The liner lock

mendezj

mendezj

Joined
Nov 24, 1998
Messages
993
Full disclosure: the great majority of my knives are “custom” traditional knives and fixed blades. However, years ago I bought at the Blade Show in Atlanta a knife from Elishewitz that had a liner lock. My first liner lock. My first impression was that the lock seemed “cheap”, awkward, uncomfortable, impractical when closing the blade, a step down from the traditional Buck 110 type lock. Ever since then I’ve rather looked down on the liner lock.

However, more recently, as I’ve been buying modern type knives my views on the liner lock have tamed down. No doubt the liner lock on a Socom Elite looks great to me, as well as the lock on a Hinderer. But I still find closing the blade awkward, and the idea of a piece of bent liner to secure the blade seems weird to me.

It is not my intention, by any means, to put down the liner lock or anything else for that matter, but I would like to learn the opinion of others regarding the liner lock. Thank you.
 
Liner locks aren't my favorite, but I have had good luck with them, even on cheap knives. Frame locks on the other hand have given me a lot of grief, the cheap ones are often too stiff or develop lock rock.

I think if a liner lock isn't strong enough for a given activity you should probably just use a fixed blade...or the proper tool for said activity.

I only find them awkward and uncomfortable when they are too stiff or have lock stick, which once again I have seen more in frame locks than liner locks.
 
:) Yes , the best ones can work fine ...but I've had much more long-term trouble with them than my favorite back lock , Cold Steel Tri-ad .

The improperly made or adjusted ones can be downright dangerous . :(:thumbsdown:
 
I prefer Frame Locks over Liner Locks, but a good Liner Lock can be safe and fast to stow and deploy. My favorite Liner Locks are Emersons, once they break in that are great. But with everything else in the Knife World everyone’s opinion of great is different. That’s why we all spend so much time selling and buying on BF.
 
I like a good liner lock. I prefer them to frame locks because I like having unbroken scale on each side of the handle.

Other types of locks might be stronger but by how much? Whenever this comes up, I always have to ask. How strong does the lock on a folding knife need to be? What activities are too rough for a liner lock but fine for some other kind of lock?
 
I've probably owned more liner locks and frame locks than anything else over the course of my life, but finally realized a few years ago that I just don't like them that much. Or lockbacks. So now the only locking knife I still own is an Axis lock, which I love, but I'm just much more interested in slipjoints these days. I'm not tacticool, so using two hands to open and close the knife doesn't bother me. I tend to think that if you need to deploy it in a hurry or you're worried about the strength of the lock, you might do better with a fixed blade.

-Tyson
 
I've had a titanium liner lock wear out leading to blade rock. Have avoided liner locks since in favour of the frame lock.
 
Frame and liner took me a while to get used to.
Prefer something like button or Axis, something where your finger/hand isn't under the blade.
 
The TRM Neutron and Rat 2 D2 are the only liner locks that have survived being purged from my collection. It's not a strength thing, I just tend to not like how they look or feel. With so many options out there, why should I settle?
 
My edc for many years since it was first produced is the Spyderco Gayle Bradley. I really thought this was an awesome knife, blade, fit and finish, etc. I don't know if I'll ever move to a different edc knife. In any case the liner lock works perfectly and I have never wondered for a moment if it would ever slip and close on me.

Like any lock on a folder it's performance depends on the designer and manufacturer of the folder.

 
I have a few --Keshaw/Emerson, Emerson, Spyderco Military -- and they all work fine. No lock is failproof, but a well-designed and executed liner lock is simple, reliable, easy to use and functional.
 
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