In the modern knife community, there may be no more ubiquitous lock type than the liner lock. Folding knife manufacturers have engineered a variety of lock types, each with its upsides and downsides. Still in that information gathering phase? How much liner material surrounds the stop pin? So reaming to a 1/4" pivot and a solid 1/4" stop pin would be best? In a sense, this is a locking system because your hand will prevent the blade from swinging closed during use. This mechanism uses a sliding steel lock bar under tension provided by two omega springs. Many of us never leave home without a folding knife. The Compression Lock is a system developed and patented by Spyderco. Sign In. The button lock uses a spring-loaded plunger to hold the knife open; pressing the button lines up a notch in the plunger and allows the blade to pivot. It doesnt have to be a mystery. CMG West, LLC. agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . The bolster lock is very similar to the lever lock. The following lock types are ideal for one-handed operation: AXIS Lock, Compression Lock, Frame Lock. This system shines for its simplicity and ease of operation but at a cost when it comes to disassembly. This lock engages the back of the blade tang when the blade is opened. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. AXIS lock knives are ambidextrous, strong, and fun to use. Calling a knife a friction lock doesnt really tell the whole story. The idea is similar in concept to a liner lock… Instead of the mechanism utilizing a pivoting lever on the front of the scales, the bolster swivels to engage and disengage the pin. This tension keeps the knife locked into the open position with little chance or risk of it closing on your hand during use. Lever locks are primarily found on traditional-style Italian switchblade knives. {| foundExistingAccountText |} {| current_emailAddress |}. A ring collar around the handle of the blade rotates freely enabling locking in the open or closed position. Up to this point, weve covered the most common lock types. The Axis Lock is patented by Benchmade and found on most of the company's knives, though similar mechanisms have been developed by other manufacturers. It may sound complex, but functionally this system shines for its one-handed, secure operation. The Compression Lock is a system developed and patented by Spyderco. The classic Buck 110 folding knife is a good example of this mechanism. The back lock (or lockback) uses a lock bar pinned to the scales of the blade, pivoting in the middle, and a bent spring which presses the front of the lock bar downward. Most frame locks include a stop pin and detent ball, but designers have made many other incremental improvements — read about them here. The spring tensioned blade will fire out into the open position. It's located along the spine of the blade, and engages between the stop pin and the tang of the blade. While they are generally less common, they're definitely worth a mention. Hahaha, yeah, I suppose that would be hard to beat. However, Sal has said they can build any lock to any rating, so presuming one knife is stronger than another is presuming it was designed to be stronger. agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Thank you! We have sent a confirmation email to {* emailAddressData *}. {* mergePassword *}, Knife Informer’s Essential Guide to Lock Types. This mechanism is stronger than a liner lock, using a thick piece of the handle frame as the lock bar instead of a thin liner. You already know Blade HQ has all the knives. Do you want a sleek slip joint or a durable lock back? Pros: Ambidextrous, strong, doesn't require the user to put a finger in the blade's path, can be flipped open and shut one-handed Cons: Complex, may be susceptible to spring breakage, requires tight tolerances. {* traditionalSignIn_createButton *}, Created {| existing_createdDate |} at {| existing_siteName |}, {| connect_button |} This simple tool is incredibly useful for both daily life and survival in the wilderness, so unless you're in a non-permissive environment that explicitly prevents you from carrying one, it's advisable to have one at your disposal. Friction lock knives dont really lock at all. Pros: Strong, doesn't require the user to put a finger in the blade's path, fast and easy to use Cons: Difficult and expensive to manufacture, not ambidextrous, some jurisdictions may have laws which designate button-lock knives as switchblades. JNewell. In an industry built on innovation, all the different knife lock types can be confusingsome pocket knives like the Protech Magic Whiskers border on being puzzle-like with hidden mechanisms built into the handle scales. This week's giveaway is a sleek CIVIVI Baklash folding knife, which... By clicking "Sign In" or "Create Account", on OffGrid, I acknowledge and Facebook,
An internal plunger system is responsible for lockup in both the open and closed positions. OFFGRID Knife Giveaway: Win This Kershaw Dividend! Slip joint knives are non-locking knives. Back lock knives (also known as lockbacks) were popularized by Buck Knives in the 20th century. I think it really comes down to the shear strength of the stop pin. The Omega springs ensure lockup tension between the stop pin and AXIS bar. Button lock knives are reliable, durable, and often found in automatics. Modern versions of the design use a stop pin for added strength, and a detent ball for smoothness. Pros: Extremely strong, simple construction Cons: Titanium-on-steel galling can cause sticky lockup if not fitted with a lockbar insert, pivot tension must be fine-tuned, not ambidextrous, places user's finger in front of the blade's path when closing. Happy hunting and may you find that one special knife of your dreams. It uses a section of one of the handle liners, cut out and bent to create a spring effect. Compression Lock.