What is your philosophy on locking folders?

[unit]

I do not wish to start a debate or argument here. I am just curious about our group with regard to how you use a knife. Specifically, do you use your CRK locking folder any differently than you would a slip joint.

Personally, I feel that these locks are designed to do a job and I trust mine to do that job. I am not talking about abuse here, I am just talking about using the knife and feeling totally confident that it will not close on me without me intentionally unlocking the knife.

Comment if you like, or just answer the poll. I am just curious how you feel.

There is no wrong answer!!

 

[blade man]

No concern at all. Some knives, yes, but not CRK. That's one of the reasons I like framelocks...your hand helps keep it shut. But really, I have no reservations so long as I'm not being a fool with my pocket knife. The things some people do with folding knives are stupid. "Well my knife can handle it!" That's great, but that doesn't mean that it is de facto a smart idea. I'm sure I could hammer in nails with the butt of my Kimber, but its ability to survive that abuse does not denote an intelligent decision.

 

[338375]

Valid question Ken, but I must first disclose I don't have a CRK. Yet... Having not used one, I don't feel I can honestly comment about the CRK's. It will be interesting to read different opinions from those that use CRK's, as I continue my learning quest.

I do have a lot of experience with knives that have locking mechanisms, as well as slip joints.
My grandfather taught me how to properly use a knife when I was a youngster, and it was an old Schrade slip joint. Ironically, 40 some years later, I have that knife in my safe

Learning on knives that had no locking mechanism, I learned to use the knife they way it was intended to be used, and I have yet to have one bite me from misuse of the design...
That said, 20+ years ago, I ventured into the realm of folding knives with locking systems. Most of them have been Benchmade knives with the Axis lock system. I find the design to be very strong and reliable. Personally it is one of the most comforting designs I have used, but even at that, I revert back to the old slip joint days, and don't put enough trust in anything mechanical, to use it for purposes that it wasn't designed for.

I have watched a couple videos of Benchmade Griptilians being torture tested (i.e abused), and they hold up beyond what anyone could ask of a folding knife.
They are damn near indestructible, but even after seeing that, I still have reservations, because if one was going to fail, it would be mine lol.

While they are totally different than the frame lock of CRK, I have no doubt they are just as reliable as the Axis, but I still only trust things to a certain extent.
If I am ever in doubt about the safe use of a folder, I will get out a sheath knife. Maybe I am just a weanie, but I don't like getting cut

 

[unit]

Mike, I get that, I really do. But I will openly admit that I DO NOT use a knife properly all the time. I would like to think that I am not a dimwit about it, though.

For example, I was using my tanto last week in the field to strip plastic sheeting off a pallet of well supplies. The wind was high, and my knife is sharp. I slashed a pannel of blastic off and the wind caught it. I knew that the design of this knife basically allows it to be used like a hook for this sort of thing with a flick of the wrist in a back slash motion. (essentially, I use the spine of the knife at the pointy tip to snag the plastic and bring it back to me before it blows away).

A foreward slash would just cut it into two pieces that would flutter away. A failed lock would result in a trip to the E.R.

I don't view that as proper knife use, and I guarantee that grandpa would not be proud, but it works and while it stresses the lock slightly, I think it is well within the design.

Edit to add: This may sound silly, but it is absolutely true. Most if not all of the sites I work on positively prohibit fixed blade knives. I cannot find any rationale for this, but these contracts are HUGE, so I simply comply and STHU I am not about to get fired or bring heat to my company just because I insist on carryiing my fixed blade.

I could probably describe other examples of how I rely on the lock, like using the spine of the knife to pick up something hot (like a pot hanging over a campfire), but hopefully everyone gets the idea/concept that I am not talking about spine whacking something, or stabbing car hoods

As I said though, there is no wrong answer. If you and your education results in using every folding knife in the most conservative manner possible and therefore never relying on the lock as a safety feature...I get it.

 

[338375]

That makes perfectly good sense Ken. I can see using one in the manner that you do, and not having any problems. Heck, that should be one benefit to buying a quality knife, being able to trust the lock mechanism...
That is odd that they won't allow fixed bladed knives, but as you said, it isn't worth testing the waters and getting fired over.

As I was typing my first reply, the videos we have all seen of people stabbing car doors, and old terrorist washing machines, sends chills down my spine.
Big difference between that kind of "use", and the way you use your knives.

I have always been conservative, boring, and not always trusting of mechanical things, and at 53 years old, I doubt I will ever change my ways.
Maybe I will when I get a little older and start getting old timers disease, and forget the things my grandfather taught me

 

[unit]

I forgot to say it earlier, Thanks to all who contribute (with a response or just a silent vote)!

 

[blade man]

I agree with you both. What you're describing, Ken, may not be the intended use, but it doesn't qualify as abuse either. Few reviews, or even discussions, of "hard use" and folder locks revolve around that type of unusual, and potentially hard, use, that isn't in the realm of abuse. Most people seem to think that stabbing through metal or super thick plastic, smacking the back of the blade over and over, and prying with the knife's blade (usually while levering the full length of the handle) constitute "normal" hard use. The "hard use" genre is as skewed as the "tactical knife" genre. Locks are there to keep the blade from closing on your hand unexpectedly. A high quality knife (and lock) makes this expected behavior (keeping the blade locked open) more reliable and consistent, hopefully to the degree that the blade closing isn't even a concern.

 

[SadSappySucker]

I honestly never think about it, CRK or not(excluding gas station specials). I have never had a lock fail on me, because to my knowledge I've never put it under any crazy amount of stress. At work I carry a tool pouch filled with "the right tool for the job," and if I for some reason don't have "that" tool on me I'll use my leatherman. Okay I will admit I have probably put the leatherman into situations that might of been asking to much of it, but I don't think I've ever put my digits in jeopardy while doing so. This question is pretty subjective though. What I consider abuse might just be standard use for someone, and I might be abusing my knife according to someone else's view of the matter. The only time I ever think of a lock is when I use my opinel unlocked. You could say I'm a little gun shy when it comes to thrust cuts and friction folders.

 

[kidcongo]

Of course with the Reeve Integral Lock, the harder you squeeze the handle, the more the knife is kept locked, so the chance of a unexpected lock opening or failure is slim. If you are spine-whacking the knife without your hand gripping the handle properly, I suppose it can come open, but at that point you have also classified yourself as a total moron who deserved a cut on his hand (no offence ).

 

[unit]

Of course with the Reeve Integral Lock, the harder you squeeze the handle, the more the knife is kept locked, so the chance of a unexpected lock opening or failure is slim.

I sometimes wonder about this.

I believe (without any forward data or proof) that the hand squeezing really imparts little or nothing to security. I say this because the contra positive (inverse) is false. If you take a poorly executed RIL that will fail with slight spine pressure, it will also fail in spite of your efforts to squeeze the lock tighter in your grip (at least this is the case for the handful I have played with).

I know various entities tout the hand squeeze as adding to the surety, but I think either the lock is right, or its not, and if it's right, it needs no help. Just my opinion.

I enjoy the sharing so far. I find it interesting that people carry a lesser knife for more abusive duties. I giggle a bit because while it seems ridiculous to trust a lesser tool to harder tasks, I do it too. I will not split soil cores with a CRK, but I gladly do it with a freebie that dig-rite gave me

 

[bld522]

Call me silly, but I treat every folder as if it could close on me and I treat every gun as if it were loaded. So yes, I generally buy knives with locks. On the other hand, I don't depend on the lock to save me from my own stupidity. It's just an added layer of protection . . . you know, like a safety on an automatic.

Specifically with respect to CRK folders, the term "bank vault lockup" pretty much describes my level of confidence in the RIL.

 

[Ajack60]

I'm not a big fan of early lock up. My CRK's are the only knife I have that I put complete confidence in when I'm using them. The others I treat as if they would close on me. Even my Striders and I have many Striders. I went to lock blades way back when I had a slip joint to fold on me and it cut to the bone. I have a fingernail that to this day has a crease in it as a reminder. No doubt, any folding knife is prone to closing, CRK imo, is the less likely knife for that to happen and with the later lock up, is why I have complete confidence using them.

 

[bhyde]

Don't think I have ever worried about it much, but knew that disengaging was a possibility. Disengage in the right, or wrong situation depending on your view and there is a chance for injury. Most of my knives don't get used "hard" but they do get used..From stripping wire to deburring parts now and then..Most of it is cutting open shipping boxes. For the most part, I know the limitation of the tool I am using at the moment and tend to choose one that is better suited to the task whenever possible.

As far as CRK or framelock to a linerlock or slipjoint? I would only use the latter for opening boxes or something equally as mundane.

 

[Ernie1980]

About half of my knives are slipjoints, so I use all of my knives as if they don't have a lock no matter the type or brand. If I am doing somthing where I even think the blade might close, I use a fixed blade. For almost all of my daily knife use, even a slipjoint is safe if used correctly!

 

[mlamb]

I carry both a Sebenza and a Slip-joint and trust both equally. One basic rule I follow always be aware closing blade direction. There's been times that I was working on a project and set the knife down for a minute and picked it up not thinking about the cutting direction luckily I corrected myself before I cut a finger off. I find that slip-joints tend to make you more conscious of blade direction. I think safety concerns come to play when you use a knife to stab or if your cutting inward in the direction of yourself.

 

[rodblder]

what is a slipjoint ?
I have only william henry linerlock and button locks and crk mnandi knives.........

 

[Blinkknives]

Don't think I have ever worried about it much, but knew that disengaging was a possibility. Disengage in the right, or wrong situation depending on your view and there is a chance for injury. Most of my knives don't get used "hard" but they do get used..From stripping wire to deburring parts now and then..Most of it is cutting open shipping boxes. For the most part, I know the limitation of the tool I am using at the moment and tend to choose one that is better suited to the task whenever possible.

As far as CRK or framelock to a linerlock or slipjoint? I would only use the latter for opening boxes or something equally as mundane.

👍Agreed! I also treat all folders like they could close.

However I do like CRK spec's of 50-75% lockup, would seem to offer the most security and strength of the lock.

 

[Zeta33]

All though I do fear the possibility of my locking folders closing, I'm carrying a CRK 100% of the time, and in my limited experience with these knives, I have gained an unfaltering confidence in them. I use my Sebenzas knowing with great certainty they will not close on me unless I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing. Anything can happen, and situations will vary, so it's always possible but...very unlikely in my humble opinion.

I do take extra care when using my slipjoints. More often than not, I have a SAK accompanying my CRK. I've been using SAKs my whole life and they were the first knife I ever had. I've learned some hard lessons with a slipjoint closing on my finger, and try not to over do it when I'm using them. Sometimes, even if you're careful, the blade can snag on something. When it does, and you don't realize it, it's easy to snap the slipjoint shut and cut yourself really bad. YMMV, but I play it safe with my slipjoints, and use my CRKs (or other locking blade) for the "hard" work.

Cool post Ken, hope you've been doing well.

 

[bld522]

what is a slipjoint ?
I have only william henry linerlock and button locks and crk mnandi knives.........

A slip-joint pocket knife is defined as a pocket knife with a blade that doesn't lock, but is instead held by a spring which allows the blade to fold when a certain level of pressure is applied.

 

[Haze]

If you're just using your knife to cut stuff there is really nothing to worry about as far as lock strength. I carry friction folders and slip joints as well as CRKs all with no issues. It's when you use a knife for things that are outside the realms of intended/sensible use that the problems start to pop up. I have cut myslef with as many fixed blades as folders. I have been carrying and using knives for as long as I can remember and only ever seem to cut myself doing something silly, there are of course few genuine accidents in there too but in general it's user error and not the knife or its mechanisms that are the problem.