What is your Favorite Lock?

[RYAN]

Well, what is it. Kinda a hard question, I know, but what do you think?

Personally I think the Phantom lock is way cool, but nothing beats the action of a liner lock. It makes for smooth opening and closing, and is generally easier to deploy. Each and every lock has it's pros and cons, but I choose the liner lock.

Throw your input out there. What lock style do you like or dislike and why. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[rico]

Ryan of all the locks I have seen on Spyderco Knives I like the liner lock. The axis locks I have seen on Benchmade knives are nice also.. rico

[SpyderNut]

I couldn't agree more, Ryan. The Liner Lock is one of the best locking devices. For ease of opening and closing, the Liner Lock is definatly one of my favorites. Since the time Michael Walker introduced it, there have been few locking mechanisms that have come close to it. I am also a fan of the unique locking design of the &quot;Q&quot;, as it is simple yet very funtionable. For my main blade, I would choose the Liner Lock, and maybe as back-up a regular lock-back design.
One of the best things I like about the Cricket is the Liner Lock. In my opinion, its what makes that knife what it is.
One Liner Lock I wouldn't buy is the Schrade L&amp;W &quot;ToughLock&quot;. The locking part of the liner is part of the handle which is made of Zytel. Yes, there is a steel washer to hold the blade in place when it locks, but the blade is supported by a mere 1/32 of an inch. This type of system is far too easy to unlock when the operator is using it.
I am pleased with Liner Locks and will keep it as my first choice when deciding on a knife. [I do have a Meerkat on order, so I'll give it a whirl when it comes....]


Spydernut

&quot;When in doubt, write a check.&quot;

[Ted]

On small knives I prefer a liner-lock (cricket) over the front-lock (dragon fly). Mostly because of the the closing. (not depending on gravity to get the blade down)
On bigger knives which I generally do not close with one hand (Buck 110), I think a frontlock/lockback is better.

Ted

[gadfly]

While the &quot;Walker&quot; or liner lock is a good design, the compression lock is the strongest I've seen.

Dollar for dollar, the liner lock is a great value, but isn't as strong. The piece coming off the liner, can torsion or collapse under enough pressure (Hey man, it's your fingers).

The compression lock has steel cross piece, which when engaged, locks between a steel pin and the back of the blade. Steel doesn't compress very well, so this lock is MBC strong.

I have a Lil Temperance which has the compression lock. I'm sure Spyderco will be coming out with more designs.

One way or the other, you pay for your tools!

[Carlos]

As yet, I still favour linerlocks.

Conceptually I like the idea of the compression lock, but I still haven't used one yet. The integral compression lock looks to be the &quot;ultimate.&quot;

Maybe the poll should be re-taken after we have our ATRs and Salsas in hand. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Al]

It has to be the Linerlock - and for extra security with the Lake/Walker 'Interlock' as used on Gerber's 'Applegate/Fairbairn Covert' Folder.

[shootist16]

Some of my favorite locks are the axis lock, button lock, and compression lock.

Dennis Bible www.theleadingedgeonline.com

[Tightwad]

The more I learn about knives the less I trust the linerlock.

If you look at companies that make really strong locking folding
knives they are all, to a large measure, producing a type of lockback
knife. As a result if it's a folding knife that's after my money it had
better be a lockback or I'll move on to one that is

Consider this........
How many Buck 110 or 112 , Cold steel, Spyderco lockbacks have
you ever read or heard about that have failed while in use?? I can't
bring a single time to mind. Keep in mind many of these lockbacks
are ......designed ..... for very hard use and abuse. Go ahead count the
number of well known lockbacks in any manufacture's line up that they
say is for rough and tumble use .......then count the linerlocks. I'd bet the
lockbacks win.

[Hoosierdaddy]

This is a quote from Sal in the Tekno Junkies forum, when asked about the strenght of the Axis lock...

On the knife we tested, it was up there in the high numbers with the Rolling lock, compression lock and the Chinook lockback.
(MBC area 200 inch lbs / inch of blade length)

I like lockbacks myself <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[yog]

Unlike most people I suspect, the first good quality knife I had was a liner lock, and despite some horror stories none of the liner locks I have had since have ever showed the slightest hint of failure.

The liner lock is very slick and very fast, but since becoming a Spydernut I have been leaning more towards the lock back.
The reason, liner locks are single hand closing, whereas the lock backs are ambidexturous. This means that I can practice my theraputic opening and closing with either hand <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Not long now before I get my first compression lock. Looking foreward to it.

"Walk softly, but carry a big stick."

[Joe Talmadge]

Of the most common locks, a well-made lockback is a great choice for inexpensive knives. And, as the Chinook proves, if well-engineered it works great even on higher-end or harder-use knives.

I like liner locks on light-use gents knives. For anything else, the format is much too unreliable, and in my testing, at least several noches behind almost every other lock format for reliability. While a well-done liner lock is a joy to use, the format is just far too difficult to consistently reproduce in a reliable manner.

The compression lock is a &quot;holds a lot of promise&quot; lock for me. I'm waiting for Spyderco to put a compression lock on a hard-use knife I really like, before I really put it to the test. My experience with the compression lock on my Vesuvius is very encouraging.

Among the rest, the frame lock (ala the Sebenza) is outstanding when done right. Benchmade's axis lock is similarly outstanding, in my experience.

Joe

Edited by - Joe Talmadge on 12/29/2001 5:47:07 PM

[sam the man..]

Wow! This is a tough nut to crack..Ummm, the frontlock seems to dominate most of Spyderco's line-up. Its strong, realiable and affordable in most knives. But a little stiff when it comes to speed deployment. Speaking of liners, Spyderco does have a good track record with the locks. Most of my linerlocked Spydies are silky smooth! I'd give two thumbs up for the innovative compression lock and the new frame locked Spydies! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[Alan2112]

For now the lock back, that could change in the future. RKBA!

[shootist16]

Almost forgot.

The Balisong! Super strong and super reliable.

Dennis Bible www.theleadingedgeonline.com