linerlocks inevitably are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path".
Exactly! Very well said.
It is an unavoidable required operation when using a liner lock. A finger MUST be placed in the path of the blade to operate a liner lock. That's not up for debate either. (If you want to be unreasonable about it, sure you can use a stick or something to push the lock bar but that's just absurd, if we're being realistic.
Please quote the entire context for the sake of accuracy. The key word here is “myth” As long as your brain has control over your fingers a linerlock is safe enough. We all should be in a state of awareness when we handle a sharp tool. Quite a few knife people judge a lock by the “fidget factor”. Accidents can occur but hey, I cut myself twice trying to manipulate a lockback one hand. I do not intend to start a debate over the safety of a linerlock and I agree that placing a finger in the path of the blade incumbs an obvious risk. What I am trying to emphasize is that a linerlock is not “inevitable unsafe”. When you use one long enough, your fingers will “remember”.
linerlocks inevitably are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path".
Exactly! Very well said.
It is an unavoidable required operation when using a liner lock. A finger MUST be placed in the path of the blade to operate a liner lock. That's not up for debate either. (If you want to be unreasonable about it, sure you can use a stick or something to push the lock bar but that's just absurd, if we're being realistic.
Sidenote: I´d prefer being quoted correctly and not deliberately "shortened out of context"
/ We´ve had this in the past and I honestly and with all due respect don´t know why you are (still..) so obsessed with it - ?
I am touching on one very particular safety aspect that a linerlock knife with a good choil (!!) in my personal extended experience can offer over other locktypes (mostly in situations where one by accident forgets to move fingers out of the blade path when closing the knife - which is required with any locktype I know off)
I think reading my previous post makes pretty clear what I mean and should be obvious anyway to all who have experience with folders like the Millie.
Feel free to have a different opinion, completely fine with me!
Since Marius touched on it, I just wanted to share my thoughts on linerlocks with him, but have no intention to go further into the matter in this Retract-thread.
So please let´s stop this here, all good.
linerlocks inevitably are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path".
Exactly! Very well said.
It is an unavoidable required operation when using a liner lock. A finger MUST be placed in the path of the blade to operate a liner lock. That's not up for debate either. (If you want to be unreasonable about it, sure you can use a stick or something to push the lock bar but that's just absurd, if we're being realistic.
Sidenote: I´d prefer being quoted correctly and not deliberately "shortened out of context"
/ We´ve had this in the past and I honestly and with all due respect don´t know why you are (still..) so obsessed with it - ?
I am touching on one very particular safety aspect that a linerlock knife with a good choil (!!) in my personal extended experience can offer over other locktypes (mostly in situations where one by accident forgets to move fingers out of the blade path when closing the knife - which is required with any locktype I know off)
I think reading my previous post makes pretty clear what I mean and should be obvious anyway to all who have experience with folders like the Millie.
Feel free to have a different opinion, completely fine with me!
Since Marius touched on it, I just wanted to share my thoughts on linerlocks with him, but have no intention to go further into the matter in this Retract-thread.
So please let´s stop this here, all good.
I'm not obsessed with it, you brought it up.
Sidenote: I would also prefer being quoted correctly. You didn't do it this time but you've edited my posts when quoting me in the past on numerous occasions. That's why I do it back to you - I like to share the same courtesy that you share with me.
_____
As far as the Retract goes, it feels great in hand but the one concern I had after handling it was the point at the back of the fore-finger choil. When opening the knife, my thumb would bump into it and felt like it was interfering with a smooth opening action. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
If anyone is familiar with the Efficient series, these knives have a similar protruding thumb smasher. It's not a deal breaker but it's definitely something I noticed immediately after handling the Retract.
I’ve handled several genuine Gurkha Kukhris over the years and although this isn’t like one of those in any meaningful sense -at all - I am interested in exploring its utility as a quirky but not expensive folder.
I'm with you two. I wouldn't say I'm hyped, but I'm definitely interested. It's good chance to add an Ed Schempp design to the collection at a reasonable price, and the blade steel should be a step up from the the 8Cr13 in the base Value Series Chinese folders. I'm interested to see how well fit and finished the production models turn out to be.
Re: Who else is hyped for the Retract ?!
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2026 9:50 pm
by zhyla
This linerlock debate is kind of odd to me. Liner/frame locks are the most common knife lock by a massive margin. I’m sure somebody out there has bitten themselves closing it but I can’t recall hearing about it. I’ve never had any issue. Does it need to be brought up in every thread where a knife has a liner lock?
I get some people don’t like liner locks. I was in that camp for a long time and eventually bought some and while I think it’s a BORING lock mechanism there are reasons it’s the #1 lock on the planet. Cost is among those reasons of course, but it’s also simple, reliable, easy to get right, and plays well with flipper designs.
This linerlock debate is kind of odd to me. Liner/frame locks are the most common knife lock by a massive margin. I’m sure somebody out there has bitten themselves closing it but I can’t recall hearing about it. I’ve never had any issue. Does it need to be brought up in every thread where a knife has a liner lock?
I get some people don’t like liner locks. I was in that camp for a long time and eventually bought some and while I think it’s a BORING lock mechanism there are reasons it’s the #1 lock on the planet. Cost is among those reasons of course, but it’s also simple, reliable, easy to get right, and plays well with flipper designs.
Yes, it is.
"Lock/finger -safety/security" is more complex than just "but, but... blade path" and if we don´t consider all factors that are to it I´ve learned the hard way that such debates don´t make much sense. With linerlocks for example one really has to differentiate between such on knives without or with choil. But people can just try for themselves, then things usually become obvious anyway.
Anyway, let´s focus on the Retract: Another thing I really like on this model:
- It apparently offers the kind of blade thickness / tip shape I prefer and often talk about: Not overly thick stock (2.9mm), but tip shaped not too pointy and potentially fragile in its profile when looking at it from the side of the blade (can´t talk about tapering yet of course).
Sidenote: I would also prefer being quoted correctly. You didn't do it this time but you've edited my posts when quoting me in the past on numerous occasions. That's why I do it back to you - I like to share the same courtesy that you share with me.
Many here shorten quotes for not letting get posts to long, that´s not the issue but makes sense as long the essential assertion is not changed but people actually pick out WHAT the assertion is.
But, as I cleary said in my previous post:
"I´d prefer being quoted correctly and not deliberately "shortened out of context"" (in italic the part you choose to skip above ).
I´d never deliberately "edit" a post to a degree that it then says the complete opposite of what the person meant, luckily this really almost never happens here generally anyway and is all I am asking of you.
So as long as we keep it like that: Not worth talking any further about it and all is fine.
...
I'm with you two. I wouldn't say I'm hyped, but I'm definitely interested. It's good chance to add an Ed Schempp design to the collection at a reasonable price, and the blade steel should be a step up from the the 8Cr13 in the base Value Series Chinese folders. I'm interested to see how well fit and finished the production models turn out to be.
I am actually really interested in that Spyderco 9CR... hoping that it will be a positive surprise like it was with BD1N for me...
...
- It apparently offers the kind of blade thickness / tip shape I prefer and often talk about: Not overly thick stock (2.9mm),
That is pretty thick spine thickness for such a narrow blade. I wonder why. Maybe it’s trying to harness the power of the kukri
It is still thicker than I´d like, but do you think the blade is actually that narrow? (I can´t really say)
Generally this should be pretty "Endela-like"?
Practically same blade length (86mm vs 87mm) , Endela stock 3mm, Retract 2.9 mm - ?
We´ll see!!
Re: Who else is hyped for the Retract ?!
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 2:32 am
by apollo
Wel in all honesty except for new Manix variations this is the model i am looking forward to the most. I love Ed's designs and it beeing a budget folder in these crazy expensive times really makes me happy.
Wel in all honesty except for new Manix variations this is the model i am looking forward to the most. I love Ed's designs and it beeing a budget folder in these crazy expensive times really makes me happy.
I agree , love Ed’s designs very much but a righty linerlock does not work for me . I do hope it is successful for others to enjoy . MG2
Please quote the entire context for the sake of accuracy. The key word here is “myth” As long as your brain has control over your fingers a linerlock is safe enough. We all should be in a state of awareness when we handle a sharp tool. Quite a few knife people judge a lock by the “fidget factor”. Accidents can occur but hey, I cut myself twice trying to manipulate a lockback one hand. I do not intend to start a debate over the safety of a linerlock and I agree that placing a finger in the path of the blade incumbs an obvious risk. What I am trying to emphasize is that a linerlock is not “inevitable unsafe”. When you use one long enough, your fingers will “remember”.
I agree with everything you said but especially the highlighted parts. I've said the same in the past and I think that's the "myth" we hear so much about.
This linerlock debate is kind of odd to me. Liner/frame locks are the most common knife lock by a massive margin. I’m sure somebody out there has bitten themselves closing it but I can’t recall hearing about it. I’ve never had any issue. Does it need to be brought up in every thread where a knife has a liner lock?
I get some people don’t like liner locks. I was in that camp for a long time and eventually bought some and while I think it’s a BORING lock mechanism there are reasons it’s the #1 lock on the planet. Cost is among those reasons of course, but it’s also simple, reliable, easy to get right, and plays well with flipper designs.
It is still thicker than I´d like, but do you think the blade is actually that narrow? (I can´t really say)
Generally this should be pretty "Endela-like"?
Practically same blade length (86mm vs 87mm) , Endela stock 3mm, Retract 2.9 mm - ?
We´ll see!!
Actually, looking at it again, no, I'm not sure it's that narrow. But 3mm stock usually means a pretty beefy blade even on something as tall as a Manix 2.
It may be fine -- that deep recurve is sort of a giant serration, it may cut really well in pull cuts.
Re: Who else is hyped for the Retract ?!
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 3:37 pm
by zhyla
BladeHQ Shot Show video dropped, here's the Retract:
It's huge! Way bigger than I was imagining.
Re: Who else is hyped for the Retract ?!
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 6:48 pm
by Bolster
I'm glad to see Schempp reducing the size of the ricasso on the Retract (as compared to the Khukri). I've noticed "ricasso expansion" on Schempp's designs in the past few years, and it looks like the Retract's is of reasonable size. The choil isn't deeply curved, so would not "capture" the forefinger as much as some designs. The recurve would probably make it an excellent thin plastics cutter, and I don't own a knife that's great at cutting film plastic yet. So...maybe? Just not a huge fan of linerlocks.
linerlocks inevitably are "unsafe" for the fingers cause those are in the "blade path".
Exactly! Very well said.
It is an unavoidable required operation when using a liner lock. A finger MUST be placed in the path of the blade to operate a liner lock. That's not up for debate either. (If you want to be unreasonable about it, sure you can use a stick or something to push the lock bar but that's just absurd, if we're being realistic.
Any folding knife is inherently unsafe because you hold the handle which is in the path of the edge when the blade folds. Try learning to operate your tools.
Any folding knife is inherently unsafe because you hold the handle which is in the path of the edge when the blade folds. Try learning to operate your tools.
Wel in all honesty except for new Manix variations this is the model i am looking forward to the most. I love Ed's designs and it beeing a budget folder in these crazy expensive times really makes me happy.
I am sure what also makes you happy are full (not nested) liners, G10, and not too light weight, right my friend?
Actually I am looking forward too to as an exception having a single alternative to my usual lighter FRN Spydies again!
(Also: The exposed liners mean that it is easier to make diy custom scales)
Very well said.
Very well said. 
As long as your brain has control over your fingers a linerlock is safe enough. We all should be in a state of awareness when we handle a sharp tool. Quite a few knife people judge a lock by the “fidget factor”. Accidents can occur but hey, I cut myself twice trying to manipulate a lockback one hand. I do not intend to start a debate over the safety of a linerlock and I agree that placing a finger in the path of the blade incumbs an obvious risk. What I am trying to emphasize is that a linerlock is not “inevitable unsafe”. When you use one long enough, your fingers will “remember”.
