- Joined
- Oct 3, 2019
- Messages
- 612
Howdy folks and Happy New Year....
I'd like to start off by saying thanks to the original OP of this title thread that either was closed by the OP or shutdown. In any case it was weirdly interesting, engaging, funny, addictive and at time thought provoking. It made 17 pages too! Not bad.
The reason for this thread is not to continue that thread per se but it was closed and since past the holidays and handling a few good lock-back knives, I've been doing some pondering and some deep thought on the issue. Especially as I found myself looking over my collection of different locking folders. There's the plunge lock or often called button lock, the liner lock, the compression lock, the axis lock, the (whatever the lock is called on the Anthem) lock, the compression ball lock (Manix 2 for example), the frame lock, the lock back, the Tria-ad lock, the Scorpion lock, the locks of OTFs like Microtech and such, and this list goes on and on.
I've been caught up in higher end knives for the past 3+ years and feel blessed to be able to experience and own such knives. However, I do wonder if they ARE the best knives? I kind of always just assumed given the quality of materials, the reputation, the way they feel in hand (think of Hinderers, Striders, Chris Reeves, and mid tech folders). I've never once personally ran into an issue with a locking knife failing other than a plunge lock that was already not properly engaged to begin with. I have though been cautiously worried at times with some frame locks or liner locks failing. I've heard stories about each and axis locks as well. It really got me thinking....
Buck, Spyderco, and Cold Steel (to name a few) have used lock backs in their most popular and profitable models for years and years. We talking lots of years.
Though I haven't done a ton of searching, I haven't heard of a good quality lock back failing yet. The few I recently experienced were surprisingly strong and solid and examining the way they lock the blade in and what is needed to make them fail, it makes you wonder - Is the Lock Back and variations thereof the strongest, most reliable in the game, even after all these years?
I personally think it is good even if you have the budget and are into custom knives, to keep your mind open to the idea that there are great knives and designs out there that have stood the test of time and still going strong and many under $150. It is a strange appreciation and wondering, a pondering if you will, looking upon very solid sub $100 lock-backs and thinking "my gosh, how did I miss this?!". Maybe it takes going to $750+ knife journeys to really come around full circle. Or maybe your budget doesn't allow and you've always just been in that Ignorance is Bliss stage. In reality, your bliss might actually be not one of ignorance but of sheer magical luck and circumstance and turn out to be knife bliss at its best.
Coming from this premise, getting back to the AD-10, one can only assume it is the most evolved version of those early, proven lock backs. I've never owned a Tri-AD lock but there are too many stellar reviews to ignore the hype. Stout 3.5" S35VN satin blade, Contoured G10 full grip-filling handle, maybe the strongest ever lock in the Tri-AD lock? Gosh, maybe it is definitely worth checking out again. I left Cold Steel in the dust years ago due to their grivory or plastic-y whatever you call them handles but with these new material upgrades and collaborations, the curiosity is very much there again in spades. Also happen to be looking for a decent camp/ work/ outdoorsy/ heavy duty knife once again. Thus, I'm considering choosing 1 of the following: The AD-10, the AD-15, the Max Scout, the Bush Ranger, and the Recon. Which one do ya'll recommend and why? If you had to or could only choose one what would it be? Also, if you aren't a fan of the AD-10 or the likes of these listed please say why and if you just are here for laughs, well, we could always use more of those too in these times.
I'd like to start off by saying thanks to the original OP of this title thread that either was closed by the OP or shutdown. In any case it was weirdly interesting, engaging, funny, addictive and at time thought provoking. It made 17 pages too! Not bad.
The reason for this thread is not to continue that thread per se but it was closed and since past the holidays and handling a few good lock-back knives, I've been doing some pondering and some deep thought on the issue. Especially as I found myself looking over my collection of different locking folders. There's the plunge lock or often called button lock, the liner lock, the compression lock, the axis lock, the (whatever the lock is called on the Anthem) lock, the compression ball lock (Manix 2 for example), the frame lock, the lock back, the Tria-ad lock, the Scorpion lock, the locks of OTFs like Microtech and such, and this list goes on and on.
I've been caught up in higher end knives for the past 3+ years and feel blessed to be able to experience and own such knives. However, I do wonder if they ARE the best knives? I kind of always just assumed given the quality of materials, the reputation, the way they feel in hand (think of Hinderers, Striders, Chris Reeves, and mid tech folders). I've never once personally ran into an issue with a locking knife failing other than a plunge lock that was already not properly engaged to begin with. I have though been cautiously worried at times with some frame locks or liner locks failing. I've heard stories about each and axis locks as well. It really got me thinking....
Buck, Spyderco, and Cold Steel (to name a few) have used lock backs in their most popular and profitable models for years and years. We talking lots of years.
Though I haven't done a ton of searching, I haven't heard of a good quality lock back failing yet. The few I recently experienced were surprisingly strong and solid and examining the way they lock the blade in and what is needed to make them fail, it makes you wonder - Is the Lock Back and variations thereof the strongest, most reliable in the game, even after all these years? I personally think it is good even if you have the budget and are into custom knives, to keep your mind open to the idea that there are great knives and designs out there that have stood the test of time and still going strong and many under $150. It is a strange appreciation and wondering, a pondering if you will, looking upon very solid sub $100 lock-backs and thinking "my gosh, how did I miss this?!". Maybe it takes going to $750+ knife journeys to really come around full circle. Or maybe your budget doesn't allow and you've always just been in that Ignorance is Bliss stage. In reality, your bliss might actually be not one of ignorance but of sheer magical luck and circumstance and turn out to be knife bliss at its best.
Coming from this premise, getting back to the AD-10, one can only assume it is the most evolved version of those early, proven lock backs. I've never owned a Tri-AD lock but there are too many stellar reviews to ignore the hype. Stout 3.5" S35VN satin blade, Contoured G10 full grip-filling handle, maybe the strongest ever lock in the Tri-AD lock? Gosh, maybe it is definitely worth checking out again. I left Cold Steel in the dust years ago due to their grivory or plastic-y whatever you call them handles but with these new material upgrades and collaborations, the curiosity is very much there again in spades. Also happen to be looking for a decent camp/ work/ outdoorsy/ heavy duty knife once again. Thus, I'm considering choosing 1 of the following: The AD-10, the AD-15, the Max Scout, the Bush Ranger, and the Recon. Which one do ya'll recommend and why? If you had to or could only choose one what would it be? Also, if you aren't a fan of the AD-10 or the likes of these listed please say why and if you just are here for laughs, well, we could always use more of those too in these times.
