What cheaper knives pass spine wacking tests?

jill jackson

jill jackson

Joined
Sep 5, 2006
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I use a few cheaper knives I own to do rough work. So I was surprised when I spine-whacked a Gerber Gator clip point, with a locking back and it folded fairly easy. Then I tried a Kershaw Whirlwind with a Liner-lock and was very surprised it took a very light whack to make it fold up.
Will any cheaper folders hold up to this test? Say a Buck 110?
 
The lock on the Gator, IMO, sucks big time. Had it fold up on my hand once. Knife went straight to the trash can.
 
What I want to know is who came up with this "spine whacking" nonsense anyway? I can't think of a much more pointless test to subject a folding knife to. When I was a kid I don't think there were any pocket knives with locking blades, and I can't remember ever being stupid enough to let one close on my fingers. Let's get real, people! How do you think folks survived back when all they had were friction folders and fixed blade knives?
 
A few budget-priced knives I would recommend, not only for spine whack safety, but passing my additional pivot flex testing where I clamp the blade in a vise and flex the handle all directions with reasonable force for the build of the knife:

Byrd CaraCara (and probably other lockback models in the Byrd line) - especially the G10 version, about $25, is very solid.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog II - a medium-heavy liner lock folder, with .070" liner that makes it as solid as many framelocks. About $45, but this knife IMO is an amazing bargain, on a par with many costing $100+.

Benchmade Monochrome - this Taiwanese-made $30 framelock is built very solid, stainless steel frame gives far less flex than knives mentioned above. You could use this one very hard with no concern about lock failure.

Of course, you need to test any knife you get. With even the very best, there are always going to be a few knives that have problems.
 
Dr. Mudd said:
What I want to know is who came up with this "spine whacking" nonsense anyway? I can't think of a much more pointless test to subject a folding knife to. When I was a kid I don't think there were any pocket knives with locking blades, and I can't remember ever being stupid enough to let one close on my fingers. Let's get real, people! How do you think folks survived back when all they had were friction folders and fixed blade knives?
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True, but it's a common and much esteemed test it seems. Maybe it's because it's so easy to do? I've never worried about it before and just decided to whack the Gerber on a workbench it didn't take much to fold it. Then since I don't use my good stuff for anything but carry (I walk in the woods a lot always carry a cheapie to cut sticker bushes and a high end knife for defence) I tried the Kershaw and that folded by tapping it easy on a mouse pad! Maybe its the plastic handles that allow it to flex the liner away from the blade? It has good lock-up and I was surprised it took less to fold it than the Gerber lockback. (i have that junkyard dog and I haven't used it yet)
 
Well my first MOD Tempest I ever bought folded on my wifes fingers when she was doing something with it. Can't remember what but as she was raising up with the blade extended she hit the top of the point on the counter and voila cut fingers pretty good. Truth be told none of the MOD's I have had since I sent that one back in have been nothing but stellar, so there you go.

As for a cheap ass folder if you can get ahold of a CRKT Falcon do so. I have two and without a doubt the best cheap made folder I have owned to date and neither fail the spine whack test even without the LAWKS. keepem sharp
 
Some inexpensive knives I have owned that pass the spine-whack with ease:

Spyderco (Endura 4, Delica 4, Rescue, Atlantic Salt, Pacific Salt, Native, Salt I, Police, Calypso Jr, Centofante III, D'Allara)

Buck 110

Kershaw (Leek, Whirlwind, Cyclone, Scallion, Blackout, and Vapor)

Benchmade (550, 551, 555, 556...any Axis-lock really)

Victorinox (all of their locking folders)

Opinels


What I want to know is who came up with this "spine whacking" nonsense anyway? I can't think of a much more pointless test to subject a folding knife to.
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Do a "seach" on the subject...you will find many hours of discussion.
In my opinion, only a fool would NOT do the spine-whack-test on all of their locking knives.
It does not harm to th knife and it quickly and definitively determines if the lock is truely secure.
How do you think folks survived back when all they had were friction folders and fixed blade knives?
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Necessity is the mother of invention....so considering how many locking knives are around today, lots of folks must have saw the need.

BTW, you know guns didn't have safeties for many many years too, but I'm glad mine do today.;)
 
my kershaw storm II passed it with a A+ ! i would think about any crkt with the "LAWKS" lock system would pass but i havent tried them though.,,,VWB.
 
It does not harm to th knife and it quickly and definitively determines if the lock is truely secure.
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I would think this not quite true. It does not harm the knife, until it does. Sometimes mechanical things fail with no warning. And then there are locks which may survive the spine whack, but mysteriously fail under other circumstances. Witness the Dodo problem.

Spine whack may be useful, sometimes misleading. Every folding knife will fail a spine whack. It just depends how hard one whacks.

Ultimately, safe practice is the wise choice. Mechanical things fail. It's a gamble to rely on them in lieu of safe practice. A folding knife is always a folding knife, regardless of lock.
 
I consider "inexpensive knives" to be in the $30 or less realm.

Inexpensive Knives I own that have passed the spine whack
KaBar Large Dozier - Lockback
Gerber EZ-Out (both of mine) - Lockback
Gerber EZ-Out Jr - Lockback
KaBar Regular Dozier (both of mine) - Lockback
Klein compact folder - lockback
Buck 110
Buck Colleague - framelock
Junglee Marshall - linerlock

To tell you the truth, I've never owned any knife with a locking blade that failed.

I test mine by hitting them on the bottom of a sneaker. I don't beat the tar out of them, I just check to make sure the lock holds. I try not to depend on a lock when using a knife. I just like to know that the lock works.
 
Most locks will be fine if you use the knife to cut with instead of using it for a hammer.
 
Spine Whacking Test ? C'mon People... You've Got To Be Kidding. Why Not Do A Head Whacking Test Instead. What Do You Buy Knives For? If I Whack Something With A Knife, That Means I Want It To Fall Into Two Pieces. I Guess The Next Fad Will Be A Butt Poking Test.
 
spinnerbait said:
Spine Whacking Test ? C'mon People... You've Got To Be Kidding. Why Not Do A Head Whacking Test Instead. What Do You Buy Knives For? If I Whack Something With A Knife, That Means I Want It To Fall Into Two Pieces. I Guess The Next Fad Will Be A Butt Poking Test.
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Noobies...Amusing.

Once you've defined the SWT as something reasonable, let's say tapping the spine of the blade against your palm or the sole of your shoes, it is a test that has been OK'ed here in the forums by people like Sal Glesser (he will ask you to ship back any of his knives that fail a reasonable SWT).

I'm guessing Mr. Glesser (he designs and manufactures knives for a little outfit he runs out of Colorado, you may have heard of it) knows a tiny bit more about lock testing than you Sir/Maddam.

Then again I might be wrong :).
 
Dr. Mudd said:
What I want to know is who came up with this "spine whacking" nonsense anyway? I can't think of a much more pointless test to subject a folding knife to. When I was a kid I don't think there were any pocket knives with locking blades, and I can't remember ever being stupid enough to let one close on my fingers. Let's get real, people! How do you think folks survived back when all they had were friction folders and fixed blade knives?
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i dont have a clue who came up with spine whacking but its imho a great way to make sure your knife is locking up correctly, which is always a good thing. its anything but "nonsense lol.

by "spine whack" i mean to LIGHTLY tap the end of the blade against your hand or the carpet on the floor and see if the lock is functioning correctly.

it doesnt hurt a thing and is imho a great way to verify your lock is working correctly.

i dont know how folks got by with only slippes and fixed blades lol.
 
spinnerbait said:
Spine Whacking Test ? C'mon People... You've Got To Be Kidding. Why Not Do A Head Whacking Test Instead. What Do You Buy Knives For? If I Whack Something With A Knife, That Means I Want It To Fall Into Two Pieces. I Guess The Next Fad Will Be A Butt Poking Test.
Click to expand...

ya lost me on that one lol.
 
Dr. Mudd said:
What I want to know is who came up with this "spine whacking" nonsense anyway? I can't think of a much more pointless test to subject a folding knife to. When I was a kid I don't think there were any pocket knives with locking blades, and I can't remember ever being stupid enough to let one close on my fingers. Let's get real, people! How do you think folks survived back when all they had were friction folders and fixed blade knives?
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I agree. All I use on EDC are sliplock knives. I have some lockbacks and some liner lock folders but I never carry them. When I was in the scouts I learned with a boy scout SAK(still have it), I guess thats just what I'm used to. I just want to know how many people can cut with the back side of their pocket knife anyways?
 
bladeNUT82 said:
I just want to know how many people can cut with the back side of their pocket knife anyways?
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With a slipjoint the spring mechanism holds it open.
With a locking folder, the lock holds it open.

You would not carry a slippie with a broken spring mechanism because it would be too dangerous. There would be nothing to keep the blade from closing on you. (I know. I've got an old slippie with a broken spring and I don't carry it. I keep it in my dresser drawer for remembrance of the one who gave it to me.)

Just so with a locking blade. With most locking blades there is no spring. If the lock fails, the blade can flop back on your hand. A lock failure could cause the blade to fold back on your hand even with the little side pressures that develop during normal cutting. So you have to be assured that the lock works.

Passing a mild spine whack test assures us that the lock will not fail under normal usage. And that is what we are looking for. Assurance.
 
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