Tri-Ad lock

[gull wing]

Certainly not anything new, but I do wish Spyderco could put one on their knives. I know the Spyderco lockback tests very strong, but look at this lock, it's a beast. Pictured with an American Lawman is the old Large Manix, says a lot.
CS: ............................. Manix:
Solid pin stop ............... lockbar stop
Solid pin pivot lockbar..... hollow pin pivot lockbar
Deep hook on lockbar..... not so deep hook on lockbar
Large dia Pivot pin......... not as large Pivot pin

[D1omedes]

Question - Does a solid stop pin actually provide more strength than a hollowed one? I remember seeing something on t.v. about how hollow cylinders can provide significant structural strength over solid ones (hence, why human bones are hollow and yet very strong).

Anyways, I agree with ya, Gull. I would like to see a Tri-Ad lock adaptation in a Spyderco. I'm not sure we have a chance to see it though, since it probably falls into the same camp with the axis lock.

[Donut]

Diomedes, I think that will follow under the "per weight" section. It is lighter and still provides good structure.

So, is the patent law that if we make an improvement to something, we can patent it and use it? :D

[Blerv]

With the CBBL and Comp Lock I'm quite happy. Once I can break ANY Spydie lock my tune might change. I can't even defeat my FRN Ladybugs.

[.357 mag]

I haven't broke any lock on any knife I've ever owned. To my knowledge, I've never came close. I'll stick to whatever spyderco offers. There locks are good for what the knife is designed for.

[D1omedes]

Isn't the Comp Lock a variation of the Tri-Ad lock anyway?

[Jordan]

Isn't the Comp Lock a variation of the Tri-Ad lock anyway?

I would say it is more a variation of the standard back lock... only with an extra stop pin that engages the tang instead of the lock bar itself. I can see why this is a cool idea, but I don't really see Spyderco going in for it. First off, their locks are plenty strong. Second, CS and Spyderco would have to collaborate for it (as the tri-ad is CS's intellectual property)... and that seems unlikely. More's the pity. Both companies do certain things very well, and both have an extremely dedicated fan base that probably makes up a cumulative majority of the high end production knife market. If there were to be a collaboration, it would help stem some of the virulent... er... bias that exists on both sides. After all, we knife people should stick together. Nobody outside of our peculiar subculture understands why you would have a collection of 100$+ pocketknives at the ready :p .

[gull wing]

Oh, I doubt it will hapen(a Spyderco TriAd), but I can dream.

This lock will take batoning. I don't baton my Spydercos.
Again, look how deep the hook goes into the blade tang, that's more than plenty strong. There is no play in the blade as is most lockbacks.

Anyway, I took a shot. :)

[Fred Sanford]

I don't really get what adding a stop pin to a back lock does. Seriously.

[Sithus1966]

I believe Sal already said at some point all he needs to say about this lock and that it's not something they are going to do because they don't need to. If Sal says so, thats all I need to hear.

[Evil D]

I like the long term self adjusting ability of the compression lock myself. I don't know if the other locks mentioned have that ability? This says a lot since i had the highest level of reserve about the compression lock before i bought a Para and gave it a chance...now it's probably my favorite lock design.

[Knifestyle]

I find the Tri-Ad lock to be a very impressive design. Simple, rugged, well thought-out. I'm certain it's incredibly strong and I give the designer credit. Personally, I'm going to walk between these two companies and just say I would be using a fixed blade for something that strenuous. The niche of a folder striving to be a fixed blade...I admire the work going into it, but I just use a fixed blade.

[Blerv]

Sal has said they can make a lock (any) as strong as they want.

The question though is: Why? Keep bulking and it keeps getting heavier.

Also I'd probably consider the Comp lock a reverse frame lock with stop pin on parts alone. The act of "compressing" the lock instead of blocking the pivot is where the main difference is. It's also completely out of manipulation range while in use makin it superior than most other designs, imho.

[gull wing]

It's a better lock, try it, it's cheep, you might be suprised. I was!
Heavy? The Large manix is heavier than this AL.

Now ends my Presentation! :D

[2cha]

I don't really get what adding a stop pin to a back lock does. Seriously.

It seems like more than just a stop pin to me. I wrote about my thoughts here:
http://spyderco.com/forums/archive/inde ... 46155.html.

At any rate, from what I can tell from comparing the drawings of the Triad lock and the patent drawings for the compression lock, the stop pin makes the back lock function somewhat like a compression lock (I think that Gullwing disagreed with me on this, and it's quite possible that I'm utterly mistaken). With the compression lock, the tab on the spring arm wedges in between a cutout on the tang and the stop pin so that the lock cannot fail unless the tab is compressed on the stop pin or pivot breaks. Force from use is carried by the stop pin and the pivot while the tab on the lock serves to make sure that force is directed against those positions.

With a traditional back- or mid- lock, the lock spring does receive load and the load is transferred to a comparatively small pin. Where I have seen back-locks fail, it has been because the spring arm has snapped--probably wouldn't snap if it didn't have any load on it. The Triad lock solves this problem with the addition of the stop pin. Load is carried on the stop pin and the pivot, and the lock arm tab, like with the compression lock (but in a different plane), is a wedge that serves to ensure that force is carried by the stop pin and the pivot.

The lock is a great design. I choose not to buy Cold Steel products for reasons irrelevant to the current thread.

[MCM]

All I noticed was fit & finish.
Where I work, (in my world) perfection is the expectation........

I guess I am missing it here. Look at the surface area of the Spyderco blade stop.
Now look at the tiny bar stock blade stop? Why is it better again?
Just don't see it.......

Help me understand.........

(I would agree with the above post, but look at the slop in the black lock back pin. .030?
Probably needed for the design to work in order to get over the recessed hump on the blade to allow the bar stock pin to seat.)
Just a guess.......

[2cha]

All I noticed was fit & finish.
Where I work, (in my world) perfection is the expectation........

I guess I am missing it here. Look at the surface area of the Spyderco blade stop.
Now look at the tiny bar stock blade stop? Why is it better again?
Just don't see it.......

Help me understand.........

(I would agree with the above post, but look at the slop in the black lock back pin. .030?
Probably needed for the design to work in order to get over the recessed hump on the blade to allow the bar stock pin to seat.)
Just a guess.......

I think the "slop" is the self-adjusting design element.
As for fit and finish, I've never held one. Don't plan on owning one from Coldsteel, but I applaud that company's effort in developing and marketing an innovative lock.
I prefer ball-bearing lock and compression lock myself--though the lock on my Chinook is beefy and superbly executed.

[MCM]

I am still partial to quality tip up liner locks. :D

[2cha]

I am still partial to quality tip up liner locks. :D

Funny.
I'm not a fan of liner locks, but with the potentially replaceable steel lock-bar tips on the Ti models, I'm getting close.

But, I've sat here for the last 15 minutes looking at gullwing's excellent side by side photos, and despite everything I've said, I'm beginning to wonder whether the Triad lock does add anything in terms of strength or longevity. The lock-bar on the Manix is so huge, it's hard to imagine what could break it. It does have a hollow pin as compared to the Triad's solid, but it's hard to imagine what could make a tube break under the circumstances.
Maybe the improvement is that with the std. mid-lock, if the mating surface between the top of the lock tab and the tang wears, the lock will loosen whereas with the Triad lock, even if there is some wear between stop-pin and tang, the wedge shape of the locking tab will negate the effect.

At any rate, still happy that other companies are innovating, potentially broadens the market of innovation driven knife buyers which can only be a good thing for Spyderco--who does innovation best IMO.

[rosconey]

what it comes down to is the back of blade doesnt touch the lock bar,so it has zero chance to "slip" imho