does a linerlock or a lockback make the best spyderco knife?
DESCRIPTION
First off, let’s start this right up with a disclaimer. We are fully aware that Spyderco is one of the most visionary knifemakers in the modern industry and that they produce a lot - a lot! - of knives that do not have either linerlocks or lockback mechanisms. For more information: http://whitemountainknives.com/brands/Spyderco.htmlTRANSCRIPT
Does a
Linerlock or a
Lockback Make
the Best
Spyderco
Knife?
We‟re also aware that Spyderco produces a lot of fixed blades that have no locks at
all since they are, after all, fixed.
We are venturing forward with this topic precisely because, and only because, we
know that many in the so called „knife community‟ really only consider folders for
EDC, and since Spyderco is one of the most popular brands in folders, we were
figuring we‟d take a look at whether a linerlock or a lockback constitutes the „best
Spyderco knife.”
Liner Locks are affordable and practical for knife
designers to produce, and for most intents and
purposes, they provide a sure, sturdy lockup. Here
are some of the benefits of a quality linerlock
mechanism:
● Linerlock blades often move around smooth
bearings and enable the knife to be opened very
easily with one hand.
● Linerlocks can not only be deployed rapidly, but
often engage very easily.
● Liner Locks are very easy to disengage with one
hand.
● Some linerlocks, also known as “sub frame locks”
stay well away from a user‟s hands when the knife
is open.
Now let‟s take a look at some of the drawbacks of
the linerlock mechanism.
● Liner Locks are not particularly strong, as far as
locks are concerned, and a lot of torsion on the
frame of the knife can cause the lock to disengage,
which can be very dangerous.
● Liner Locks can become loose over time.
By contrast, a lot of folding knives have what is
known as a lockback mechanism, which in reality is
one of a class of locking mechanisms that operate
by pretense of a spring-loaded bar that holds (locks)
the blade open. Here are some of the advantages of
a lockback.
● Lockback knives are very often sturdily built, and
lockbacks are some of the strongest locking
mechanisms found in folding blades (if not the
strongest).
● Lockbacks open and close with ease, and often
provide a strong, sure lockup.
● There is very little risk of a lockback accidentally
disengaging, without a catastrophic failure.
Now let‟s consider some of the drawbacks of a
lockback.
● Unfortunately, despite their inherent strength, it is
very difficult to disengage a lockback. Most
lockback knives require two hands to disengage.
● Some lockback knives do not allow for one
handed opening (Spyderco‟s thumb holes
[Spyderholes] eliminate this on some models.)
That‟s about it for lockback weaknesses, as really the only one lies in the fact that
some cannot be easily disengaged with one hand. That does, categorically, make
the lockback the stronger of the two mechanisms. Still, strength and convenience
must be weighed together if you‟re really going to try to identify the best Spyderco
knife.
We can‟t say for certainty which lock makes the better choice, but if you‟re looking
for a high quality pocket knife (or any folding knife, really) Spyderco knives offer a
lot of representatives. There are enough high performance pocket knives in their
lineup to satisfy anyone‟s tastes, from fixed-blade fanatics to fans of folders.
Lucky for you, whether you prefer the linerlock or the
lockback, Spyderco won‟t let you down. Their super
blade steels, innovative compression locks, and other
user friendly features (like finger choils and pocket
clips) will not disappoint you.
If you‟re looking for some more
information on what makes a
quality locking mechanism, or you
simply want to identify your next
pick in a Spyderco pocket knife,
visit White Mountain Knives at
WhiteMountainKnives.com. There,
you can read up in their blog or
just pick out your next favorite.
