How Does a Folding Knife Work?

What is a Folding Knife?

A folding knife has a blade that is joined to the handle by a pivot. There is a grove in the handle, which allows the blade to be turned back into the handle by pivot. Thus, the knife can be folded into itself.

Non-Locking Designs

Some folding knife designs lack a lock, or a mechanism for securing the blade in place once it has been extended. Most utility pocket knives and some switchblades are of this type. Switchblades differ from other folding knives in that they use a spring to extend the blade from the handle.

Locking Designs

Many folding knives employ a locking device of some kind to secure the blade once it has reached full extension. This makes the blade safer and easier to use, especially when the knife encounters resistance during cutting. Buck knives are a common example, and employ a variety of locking devices such as slip joint, liner-lock or lock-back.