Your favorite detent on a knife?

D

Dr Maclean

Joined
Sep 6, 2009
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I was playing around with my Spyderco Techno earlier today and I realized how much I love the detent on the knife. It holds the blade in tight enough to keep it from opening in your pocket or even when I shake it as hard as I can, yet it's the perfect tension to flip the blade out without any wrist motion whatsoever. With other knives I've had the blade come open in my pocket, and I don't feel safe with a knife that can come open by flicking your wrist without touching the blade, so now I find myself flipping it open and closed wherever I am just because it feels so nice.

So what are some blades that you've found have a great detent that fits the knife perfectly? And also, since we're on the subject, what are some knives that you don't feel safe with / do not have a good detent?
 
Sanrenmu 710 and CRKT Drifter have good detents. The larger the blade the harder it is to find a knife with a strong detent... I'm really fussy about strong detents.
 
Goosey said:
Sanrenmu 710 and CRKT Drifter have good detents. The larger the blade the harder it is to find a knife with a strong detent... I'm really fussy about strong detents.
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My cara cara 2 has a satisfyingly strong detent, I was a little disappointed when I picked up my endura 4 over how weak the detent was.
 
Several knives fit this for me.
ZT 0560, Wilson Combat Elite Level 1, CRK Large Sebenza, Spyderco Chaparral, Spyderco Chokwe.
 
apintandafight said:
My cara cara 2 has a satisfyingly strong detent, I was a little disappointed when I picked up my endura 4 over how weak the detent was.
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Mmmm, yup, a lot of lockbacks don't really have much detent at all... my test is flicking the knife as hard as I can, that means putting my whole body into it and snapping my wrist. If it opens, it gets tightened until it doesn't open anymore.

I wouldn't care that much except for pesky laws...
 
My favorite detent is the strap/tie that holds it in the sheath ;)

j/k. Of all my folders, my CS Spartan has the strongest detent. It snaps shut almost like a slipjoint does. Gotta be careful closing it, cause it'll chomp on your hands if they get in the way.
 
I prefer just a little bit of detent. I don't have a problem with knives opening in my pockets so I only want a light detent for situations such as when I st a knife down on the shelf or when I'm carrying a knife in my hand with other odd items. My older knives have light detents but with the exception of my Para 2 all of my fairly recent knives have way too much detent for me. The Para 2 is closest to the right amount of detent for me.
 
bdmicarta said:
I prefer just a little bit of detent. I don't have a problem with knives opening in my pockets so I only want a light detent for situations such as when I st a knife down on the shelf or when I'm carrying a knife in my hand with other odd items. My older knives have light detents but with the exception of my Para 2 all of my fairly recent knives have way too much detent for me. The Para 2 is closest to the right amount of detent for me.
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Personal preferences I suppose, but I find my para 2 to be lacking in the detent department, closing it one handed often causes the blade to bounce back open half way, from the closed position. The opening is buttery smooth, but I would settle for a little bit more retention.
 
I'm quite enamored of the detent on my Umnumzaan. It's not coming open unless I want it to.
 
Spyderco Chokwe had the nicest detent I have felt. Kinda surprised me actually.
 
CRKT knows how to put on a detent. They always do a splendid job, if you don't have one of their manual flippers go get one. :D
 
Well I gotten into knives about a year and a half so with that in mind . What is a detent On a knife ?can some one tell me.
 
Kershaw Tilt! Finest frame lock Ive ever owned on every level. The Detent is perfect for the flipper. The later run of the 0560 is excellent as well but I think the Tilt has the best detent and best action out there.
 
EricV said:
CRKT knows how to put on a detent. They always do a splendid job, if you don't have one of their manual flippers go get one. :D
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I have a couple of their big flippers, an M16 and a M21. It seems that a big flipper like that needs some detent to make it work. I put a good amount of force on the flipper before the detent is overcome, and by then there is enough force for the blade to open completely.
 
miltmaldo said:
Well I gotten into knives about a year and a half so with that in mind . What is a detent On a knife ?can some one tell me.
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A detent is simply what keeps the blade on a folder, held into the handle when closed. Mainly done with a detent ball inset in the liner or lockbar. It applies a small amount of pressure on the blade, and some blades will have a hole, for the ball to sit in slightly, for a stronger detent.
 
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