What locking mechanism of pocket knives is the best? Why?

Axis lock style, button lock, liner lock. The first two allow you to keep your finger out of the path of the blade and are fun. All three allow you to have full scales on both sides which keeps it nice and symmetrical.
 
Andrew Demkos Tri-ad lock. Pretty solid lock.
I also like a good, beefy, liner lock.

Least favorite. Probably the framelock. I have a big hand (xl/2xl glove) and with no scale on the framelock side, it makes for a thin handle. I'm sure many folks like that but I prefer a beefy handle.
 
I'm not fond of liner locks or others that work on the same principle.
The "lock bar" can travel too far or not far enough and get driven between the blade and liner, which don't lock the blade.
I prefer the back lock, and when I bother to engage it, the ring lock on an Opinel.
Most of my knives are slipjoints, that do not have a lock.
Truth to tell, unless you're doing something stupid, a blade lock is not necessary.
In 60 plus years of using slipjoints and friction folders, I've yet to amputate a finger or thumb, or even have a memorable cut. Fact is, I do not recall a blade ever closing on me. I'm 99 and 63/64% sure that if one had, I would remember it.
Also consider that the slipjoint and friction folders have been used for hundreds of years. Historically speaking, "people" were not commonly amputating their fingers or any other parts when using their folding knife.

I was taught many years ago "Trust No Blade Lock! They can all fail!". (some are more likely to fail than others, especially if they require "maintenance" or "adjustment" over time.)

If I ever had or have a task where the blade closing on me was a concern, I'd grab (or do grab) (yes. I always have and always will grab them by the handle) and use a fixed blade. "Problem" solved. :)
 
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Addicted_to_Knives said:
I prefer titanium frame locks or back locks like on my Cold Steel 4Max that can take insane amounts of brutal abuse. The only drawback with back locks: two hand closing. I like one hand operation of my knives, so frame locks that lock in deeply and sit 35%-40% in the blade's spine work for me.

I do hate liners, but if the thickness of the liner is above 3 millimeters or 0.12 American inches and it is a titanium liner, then I am happy... The knife is as tough as any frame lock.

Titanium frames + titanium frame lock + flipper knife that sits on PB washers or IKBS ceramic bearings with 4 - 4.5 inches of cpm 20cv, m4, m390, s90v, 3v, 10, s110v, rex 45 or any other premium blade steels = <3 <3 <3 that's my recipe for happy knife and happy EDC'er.
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Titanium Frame lock me too !!!
 
hugofeynman said:
The best is really subjective, but the strongest, the one that must be near full tang fixed blade strong is the frame lock with security pin made by Miller Bros blades. When the security pin is engaged, it’s impossible for the knife to close in your hands (if the pin is hardened (and not brittle) steel and the frames are strong (and we know titanium sure is)). Really close second will be Andrew Demko Tri-Ad lock. And this would be my first pick, because of simplicity (if you loose the security pin in your Miller Bros blades folder, you will end up with a regular framelock), the genius behind this idea and the fact that this design has been here for years and it’s been tested over one million times!
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Nice!!
 
g
ktataragasi said:
Axis lock style, button lock, liner lock. The first two allow you to keep your finger out of the path of the blade and are fun. All three allow you to have full scales on both sides which keeps it nice and symmetrical.
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Good one!
 
afishhunter said:
I'm not fond of liner locks or others that work on the same principle.
The "lock bar" can travel too far or not far enough and get driven between the blade and liner, which don't lock the blade.
I prefer the back lock, and when I bother to engage it, the ring lock on an Opinel.
Most of my knives are slipjoints, that do not have a lock.
Truth to tell, unless you're doing something stupid, a blade lock is not necessary.
In 60 plus years of using slipjoints and friction folders, I've yet to amputate a finger or thumb, or even have a memorable cut. Fact is, I do not recall a blade ever closing on me. I'm 99 and 63/64% sure that if one had, I would remember it.
Also consider that the slipjoint and friction folders have been used for hundreds of years. Historically speaking, "people" were not commonly amputating their fingers or any other parts when using their folding knife.

I was taught many years ago "Trust No Blade Lock! They can all fail!". (some are more likely to fail than others, especially if they require "maintenance" or "adjustment" over time.)

If I ever had or have a task where the blade closing on me was a concern, I'd grab (or do grab) (yes. I always have and always will grab them by the handle) and use a fixed blade. "Problem" solved. :)
Click to expand...
Lol, indeed, fixed blade is more 'fixed'!;)But if we looked at that locks as a fun thing to play with not only for locking blade, which one you love most?
 
Properly done , they pretty much all work and variety is spicy !

The Cold Steel Tri-ad is the strongest and most reliable , at least that doesn't require extra pins or safeties .

But other types are strong enough for most routine folder uses and maybe more fun and easy for fidgeting etc .
 
Kizer Cutlery said:
Why!!! Frame lock is strong! Especially with Titanium! Give me a reason man :(
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Because:
  1. It's not a compression lock
  2. It's not a mid back lock
  3. It's not an axis lock
  4. It's too much like a liner lock
  5. It necessarily puts my thumb in harms way when closing the knife which is the very definition of bad design
 
gazz98 said:
Andrew Demkos Tri-ad lock. Pretty solid lock.
I also like a good, beefy, liner lock.

Least favorite. Probably the framelock. I have a big hand (xl/2xl glove) and with no scale on the framelock side, it makes for a thin handle. I'm sure many folks like that but I prefer a beefy handle.
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WOW, big hand guy!! I think some of our XL verson knives which i can't handle with:( will fit your hands very well!!
 
DocJD said:
Properly done , they pretty much all work and variety is spicy !

The Cold Steel Tri-ad is the strongest and most reliable , at least that doesn't require extra pins or safeties .

But other types are strong enough for most routine folder uses and maybe more fun and easy for fidgeting etc .
Click to expand...
Yeah, back lock is not good for quick flip open，so may not fun as other locks but strong indeed.
 
NapalmCheese said:
Because:
  1. It's not a compression lock
  2. It's not a mid back lock
  3. It's not an axis lock
  4. It's too much like a liner lock
  5. It necessarily puts my thumb in harms way when closing the knife which is the very definition of bad design
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o_OWhat was that point 1-4!!! Lol, but point 5 make sence!
 
TheEdge01 said:
I like just about any locking mechanism if is designed correctly. My favorite is probably the frame lock. I prefer one with a carbide insert, and I don’t like the bottom of the blade to be cut so shallow that I can push the lock all the way to the opposite scale.
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Yeah! give me five! Frame lock guy!
 
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