Spyderco Forums

I love to play with compression, liner, and frame locks. They have such a satisfying snap to them.

Yeah, I guess the real answer is all of them. But back locks are the least fun.

Knife as worry-beads...I know that feeling... :D

I like them all, but favorite? Avert your eyes...the big Benchmade Axis locks (710, 805, 806 but NOT the large Griptilian). Very smooth, completely ambidextrous, and for me the Mercedes Benz-like sound and feeling of the lockbar engaging the blade tang and the heavy liners is tops. YMMV!

JNewell wrote:Knife as worry-beads...I know that feeling... :D

I like them all, but favorite? Avert your eyes...the big Benchmade Axis locks (710, 805, 806 but NOT the large Griptilian). Very smooth, completely ambidextrous, and for me the Mercedes Benz-like sound and feeling of the lockbar engaging the blade tang and the heavy liners is tops. YMMV!

The benchmade axis on my 707 & 710 is like the best balance of fluid movement and mechanical excellence. I love my CBBL and Compression Spydies, but it is a tough fight for them to compete.

Back locks are least fun for me. Most fun would be comp lock or the phantom lock. Liners are good too though. :)

gbelleh wrote:Yeah, I guess the real answer is all of them. But back locks are the least fun.

See, there is something to be said about a back lock IMO. I just love that firm "smack!" when I push a Delica open. For practically sake I prefer a liner or frame lock.

Ghetto wave on a frame lock? Not as much fun as on a back lock. I just like that authoritative snap when you know the blade is locked open.

compression lock

Compression lock is almost certainly my favourite for just playing with, though if the cbbl were a bit more responsive it'd give the CL a run for the money.

Linerlocks depend on way more factors--the CL and BBL/CBBL seem pretty consistent in ergonomics, but linerlocks have a ton of variables. I love playing with the Military, but the Gayle Bradley and navaja just hurt my thumb after a while. (Which is a shame, because the carracas on the Navaja is lots of fun.)

Rwb1500 wrote:See, there is something to be said about a back lock IMO. I just love that firm "smack!" when I push a Delica open. For practically sake I prefer a liner or frame lock.

Opening a back lock is fine, it's the closing (especially repeatedly) that can get awkward.

I like my iPhone passcode lock, its sooooo futurey....*drool*

And the T-mag.

On Spyderco knives? Definitely thr Compression lock. The original style on the Lil' Tempernace is great and the updated/refined version on the Para 2 is even better. I enjoy my liner/frame locks and back locks, but they don't get played with like a toy. The Compression lock does.

I do have an affinity for Bali's as well. A nice one that flips fluidly and smoothly is...well, I don't know how to describe it, but it's fun and relaxing.

But my all-time favorite lock to play with is...the Rolling Lock. I actually prefer either the first iteration with the lever alongside the blade or the latest Benchmade version. I play with both styles and really enjoy them. They're smooth and interesting to watch. The REKAT refined version with the plastic sliding bar is good, but not as smooth or fun to play with. Go ahead and say it...I'm weird.

I'm gonna cheat a little at this one and answer... balisong. By far the most entertaining and enjoyable of them all :D

CBBL and compression lock for me because I like the engineering the most. Sandwiching a piece of metal in that area seems the most intuitive lock type, and, for reason, I'm surprised it wasn't first lock type developed. It also seems like the strongest inherently. So, I like working those knives and watching what they do during the process.

gbelleh wrote:Opening a back lock is fine, it's the closing (especially repeatedly) that can get awkward.

Indeed. Akward, or even dangerous.

The liner lock of course, smooth and easy.

Liner locks, frame locks, comp lock. Back locks are the least fun to play around with.

NOT the Gayle Bradley liner lock, though. Ow, my thumb!

Any and all, but top might be compression

For all the lockback comments...this is something i always loved about my Native. If your finger is in the groove on the handle and you press the lock, the blade drops down and hits your finger, but it's the choil that hits you, not the edge. That knife also has a really satisfyling clack sound when you open it.