CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

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SamClemens14
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CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#1

Post by SamClemens14 »

Have one of each (Manix 2 and Para 3). Para 3 dropped free and closed, not long after a few dozen flicks out of the box. Manix 2 (G-10 and lightweight) took a couple of weeks before I decided to adjust the pivot. Drops free, smooth as butter now.

Just wanted to start a conversation on which is more satisfying, the free-fall, closing action of the compression lock, or the CBBL?
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#2

Post by sal »

Hi SamClemens,

Welcome to our forum.

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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#3

Post by vivi »

I like the action of the CBBL better. To me detent based locks often have a slightly jumpier feel when I open and close them. Backlocks and CBBL have a smoother feeling action, even if they do take more effort to open.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#4

Post by abbazaba »

The CBBL has been more consistent in my experience. It can be difficult to dial in the comp lock and keep it that way.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#5

Post by ladybug93 »

i love both, but the compression lock is slightly more fun to play with. i have a manix 2 lw and yojimbo 2 as my examples.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#6

Post by rabbitanarchy14 »

i do really like my compression locks but i feel the cbbl is more fun and it feel fluid instead of the detent ball scrape. but the cbbl is not offered in something in the size i can carry and like.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#7

Post by Larry_Mott »

Comp lock any day of the week for me. I like the exposed ball lock knives better than the Glock trigger feel of the CBBL, and they also bite the web of my thumb when closing them.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#8

Post by Evil D »

I think I prefer the compression lock but mostly because it allows for better "packaging". A good example is the Dialex Jr, you couldn't make that knife with a CBBL. This debate for me is more like "Manix 2 vs every other compression lock knife". The CL is far easier to take apart and put back together and will likely be more maintenance free over very long periods of use and wear. CBBL is a great lock but I think the lack of models using it vs all the CL equipped models says it all.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#9

Post by spyderg »

Hard question to answer. Partially because they both have a different feel and partly because my older blacked out PM2 has a drastically different detent than my newer Cruwear one. If it were between the older one with its weaker detent, my Manix2 wins hands down but my newer PM2 gives the Manix a run for its money. (My Yo2 lands somewhere in between) For me it depends on the day really but I suspect a backlock lover would prefer a cbbl whereas a framelock or linerlock fan would prefer the action of the compression.

I’ll add that I’m crushing on my Smock these days, compression lock with a button is pretty hard to top!
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#10

Post by TomAiello »

CBBL for me, every time.

I think the comp lock is smooth enough--I prefer the CBBL for it's ambidexterity and detent.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#11

Post by SamClemens14 »

I agree with the better detent of the CBBL. The compression lock feels to be more of a freefall, whereas the CBBL almost seams to be more of a controlled swing that “snaps” closed.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#12

Post by GiftedMisfit »

TomAiello wrote:
Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:02 am
CBBL for me, every time.

I think the comp lock is smooth enough--I prefer the CBBL for it's ambidexterity and detent.
Pretty much exactly what I was going to say. CBBL for me.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#13

Post by Doc Dan »

If you are a user, the CBBL is the best. If you are someone who like to play with their knives while watching TV, the Comp Lock might be a good choice. I personally prefer the CBBL, of the two.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#14

Post by Bill1170 »

They are both really good. I find the compression lock easier to close than the CBBL, especially when my hands are slippery. Vivi’s point about the CBBL being safer than detent-based locks when closed is a valuable observation. Fortunately I have never had a comp lock open in my pocket, probably because I carry tip up with the blade against the pocket rear seam.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#15

Post by gigem95 »

I agree that both locks are really good. However, I prefer the compression lock. For me it's easier to close the knife with one hand using a compression lock, and if my hands are full, then that's a definite advantage for me.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#16

Post by TomAiello »

gigem95 wrote:
Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:00 pm
I agree that both locks are really good. However, I prefer the compression lock. For me it's easier to close the knife with one hand using a compression lock, and if my hands are full, then that's a definite advantage for me.
I think that's mostly down to what you are used to. I find it easier to close the Manix 2 one handed than the Para2, but I think that's probably just because I've spent more time with the Manix 2.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#17

Post by Evil D »

The one thing I'm not crazy about with the CBBL is I need the butt of the handle to plant and get traction in the palm of my hand in order to get enough pull force to operate the lock. Otherwise I'd have to grip my fingers around the bottom of the handle which puts my fingers in the path of the blade. I don't have this problem with the Compression Lock since I'm just punching a tab. So for example if a knife like the Tatanka had a CBBL I'm not sure how it would operate.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#18

Post by gigem95 »

TomAiello wrote:
Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:43 pm
gigem95 wrote:
Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:00 pm
I agree that both locks are really good. However, I prefer the compression lock. For me it's easier to close the knife with one hand using a compression lock, and if my hands are full, then that's a definite advantage for me.
I think that's mostly down to what you are used to. I find it easier to close the Manix 2 one handed than the Para2, but I think that's probably just because I've spent more time with the Manix 2.
I'm not so sure I agree with that Tom. I own 2 Manix 2's and have carried them more than my Para 3's or PM2 lately. I am more used to them, yet I still prefer the compression lock. It's just that my Manix 2 LW is more of a EDC knife, so it gets more pocket time. IMO, the CBBL takes more dexterity with the fingers to close it one handed than the compression lock does.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#19

Post by TomAiello »

I think I'm going to have to play with them side by side a bit and see if I revise my opinion.

Are you wearing gloves? In winter I find the comp lock tab tricky to hit sometimes, and have a much easier time with the CBBL through gloves.
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Re: CBBL vs Compression Lock: Which Action is More Satisfying When Broken/Dialed In

#20

Post by ladybug93 »

i agree that it takes more dexterity and it can be more difficult to fold the manix. i think i still prefer it. almost certainly, anyone that is left handed will prefer the cbbl.

the comp lock is only slightly more fun to play with in my opinion, but it's way easier to take apart and clean up. and if you have the manix 2 lw, you don't even have the option to take it apart. i wish spyderco would change this.

for me, it's not that i prefer the one lock over the other as much as it is i prefer the manix 2 over compression lock knives, with the yojimbo being a close second.
keep your knife sharp and your focus sharper.
current collection:
C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C
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