Chinook Confusion

[JRinFL]

This is a pic of Jim Keating's custom Chinook that came before the Chinook 1

Nice picture. You can really see how the Chinook 1 came about from Keating's custom.

[Bolster]

So this little bit of engagement is what makes the Powerlock so strong? Wow.

[Mushroom]

This is a pic of Jim Keating's custom Chinook that came before the Chinook 1

I hope this isn’t the “Ferrari” he was referring to designing! If so, it was a Pontiac Fiero Ferrari! I’d say he designed the F150 and Spyderco refined it into a Ferrari!

So this little bit of engagement is what makes the Powerlock so strong? Wow.

The amount of metal that would need to deform for that to fail seems like a lot to me. Compared to the lock engagement of some backlocks, this doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me.

[JRinFL]

So this little bit of engagement is what makes the Powerlock so strong? Wow.

I believe there is more engagement on a fully assembled knife. I should have been more careful in my pictures.

[Bolster]

So this little bit of engagement is what makes the Powerlock so strong? Wow.

The amount of metal that would need to deform for that to fail seems like a lot to me. Compared to the lock engagement of some backlocks, this doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me.

Deformation would be hugely unlikely, but the curved "uvula" of engagement is interesting and unexpected (by me). Obviously it works. The location of the "uvula" against the blade would certainly need to be precise. I can see in the photo that the "uvula" could swing a bit more to the right, and perhaps that's what an assembled lockup does. It strikes me as a lock that requires quite a bit of precision, just the same (tho many locks do, but with fewer moving parts).

[Mushroom]

So this little bit of engagement is what makes the Powerlock so strong? Wow.

The amount of metal that would need to deform for that to fail seems like a lot to me. Compared to the lock engagement of some backlocks, this doesn’t seem too unreasonable to me.

Deformation would be hugely unlikely, but the curved "uvula" of engagement is interesting and unexpected (by me). Obviously it works. The location of the "uvula" against the blade would certainly need to be precise. I can see in the photo that the "uvula" could swing a bit more to the right, and perhaps that's what an assembled lockup does.

Yeah it’s worth keeping in mind, as JR noted, that photo does not accurately show full lock engagement.

Are there any locks that don’t require precision to make?

[Freediver]

viewtopic.php?t=87893

This is a good thread with photos about the power lock.

[wrdwrght]

Unsettling to me is the idea that Ken Onion’s “custom” (photo above) might be the Ferrari that Keating wanted Spyderco to make.

I now have the “Ford F150” Chinook, Chinook2, and Chinook4. I like them all but favor the 2, perhaps because it just arrived.

Compared to them, the “custom” is an eyesore to me. Moreover, I can’t see how it could perform the MJ-described cuts at all better than any of the three Chinooks I have.

I trust MJ has accurately caught Keating’s favorable reaction to the Chinook4. And I hope (and trust) the Chinook5 will refine the 4, not the “custom”.