what makes the compression lock better than a liner lock?

M

mr dylan

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
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What makes the compression lock better than a liner lock? To me it looks just like a liner lock, but i don't here any criticism of it. But with the liner lock on the other hand tons of people criticize it.

Is there less pressure put on the compression lock than the liner lock due to how it engages the tang?
 
The liner lock takes all the force of closing on the end of the locking leaf and transfers it to one liner along the length of the leaf. The compression lock wedges a tab of steel between the tang of the blade and a stop pin. Closing force is transferred through the tab to the stop pin and from there directly to both liners.

Think of the liner lock as holding a door open with one finger on the edge of the door next to the hinges and the compression lock like dropping a brick between the door and the frame.
 
As explained (Post & link), the compression lock's stronger. The other advantage of it, IMHO, is that it's ambidextrous, too (It's easier to manipulate with either hand).

I don't think Spyderco makes enough models with it, unfortunately. One of the reasons I prefer the Para Military is because of its compression lock. I also have a waved Yojimbo that I carry now & then that works great & it's quite a few yrs old.
 
yablanowitz said:
The liner lock takes all the force of closing on the end of the locking leaf and transfers it to one liner along the length of the leaf. The compression lock wedges a tab of steel between the tang of the blade and a stop pin. Closing force is transferred through the tab to the stop pin and from there directly to both liners.

Think of the liner lock as holding a door open with one finger on the edge of the door next to the hinges and the compression lock like dropping a brick between the door and the frame.
Click to expand...

Sums it up right there.
 
CL01 said:
As explained (Post & link), the compression lock's stronger. The other advantage of it, IMHO, is that it's ambidextrous, too (It's easier to manipulate with either hand).

I don't think Spyderco makes enough models with it, unfortunately. One of the reasons I prefer the Para Military is because of its compression lock. I also have a waved Yojimbo that I carry now & then that works great & it's quite a few yrs old.
Click to expand...


you also dont have to put a finger in the blade channel to close it.
 
CL01 said:
The other advantage of it, IMHO, is that it's ambidextrous, too (It's easier to manipulate with either hand).
Click to expand...

That's a lark. The compression lock is even more handed and design sensitive than the liner lock, although I suppose it really depends on one's personal physiology. :p
 
spoonrobot said:
That's a lark. The compression lock is even more handed and design sensitive than the liner lock, although I suppose it really depends on one's personal physiology. :p
Click to expand...

Really? When I carry mine, it's set-up for left-hand carry. The lock can be accessed with either hand easier than a liner-lock, IMHO, & as has been mentioned, your fingers aren't in the blade channel when closing it.
 
Ehh. I'm a lefty and I dislike the comp-lock immensely. What knife are you carrying?

Some compression lock knives cannot be held securely by most lefties without putting the fingers into the blade channel. See the Yojimbo and the Superhawk.

I'm not saying it's impossible, or hard to close the comp-lock with the left hand. I'm saying it's not an ambidextrous lock, simply because it's possible to make a version that is safer and easier to close with the left hand than right hand. See the Gunting.

Ambidextrous locks can't be made in handed variations, because they're going to be just as easy and safe to close with either hand.
 
spoonrobot said:
Ehh. I'm a lefty and I dislike the comp-lock immensely. What knife are you carrying?
Click to expand...

The specific knife I currently have/carry/use in lefty mode is a waved Yojimbo. I don't recall if the Para Military I had was set-up for left hand or not (Had the clip flipped on one of them).

It's certainly easier for me to manipulate the lock with my left hand on a compression lock than it is on, say, a Spyderco Military or similar liner-lock. Admittedly, the back-lock's the easiest for either hand manipulation.
 
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