Sticky lock = Good

[vwb563]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to post something that's on my mind. As I was sitting here watching TV and fidgeting with a favorite knife of mine (I won't mention brand names since this post isn't about brands but about locks) I noticed that the knife's lock is getting kinda of sticky again since the sharpie I applied to the lock face has worn off. The knife is a titanium handled frame lock with a S30V blade. It does not have a steel lock insert. The stickiness is nothing to where you would need anything to pry the lock open but sticky enough to where it sometimes "pops" when I open it. I was sitting here thinking of putting some more sharpie on it or trying something new like anti-oxidant compound that I saw someone use on YouTube that seem to work wonders when it hit me, what's the problem with having a mildly sticky lock? Seems to me that having a sticky lock that won't give during applied pressure say doing something like spine whacking or batonlng is better than having a freely releasing lock that does give and pop open. I've had frame and liner lock knives in the past that released very freely but could be forced open by merely applying hand pressure only! I admit I fell into the mindset that I must have a lock that releases freely and not be sticky but as I set here playing with this knife I'm kinda changing my opinion about this issue. This is just one of my rambling thoughts and I hope I didn't bore everyone who read this but what's your thinking on this issue? A sticky lock that holds or a free lock that might not hold?

 

[craytab]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to post something that's on my mind. As I was sitting here watching TV and fidgeting with a favorite knife of mine (I won't mention brand names since this post isn't about brands but about locks) I noticed that the knife's lock is getting kinda of sticky again since the sharpie I applied to the lock face has worn off. The knife is a titanium handled frame lock with a S30V blade. It does not have a steel lock insert. The stickiness is nothing to where you would need anything to pry the lock open but sticky enough to where it sometimes "pops" when I open it. I was sitting here thinking of putting some more sharpie on it or trying something new like anti-oxidant compound that I saw someone use on YouTube that seem to work wonders when it hit me, what's the problem with having a mildly sticky lock? Seems to me that having a sticky lock that won't give during applied pressure say doing something like spine whacking or batonlng is better than having a freely releasing lock that does give and pop open. I've had frame and liner lock knives in the past that released very freely but could be forced open by merely applying hand pressure only! I admit I fell into the mindset that I must have a lock that releases freely and not be sticky but as I set here playing with this knife I'm kinda changing my opinion about this issue. This is just one of my rambling thoughts and I hope I didn't bore everyone who read this but what's your thinking on this issue? A sticky lock that holds or a free lock that might not hold?

Seems to me that if you are using a folding knife for spine whacking and or batoning you are using your folding knife wrong.

I don't mind a slightly sticky lock. I've found that dis-and-reassembly can often fix a sticky lock, at least it has for the models I've had with the issue. I'm speaking about a spyderco k2 and a 0560.

 

[Mo2]

Sticky locks aren't good if it's too sticky. I have one that takes two hands to release. I like it alot except for that. It's rather annoying.

But yes the people who make there knives like that think they are good. They have all mostly moved to steel Lockbars due to customers not buying them if they don't have lockbar inserts... Due to wear or stick mostly.

 

[vwb563]

Seems to me that if you are using a folding knife for spine whacking and or batoning you are using your folding knife wrong.

Agreed. I do not spine whack nor baton my folding knives. I should have been more clear on this. I was only saying if you are the ones who do these sorts of things with some of these "hard use knives" then seems to me that a sticky lock is better to have. Seems a lot of people want a freely opening lock with zero lock stick but then they want their free lock to hold under and circumstances. I believe I'd rather have a mildly sticky lock that I could trust to hold.

Sticky locks aren't good if it's too sticky. I have one that takes two hands to release. I like it alot except for that. It's rather annoying.

Agreed. I am talking about a mildly sticky lock like my knife is. No one would want a lock that has to be pried open.

 

[evilgreg]

If you like sticky locks, have you tried any Emerson products yet? Most of them seem to have sticky locks. Not the Kershaw or ZT versions, though.

I find it's one of the things I dislike about them. Fit and finish and lock issues are my main complaints with the brand, but otherwise I really like some of their designs. If you prefer a sticky lock they might be right up your alley . . .

 

[SpySmasher]

Interesting. Knife-fidgeters seem like the ones who dislike sticky locks the most.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Seems like a band-aid solution at best, to me. IMO, the holy trinity of practical lock design is strength, reliability and ease of use (in no particular order). With lock stick you're explicitly sacrificing some margin of ease of use for strength, which I don't think is a terribly good tradeoff, partly because I don't place ridiculously high value on lock strength and partly because there are plenty of knives out there with locks that are strong and reliable that don't have lock stick.

 

[Mikel_24]

I read somewhere here in Bladeforums... that there was a time... where lock stick (reasonable) was a FEATURE and not a DEFECT....

From my personal experience, the only knife I've owned that had such a bad lock stick that for a while it required both hands to disengage the lock was a CRKT M16-14 (pre-Lawks). This knife, when flipped open too hard (first knife I hade with a flipper, Carson Flipper nevertheless) got the linerlock got really stuck.

Just a matter of not flicking it stupidily hard and it is fine.

I have an Emerson Shockwave in my hand right now (not the perfect office knife if you ask me but a man has to do what a man has to do... sometimes!) and the lock does stick a little, but I just don't care. Apples, oranges and the ocassional banana don't stand a chance!

 

[craytab]

Seems like a band-aid solution at best, to me. IMO, the holy trinity of practical lock design is strength, reliability and ease of use (in no particular order). With lock stick you're explicitly sacrificing some margin of ease of use for strength, which I don't think is a terribly good tradeoff, partly because I don't place ridiculously high value on lock strength and partly because there are plenty of knives out there with locks that are strong and reliable that don't have lock stick.

Lock usability in a supposedly one hand opener and closer is paramount. If a lock sticks a bit, no problem so long as I can close it with one hand safely. If a knife takes two hands to close when it shouldn't, I have a problem with that. I've got slip joints if I want two hand operation.

The spyderco k2 was a tough one until I took it apart (impressive simplicity) and put it back together. Perfect lock up and vastly reduced lock stick.

 

[pinnah]

I've found that dis-and-reassembly can often fix a sticky lock, at least it has for the models I've had with the issue.

Why would people buy knives that need to be disassembled and reassembled in order to work correctly?

Why not just buy a better knife?

I've got slip joints if I want two hand operation.

Plenty of slip joints can be opened and closed with one hand. No problem.

 

[Pomsbz]

Plenty of slip joints can be opened and closed with one hand. No problem.

I only know of the Opinel and that's a friction folder. Can you elucidate?

 

[M. Johnwell]

Why would people buy knives that need to be disassembled and reassembled in order to work correctly?

Why not just buy a better knife?

I don’t really mind having to disassemble and reassemble a knife to get it to work perfectly for me; it doesn’t cost me anything and it’s not like the knife wasn’t functional to begin with.

I only know of the Opinel and that's a friction folder. Can you elucidate?

I don’t know which ones he was referring to, but the Spyderco urban is a slip joint and it’s super easy to use one-handed.

 

[PirateSeulb]

I don't really mind a slightly sticky lock I do have concerns with the lock wearing out quicker so I prefer steel lock bars or steel inserts myself. I typically avoid titanium frames that lack an insert due to my likely unreasonable concerns for quicker wearing lock interfaces.

 

[vwb563]

I read somewhere here in Bladeforums... that there was a time... where lock stick (reasonable) was a FEATURE and not a DEFECT....

This is what I'm talking about, reasonable lock stickiness. The kind where the knife is still able to be unlocked with one hand. And yes in my eyes it seems like this would be a feature, not a defect if one is looking for a strong folding knife say as in a fighting knife or hard use kind of knife. I've had several brands over the years which had mild lock stickiness and I'm starting to see this as a non-issue instead of a problem like I have in the past.

 

[Pilsner]

I don’t really mind having to disassemble and reassemble a knife to get it to work perfectly for me; it doesn’t cost me anything and it’s not like the knife wasn’t functional to begin with.

Yes. But I draw the line when you have to faff about with oil baths and the like just so the ring lock doesn’t bind up in a bit of wet weather. Can’t be doing with Opinels, for example.

 

[steelhead seeker]

I dont want a sticky lock at all. No spine whacking or batoning folders here. Just cutting and fidgeting with them sometimes so when I go to close them I want them to close with no issue.

 

[craytab]

Why would people buy knives that need to be disassembled and reassembled in order to work correctly?

Why not just buy a better knife?

Good question. With the K2 I knew I was getting into a Ti framelock that could have lock stick. Spyderco says it in the description. It was a discontinued product and the price was more than right. I couldn't resist trying out a big slab of 10v. I'm a knife user after all. The lock was a bit sticky as stated. A quick and easy take down was all I had to do to alleviate the problem. No need to create a thread here asking for advice. Previous experience and all that.

The other knife I had lock stick with was a very used 0560. Custom scale. Very cool knife. The lock stick wasn't a huge issue as it was still usable one handed. I could still cut zucchini with it after all. It had obviously come from a smoking home so I disassembled it and washed the thing thoroughly. Put it back together and there was no smoke smell and the lock stick was greatly reduced. I bought the knife because I am a fan of the platform and it was a very good price, ridiculously cheap if you look at what they go for now.

I do own and carry knives that I consider better. I hope my explanation of why I came about these blades is acceptable. Both were a steel (pun intended) and got decent EDC use. I still have the K2. It's just a fun big folder in a steel you don't see often in a production knife.

Plenty of slip joints can be opened and closed with one hand. No problem.

"Can be" and "easily", like a modern one hand folder are two different things. I carry both a slip joint and a modern most days now. I know which one makes my life easier when I have to cut something with one hand.

And because pictures are good!

(that blue SAK is in my pocket right now, great freaking knife!)

 

[Quiet]

Why would people buy knives that need to be disassembled and reassembled in order to work correctly?

Why not just buy a better knife?



Plenty of slip joints can be opened and closed with one hand. No problem.

I agree, better knives only really need to have some parrafin oil soaked into the pivot, the lock ring fiddled with, those are the best knives, amirite?

 

[craytab]

This is what I'm talking about, reasonable lock stickiness. The kind where the knife is still able to be unlocked with one hand. And yes in my eyes it seems like this would be a feature, not a defect if one is looking for a strong folding knife say as in a fighting knife or hard use kind of knife. I've had several brands over the years which had mild lock stickiness and I'm starting to see this as a non-issue instead of a problem like I have in the past.

Take a look at the bottom of the description here:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...e-cpm-s10v-satin-plain-blade-titanium-handles

Now, I'm not sure this was an actual feature or more of an explanation after the fact but it is almost what you are talking about. I found this knife to still be one hand, not like what spyderco claims. Still a great knife in a great steel at a great discontinued price ($150).

 

[pinnah]

"Can be" and "easily", like a modern one hand folder are two different things. I carry both a slip joint and a modern most days now. I know which one makes my life easier when I have to cut something with one hand.

I believe you are conflating "easily" and "quickly".

Many slip joints are easily one hand opened if one knows how (just as standard transmissions are easily shifted if one knows how). The trick is to find slip joints with pinchable main blades.

Pinchable slip joints can't be one hand opened as quickly as modern designs.