More button compression locks?

[Liquid Cobra]

The Smock has finally been released and people are loving the knife itself, the new take on the compression lock and the amazing action it provides. So does Spyderco have any plans to produce this lock on other designs? Or is it staying with Smock designs only?

Would you want to see this new spin on the compression lock on other knives? I sure would.

[Bill1170]

I’m intrigued because I love the compression lock. I am concerned about this implementation because it looks too easy to accidentally disengage the lock while using the knife. I haven’t handled one, would love to be wrong in my trepidation.

[strongdad]

The compression lock is my favorite by far but I can see the benifits of a button on a flipper like the amalgam. I hope to see this on future knives especially a cqi version of the amalgam.

[Nate]

Don't have one yet, but I'm also intrigued. Looks extremely lefty-friendly to operate, but I share Bill's concern about accidental closure.

In lefty use the button would be against my palm. At first I didn't understand why they reversed the lock and put the button on the opposite side, but I'd guess it was to keep the button out of the right-hand palm.

[archangel]

The compression lock is my favorite by far but I can see the benifits of a button on a flipper like the amalgam. I hope to see this on future knives...

+1

[neuronic]

Would you want to see this new spin on the compression lock on other knives?

Yes, please. I think this is a step up in evolution.

[spyderg]

Don't have one yet, but I'm also intrigued. Looks extremely lefty-friendly to operate, but I share Bill's concern about accidental closure.

In lefty use the button would be against my palm. At first I didn't understand why they reversed the lock and put the button on the opposite side, but I'd guess it was to keep the button out of the right-hand palm.

Lefty here, yes the button is on the other side so it is out of the way for righties but it’s no issue left handed either. I have both a Smock and an SK23 lefty from Kevin. Both are fine in either hand. Using them with the “wrong hand” the meat of your palm contacts the button but doesn’t press it. Differenent grips or twisting cuts are fine. On the Smock the only grip that can disengage the lock is a reverse grip as my pinky lands right on it. But the only time I ever hold a knife that way is when doing a pretend YouTube review in my head, lol!

[spyderg]

The Smock has finally been released and people are loving the knife itself, the new take on the compression lock and the amazing action it provides. So does Spyderco have any plans to produce this lock on other designs? Or is it staying with Smock designs only?

Would you want to see this new spin on the compression lock on other knives? I sure would.

I’d love for them to work with Kevin on a Smock2 before they put it on some other models but then yes I’d love to see Spyderco use the button compression lock either as cqi on models like the Amalgam, or other brand new knives.

[Evil D]

Is the lock bar itself designed "left handed"? Seems it would have to be if pressing the button from that side disengages the lock. As I've said before if it unlocks at all like the Plunge Lock then I'm all for it, and it seems like it's the same action minus the auto part.

[BigGrove]

Kevin Smock licensed the compression lock from Spyderco. Would Spyderco have to license the "button" from Smock? Otherwise I agree, it would be great to see the button lock again on a different model.

[dj moonbat]

Kevin Smock licensed the compression lock from Spyderco. Would Spyderco have to license the "button" from Smock? Otherwise I agree, it would be great to see the button lock again on a different model.

They would have to license it if Smock has a patent on using a button to disengage a compression lock.

[JacksonKnives]

Kevin Smock licensed the compression lock from Spyderco. Would Spyderco have to license the "button" from Smock? Otherwise I agree, it would be great to see the button lock again on a different model.

Kevin got the idea from Spyderco's original patent filling for the lock. It seems the Glessers tried this idea early on, but removed the button after testing.

I haven't had the Smock in-hand yet, but it makes sense where there's a flipper tab, so long as you don't need to cut out a giant chunk of the blade to make it work. Blades like the Tropen wound benefit from getting your finger out of the lock recess, but if you're willing to cut a 1/4" choil then you could make other concessions, too.

[jimmd]

The main reason the Smock intrigues me is that button compression lock. I hope that the early success of the Smock, as seen in the available stock selling out quickly, will encourage Sal and company to proliferate this mechanism among its future products.

I have one conventional button lock, a Rod Olson knife, and I love its action. The compression lock on my Sage 5 is great. I've tried the Smock in hand briefly and loved the lock. I can imagine that a button-disengaged compression lock has the potential to be the my favorite lock mechanism. Looking at my Sage, I don't think it would take much re-engineering to add a button to its compression lock without altering the blade substantially. How about a Sage 6 with a button compression lock?

[spyderg]

Is the lock bar itself designed "left handed"? Seems it would have to be if pressing the button from that side disengages the lock. As I've said before if it unlocks at all like the Plunge Lock then I'm all for it, and it seems like it's the same action minus the auto part.

Yes, on my custom SK23 I had asked if he could make a lefty, partially because not knowing how the righty configuration would work as a lefty, and partially because if I’m going custom might as well have it as custom for me as possible. It’s nice to have a dedicated left hand tool once in a while. So on my SK23 it’s milled out on the opposite side and the lock bar comes across the “wrong” way.

[spyderg]

Kevin Smock licensed the compression lock from Spyderco. Would Spyderco have to license the "button" from Smock? Otherwise I agree, it would be great to see the button lock again on a different model.

I’m pretty sure Spyderco can just go ahead and use it or something similar, but Spyderco seems to like giving credit where credits due, not copying designs and giving designers like Kevin a chance so in that spirit I’d love to see a Smock2 or something before a bunch of in house button compression Spydies.
I like the idea mentioned above of a Sage.

[sal]

Hi Strongdad,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[Sumdumguy]

Is the lock bar itself designed "left handed"? Seems it would have to be if pressing the button from that side disengages the lock. As I've said before if it unlocks at all like the Plunge Lock then I'm all for it, and it seems like it's the same action minus the auto part.

It is (almost)exactly the same as the Autonomy 1 and 2.

I think the button lock on the Smock is fantastic, minus the god awful choil thing.

[Nate]

Lefty here, yes the button is on the other side so it is out of the way for righties but it’s no issue left handed either...

Thanks very much for the info!

[foofie]

It is (almost)exactly the same as the Autonomy 1 and 2.

I think the button lock on the Smock is fantastic, minus the god awful choil thing.

I think... (take the following with a grain of salt)
In order to accommodate the front flipper on the Smock, the stop pin had to be moved way back. It is also D-shaped - they cut the corner to allow clearance of the front flipper. This caused the button lock to be moved further back, which led to the odd choil.

In something like a para 3 - compression lock, non flipper, with choil - the addition of a button lock would be pretty straightforward. In fact, the lefty pm2 could be retrofitted pretty easily.

I really hope for more button compression locks. Needs a better name though.

[Sumdumguy]

It is (almost)exactly the same as the Autonomy 1 and 2.

I think the button lock on the Smock is fantastic, minus the god awful choil thing.

I think... (take the following with a grain of salt)
In order to accommodate the front flipper on the Smock, the stop pin had to be moved way back. It is also D-shaped - they cut the corner to allow clearance of the front flipper. This caused the button lock to be moved further back, which led to the odd choil.

In something like a para 3 - compression lock, non flipper, with choil - the addition of a button lock would be pretty straightforward. In fact, the lefty pm2 could be retrofitted pretty easily.

I really hope for more button compression locks. Needs a better name though.

I was talking specifically about the Smock, the Autonomy is a button compression lock and it does not have a wonky choil.

Also, I have heard numerous people call the Smock a front flipper. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it is a standard flipper. Maybe you could call it a top flipper, but a front flipper would be on the spydiehole side of the blade.