What's it do?

[dwo37650@yahoo.com]

I've noticed on my cqc-7mini-b and my commander, there's a leaf spring, with a small ball, that rides against the blade on the opposite liner from the liner lock. I've never seen this on any other knife brand. What purpose does it serve?

 

[Jason B.]

its a detent

 

[dwo37650@yahoo.com]

thanks for the reply, but there's no divot on the blade for the ball to fall into, opened or closed.

 

[groos]

It's a patented feature exclusive to Emerson Knives.
Please see the patent here:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=i2YHAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=Ernest+R.+Emerson#PPA63,M1

Patent #:6,289,592

His other patent the Self-opening folding knife is the one most people think of.

 

[dwo37650@yahoo.com]

I guess I wasn't looking hard enough. I've had the cqc apart before, but it was a while ago. Looked close at the commander with a 10x loupe, and there it was. Seems like a nice feature. Thanks for the link, it was very informative!

 

[MORIMOTOM]

it may be because ernie lives in california that he adds this feature to his knives.

ca law requires a detente which biases the knife toward the closed position.

 

[dwo37650@yahoo.com]

that makes sense. I didn't see the detent at first, and I assumed that function was taken care of by the ball on the liner lock, like most other folders, but then emersons aren't other folders!

 

[groos]

I have a few off brand linerlocks that are held shut by good wishes and the tension of the locks spring, nothing else. The extra Emerson ball bearing spring is yet another way to recognize Commander clones, they don't have them.