Buck marksman lock test

Mr.Conservative

Mr.Conservative

Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
196
Ill start this off by saying i know alot of people dont care for spine whack test. However due to buck saying this was the strongest lock they ever tested I figured i would test it out a little.

I’ve been carrying my sk blades gray ghost variant of the marksman for quite some time, and i love it. I have had no problems with the lock in real world use and always felt confident of the lock. But today i was talking lock up with my brother on his ZT 0640 and how i thought the frame lock would slip so we decided to spine whack some blades on a 2x4 clamped in a vice. None of the hits were very hard, the ZT closed just about every hit. I tried the marksman and it closed every time with very little effort. I was pretty shocked. Lock up is still rock solid with no play in either direction. I do put some stock in to spine whack test on harder use knives, and with bucks claims of the lock being so strong is kind of upsetting, i also whacked a 722 spit fire and it had no problems, never closed.

if anybody would like a video of this let me know, ill post it to youtube.
 
For what it’s worth, this topic has come up quite a bit. The answers you may receive will range widely. I think you sorta answered your own observations by saying you have had no issues while using it. I would imagine you should be fine.
 
MolokaiRider said:
For what it’s worth, this topic has come up quite a bit. The answers you may receive will range widely. I think you sorta answered your own observations by saying you have had no issues while using it. I would imagine you should be fine.
Click to expand...

i agree, ill still carry and use it without hesitation, just figured i would put it out there, in case others wanted to know
 
It's a very strong lock,clamp it in a vice and hang some weight off the blade ,say 450 lbs,then come back and tell us how it went.spine whack tests are useless to me ,they don't give you solid info on a lock at all.
 
I’d say spine wacking is a useless test that has no relation to actual performance of any kind. The marksman is a tough knife and exceeds my expectations for an edc knife.
 
Thanks for the info......
It's sorta like the folks that blast down the highway with trailer tires only rated to go 65 mph, and then complain that the tires are junk when they blow out.

If I'm worried my folding knife will hold up to it's use, I should be using a fixed blade instead.
I choose a folding knife for the convenience in the ability to carry it.

You should use the proper tool for it's intended use.....Whacking a knife....... wrong tool.

Whacking with a folding knife is just silly.
Buy a hatchet.
 
A knife typically is used by using the cutting edge, thus directing the force against the lock and directing the edge away from your fingers. This direction of force would further lock the knife into place, and if it "failed" would not close. Whacking the knife spine directs quite a bit of force the opposite direction, forcing the knife to close. The spine whack test is a bit of an unfair test as it's a sudden smack, directing forces in directions not consistent with how a lock works with normal knife usage. Try whacking the knife on the edge, probably won't close.

Since I use the cutting edge, I feel safe with using slipjoints which have no locking mechanism other than the "stiffness" of the back springs. So, for me ..... a lock blade is fine but not particularly necessary. Also, there may be better tools for the job than a knife anyway so I go with them rather than what I consider abusing a knife. This is simply my opinion and not meant to offend anyone.
Mike
 
Mr.Conservative said:

heres the link, also if you search buck marksman spine whack it comes right up, i have the only video on it.
Click to expand...
thank you. what i was wondering about is happening. youre holding on to the lock bar as you spine whack it. its going to open even on a lighter tap. try holding below this lock bar so your hand isn't pulling it open as you hit the board. dont know if it will open or not and it likely will open, but will be a much better test. thanks.

if ya can't figure it out how not to pull open the lock when doing your retest, I'll post pics of how to hold safely and get a real test on it tonight for ya.
 
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_mike_ said:
A knife typically is used by using the cutting edge, thus directing the force against the lock and directing the edge away from your fingers. This direction of force would further lock the knife into place, and if it "failed" would not close. Whacking the knife spine directs quite a bit of force the opposite direction, forcing the knife to close. The spine whack test is a bit of an unfair test as it's a sudden smack, directing forces in directions not consistent with how a lock works with normal knife usage. Try whacking the knife on the edge, probably won't close.

Since I use the cutting edge, I feel safe with using slipjoints which have no locking mechanism other than the "stiffness" of the back springs. So, for me ..... a lock blade is fine but not particularly necessary. Also, there may be better tools for the job than a knife anyway so I go with them rather than what I consider abusing a knife. This is simply my opinion and not meant to offend anyone.
Mike
Click to expand...

for years i only carried slip joints, i understand that these test have no real world application for the most part. And if people only used there knives with positive pressure on the lock why advertise that its the strongest lock buck ever tested
 
Mr.Conservative said:
for years i only carried slip joints, i understand that these test have no real world application for the most part. And if people only used there knives with positive pressure on the lock why advertise that its the strongest lock buck ever tested
Click to expand...

Why? Marketing and Sales I suppose.
Mike
 
Who would've ever thought about testing a lock by whacking the spine??? Doesn't even closely resemble how I have ever used a knife.
I do often put myself in a position where I rely on the lock to keep it from closing during use, but I pretty much keep my fingers out of the way anyhow when doing so.
But whack a knife by the spine??????????????????????
 
Their test weren’t for spine whacking, I think it was mostly for piercing or steady pressure thrusting from the handle towards the tip like piercing an oil can or a can of peaches. There wouldn’t be any need to test pressure against the spine downward. Maybe a steady load to see how well it held but whacking is multiplying the force in a shock load that could shear or snap the metal at the lock or pins.
 
I have had a jolt close a knife in my hand in use. Cutting hoses in very tight space. On a cubic hydraulic press. Push cutting and sawing a hose at an awkward angle and the knife spine contacted the steel side of fhe press. Cut my fingers. Not badly.

Different liner lock I was topping boxes at a job. Poked the knife into cardboard, and it closed on my thumb. Slight download pressure on the spine caused the liner lock to disengage.





Spine walk tests cause many style knives to close.

It is damaging to liner locks and frame locks.

I do check my liner locks and frame locks and back locks to check that the lockup is tight.

I have Triad locks that won't fail a spine walk test....but I don't need to bang my edge on anything to double check that.

So I've been cut when a liner lock failed with light negative pressurez and also a separate liner lock with a slight jolt to the spine.

My older brother was cutting thick sidewall rubber ( trying to pierce to initiate the cut).. he had to have surgery to reattach his tendon.

I've seen more than a few other cuts from liner locks and frame locks.

I have retired liner locks for the locks repeatedly disengaging with light spine pressure.
 
It looks like the lock bar is naturally being released by force and gravity. I bet if you held your finger on the lock bar to keep it in place it would not release.

At any rate, I’m glad your enjoying the Marksman. It’s a fine knife and design.
 
Aside from the question of method and if spine whacking matters at all (I think not), I also think your lock could be adjusted a bit better.
 
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