How Does the Lock Work on a Pocket Knife?

Many pocket knives lock for safety.

Pocket knives are a common and useful portable tool, however, they still are knives. Basic safety is the rule of the day anytime you deal with sharpened metal. Many folding knives include a blade lock to improve that level of safety.

Slip Joint Locks

A slip joint lock keeps a blade in position once it's opened. It consists of a strip of metal attached to the side of the knife's handle. When the blade opens, the metal strip springs into position to block the closing path of the knife. You manually press it out of the way when you want to close the blade.

Liner-Lock Locks

Seen in profile, a liner-lock knife appears to have a crack running through one side of the liner. When you open it, a section of the liner slides inward along the crack to block the blade from closing. When it comes time to close the knife, you push that section back in place with a thumb.

Lock-Back Locks

A lockback knife has a notch in the back of the handle that holds a spring-loaded rocker bar. When the blade is opened, the rocker bar slides into some of the space the closed blade occupies. You push the rocker bar out of the way to close.

References

• Custom Tacticals: Slipjoint Locking Systems
• Custom Tacticals: Lockback Locking Systems
• Custom Tacticals: Liner Lock Locking Systems