What's with the mid-back lock in modern knives?

B

Bo-Ri-Do

Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
38
I want to know why it's so popular. It seems as though it is just a safety hazard when your scraping. It may seem obvious to all of you, but it is not obvious to me so please help.
 
For me it's a matter of ease of closing. It's much easier to close one handed than a traditional back lock.
 
I agree with GronK on this one. Seems to make closeing one handed alot easier.
I've got alot of folders with this feature and never had a problem with one closeing
accidently or even just being loosened.
 
I don't have many lockbacks but at least it's situated where if it is ever accidentally pressed during cutting the applied force on the blade is in the exact opposite direction. I think the lock method still has its adherents.
 
Thanks for the info. I am not really a big one-hand closer. To bad the Kabar Dozier has a mid lock.
 
As others say.. easier to close, and i have never had a lock release when i didnt want it to. Hell, it never even crossed my mind as a possibility....
 
I've used a Delica 4 for the past year and a half pretty extensively and never ran into an issue with the mid-lock. Doesn't mean it's for everyone though.
 
Some of my oldest modern folders, and those I've used the most, have this kind of lock. It's never caused me any problems.

I've got an old Endura that I still carry almost every day in my left pocket, it has developed a bit of blade play through the years but that's it (the handle is FRN with no liners, some of the play might just be handle flex). I've used my Manix and Mini Manix a lot, with zero issues. Same goes for an old (VG-1, pre-Tri Ad) CS Voyager and a few other knives. Lots of use, no problems.

Most Spyderco lockbacks have a Boye dent just for a bit extra safety. My Manix, Mini Manix and old Chinook don't have it and they work just fine.

Bo-Ri-Do, if you don't like it that's reason enough not to buy any knives with that sort of lock. It doesn't matter whether there's a safety concern or not. Maybe something else might work better for you, like a framelock or even a balisong (no lock to disengage on those!).
 
Let's see, Spyderco Delicas, Enduras, Police, Boye, Kabar, etc, etc, etc, never had a problem with any of them. Only knives I ever used that would close unintentionally were a couple of Boker's early attempts at liner locks.
 
I prefer a mid lock because it is easier to unlock. I have several Spyderco mid locks and have never had a problem with them coming unlocked during use.
 
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