my sons), and every one is flawless. And since they are the least expensive Moki, they can be considered a gateway drug. I have been tempted to get the large Fish Owl, too, but haven't done so yet.

Looking over the MOKI line and what is available now, the large Fish Owl would be what I would choose and it would satisfy my love for Sod Busters, where I started collecting. Definitely would be a gateway drug if I like them... I can almost map out my purchases. The large stag Kronos, and then a MK-101 J Glory, maybe an MK-810IL... seems like a nice lineup.

 

[joeradza]

The best production knife I’ve ever come across. If there’s something better none of us has ever seen it.

 

[danno50]

I only have two buck knives, both of them lockbacks. The 110 was a Christmas gift from my wife in 1976. I carried it and used it fairly hard for many years. It is still solid, no blade play in either direction or lock bar gaps. The smaller one, not sure the model number, is from 2021 and was a retirement gift from a friend. I have never carried or used it. It is also solid with not blade play in either direction or gaps. Blade play is something that really bothers me.

 

[Railsplitter]

My Buck 112 Sport has some pretty serious gaps around the lock bar. I own about 15 other 112’s and none of them have gaps this wide but none of them have Cerakoted liners either.

I can only assume that the gaps are intentional to prevent the lack bar from rubbing against the Cerakote finish which could probably cause some issues. The knife functions flawlessly.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I never wore a 110 or LB-7 for hunting duty. They were used for construction and demolition duty in my world.

Those jobs required sharpness and durability, and that was about it…