Liner Locks

[Peter1960]

Example, when I owned the tenacious when I gripped the knife hard and rotated my wrist just a bit while holding on to the blade, the lock would release. Obviously I'm not gonna be doing that if I'm slicing tomatoes but in an emergency tactical situation it could happen. And since emergency situations don't call ahead to schedule ......I don't wanna carry something with that possibility.

If you are often in emergency tactical situations (whatever this would be in your life :confused: , for more than fifty years I live on earth and was never in a tactical situation) forget any thought on a folder and use a fixed knife, designed for warriors in emergency tactical situations.

[chuck_roxas45]

If you are often in emergency tactical situations (whatever this would be in your life :confused: , for more than fifty years I live on earth and was never in a tactical situation) forget any thought on a folder and use a fixed knife, designed for warriors in emergency tactical situations.

I'm sure the OP is not OFTEN in SD situations. Just the same, even of the probability is low that he might be involved in such a scenario, he just wants that last ditch that he can fall back on. It might not be an option for the OP to carry a Ka-bar or an applegate-fairbairn, but a folder would just be the thing that might become useful in the event that low probability situation looks likely to happen.

[jackknifeh]

Accidentally releasing the lock has been discussed a lot it seems. It makes perfect sense that this could happen and I've heard a couple people say it happened to them. It hasn't happened to me (yet) though. I think if a person's cutting needs or how they hold the knife exactly results in this they should definately stay away from liner locks on harder use knives. Personally, the liner lock is my favorite when it comes to using a folder. I like the way that without much change in holding the knife I can release the lock and close the blade with my index finger. No flicking of the wrist is needed or anything that will draw extra attention to my hand or knife. Even though the liner lock is my preference as far as "user friendly locks", I really don't care what type lock is on a Spyderco knife. The most important features to me are comfort, strength, ease of carry, etc. The only real important things to me in a lock is that I can easily close the knife with one hand and all Spyderco folders allow that. The other thing is that the lock not fail as a result of poor design or weak materials. Again, not an issue with any Spyderco knife.

Jack

[MCM]

[RIGHT][/RIGHT]

Anyone have opinions on liner locks? They make me nervous.

I choose quality liner locks over most locks designs out there.
The simplicity add's to its reliability IMO.
Microtech Socom's hooked me back in 95? on liner locks.
Never really had a problem with "any" quality made knife lock.
Never have trusted a cheap knife's lock. No matter what the design.
Back/Mid locks can get gummed up and not lock. That's happened a few times to me.
I don't use folders like I do fixed blades. Maybe that's why I seldom think about lock failure?
Or maybe that I used non locking knives prior to Buck 110's as that's what was available?
But have used quality liner locks for over 15 yrs with great results.
Just my 2......

[Sht]

Your missing out on some great knives

[rosconey]

unless its a beautiful knife i tend to skip liner locks-even as much as i like the sage series ,i still havent bought a sage 1 because its a liner lock

but i did jones hard for a non spyder edge lum chinese-and bought one

[dbcad]

If you are often in emergency tactical situations (whatever this would be in your life :confused: , for more than fifty years I live on earth and was never in a tactical situation) forget any thought on a folder and use a fixed knife, designed for warriors in emergency tactical situations.

100% with Peter on this :) The ultimate lock is a fixed blade Folders are convenient, but if I know pressure might be put on the spine and my grip will be tight and twisting I'll opt for a fixed blade.

[JNewell]

Anyone have opinions on liner locks? They make me nervous.

Almost everyone has an opinion on linerlocks What's yours?

Properly designed and manufactured linerlocks give up absolutely nothing in terms of strength and safety, and are extraordinarily unlikely to accidentally unlock. Badly designed and/or manufactured linerlocks are only a heartbeat away from a potentially catastrophic failure and accident that could cause serious injury. Buy quality, use sensibly, like any other knife.

[sharpguitarist]

hey guys,
i personally like a well designed and executed liner lock.
never had one fail on me.
their ease of use is my main reason for liking them. just seems natural to disingage and close a liner lock.
i know some people are worried about their fingers being in the path of the closing blade, but after you've done it for like a million times, it's intuitive.
later,
don

[jackknifeh]

hey guys,
i personally like a well designed and executed liner lock.
never had one fail on me.
their ease of use is my main reason for liking them. just seems natural to disingage and close a liner lock.
i know some people are worried about their fingers being in the path of the closing blade, but after you've don't it for like a million times, it's intuitive.
later,
don

If you cut yourself using a liner lock because you didn't get your body parts out of the way it is sheer carelessnes, dumbnes and just not paying attention. Needless to say, I've cut off several fingers. :D My GB really got me one day. She said, "Ok, you don't want to pay attention to me? Here's what you get!" :eek: Reminds me of a person who lives in my house with me. :o :)

[Sonny]

I have several liner-locks (Spyderco and BM), and use them with confidence.
Sonny

[zunedog31]

The chance of disengaging a quality liner lock under normal circumstances is extremely unlikely. Your chance of being in a bladed altercation is thousands of times less common than that even.

I'd buy the locks you like and skip the ones you don't. Advice on a forum might not squelch your fears and we won't pay the ER bill .

Exactly. The odds of you having to stab someone that is attacking you are insanely slim, and even if you do the odds of the lock failing at that moment are just as slim. Anyway if you have to attack someone with a pocket knife chances are you will loose unless you have some kind of training and hope the guy does not have a gun which he will most likely have. Just look at the odds of this happening. If you had to attack someone a Tenacious will serve you just fine. The lock will fail more often then a ball lock, back lock or almost any other lock but still. If you like the knife for it's other features then get it. In my opinion a knife is a poor way of defending one's self and should not be relied on if you are really that afraid of being attacked.

[JNewell]

Under those circumstances, lock failure, at least with a decent brand knife, is so completely at the bottom of the list of worries that it's almost not worth putting on the list...

Exactly. The odds of you having to stab someone that is attacking you are insanely slim, and even if you do the odds of the lock failing at that moment are just as slim. Anyway if you have to attack someone with a pocket knife chances are you will loose unless you have some kind of training and hope the guy does not have a gun which he will most likely have. Just look at the odds of this happening. If you had to attack someone a Tenacious will serve you just fine. The lock will fail more often then a ball lock, back lock or almost any other lock but still. If you like the knife for it's other features then get it. In my opinion a knife is a poor way of defending one's self and should not be relied on if you are really that afraid of being attacked.

[computernut]

The Sage1 was my first Spyderco liner-lock and love it, it's the only knife that I can open and close one-handed with almost no thought. Sure I have to get my fingers out of the way but the blade is totally under the power of my thumb so if I do cut myself it's my own fault. I keep the pivot tightened down a bit to give it some resistance. I have used some cheap liner-locks from other companies and the liner is so thin I wouldn't really trust it for much. The Sage1 also has a choil to protect you if your grip does disengage the lock accidently.

[Minibear453]

Liner locks are my #1 lock. Probably because I'm slightly crazy. I don't like the integrals as much because it ruins the handle for me, and the liner lock is just the easiest one to disengage, and play with for me. It's simple, and that gives it a one up over the ball bearing and AXIS locks for me, which are more fun to play with. :D I just don't like having small parts in a heavy use knife.

As for self-disengagement, it probably is really easy on knives where the handles are too far up, and expose the lock too much. But if the lock is almost flush with the handles, there's no way it's disengaging. Okay, minuscule possibility? I cannot disengage mine through normal holds.

And for strength, well, I had this gerber evo, used 440 steel, probably 440a that I didn't really care about. So I tied it to a rail and started beating on the blade with a 2x4. Nothing. The lock would move left and right (probably not the best thing), but it would not let the blade fall. My very scientific conclusion was that the strength of the liner lock was ample. Before the liner lock breaks, you'd probably lose grip on the knife anyways. :D

[r small]

I carried a liner lock (not a Spyderco) for several years. Never worried about the lockup failing but it did partially open in my pocket a couple of times so I stopped carrying it. The detent (I think it's called) was pretty weak. I'm wondering if the Spyderco models have a stronger detent. Meanwhile I'm pretty comfortable carrying lock-backs like Delica and Endura. Never any issues with these.