New Lock/Knife by PITS designer Mike Read

[Liquid Cobra]

Over on Edge Matters, a british knife forum, Mike Read has been sharing the ongoing design process of his new locking mechanism called the Pie lock. I'm having trouble explaining precisely how it works, so it is probably just easier for you to have a look at the two videos below. Basically once the knife is open, you need to put your finger inside the hole in the handle to release the lock. Once you disengage the lock, you get your finger out of there and then the lockbar moves out of the way after which the knife can close. See what I mean? Difficult to describe (for me). It is an ingenious design to be sure.

I can't find the thread but I remember Sal hinting that there was a locking PITS folder or new design from Mike Read being worked on. Perhaps he or Mike would like to chime in. I for one am incredibly interested, all it needs is a Spydie hole

https://youtu.be/cpw0lYGa7yM

https://youtu.be/itgcfeD4S-s

[bh49]

Nice knife, still PITS is much better looking, plus I strongly prefer FFG blades

[Able Dog]

Looks cool!

[bearfacedkiller]

Interesting. I think you could build it with a button on the side. I actually like as few parts as possible so it looks good as is from a design standpoint but I wonder if it would be more ergonomic with a button to deactivate the lock. Either way it looks cool.

If the force vector is in a straight line with the lock bar it should be plenty strong and require blowing the lock bar pivot out of the handle for failure as long as the lock bar isn't able to slide off the tang which should not be a problem if the force is in line with the bar.

It is kind of like a liner lock that has been rotated 90 degrees combined with a back lock.

[SpyderNut]

Now that is a clever lock. I'd definitely like to see a Spyderco collaboration on that.

[tvenuto]

Very interesting. Have to say I don't love that if you leave your finger in the hole you cut yourself, although I guess the same could be said of a liner lock.

[RadioactiveSpyder]

I love it, very cool! Thanks for posting this LC! I bet this has tickled Sal's curiosity, it certainly has mine...

I for one am certainly hoping for another Spyderco/Read collaboration (PITS was my 2015 KOTY after all!). It doesn't look like something exceptionally stout for chopping trees down, but it would fit nicely into the ever-growing family of locks that Spyderco has embraced or innovated themselves into their gentlemen's knives collection. Cheers, Radioactive :)

[swigert]

I really like everything about that knife. Would love a Colab. Can't wait for Sal to chime in.

[gbelleh]

Very cool.

[3rdGenRigger]

Maybe a new variation for the Sage series. Interesting design to be sure.

[swigert]

Maybe a new variation for the Sage series. Interesting design to be sure.

Great idea.

[timlara]

Interesting, thanks for posting! Always neat to see new locks.

If I'm understanding this right, it looks like it kind of provides some degree of safety from closing on your finger due to that "half stop" cutout before the blade closes the rest of the way.

[Liquid Cobra]

Very interesting. Have to say I don't love that if you leave your finger in the hole you cut yourself, although I guess the same could be said of a liner lock.

You can't close it if your finger is in there.

[tvenuto]

I see, the lockbar would sweep your finger out of the way.

[SpeedHoles]

That is very slick! Thanks for posting that up.
I was intrigued when Sal mentioned Mike Reads new lock in the PITS thread, but for some reason I thought it would be related to his flex bar slip joint design, which it is not at all!
Is this the design that Sal was referring to as "art"?

Didn't think we'd see what he was working on so soon after. Very trick. :D


And, Branden; great idea about another Sage potential design!

[3rdGenRigger]

That is very slick! Thanks for posting that up.
I was intrigued when Sal mentioned Mike Reads new lock in the PITS thread, but for some reason I thought it would be related to his flex bar slip joint design, which it is not at all!
Is this the design that Sal was referring to as "art"?

Didn't think we'd see what he was working on so soon after. Very trick. :D


And, Branden; great idea about another Sage potential design!

The Sage series explores different lock types...it wasn't much of a leap. I'd bet that Sal heard of this before it made it onto YouTube, especially given the existing collaboration.

[SpeedHoles]

That is very slick! Thanks for posting that up.
I was intrigued when Sal mentioned Mike Reads new lock in the PITS thread, but for some reason I thought it would be related to his flex bar slip joint design, which it is not at all!
Is this the design that Sal was referring to as "art"?

Didn't think we'd see what he was working on so soon after. Very trick. :D


And, Branden; great idea about another Sage potential design!

The Sage series explores different lock types...it wasn't much of a leap. I'd bet that Sal heard of this before it made it onto YouTube, especially given the existing collaboration.

Oh I know about Sage series, but we as enthusiasts are always looking for other lock design possibilities to drool over and dream of in a production Sage! :)

And yeah, Sal had mentioned about a new lock by Mike Read in the PITS thread, and how it was based on, or inspired by old "art", and a now expired patent (if I read him correctly).

[mekidear]

In answer to a few comments:

You cannot close the blade on your finger while it is in the hole, After you have depressed the lock bar to release the lock, the lock bar has to travel up past the window before the blade can, so your finger has to be removed before the blade will close.

You could have a button release but I like to keep things simple. Holes are easy to make, don't stick, don't break and don't fall out :)
One of the best features of this design is that it is near impossible to accidentally release the lock, with a button release, this feature would be lost.

The method of releasing the lock does feel awkward at first but with a bit of practice becomes second nature. In my opinion (and I have to admit to being a bit biased) it is far easier than many other locks.

A couple of other things you might find interesting.

The tang of the blade can be used as a thumb flipper.

Pressure on the rear end of the lockbar (the exposed and jimped section) forces the lock in tighter. If you hold the knife and put a closing force on the blade, it forces this section of the lockbar into your hand and in so doing holds the lock in tighter. So the added security is maximum just when you need it. Having said this, the lock is reliable and secure without this additional safety feature.

If you have any other questions fire away or have a look on Edge Matters Forum where there is more info.

Thanks

Mike

[mekidear]

[quote="SpeedHoles]Sal had mentioned about a new lock by Mike Read in the PITS thread, and how it was based on, or inspired by old "art", and a now expired patent (if I read him correctly).[/quote]

The lock is a completely original design, not copied from or inspired by any previous design. I am not saying it hasn't been done before but I have never seen anything like it and I come up with the idea completely independently. Honest :)

Sal and Co have found an old patent which may be 'prior art'. In my opinion it has little, if anything in common with my design.

The nearest thing I have seen to my lock design is the lock in the GTC Scarface. This works in a similar way but locks on the down stroke not the up stroke https://youtu.be/zLvMlzwnsaI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mike

[SpeedHoles]

[quote="SpeedHoles]Sal had mentioned about a new lock by Mike Read in the PITS thread, and how it was based on, or inspired by old "art", and a now expired patent (if I read him correctly).

The lock is a completely original design, not copied from or inspired by any previous design. I am not saying it hasn't been done before but I have never seen anything like it and I come up with the idea completely independently. Honest :)

Sal and Co have found an old patent which may be 'prior art'. In my opinion it has little, if anything in common with my design.

The nearest thing I have seen to my lock design is the lock in the GTC Scarface. This works in a similar way but locks on the down stroke not the up stroke https://youtu.be/zLvMlzwnsaI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mike[/quote][/quote]


Hey Mike,
Glad you could join us! Just took this discussion to the next level! We all enjoy hearing from knife makers and designers here, gotta love it.

Anyway, thanks for clearing that up about what I had read in other threads.
Your lock design here seems ingenious. As you show in your video in Liquids first post, it does look like second nature to you, very quick and instinctual action.

I really like the fact how you brought up about it locking in tighter under pressure on the rear of that bar. That is a great design, and how you left it exposed a bit to take full advantage of that (as opposed to being flush with the handle).


So far is this only going to be available on customs from you?

Would the design be able to incorporate an Spyderhole, or would this just mean a very large hump that wouldn't interfere with the handle hole?

When you mention the thumb flip, is that flipping from inside the hole when closed?

Sorry for the barrage of questions. Just a highly intrigued enthusiast here eager for info on a new design! :)