Spyderco’s Compression Lock by Other Knifemakers

[RamZar]

The Spyderco patent on the Compression Lock expired in 2021 and now others are producing folders with the Compression Lock but they can’t call it Compression Lock because the trademark is still in effect.

One can draw parallels from the Benchmade Axis Lock when the patent expired in 2016. Now, lots of knife manufacturers make folders with a generic name of Crossbar Lock at a wide price range. Also, most improved upon the Axis Lock with better centering, lack of blade play, stronger & longer-lasting omega springs, etc. Competition drives innovation and price wars.

One is the Vosteed Psyop Top Liner Lock.

 

[DocJD]

I'm eager to see what other makers can do with the Demko's Tri-ad Lock , after the patent expires .

 

[flash900]

Thanks, Ram.
Interesting design.
It would be even nicer with a 2.9 inch blade.

 

[RamZar]

Thanks, Ram.
Interesting design.
It would be even nicer with a 2.9 inch blade.

The Vosteed Hedgehog is also a Top Liner Lock but with a 2.99" S35VN Blade & G10 or Micarta Handle.

 

[RamZar]

I'm eager to see what other makers can do with the Demko's Tri-ad Lock , after the patent expires .

It looks like the patent on the Tri-Ad Lock expires on August 21, 2026.

 

[Delgadonine]

Those look like 'Button Locks'.

My absolutely perfect PM2 doesn't have a button.

 

[RamZar]

Those look like 'Button Locks'.

My absolutely perfect PM2 doesn't have a button.

Spyderco Smock also has a Button Release on its Compression Lock.

 

[Delgadonine]

Oh!

Thank you!

That's new and weird to me.

If Spyderco is doing it, it's setting a very high bar.

Good luck competitors...

 

[RamZar]

Oh!

Thank you!

That's new and weird to me.

If Spyderco is doing it, it's setting a very high bar.

Good luck competitors...

Spyderco Smock has been available at Spyderco dealers since February 2019.

All locking mechanisms are eventually shared by all once any applicable patents expire.

 

[eveled]

Funny world.

Some people innovate, others copy, sometimes the copies are better sometimes they are not.

It is a good system it alows the innovators to monopolize for a while, then the idea becomes public domain and part of our base knowledge to build on and hopefully improve.

It’s fascinating to me how obvious and simple an idea is, after someone else thinks of it. I had a teacher who claimed to invent pantyhose.

He was watching his wife put on stockings and said “They should attach those to the panties.” She told him it was a dumb idea. A few years later they were all the rage.

I also met the guy who invented the socket with the pins inside to use on stripped nuts. I grew up with a kid whose grandfather invented the Lally column and the 2 headed nail,(used on concrete forms).

 

[ferider]

Oh!

Thank you!

That's new and weird to me.

If Spyderco is doing it, it's setting a very high bar.

Good luck competitors...

You can have that on a PM2 as well (photo from good ebay seller):

Even DIY is a possibility (on my Amalgam, before bladeswelove did the mod above). With the PM2 you can also pick a left handed version.

Funny world.

Some people innovate, others copy, sometimes the copies are better sometimes they are not.

It is a good system it alows the innovators to monopolize for a while, then the idea becomes public domain and part of our base knowledge to build on and hopefully improve.

Agreed. Whoever wants to use a patent can license it. Like the shark lock currently being used by Flytanium (attn. DocJD ).

 

[Ilikesharpstuff]

I don't have a pic handy but Craig Brown's "Brown Lock" on the FSD/Mini FSD is pretty much just a compression lock with a button release.

 

[jbmonkey]

I'm eager to see what other makers can do with the Demko's Tri-ad Lock , after the patent expires .

I'm eager to see Demko reusing his own lock design (talkin bout the tri-ad)in his own knives again.....

 

[Culprit99]

All locking mechanisms are eventually shared by all once any applicable patents expire.

Has anyone used the Paul Lock besides those who licensed it from Paul: Gerber, Lone Wolf Knives?

 

[abbazaba]

When will we see the CRK ceramic interface/detent on other brands? The closest I've see is the WE SNEX Mini Buster.

Not having that double click of the detent ball is so much better opening and closing.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Has anyone used the Paul Lock besides those who licensed it from Paul: Gerber, Lone Wolf Knives?

Benchmade did for a second after they acquired Lone Wolf. But I think everyone decided it was too mechanically difficult to mass produce for it to be viable and stopped.

 

[rycen]

Would the trademark prevent any of these companies at least giving credit?

 

[lambertiana]

The Vosteed Hedgehog is also a Top Liner Lock but with a 2.99" S35VN Blade & G10 or Micarta Handle.

Some of these versions of the compression lock, especially this Vosteed, have the button sticking far out of the scale. Is it possible to release the lock unintentionally by squeezing on the handle when doing hard work?

 

[Slice-E]

When will we see the CRK ceramic interface/detent on other brands? The closest I've see is the WE SNEX Mini Buster.

Not having that double click of the detent ball is so much better opening and closing.

I kind of doubt that this will catch on with many other makers. I feel like press fitting a ceramic ball into titanium has to be more expensive than a lock bar insert. I also don't think many knife people know the benefit of the ceramic lock bar interface.

 

[RamZar]

Some of these versions of the compression lock, especially this Vosteed, have the button sticking far out of the scale. Is it possible to release the lock unintentionally by squeezing on the handle when doing hard work?

Even on the Spyderco Smock the button seems to stick out but I haven’t heard of issues. The Volsteed ones seem similar but in one picture it looks pretty flush.