-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Which knife locks do you trust the most?
- Thread starter Kaizen1
- Start date
vjb.knife
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2002
- Messages
- 1,728
A well made knife made of quality materials with a frame lock, liner lock, axis lock, back lock or most other designs that is used safely and properly is safe enough to use for many tasks. It will never be 100% safe and neither will a fixed blade if it is used improperly or made cheaply. In fact you are never 100% safe using any knife even when you are trained and very safe, shit happens.
My particular favorite is a framelock, like on Sebenzas and Striders but some other designs seem very suitable when made well.
I like the backlock on the Extrema Ratio Faida, it is very heavy duty and has a secondary lock.
I also like the liner locks on knives like the Microtech LCC or Amphibian.
So my favorite lock system would be the one that is constructed well with high quality materials and has tight tolerances. And I still try to be very safe when using any of them, I guess I am a Boy Scout at heart.
My particular favorite is a framelock, like on Sebenzas and Striders but some other designs seem very suitable when made well.
I like the backlock on the Extrema Ratio Faida, it is very heavy duty and has a secondary lock.
I also like the liner locks on knives like the Microtech LCC or Amphibian.
So my favorite lock system would be the one that is constructed well with high quality materials and has tight tolerances. And I still try to be very safe when using any of them, I guess I am a Boy Scout at heart.
Prolly the ball lock...pretty much have to break the whole knife for a catastrophic fail...or squash the ball bearing somehow.
Agree about the Ti-Lite lock integrity...that's a tough liner lock.
I've broken several fixed blades, but never a folder...yet. I figure I busted the fixed blades for the very reason that I figured they couldn't/wouldn't break, whereas a folder is sort of "broken" to start with so I'm more cautious about how they are used.
Agree about the Ti-Lite lock integrity...that's a tough liner lock.
I've broken several fixed blades, but never a folder...yet. I figure I busted the fixed blades for the very reason that I figured they couldn't/wouldn't break, whereas a folder is sort of "broken" to start with so I'm more cautious about how they are used.
trimcut123
BANNED
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 3,107
Compression lock, Axis lock... Frame lock
No particular order
No particular order
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2007
- Messages
- 1,045
Axis, lockback, framelock, balisong, all very strong. I'll also add that, for an Opinel to close on you, the blade would have to shear through a steel ring. Also, knives with backsprings and locks- mostly linerlocks- are strong, because they have two security systems.
I'm also in the "use it like a slipjoint crowd"
I'm also in the "use it like a slipjoint crowd"
Cool, so I'm not the only one who thinks this. I think it has something to do with the 3D liner, how it's kinda L shaped instead of | shaped. It extends to another dimension, and I guess that adds some sturdiness.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2004
- Messages
- 24,734
In order:
Balisong
Plungelock auto/AXIS (tie)
Compression
Framelock
Lockback
Linerlock
I've separated linerlocks because I've pretty much given up on linerlocks. I agree that materials and craftsmanship counts for quite a lot. But the design is fundamentally less safe than a framelock. You could have a linerlock and a framelock with identical strength and thickness, but on a linerlock, you're not gripping the lock closed like you do a framelock.
That said, I now only own 2 linerlocks, and zero framelocks. Both linerlocks are D/A autos (MT LCC and PT ATAC), and I wouldn't bother owning them if they weren't autos. I'm just really not a fan of frame/linerlocks anymore. I can do it easily enough (I've carried them a lot in the past), but I don't like the way you unlock them, with your finger in the blade path. I'm not much a fan of lockbacks anymore either, but I carry one every day (Spyderco Tasman Salt), sometimes two (Calypso 3). Plus you can drop the blade closed to safely close it one-handed, unlike with a frame/liner.
But basically, I've been spoiled by the AXIS lock. At one time or another, I've cut myself opening or closing every other type of lock. Finger in the path of a frame/linerlock. Dropped a lockback closed onto my index finger. Cut the shit out of myself misjudging the length of the Godfather's blade (and that's with the dull side of the blade/tip). Numerous goofs with balisongs (no surprise there). I've even accidentally fired my UTX-70 into my finger. But I've never cut myself with the AXIS lock (at least, in operating the lock).
Come to think of it, I don't think I've cut myself with the Compression lock either. I do own a Yojimbo, and carry it sometimes, and play with sometimes, usually dropping it closed, but I don't think I've cut myself with it. Not a big fan of the lock though. Safe and strong, but awkward.
Balisong
Plungelock auto/AXIS (tie)
Compression
Framelock
Lockback
Linerlock
I've separated linerlocks because I've pretty much given up on linerlocks. I agree that materials and craftsmanship counts for quite a lot. But the design is fundamentally less safe than a framelock. You could have a linerlock and a framelock with identical strength and thickness, but on a linerlock, you're not gripping the lock closed like you do a framelock.
That said, I now only own 2 linerlocks, and zero framelocks. Both linerlocks are D/A autos (MT LCC and PT ATAC), and I wouldn't bother owning them if they weren't autos. I'm just really not a fan of frame/linerlocks anymore. I can do it easily enough (I've carried them a lot in the past), but I don't like the way you unlock them, with your finger in the blade path. I'm not much a fan of lockbacks anymore either, but I carry one every day (Spyderco Tasman Salt), sometimes two (Calypso 3). Plus you can drop the blade closed to safely close it one-handed, unlike with a frame/liner.
But basically, I've been spoiled by the AXIS lock. At one time or another, I've cut myself opening or closing every other type of lock. Finger in the path of a frame/linerlock. Dropped a lockback closed onto my index finger. Cut the shit out of myself misjudging the length of the Godfather's blade (and that's with the dull side of the blade/tip). Numerous goofs with balisongs (no surprise there). I've even accidentally fired my UTX-70 into my finger. But I've never cut myself with the AXIS lock (at least, in operating the lock).
Come to think of it, I don't think I've cut myself with the Compression lock either. I do own a Yojimbo, and carry it sometimes, and play with sometimes, usually dropping it closed, but I don't think I've cut myself with it. Not a big fan of the lock though. Safe and strong, but awkward.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2008
- Messages
- 19
Manufacturer and materials are the main key/factor for a locking knife.
Trusting locking capabilities are high with those manufacturers with their framelock, lockback and axis lines as a linerlock being the least
In doubt? Go fixed!
Trusting locking capabilities are high with those manufacturers with their framelock, lockback and axis lines as a linerlock being the least
In doubt? Go fixed!
The one I trust 100%....
Bali-Song (not really a true lock, but a very safe designed knife)
The ones I trust 85%....
Compression-lock (very strong and reliable design, but doesn't keep the blade closed so well)
Axis-lock
Ball-bearing lock
Arc-lock
BladeLOCK (very clever design)
Opinel lock (not for its strength, but for it's reliability)
The ones I trust 75%....
Lock-back (even though I have a Buck 110 as my EDC, I still only trust the lock 75%)
Bolt-lock (too bad it's not used on more knives)
Plunger-lock
Stud-lock
Frame-lock
The one I trust 65%....
Liner-lock with LAWKS
The ones I trust 50% or less....
Liner-lock (I've seen more liner-locks fail than any other type of lock)
Neely-lock (not a great lock design)
Bali-Song (not really a true lock, but a very safe designed knife)
The ones I trust 85%....
Compression-lock (very strong and reliable design, but doesn't keep the blade closed so well)
Axis-lock
Ball-bearing lock
Arc-lock
BladeLOCK (very clever design)
Opinel lock (not for its strength, but for it's reliability)
The ones I trust 75%....
Lock-back (even though I have a Buck 110 as my EDC, I still only trust the lock 75%)
Bolt-lock (too bad it's not used on more knives)
Plunger-lock
Stud-lock
Frame-lock
The one I trust 65%....
Liner-lock with LAWKS
The ones I trust 50% or less....
Liner-lock (I've seen more liner-locks fail than any other type of lock)
Neely-lock (not a great lock design)
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2005
- Messages
- 5,171
Haven't had an Axis lock fail yet (have inadvertently unlatched one in use, though). Paul-locks, plungerlocks (autos),Ball-bearing lock, and bolt-action locks have not failed either. Getting a balisong shortly, and I doubt it'll fail (but is the balisong really a lock? - more of a mechanism I'd say)
Come to think of it, a lot of the less than popular locks have worked well for me.
I've had lockbacks, framelocks, and linerlocks fail big time; the frame and liner locks failing enough times that I no longer recommend knives with them to others.
Come to think of it, a lot of the less than popular locks have worked well for me.
I've had lockbacks, framelocks, and linerlocks fail big time; the frame and liner locks failing enough times that I no longer recommend knives with them to others.