Liner Locks

[charlie411]

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

[mikerestivo]

Why do they make you nervous?

[JacksonKnives]

They're not quite as nice as the compression lock, but I still prefer them to lockbacks.

[charlie411]

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.

[charlie411]

never had a compression lock, but My concern is in an emergency tactical situation on the tenacious for instance a twisting motion while the blade is engaged can cause the lock to disengage.

[Spook410]

I tried to do a twist release with a Military I have sitting here. Couldn't do it unless I want to lose some skin. However, if they bug you, no worries. We are fortunate to live in a time of plenty. Just pick something else.

[APS]

I've had a frame lock and a compression lock open when I didn't intend them to. Since they typically have even more blade retention than a liner lock, yes liner locks make me nervous.

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

I think for that to happen you would have to be twisting it so hard that you would likely be just about ready to snap the blade in half. And it would probably be a fluke that your hand was positioned just right to catch the liner...

Of course there is a situation that possibly could arise where that might happen. But, I can see the same situation with a compression lock, or even a back lock. Any folding knife can become disengaged under certain circumstances.

Maybe get a small fixed blade?

[charlie411]

I wasn't twisting hard enough to break a blade with the tenacious. Not at all. Maybe the chote is just really large on the tenacious so it makes it easier to do. I may look at something else. I do however love the Delica 4 emerson opener and haven't noticed how I could accidentally disengage the back lock myself although I'm sure someway it could be done in an emergency situation. But with the tenacious it happened really easy. Love the Delica 4 emerson, perfect blade length nice smooth opening, my favorite knife so far. It's great!!

[Blerv]

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 .

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

I wasn't twisting hard enough to break a blade with the tenacious. Not at all. Maybe the chote is just really large on the tenacious so it makes it easier to do. I may look at something else. I do however love the Delica 4 emerson opener and haven't noticed how I could accidentally disengage the back lock myself although I'm sure someway it could be done in an emergency situation. But with the tenacious it happened really easy. Love the Delica 4 emerson, perfect blade length nice smooth opening, my favorite knife so far. It's great!!

It is possible. Everything is...I just tried to twist and unlock with my Resilience and Persistence. And if I positioned my fingers in just the right way, I could get it to unlock, but I couldn't in any way I would normally grab the knife.

Maybe you should look at something like the Gayle Bradley. It's liner is flush with the scales, no cut out, maybe that would work better for you. Or...just keep trying lock styles until you find one that you are comfortable with.

[chuck_roxas45]

Yep, torquing a liner lock with a cutout a certain way can disengage it. That's why I don't use a liner lock for SD. Well made liner locks are fine for other EDC uses however.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpb8y9y9TUk

[Joshua J.]

If you want to reduce the likelihood of being cut by a failing lock use knives with a large choil or flipper (or use a slip-joint or fixed blade so that there's no lock to fail). The choil on the Chinook 3 saved me from my own stupidity on one occasion.
I prefer flippers since you get more edge length on your blade and an alternative opening method.

[jimnolimit]

edited, i misread a post.

[Wolverine666]

I do not care for liner locks in the least. I don't like having to put my fingers in the way of the blade to disengage the lock. And I also don't like giving the liner double duty having to give the handle solidity and also acting as the locking mechanism. No thanks.

I MUCH prefer the Compression Lock , Ball Bearing Lock and Lock Back.

[chuck_roxas45]

How did you manage to get a compression lock to disengage? Did you break the knife?

I think he's talking about a closed knife opening.

[Blerv]

As a side note the main way I could see a lock failing in a violent encounter would be with passing/trapping since you're using the spine as a lever. In typicially thrusts/slashes it shouldn't give you a problem.

All that aside your self-confidence is always important. Perhaps not as much as avoid getting stabbed but it's up there :p .

[jimnolimit]

I think he's talking about a closed knife opening.

i misread what he wrote :o , i edited my post.

[Wildernest Survivor]

Liner locks are not my favorite lock-type, but they are convenient and simple to use in normal EDC situations. Lock strength on modern, well-made knives (like the ones Spyderco make), exceed the limits of normal use. I never think twice about it. The Walker liner lock on my Sage1 functions well, and keeps the elegant lines of the knife. That being said, I would not want to depend on the Sage1 on the battlefield. My favorite lock-type is the compression lock, and it is used on the Para2 and the Yojimbo2, both MBC-type knives.

[INFRNL]

I have played around with my liner/frame locks; they can easily disengaged. For my use it's not a problem though. I like the ease of use but can also see where it would deter people from wanting them.