What type of lock is least likely to fail from lint buildup?

A

AfterDark

Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
282
What type of lock is least likely to fail from lint buildup? Is there such thing as a self cleaning lock? Thanks.
 
I would guess an open(no back spacer) framelock would be the least affected by pocket lint.
 
I think the BM Axis lock doesn't have a lot of trouble with lint, partly because it too is open-back and therefore stuff can fall through. At least, I haven't had troubles with mine.
 
I would think framelock, AXIS, and compression locks would all be equally good at pushing lint out of the way. I guess lint is running rampant today.
 
lint buildup isn't lock failure. once the lint is cleaned from the lock (with the most minimal of maintenance, as I mentioned in your other post on this same topic) the lock is once again functional. If you are looking for a knife that has a lock that is impervious to lint, I would have to go with the other posters and suggest an open frame framelock or liner lock.
 
I see lint build-up mentioned a lot on here lately. Is this a real problem? Has anyone had a knife lock "fail" from being clogged with lint? How is this a thing?

(I vote for frame lock, if we can't count fixed blades, balis, and friction folders)
 
allyourblood said:
I see lint build-up mentioned a lot on here lately. Is this a real problem? Has anyone had a knife lock "fail" from being clogged with lint? How is this a thing?
Click to expand...

It happened to me a couple of times with regular lock-backs, carried loose in the pocket.
It is a "thing", just a rare thing, and only seems to happen with knives carried loose in the pocket.
Hooray for pocket clips!!!:)

And yes, a frame-lock will be about the least prone to it.
 
Thanks stabman. I had no idea. Does it take a lot of lint to clog them? I've never been able to remove more than a tiny pinch of lint from my pockets on any specific occasion. What I've experienced doesn't seem like it would render a lock temporarily non-functional, but maybe it just didn't work its way in there...?
 
allyourblood said:
I see lint build-up mentioned a lot on here lately. Is this a real problem? Has anyone had a knife lock "fail" from being clogged with lint? How is this a thing?

(I vote for frame lock, if we can't count fixed blades, balis, and friction folders)
Click to expand...
Yeah, not sure what's up with that either. As I'm putting my EDC away at the end of the day, I always blow some compressed air through it as a preventative measure against buildup of lint, moisture, etc. But even before I started doing that, I never had enough lint build up that it would negatively influence the lock's ability to engage correctly. I do carry mostly frame and liner locks, though, so that could have something to do with it.
 
allyourblood said:
Thanks stabman. I had no idea. Does it take a lot of lint to clog them?
Click to expand...

That depends on the depth of the lock well.
If the well is deep, it will take plenty of lint to fill it, so it will likely not happen.
If the well is shallow, then less lint will do it.
The ones I had it happen with had relatively shallow lock wells, so less lint was able to do it.
I turn my pockets inside-out every so often nowadays to get rid of any lint accumulation, and this seems to help as well.
 
It has happened to me once or twice.

You know that feeling you get when a high quality knife doesn't lock up... What they heck is going on here! Then you inspect to see what is wrong,

and a mischievous little bundle of pocket lint reveals itself! LOL.

It made me laugh the first time I saw it happen. If you are in a survival situation, at least you will know where to find good tinder.:p
 
Last edited:
I know nothing about it, but did the system they tried to implement on the ZT 500 MUDD do anything useful? The knife seems to have disappeared and the design hasn't been copied.
 
Triad Lock. Never failed on me. MOF I just cleaned a ton of lint from my American Lawman yesterday morning. A lotta lint and no problems with lockup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top