Wenger button locks

[Rich S]

Does anyone know if Wenger makes a 85 mm button lock? If so, what are the
names and maybe who sells them (online) in the US?  I like the button lock on
the 130 mm Ranger but it is just too big for EDC. Thanks in advance.

Rich

[ColoSwiss]

Does anyone know if Wenger makes a 85 mm button lock? If so, what are the
names and maybe who sells them (online) in the US?  I like the button lock on
the 130 mm Ranger but it is just too big for EDC. Thanks in advance.

Rich

Wenger makes a series with what they call the 'Packlock' in 85mm. I don't care for the way they affect the feel of the grip, but a lot of people like them.

[Syph007]

Ya I like the button lock too, but its only on the big rangers.  So.. if you want the button lock you have to have bigger pockets!

[Rich S]

Thanks for the info. The 130mm rangers are just too large for EDC for me, so I guess
I'll have to be content with the top lever lock (not sure of the official name) on some
of the 85 mm. Just got a EVO S111 which seems to work well even with the lever on
the left side. I wish Vic or Wenger would make a right side thumb stud liner lock where
the liner lock worked to the left instead of backwards as on the Trekker series. Guess
we can't have everything we want

Thanks again
Rich

[stressmaster5000]

Does anyone know if Wenger makes a 85 mm button lock? If so, what are the
names and maybe who sells them (online) in the US?  I like the button lock on
the 130 mm Ranger but it is just too big for EDC. Thanks in advance.

Rich

Wenger makes a series with what they call the 'Pack-lock' in 85mm. I don't care for the way they affect the feel of the grip, but a lot of people like them.

Just a safety note about these "Pack-lock" Wengers. I have had 2 different Pack-lock models where the lock failed and the blade closed on me. I was never cut but still it tells me these tend to fail when they get older and worn. On the plus side, Wenger replaced the knives quickly when I sent one in for warranty. Just had to pay the ship.

[Rich S]

SM5000 -

Yes, I know the packlocks are weak and tend to wear easily. I had purchased another
model (forget which) off ebay. When I got it home, the lock would collapse with
the slightest pressure on the blade. I looked at the joint with a good magnifier
and it was worn and rounded off. I suspect the blade steel is a bit too soft
for a lock in the back spring like most lockbacks. I used a tiny grinder bit on
my dremel and squared off the blade depression where the lock is supposed to
hold. That done, it locked up tightly.  Perhaps the lock groove is too shallow or
the blade too soft for this type of lock to hold up well.

I think the Trekker liner lock tends to be the strongest, if it was just on the
right side to close with the right hand. I'm beginning to think the Swiss or
at least the knife designers are all left handed :-)

Rich

[RoboYeti]

My 85mm Wenger lock failed as well. It never cut me, I just noticed one day that the lock no longer worked. The backspring was still strong and I used the knife as normal until I sent it in for warranty repair. They sent me a whole new knife, and upgraded me from standard to Evo scales, which I appreciated.

I don't think I used the main blade on that Wenger hardly at all. It was five or six years old when the failure occurred, but I always favored the little non-locking blade. Reading the other comments in this thread, I looks like Wenger has a design flaw in the locking mechanism somewhere. It's too bad, I like the concept of a locking blade at the 85 mm size.

[Rich S]

Yes, I agree, there is a design problem with the packlock somewhere. I don't rely on
locking blades since any could fail. I actually carry a Deluxe Tinker in a belt pouch
and a thumb stud assisted opener liner lock in my pocket for heavy duty work. I just
like having the tools of a SAK; I'll stick with my Deluxe Tinker or for pocket carry a
Tinker or Mechanic. I did find today with my first Evo grip mentioned above that I
don't like that grip; it just feels really awkward in the hand IMHO. It will go in my
non-user box along with about 30-40 other knives :-(  Have searched for the
"perfect" folder and "perfect" fixed blade for 60 years and have decided there is no
such thing. That's probably why I have about 400 knives now :-) It's all a matter of compromise.

Rich