On Integral Ti framelocks and lock-stick

[ferider]

My knife "collection" (quite a few, but mostly users) consists mostly of Spyderco and Hinderers; I started with Spyderco.

My experience with Spyderco Ti frame-locks (and youtube, etc.) "taught" me that Ti locks "needed" steel inserts. I was never able to remove stick on my K2s (10v) and Tighe Sticks (s90v), and you can visibly see how the locks have worn and are still wearing. On the other hand, the lock on my Ti Militaries and Advocate (with inserts) remain smooth and perfect, with constant, for Spydercos typical ~50% lock coverage.

Then I started using Hinderers, first with steel insert knives. By now I also have classic non-insert Hinderers. Had a couple with lock stick at first, but it was easily removed: a few days of Sharpie, and the stick is gone, and inspection shows that the tang wears, _not_ the lock. Then again, one of my Full Tracks has an insert and stick, and the stick was persistent, until I moved from ball bearings to PB washers on that knife, now the stick is gone (?!).

So now I'm back to happily using non-insert Ti frame-locks, just not from Spyderco (don't get me wrong, still a fan of my other Spydies).

Still confuses me though. The K2s and Sticks have a visibly carbidized lock, much like my Gen 4 XM-18s (s30vn and 20cv). Still, I hesitate to use K2s & Sticks as - by now - some locks are covering > 70%. Plus, I'm not talking about a bit of stick, I have to close them with my index finger, they are too sticky to use my thumb with reasonable force. Such beautiful knives though ...

Comments ? Thanks,

Roland.

 

[sharp_edge]

Which ones of yours have > 70% lockup? Unclear based on your post. Were they just like that in day one or the lockup % increased over time?

The lock stick on Spyderco K2 has more to do with the construction of the knife, I suspect. The three gen 4 Hinderer XM-18s that I have have zero lock stick.

I don't think the change of lockup % has much to do with insert or no insert; it is more about lock geometry.

 

[ferider]

The K2s are the worst. Started off with less than 50%, and now all 3 > 70%, one of them close to 90% or so. Just checked my Tighe stick, also > 60% now.

Both K2 and Stick do not show wear on the Tang. I can see the tang of my Hinderers wear in.

 

[stonproject]

I only have one ti framelock at this point with no steel insert, one of the first run spyderco military, and fortunately it doesn't have lock stick. I've had ti liner/framelocks in the past with severe lockstick though, notably from emerson and boker.