Pocket Knife Lock Strength Test

[pfrsantos]

Here it is, for those os us who have wandered which type of lock is stronger:

[pfrsantos]

Again, with some new locking mechanisms:

[RF52]

Interesting video Thanks for sharing

[Vidar]

Interesting video.

It got me thinking. Can't most kinds of locks be made to hold a given load? Increase size and add metal as needed to reach the wanted goal?

That wanted goal should be as much strength as necessary for any practical use - with a decent safety margin on top. Strength beyond that just make us carry around extra unnecessary weight. From that viewpoint I'm ambivalent with tools or knives that can take way way more abuse than they will ever be subjected to in real life - even though that makes them shine in destructive tests. To me if something is tough and strong enough for actual use then that works just great - anything beyond that is kind of moot?

Anyone knows how the various kinds of locks rates with respect to providing the best lock per weight and space used? 

[Dean51]

I enjoy closing axis and liner locks, I just like the easy one hand closing.
What I don't under stand is why anyone would care about lock strength beyond practical use. Admittedly I'm not in the hard use camp, right tool for the job and all that.
Why would and how could anyone in normal practical use subject a knifes lock to the kind of stress shown in either video?

If you stress a knife enough to break a lock, then you as a user are doing something very wrong.

The most important lock is the one between your ears and it's the only one I rely on.

[David]

I enjoy closing axis and liner locks, I just like the easy one hand closing.
What I don't under stand is why anyone would care about lock strength beyond practical use. Admittedly I'm not in the hard use camp, right tool for the job and all that.
Why would and how could anyone in normal practical use subject a knifes lock to the kind of stress shown in either video?

If you stress a knife enough to break a lock, then you as a user are doing something very wrong.

The most important lock is the one between your ears and it's the only one I rely on.

Amen brother Dean!     

[Gerhard Gerber]

Simple attempted cut with my Kershaw Skyline had the liner lock over 100% recently.......dead branch on an office plant.

Although I fully agree that knives are meant to cut  and don't need to be that strong, the above experience just re-affirmed why I prefer lock-backs.

[Dean51]

If it was me I would send the Skyline back to Kershaw, it sounds like there was something not right from the factory. It wouldn't be unusual for a knife to get out the door with an issue that only shows up after some use. Tooling wear between changes. That could happen regardless of price or manufacturer or lock type.
I understand how a failure of a lock type would leave a person worried about that lock type.

I was reading about the Military issue MIL-K having spring breakage problems. "The 1760 is made to a government spec that calls for 410 stainless steel. The government spec also called for a life cycle test of opening and closing the blades 3000 times. When tested for the Gov. most spring lasted anywhere from 3,500 to 9,000 cycles. Maybe about 1996 or 1997 the spring was changed and life cycles were increased to 20,000 cycles or so."
As a side note Camillus expected over 90,000 cycles from their civilian production springs.

Open a knife 10 times a day for 10 years and that equals 36,500 cycles. In 20 years that equals 73,000  cycles. I would be more interested in which lock can endure more open and closing cycles and remain reliable. To make the test really accurate you would have do a  push cut in between each cycle, with a more reasonable lock check every 10,000 cycles.

I doubt BladeHQ will do a test like that, to much time and expense for them. That's the kind of test I would be interested in.

[VICMAN]

Interesting videos Pfrsantos!

Thanks for sharing them.

[NutSAK]

What I don't under stand is why anyone would care about lock strength beyond practical use.

 

[Gerhard Gerber]

If it was me I would send the Skyline back to Kershaw, it sounds like there was something not right from the factory. It wouldn't be unusual for a knife to get out the door with an issue that only shows up after some use. Tooling wear between changes. That could happen regardless of price or manufacturer or lock type.
I understand how a failure of a lock type would leave a person worried about that lock type.

I had the knife in a hammer grip and I was pushing down at about 45deg trying to cut through the dead stick that turned out to be a bit tougher than expected....

I suspect because of the single liner the knife flexed a bit and that allowed the lock to move over all the way.

Currently the knife is in my pocket and working 100%
 
I bought the Skyline despite the liner lock, for OHO and OHC and just about everything else I prefer the Spyderco mid-back lock.

[Poncho65]

Some great converation guys I haven't watched the video because I am on cell data but from the comments I am assuming the backlock performed well It is my favorite type of lock but I have used slipjoints so much over the years that I don't really have to have a lock system I do like a liner lock for ease of closing though but if you really don't want a knife to close on you then you might need a fixed blade

[AimlessWanderer]

It's interesting watching these types of test, but still doesn't make me any more enamoured to locking blades. I've long been of the mindset that if a slippy isn't up to the task, I need a fixed blade. That's unlikely to change any time soon.

[Old Boy]

Cold Steel has similar lock strength tests against their Triad locks. One thing I did notice is that they never compare their lock against a back lock. Always a frame lock etc. That I would be interested to see.

[Dean51]

Some great converation guys I haven't watched the video because I am on cell data but from the comments I am assuming the backlock performed well It is my favorite type of lock but I have used slipjoints so much over the years that I don't really have to have a lock system I do like a liner lock for ease of closing though but if you really don't want a knife to close on you then you might need a fixed blade

I'm the same way about not having to have a lock. I've spent so much time with slip joints it's just second nature to use even a locking knife like a slip joint.
I look at knives like guns.
Never assume a gun is unloaded and never trust or rely on the safety.

Always assume a knife can fold. Even if it has a lock.
I never stab with a folding knife.
If a knife gets stuck in a heavy push cut, then I pull back and out and not up and out.
On a piercing cut push against the edge as you push forward.

Having said all that I do enjoy the one hand closing of some locks, like liner and axis locks. I even have the habit, good or bad of some times closing slip joints one handed.
Back locks I haven't warmed to, even if they are one of the better locks.  It seems there us an extra step I can't adjust to.

[Aloha]

While I dont mind a liner lock on my MTs I'll pass on a dedicated folder.  My 2 most used dedicated folders are lock backs.  Use what you're comfortable with this way you're less likely to have an accident.  Pushing a folder hard?  There are times when a knife is used in manner you deemed safe yet the lock failed. Knowing which lock has the potential to stand up to more vigorous use can be important IMO.  Certainly doesn't mean to go out and beat on your folder.  I'm trying to remember when I've had a incident? 

I like to carry a fixed blade.  Best "OHO" ever.  I'll push my blade within reason ( my experience ) but never abuse.  When it comes to folders, mine are used for such a variety of tasks that while I'd like to believe one should cover it all, thats not the case.  Lock strength should never be used in place of proper usage.     

[papadan]

Thanks for posting those reports. I.ve had some bad locks before. A couple cheap liner locks that would hold up to any pressure and a lock back that was too touchy, grip the knife for a hard cut and the lock would release.