So again, what's a self close bias? Hard to open or something else?
Maybe I want it too but it's not being clearly defined.
If the blade is partly open, it will try to close itself. On backlocks, bolt action and ball bearing locks, the mechanism provides a bias toward closing, so if something pulls the blade open a little, it will close itself. On detent based systems such as RIL, Walker linerlocks and compression locks, once the detent ball is out of its hole in the tang, there is no bias toward closing. The blade stays partly open, or opens even farther unless an external force closes it.
This guy explained it well. And as noted I don't want it. That doesn't mean no one gets to have it but I have lots of other knives like slipjoints or backlocks that snap shut.
The explanation above was a good demonstration of the Feynman Technique.
Last edited by Danke on Sat Dec 13, 2025 10:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
No, thats not what was expressed. He said he would like to see Spyderco explore more self close bias options for the compression lock. There are likely many ways to achieve that and they wouldn't all require them make the compression lock work and feel more like a back lock.
I think the idea has merit. I have some thoughts for potential solutions but I'm sure Spyderco is already two steps ahead.
As for my own lock preferences, I'm lucky because like them all. I've never let a lock influence my decision to purchase. "All good, just different."
Hi Nick,
That' something on which we are currently working. We always open to any ideas that we can use to make better products.
Please contact Wendy (wborchers@spyderco.com). She'll ask Peter to run down the necessary paperwork, which protects both of us. We buy/rent ideas often. We're not proud, anything that will make a better product for the knife folks is good.
sal
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind".
Real Ambidextrous use is also covered no more left and right handed knives really needed but I suppose for lefties thumb placement might be nicer if a lefty version is made.
What left-handers need is a right-handed compression lock, a chunk of material, and a couple hours. These are better than a plain left handed or right handed compression lock.
So again, what's a self close bias? Hard to open or something else?
Maybe I want it too but it's not being clearly defined.
If the blade is partly open, it will try to close itself. On backlocks, bolt action and ball bearing locks, the mechanism provides a bias toward closing, so if something pulls the blade open a little, it will close itself. On detent based systems such as RIL, Walker linerlocks and compression locks, once the detent ball is out of its hole in the tang, there is no bias toward closing. The blade stays partly open, or opens even farther unless an external force closes it.
This guy explained it well. And as noted I don't want it. That doesn't mean no one gets to have it but I have lots of other knives like slipjoints or backlocks that snap shut.
The explanation above was a good demonstration of the Feynman Technique.
So again, what's a self close bias? Hard to open or something else?
Maybe I want it too but it's not being clearly defined.
How about make it require more effort to open because a mechanism in conjunction with the compression lock pushes the blade or pulls the blade towards a closed position and this added tension holds it there more securly but not to the point of not being open.
If you have ever opened Native Chief salt that's a great example of it.
Those who are wise sharpen their steel to it's chemistry not their beliefs. "BeggarSo"
I am good with all of the blade locks Spyderco use, with the exception of the linerlocks. I just flat don't want a linerlock knife around.
Had a really bad accident with one years ago and I have moved away from them and considered myself lucky I didn't loose fingers and can lol about that all now.
I'd like to see more of the ball lock. Stainless or ceramic. Ambidextrous.
I'd be curious about a top-mounted lock, but still able to actuate the CBBL. At Blade Show this year, Ocaso knives showed off a prototype with a variant of the shark lock that was inset into the top of the handle. I'm wondering just what could exist for something similar w/ a ball lock (proprietary). The CBBL is already ambidextrous, but my personal experience is that is can be so stiff to operate (have 3 Manixs at the moment) that the force required sometimes causes a momentary loss of control over the knife. I still like the ball lock principle, but a single finger top mount actuation to me seems safer/more secure. I know the locking block for the ball is right there, so some creativity might have to be involved.
Real Ambidextrous use is also covered no more left and right handed knives really needed but I suppose for lefties thumb placement might be nicer if a lefty version is made.
What left-handers need is a right-handed compression lock, a chunk of material, and a couple hours. These are better than a plain left handed or right handed compression lock.
IMG_7054 Large.jpeg
I have not used one of these, and I'm good w/ operating a righty compression lock left-handed comfortably. My question about these is...does it increase the risk of it opening the blade accidentally, since now the opening mechanism for the blade to swing free is on the outside edge of the knife, versus being more inset?
I'd like to see more of the ball lock. Stainless or ceramic. Ambidextrous.
I'd be curious about a top-mounted lock, but still able to actuate the CBBL. At Blade Show this year, Ocaso knives showed off a prototype with a variant of the shark lock that was inset into the top of the handle. I'm wondering just what could exist for something similar w/ a ball lock (proprietary). The CBBL is already ambidextrous, but my personal experience is that is can be so stiff to operate (have 3 Manixs at the moment) that the force required sometimes causes a momentary loss of control over the knife. I still like the ball lock principle, but a single finger top mount actuation to me seems safer/more secure. I know the locking block for the ball is right there, so some creativity might have to be involved.
EDIT: knife in question ->
You know, a slow thumb roll to open those Manix's won't cause loss of control of the knife. It doesn't always have to a be a ninja flickfest everytime a knife is opened
So again, what's a self close bias? Hard to open or something else?
Maybe I want it too but it's not being clearly defined.
If you look at my EDC rotation, every single folder bar my Military 2 Salt has this feature. None of these knives are difficult for me to open, but YMMV.
In my experience knives without a self closing bias are unsafe to carry in certain situations.
The Szabo folder had this feature, and a compression lock. I had no issues opening or closing it.
Real Ambidextrous use is also covered no more left and right handed knives really needed but I suppose for lefties thumb placement might be nicer if a lefty version is made.
What left-handers need is a right-handed compression lock, a chunk of material, and a couple hours. These are better than a plain left handed or right handed compression lock.
IMG_7054 Large.jpeg
I have not used one of these, and I'm good w/ operating a righty compression lock left-handed comfortably. My question about these is...does it increase the risk of it opening the blade accidentally, since now the opening mechanism for the blade to swing free is on the outside edge of the knife, versus being more inset?
On the Sage 6 there is no way to unintensionaly unlock the blade with the button I can find using a variety of grips, when cutting I have found this is also true of the Smock.
The Sage 6 button has quite a bit of push back tension on it probably designed this way to prevent accidental opening.
Maybe if Sal is following he can offer some insight on its development?
Those who are wise sharpen their steel to it's chemistry not their beliefs. "BeggarSo"
No, thats not what was expressed. He said he would like to see Spyderco explore more self close bias options for the compression lock. There are likely many ways to achieve that and they wouldn't all require them make the compression lock work and feel more like a back lock.
I think the idea has merit. I have some thoughts for potential solutions but I'm sure Spyderco is already two steps ahead.
As for my own lock preferences, I'm lucky because like them all. I've never let a lock influence my decision to purchase. "All good, just different."
Hi Nick,
That' something on which we are currently working. We always open to any ideas that we can use to make better products.
Please contact Wendy (wborchers@spyderco.com). She'll ask Peter to run down the necessary paperwork, which protects both of us. We buy/rent ideas often. We're not proud, anything that will make a better product for the knife folks is good.
sal
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind".
Hi Sal,
I've also been thinking about a solution for a closing-bias compression lock and have a possible idea though I'm not sure how to share it. Should I just post it somewhere here? Should I post it at all?
Real Ambidextrous use is also covered no more left and right handed knives really needed but I suppose for lefties thumb placement might be nicer if a lefty version is made.
What left-handers need is a right-handed compression lock, a chunk of material, and a couple hours. These are better than a plain left handed or right handed compression lock.
IMG_7054 Large.jpeg
I have not used one of these, and I'm good w/ operating a righty compression lock left-handed comfortably. My question about these is...does it increase the risk of it opening the blade accidentally, since now the opening mechanism for the blade to swing free is on the outside edge of the knife, versus being more inset?
On the Sage 6 there is no way to unintensionaly unlock the blade with the button I can find using a variety of grips, when cutting I have found this is also true of the Smock.
The Sage 6 button has quite a bit of push back tension on it probably designed this way to prevent accidental opening.
Maybe if Sal is following he can offer some insight on its development?
I think there's a video out there with Eric talking to the guy at KnifeCenter about the lock placement/etc.
No, thats not what was expressed. He said he would like to see Spyderco explore more self close bias options for the compression lock. There are likely many ways to achieve that and they wouldn't all require them make the compression lock work and feel more like a back lock.
I think the idea has merit. I have some thoughts for potential solutions but I'm sure Spyderco is already two steps ahead.
As for my own lock preferences, I'm lucky because like them all. I've never let a lock influence my decision to purchase. "All good, just different."
Hi Nick,
That' something on which we are currently working. We always open to any ideas that we can use to make better products.
Please contact Wendy (wborchers@spyderco.com). She'll ask Peter to run down the necessary paperwork, which protects both of us. We buy/rent ideas often. We're not proud, anything that will make a better product for the knife folks is good.
sal
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Continual improvement is our evolutionary obligation to humankind".
Hi Sal,
Thanks for the guidance! I’ll reach out to Wendy once I have some CAD drawings ready and provide the necessary details for the paperwork. Looking forward to sharing some ideas soon!
I really don't like liner locks or frame locks that much. I think they are weak and can be dangerous in certain situations. The Comp Lock I like better, but it doesn't have a bias to close, which is a desirable feature. I prefer the various iterations of the lock back, and these have proven stronger than the other mentioned locks, so strong in one knife seller's tests the Spyderco blades broke but the back locks never failed. The others all failed at some point.
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Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
I agree but detest the lock rock still present in FRN models with the mid lock / which is not a true backlock. Why that has never been CQI out is a mystery, the Centofante 3 I just got has it so bad I am getting rid of it.
Those who are wise sharpen their steel to it's chemistry not their beliefs. "BeggarSo"
I'd like to see more of the ball lock. Stainless or ceramic. Ambidextrous.
I'd be curious about a top-mounted lock, but still able to actuate the CBBL. At Blade Show this year, Ocaso knives showed off a prototype with a variant of the shark lock that was inset into the top of the handle. I'm wondering just what could exist for something similar w/ a ball lock (proprietary). The CBBL is already ambidextrous, but my personal experience is that is can be so stiff to operate (have 3 Manixs at the moment) that the force required sometimes causes a momentary loss of control over the knife. I still like the ball lock principle, but a single finger top mount actuation to me seems safer/more secure. I know the locking block for the ball is right there, so some creativity might have to be involved.
EDIT: knife in question ->
You know, a slow thumb roll to open those Manix's won't cause loss of control of the knife. It doesn't always have to a be a ninja flickfest everytime a knife is opened
It has to be a Ninja Flickfest (trademarked ha ha!) for me or it's no dawg.
