what is the "positive front lock"?

L

LongDistance

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May 24, 2004
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On page 50 of the Spyderco 2007 product guide says "H. McBurnette and Al Mar are credited with the positive front lock design." My question is what is the front lock and which Spydercos have it?

Like I know what a frame, linear, compression, back, axis, etc locks are, but never heard of the front lock before...
 
The front lock is a lock-back variation. The release is in the middle of the handle or closer to the blade, instead of all the way at the end of the handle, farthest from the blade. It makes one handed closing easier.
 
In addition to facilitating one handed closing, It also offers another advantage over the back lock. If you squeeze the blade of a closed lockback, or allow the blade to "snap" shut, the kick (the "lump" on the blade tang behind the sharpened edge) can lift the lockbar enough to allow the edge to contact the inside of the backstrap, dulling or rolling it. On a front lock, the kick contacts the lockbar behind its pivot point, rather than behind it, so the blade cannot continue past it's normal stopping point.

Paul
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The Deacon said:
In addition to facilitating one handed closing, It also offers another advantage over the back lock. If you squeeze the blade of a closed lockback, or allow the blade to "snap" shut, the kick (the "lump" on the blade tang behind the sharpened edge) can lift the lockbar enough to allow the edge to contact the inside of the backstrap, dulling or rolling it. On a front lock, the kick contacts the lockbar behind its pivot point, rather than behind it, so the blade cannot continue past it's normal stopping point.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
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I don't think that this applies to knives with choils. . . at least it doesn't on my Dragonfly. Others may be different.
 
That is because the Dragonfly is a mid to front lock (compared to the Al Mar front lock, the Spyderco version is only a mid lock.)

I know the serrated blade on the C44 Dyad can be pushed down in the manner the Deacon describes, and the blade on my Centofante III can as well. Luckily, the edge on the Cento hits FRN. The Dyad isn't so lucky, so the tip is usually dull on mine from hitting the steel backspacer.
 
Dang, guess I should either start testing more thoroughly, or qualify my comment to say it makes it easier to design the knife so the lockbar pivot is placed ahead of the point where the kick contacts it when the blade is closed. :o FWIW, on the D'fly it appears that only the SS version has the pivot behind the kick, the FRN and CF versions are both "crash proof".

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
 
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