so what's a "puzzle lock"?

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=44846 they don't look as hearty as a gunting, and they don't look like they'll cut as deeply as the spyderco gunting's near wharnie profile. But I must admit I'm intrigued by any MBC specific knife. Anyone got one? Impressions? What's this-here "puzzle-lock" thingie? :spyder:

[mikebandw186]

the puzzle lock is the compression lock, but "improved" by Bram Frank. All the reviews I've seen for it have been positive.

But some people think, and I am one of them, that the puzzle lock doesn't improve on anything. it just detracts from an already amazing design. In fact, there are a few people that hink the puzzle lock doesn't work at all, and that it will fail under any stress.

But that's just what I have read. I haven't handled one.

So someone more in the know may chip in

[dedguy]

Wait... so... er.. wait... Spyderco holds a patent on the compression lock right? That should apply to derivative versions of it as well right? :confused:

[mikebandw186]

well, Sal or Kristi would have to chime in on the legal wrangling involved. i know some of the story, but not enough to shed light on the matter

[raven]

Here's a link to a small explanation to what the "puzzle lock" is and a review of the mentioned "Gunting". Hope this helps some ;) . Take Good Care and Be Safe Always.

www.shindendojo.de/downloads/LLCinTK.pdf

God Bless :)


-raven-

[swingshot]

Wait... so... er.. wait... Spyderco holds a patent on the compression lock right? That should apply to derivative versions of it as well right? :confused:

This may clear things up.

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30502

[thombrogan]

Was the puzzle lock used back when the Gunting/Lapu Lapu Corto was The Escalator or did they just use a rolling rock? I think the main thing is whether or not the lock is reliable. If it's questionably close to a Compression Lock, then it will be stable against twists and turns like a lockback and less likely to be affected by fouling than a lockback like a liner or Axis Lock.

[dialex]

First it was the Escalator. It used the Rolling Lock™. This lock was supposed to feature at Spyderco's MBC folder - a folder which was closer to the Chinook rather than the Gunting (see the picture below).
Too bad it didn't make beyond the prototype stage - from what I understand mostly because the Rekat went out of business before the end of the "negotiations".
Meanwhile Spyderco came with the compression lock. It is to my understanding that Bram had a contribution in its developement.
As for the PuzzleLock™, well... remember how many people say about the compression lock that it is a reversed liner lock? Although it is significantly different. I'd say it is the same case here. The Puzzle lock doesn't squeeze the lock between the blade and the stop pin, like the complock does. Instead, the lip of the lock slides into a slot into the blade.
I don't know if the puzzle lock is stronger than the compression lock, but from my experience with my LLC's (I have a few, both drones and live blades), I can tell the lock is pretty strong. I didn't experience any lock failures with any of them, but truth is I don't abuse my knives (except for my poor Delica, :o but she can live with that) ;)
The grip is about the same at both knives. The LLC has some texturing on the liners, which may improve grippiness but maybe they aren't that comfortable for cutting chores that require longer time.
The Gunting is more pointy and I guess it stabs better, OTOH, the LLC has more belly then the Gunting and it slashes nicely (if I may say so about slashing) :rolleyes:
Obviously, this doesn't mean that you can't cut with the Gunting, or you can't stab with the LLC.
It's hard to say which one is better. It is true that the Gunting is made by Spyderco, and this alone sais a lot, but the LLC isn't bad either.