To be fair, the two following knife locks that will be explored in this article do not constitute the majority of the industry's options.
Even with the advent of several new and popular lock types in the past few years, it is probably fair to say that 80% to 90% of folding knives on the market are still made with a frame lock, liner lock, or lock back.
With that said, two of the best folding knife locks out there, and certainly two that are exceptionally popular at the present time, are bar locks and button locks.
Here's what they offer.
The Bar Lock
Pioneered by Benchmade and called the AXIS lock, the bar lock consists of a small cylinder mounted in between the frame/scales of a folding knife, under or behind the blade.
There is a small U or “omega” shaped spring in front of it that holds it either closed or open, depending on the position, along with a cutout in the base of the blade stock that matches the shape of the bar.
When the knife is opened, the bar lock slides forward into this recess in the blade, preventing it from closing.
The bar lock is probably the strongest folding knife lock that has been developed yet. Not only is it extremely strong and resistant to failure, it is almost impossible to break; the knife blade is more likely to snap than the lock's bar is to deform, allowing it to close unintentionally.
In addition to being very strong, there is almost no chance of accidental disengagement, as there is with a liner lock or frame lock, and the bar lock is also inherently ambidextrous.
Perhaps most importantly, bar locks can be opened or closed with the user's fingers away from the path of the blade, making them inherently safer as well.
The Button Lock
The button lock mechanism is another folding lock type that has become very popular in recent years, and which has been prominently featured in models like the CJRB Pyrite and CIVIVI Elementum.
The button lock configuration actually varies internally, but the basic premise is that there is a button on one side of the knife's scales that communicates with a lock bar inside the liner. When the knife is opened, the lock bar swings into place and wedges the blade open. When the button is depressed, the lock bar is disengaged, allowing the knife to close. Depending on the internal configuration, a button lock may be capable of locking the blade closed as well as opened.
If the lock can lock the blade closed, that is an advantage in terms of safety, as it prevents the knife from being opened accidentally. Also, button locks are fairly strong, though not quite as strong as a bar lock.
The form factor of a button lock is also extremely ergonomic, intuitive, and user-friendly, and responds well to fidgeters.
The design of the button lock also makes it possible for a user to close the blade without putting his or her fingers in the path of the blade, which, like a bar lock, makes it much safer.
Find the Best Folding Knife for Your Loadout
Ultimately, both of these folding knife lock types are among the best and strongest out there. In terms of strength alone, the bar lock is stronger, but both of them represent upgrades over standard locking mechanisms in terms of safety, strength, and form factor.
There are also a lot of new knife models out there with one of these two locking mechanisms. To explore some of the best folding knife models on the market right now, or to learn more about these lock types, visit White Mountain Knives today.
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