Spyderco locking mechanisms

JNewell · #21

sharpguitarist wrote:hey guys,
when i'm carrying a linerlock, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a midlock, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a cbl, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a comp lock, i like it best.
i like em all!
later,
don

^^^ This! :) :spyder:

The Deacon · #22

Midlock is my favorite. Fully ambidextrous, excellent bias to closing, minimal chance of accidental opening, minimal chance of being considered a gravity knife, no side mounted buttons to snag on anything, minimal chance of accidental release, and it's used on the best knife Spyderco has ever produced, the Stretch. :)

kbuzbee · #23

Jay_Ev wrote:I really like the ball bearing lock WITHOUT the cage. Dodo, Poliwog, D'allara are fun to fiddle around with.

This!

Performance wise, any lock will do for me. I don't stress them at all. But the only lock that will influence me to actually BUY a knife is a straight BBL. They are just fun to use.

Ken

spydutch · #24

For me it's liner/frame lock.
Easy for me to deploy and the least chance of play which I hate with a passion and plenty strong for my uses

Second will be ball bearing.

I flat out hate back locks. Too bad Spyderco has made/makes so many nice models with them

I'd rather have a Spydie with a good slipjoint than a back lock anytime.
All of my backlocks have (or devellopped ) vertical play after medium use.

jackknifeh · #25

sharpguitarist wrote:hey guys,
when i'm carrying a linerlock, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a midlock, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a cbl, i like it best.
when i'm carrying a comp lock, i like it best.
i like em all!
later,
don

That's how you are supposed to feel about girls. :)

Jack

jackknifeh · #26

For ease of use I like the liner lock.

For safety (lock not releasing accidentally) I think the BBL (Manix2). It's easy to operate when you do it correctly but accidentally doing it correctly is about impossible I think.

For knives categorized as hard use folders I think safety is important. That is one reason I like the Gayle Bradley NOT having the larger access to the liner. But, I have no problem with the GB lock. Some people do so the modification to gain easier access is a great idea. So, IMO the GB with the Walker liner lock is one of my favorites. Ease of use and safe.

All others I've tried are perfectly fine. The only locks I've seen that have limitations are the ones that are hard for left handed people to operate. That's not a problem with the operation of the lock, I just feel sorry for the handicapped people in the world. :) Hope you lefties know that is a joke. I'd hate to get hit with a left hook. :D

Jack

dbcad · #27

A fixed blade is the best locking mechanism :)

I treat folders as folders and am as comfortable with the slipjoint Urban as I am with the comp lock on the Superleaf. Try to never rely on a locking device.

Locks are a safety feature to gaurd against improper use. None of us are perfect

I do like the compression lock. A very elegant solution :)

computernut · #28

I'm liking them all so far, still have to get a Compression Lock and a BBL.
So far:
one handed opening - liner lock (Sage1)
for playing with - bolt action lock (Sage3)
gentleman's folder - back lock (Caly3)
simple elegance - frame lock (Sage2)

sharpguitarist · #29

jackknifeh wrote:That's how you are supposed to feel about girls. :)

Jack

hey jack,
i love the females, :D but after being married for almost 22 years this may, there's only one girl for me.
that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!

later,
don

Bearcat1 · #30

I really like the compression lock as well on the PM2. I am right handed but that lock seems very strong and well suited for the lefties as well. The more I use the PM2 the more I like it.

Evil D · #31

I'd have to say the ball bearing lock is my favorite despite how much i love the compression lock. You get more of a grip on the knife when closing a ball bearing lock compared to a compression lock. It's also crazy smooth. It's just too bad i don't care much for the Manix 2.

kbuzbee · #32

Evil D wrote:I'd have to say the ball bearing lock is my favorite despite how much i love the compression lock. You get more of a grip on the knife when closing a ball bearing lock compared to a compression lock. It's also crazy smooth. It's just too bad i don't care much for the Manix 2.

The CBBL and the BBL are completely different for me. My favorite BBLs are the Phoenix and the D'Allara drop point. Two fantastic examples in every way.

Ken

mikerestivo · #33

For ease of one-handed closing, I like liner and framelocks.

For cool factor, I like the open ball-bearing lock and the phantom lock. I also like the Blackie Collins lock.

Most of my knives are either compression locks or back locks. The compression locks are pretty neat. The back lock has virtually no "cool" factor for me (just plain vanilla in my book), but it is practical and I carry plenty of them becase they get the job done.

Knutty · #34

The Deacon wrote:Midlock is my favorite. Fully ambidextrous, excellent bias to closing, minimal chance of accidental opening, minimal chance of being considered a gravity knife, no side mounted buttons to snag on anything, minimal chance of accidental release, and it's used on the best knife Spyderco has ever produced, the Stretch. :)

I like you. I'd also add that it doesn't necessitate scales that are significantly longer than the blade. (This is, at least, what I have been told leads from the CL design.)

Knutty · #35

w3tnz wrote:I dont really like back locks or liner locks, I find them clumsy to use, you have to use both hands which isn't always an option[.]

I assume you didn't mean that a liner lock requires both hands to close, but here is how a back lock can be closed with one hand. It's also truly ambidextrous, in that the action is absolutely identical (but obviously mirrored) regardless of which hand is used.

http://youtu.be/MP7anHJjLvw

gbelleh · #36

I like them all, but it seems the Spydies I use most are compression locks. Next most used is liner lock. Then back lock.

w3tnz · #37

Knutty wrote:I assume you didn't mean that a liner lock requires both hands to close, but here is how a back lock can be closed with one hand. It's also truly ambidextrous, in that the action is absolutely identical (but obviously mirrored) regardless of which hand is used.

http://youtu.be/MP7anHJjLvw

I thought I had explained what I was trying to say but that video does a good job illustrating exactly why I dont like them.
I find my assist likes to snap closed when it gets to a certain point (about 45 degrees) and having to adjust your grip with the blade unlocked like that is not something I would be interested in doing on a regular basis. This is why I would prefer to use 2 hands closing them and why I find them inconvenient for day to day use.

People obviously like them but I never will, being right handed I have no need for an ambidextrous lock and you can close a comp lock left handed quite easily using your thumb.

Knutty · #38

w3tnz wrote:I thought I had explained what I was trying to say but that video does a good job illustrating exactly why I dont like them.
I find my assist likes to snap closed when it gets to a certain point (about 45 degrees) and having to adjust your grip with the blade unlocked like that is not something I would be interested in doing on a regular basis.

Sorry, I didn't see your previous follow-up post.

Back lock knives tend to snap closed at about 45 degrees, yes. But the blade's kick (the flat, unsharpened portion near the base) hits your finger when it's at about 90 degrees. If it gets anywhere near 45 degrees with your finger(s) in there, you're already in trouble, before you adjust your grip at all.

BTW, the method shown in the video is the one recommended by Spyderco. This procedure seems safer to me than the ones preferred by many CL fans (release the lock and swing the blade closed all at once while having an insecure grip, or release the lock with the right hand middle finger and use the index finger to close the blade).

dialex · #39

Spyderco refined the existing locks to the point where they operate at maximum efficiency, that's why people love them all.
These being said, I preffer their own creation, the compression lock. It has everything I can possibly want from a knife: simplicity, strength, reliability, ergonomy and versatility.

Sonny · #40

wquiles wrote:
However, after giving the PM2 a try last year, now I find the compression lock on my PM2's is the best lock I have used so far, to the point that I am not even carrying either the BM's nor the Sebies that much these days - the PM2 is light, strong, and the compression lock rocks!

Will

Nice knives, Will. How did you "dye" that Royal Purple PM2? And turn that shiny clip to black? Would appreciate some help. My 20CP PM2 looks just like my Mannix2 in M4, and I would prefer black clips instead of SS.
Thanks for your help.
Sonny