Tucson Tom wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:42 pm
Wartstein wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:27 pm
Was it really that bad??
No, it wasn't.
But as long as you are taking note. I was thinking earlier today about some things you have said, or that I think you have said. (Is there something wrong with me if I am thinking about comments made on this forum while making breakfast and washing dishes?)
Anyway, I'll swear you said something about disliking the compression lock and I wondered why. Not that you are required to like it, but I am always interested when people have strong opinions opposite to my own. Especially when they are people whose opinion I respect.
Tom, as promised, I´ll reply and give you some of my points on the compression lock (also vs other locks)
But since this lock debates had a tendency to get rather heated in the past and to sometimes culminate in a bit weird "backlock brigade" and the like wordings, let me clearly state beforehand once more:
I do like the compression lock!
I think it is a cool, clever, strong and ingenious design,
For many it is the preferred lock type and I can totally get that.
It´s just that at this point in my personal "knife journey", for my preferences and the way I use knives (and am used to use knives) I came to prefer Spydercos midbacklock, the CBBL and even - though just slightly - a good liner lock (like on the Millie) over the comp.lock.
But still I´d take most Spyderco comp.lock knives over knives of other brands that have a different lock type!
Now finally to why just for me personally the comp.lock, though I in no way DISlike it, is not my first choice:
- Though I never (!) had a comp.lock knife come open in my pocket, I generally still prefer locktypes with a bias to closing (backlock, CBBL) over detent based locks
- The "fingers never in the blade path" when closing the knife is really not a thing for me and just imho should not be for any experienced knife user - especially on knives that feature a choil (it might very well be one for beginners though!).
But let´s say it were "a thing": The way a comp.lock knife is closed with "fingers never in the blade path" is the main method of "pinching" the handle and the lockbar with thumb and index finger and "swing" the blade in the closed position. For me that´s a bit awkward, unnatural (referring to how a knife is normally held) and unsafe in regard to the risk of dropping the knife (especially in cold, wet conditions, with numb fingers and so on) Plus I can really do the same when pressing the lockbar of a
backlock with my index finger and "swing" the released blade to close (or with a CBBL od course, not with a liner lock)
- A backlock offers me more and also
safer ways of closing the blade one handed.
With a complock I have for one the method described above. If I now I use one of the main
"backlock" methods (releasing the locktab / lockbar, and "guiding" the blade to the closed position with the index finger in the opening hole) on a
comp.lock, a comp.lock is both more awkward and "unsafe", for the blade is "loose" and "flopping around" when the lock is released, while I can guide the blade of a
backlock to the half closed position
in which it will remain then , can remove my fingers out of the way and conveniently close the blade by pressing on the spine - the blade will snap into closed position with no finger in the way.
- A
linerlock for me feels much more natural when I start to close the knife / release the lock bar, cause I can basically keep my hand in a regular knife grip while doing so. One finger just moves slightly to release the lock, and I have another finger to conveniently guide the blade towards closed.
The same procedure is a bit less natural with a comp.lock, for I have to move one finger to the locktab on the upper side of the handle. Admittedly that´s also the case with a backlock, but as said, a backlock has the advantage of staying securely in a half closed position by itself if I want it to do so.
- Generally I find comp.locks (depending on the specific knife) a bit harder to operate with gloves (mittens) or cold, wet, numb fingers, so in less than ideal conditions. The tab on some models is rather small and recessed and a bit easier to miss than lets say a linerlock- or backlock bar.
- Backlock knives by design always have a closed back, which I prefer comfortwise to open backs a bit (no one would design a comfortable
fixed blade handle and deliberately create a gap at the "spine" of the handle,right?)
- I personally like to flick my knives with each finger and "one hand close" using several methods. This - for me - is not really satisfying with a comp.lock, cause it is just to easy and you have to almost "learn no skill" compared to a backlock. But OF COURSE this can be seen as a PLUS for the comp.lock!
- So concerning just MY uses and preferences,the comp.lock is more for smaller, more "urban" / "office" EDC folder, not so much for larger outdoor folders used in snow, mud, rain and the cold. The Shaman and the Caribbean just for me should come with a backlock (if possible constructionwise, which it - at least for the Shaman is NOT. The Shaman blade AND a backlock would not really fit in that handle Sal once said).
- A comp.lock by design seems to require a bit thicker bladestock to really work reliably. At least I think a (thin) knife like the Chap could not be done with a comp.lock
Now to be fair, here are some clear PROS of the comp.lock:
- The most "flickable" and "fun to play" with lock right from the get go (so also for beginners)
- I am covinced: Very strong by design (but tbh, in practical use even a Spyderco liner lock is more than strong enough)
- It certainly HAS the easiest "fingers never in the blade path" closing method if that is a concern
- It allows certain constructions and designs a backlock would not (Shaman...)
/ So much for now... hope not to lengthy and that it does make a bit sense, I am in a hurry (have to go to work), so wrote this rather hasty
Closing remark, once more:
I DO like the comp.lock, I am glad I could (and still can on my PM2) experience it, I get that many love it, think everyone should try it, I just PREFER other lock types even over it these days