Do liner locks have a lifespan?

B

BIG45-70

Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
67
I just received my Enzo Birk 75. It came scary sharp and really screams quality. Its my first but won't be my last Enzo and I believe one of the only folders available with a scandi grind. Most of my folders have been lockbacks, this one is a liner lock. Its nice to open and close and looks like a very high quality lock. Just wondering how liner locks hold up over time, do they wear out with use? How long can I expect to get out of a high quality liner lock?
 
Last edited:
cool. I've been using the same liner lock for a very long time, and it's just as secure now as it ever was. Wouldn't expect that to change in the future
 
Most liner lock's have a steel on steel lock face, meaning it will not wear quickly. Don't abuse it (meaning don't baton with it or anything) and the lockup should not change considerably. If the locking liner is titanium if will wear quickly initially and eventually plateau as the lock bar and lock face settle and become mated to eachother. Overall, barring extenuating circumstances, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
even if the liner and blade tang wear away to the very end, there is nowhere for the liner to move once its resting against the opposite liner. hard to explain. but look at you knife and picture the liner being worn to the other side. even then, some liner material is resting on the blade tang.
 
peeintheshower said:
even if the liner and blade tang wear away to the very end, there is nowhere for the liner to move once its resting against the opposite liner. hard to explain. but look at you knife and picture the liner being worn to the other side. even then, some liner material is resting on the blade tang.
Click to expand...

Yeah but when that happens you get blade play, and thats just annoying. If you ever wear a liner to that point, its had a very good long life and should probably be retired anyway.
 
No, there are springs in very old firearms that are still working after hundreds of years. I'm sure the liner lock spring will out live all of us as long as you keep it from corroding, but that is another issue.
 
Liner locks should last indefinitely. The steel spring will not fatigue over time in quality knives and they should last longer than you, so you can easily pass them on to your kids. I wouldn't use a liner lock as a self defense or "tactical" knife unless it had a LAWKS system, but they're great for general tasks like opening packages. Your better liner locks will have very strong tempered liner locking springs; but I just don't trust any liner lock unless I can see them pass rigorous tests like those conducted by Cold Steel. I know such springs will take considerable pressure before failing. I just don't know how much pressure that is.

I had someone at Cold Steel tell me that they test competitor's knives and that liner locks have a high failure rate, even with quality knives. I have no reason to think they were lying. Although LAWKS is a good system to have on a liner lock, I was surprised to hear that some people did have failures where the liner spring was forced up the blade's locking ramp and into the recess between the blade and the frame. I've seen photos of such failures and I was amazed. The springs in all of the knives had been sprung, and I suspect part of the problem is the steel CRKT uses in their liners. Better quality knives use titanium and much better steels with better heat treatment. I still love my M21-04 and would trust it for self defense, but I wouldn't use it for heavier uses.
 
Confederate said:
Liner locks should last indefinitely. The steel spring will not fatigue over time in quality knives and they should last longer than you, so you can easily pass them on to your kids. I wouldn't use a liner lock as a self defense or "tactical" knife unless it had a LAWKS system, but they're great for general tasks like opening packages. Your better liner locks will have very strong tempered liner locking springs; but I just don't trust any liner lock unless I can see them pass rigorous tests like those conducted by Cold Steel. I know such springs will take considerable pressure before failing. I just don't know how much pressure that is.

I had someone at Cold Steel tell me that they test competitor's knives and that liner locks have a high failure rate, even with quality knives. I have no reason to think they were lying. Although LAWKS is a good system to have on a liner lock, I was surprised to hear that some people did have failures where the liner spring was forced up the blade's locking ramp and into the recess between the blade and the frame. I've seen photos of such failures and I was amazed. The springs in all of the knives had been sprung, and I suspect part of the problem is the steel CRKT uses in their liners. Better quality knives use titanium and much better steels with better heat treatment. I still love my M21-04 and would trust it for self defense, but I wouldn't use it for heavier uses.
Click to expand...

I don't agree that liner locks need to be babied and not used for tactical purposes. The founder of Spyderco, a man named Sal Glesser, was asked by some military folks (high up) to design a good dependable knife. He could have come up with any style or steel yet this is what he chose after dealing with probably thousands of knives during his lifetime.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=19

Here is a video of that knife in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImYpuM0B1Ew

The Chris Reeves Sebenza is another classic tactical knife.

http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.htm
 
Decent liner locks (the kind made by Spyderco) can be used for tactical applications, but the knife tests helps me trust a specific knife. It all has to do with the blade stop configuration and the quality of the tempered spring steel of the liner. Even so, I just don't like liner locks generally speaking. I like Spyderco's tactical offerings and love their size, weight and the fact you can clip them to almost anything. Lately, they've been changing their blades to a flat grind which many people like.

And like I said, I put a lot of stock in tests. If I can see a knife demonstrating strength and durability, that goes a long way. Some people criticize Cold Steel for the brutal tests they put their knives through, but despite the hyped copy ("...with this knife, you're a power. There's no denying it!") and crummy music, the tests are impressive. Also, although I like their Tri-Ad locks, their knives are a bit chunky and I prefer their previous lock backs. They were strong enough, fit my hand easier and had polished hollow grind knives that I prefer over the flat grind.

As for the Sebenza, it's a frame lock if I'm not mistaken. It's one of my favorite tactical knives. :D
 
GatorFlash1 said:
I don't agree that liner locks need to be babied and not used for tactical purposes. The founder of Spyderco, a man named Sal Glesser, was asked by some military folks (high up) to design a good dependable knife. He could have come up with any style or steel yet this is what he chose after dealing with probably thousands of knives during his lifetime.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=19

Here is a video of that knife in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImYpuM0B1Ew

The Chris Reeves Sebenza is another classic tactical knife.

http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.htm
Click to expand...

Jeez, it's "tactical" because nutnfancy says it is? I love the millie(I have 7 of them) but I wouldn't use it as an SD knife if I had a choice. To me it's a utility cutter that is almost unbeaten in folders.

If you try slashing tests with a millie(I know, it's not everything in SD), you'll find that it causes damage like a much shorter knife. An endura inflicts longer and deeper wounds. The large cutout for the liner lock also makes accidental disengagement kinda probable in stab and twist techniques.

To get back on topic, I have used a couple of my millies a lot and I find that the engagement has barely moved. My black millie has been sharpened a lot and I'd say that I'll probably wear out the blade sooner than the lock.
 
Last edited:
have a 75 too
the geometry is really well made, if it does not stick (mine is perfect) it will be subject to little to no wear
if you see the angle on the tang has a line that indicates where to stop grinding when assembled, that's an indication of a well made knife (and well tought)
if it wears (liner) it will "travel" further bit I bet it'll stay the same over time if you respect it as a tool

Maxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top