The Linerlock is a locking mechanism for folding pocket knives. A Linerlock is a folding knife with a side-spring lock that can be opened and closed with one hand without repositioning the knife in the hand. The lock is self-adjusting for wear. The modern Linerlock traces its lineage to the late 19th century, but in the 1980s the design was improved by American custom knifemaker Michael Walker.
Closeup image of Linerlock mechanism created by Michael Walker, shown from several angles.
Linerlock knives have been around since the late 19th century. The Cattaraugus liner locking patent, 825,093 was issued on July 3, 1906. After 1923 when the patent expired, it was used by other manufacturers such as in the common military and lineman's issue two-blade electrician’s knife; the Camillus TL-29 for the locking screwdriver-stripper blade, until 2007 when the Camillus Cutlery Company went out of business.[1]
Walker refined and popularized the design,[2][3] eventually securing a trademark[4] for the name "Linerlock" in March 1990.[5][6] Walker's improvement to the design was to facilitate true one handed opening of the knife.[7] This was accomplished by removing the weak back spring and adding a heat-treated stop pin to align the blade in the open position.[7] Walker added a detent ball to hold the blade in the closed position using the same spring force from the liner.[7][8]
Construction
Photo of Walker Linerlock knives with closeup of locking mechanism.
Linerlock mechanisms are most commonly composed of titanium alloy or steel.[8] The linerlock's locking side liner is split from the top toward the bottom, similar to an automotive leaf spring (also called a lock bar) that butts up against the tang of the blade to prevent the blade from closing.[9] In an interview with Blade in 1988, Walker stated, “This long leaf-spring effect cuts down on stress on the locking mechanism".[9] As the lock on the original electrician's knife was mostly to hold a screwdriver blade open (the knife blade, itself was secured by a slip joint method), Walker's refinements prevented the knife blade from closing on the user's hand and converted it into a true lock.[8][10]
To release the lock, the user presses the lock bar back toward the handle side, at which time the blade is free to close. In the closed position the lock bar (leaf spring) rests alongside the handle and the blade.[9]
Variations
Dual liner lock system as used in the Soldatenmesser 08 and various other Victorinox 111 mm models
There are a number of other variations on the Linerlock or locking liner, depending on the knife manufacturer. One example would be the frame lock, sometimes called the Reeve Integral Lock and used on the Sebenza. With the "frame lock," the frame rather than the liner acts like the leaf spring/lock bar. Another variation, known as the inset Linerlock has the leaf spring embedded into the plastic scales of the handle, technically forgoing a metal liner. Kershaw Knives uses "a pin-and-dimple lock" on a knife designed by custom knifemaker RJ Martin called the "Nerve" to keep the blade closed.[11]
^Haskew, Mike (2004). "Handmades that Stand the Test of Time". Blade. 30 (1).
^Delavigne, Kenneth T (January 2000). Spyderco Story: The New Shape of Sharp. pp. 118–125. ISBN1-58160-060-7.
^ abcWalker, Greg (1993). Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN0-87364-732-7.
^ abcTerzuola, Robert (2000). The Tactical Folding Knife: A Study of the Anatomy and Construction of the Liner-Locked Folder. Krause Publications. pp. 47–50. ISBN0-87341-858-1.
^ abcShackleford, Steve (2010). Blade's Guide to Knives & Their Values. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 452–453. ISBN978-1-4402-1460-8.
^Ayres, James M. (17 March 2010). The Tactical Knife: Designs, Techniques & Uses. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 68. ISBN978-1-4402-0900-0.
^. KAI. 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
External links
U.S. Patent 4,896,424
March 09, 2023
liner, lock, linerlock, locking, mechanism, folding, pocket, knives, linerlock, folding, knife, with, side, spring, lock, that, opened, closed, with, hand, without, repositioning, knife, hand, lock, self, adjusting, wear, modern, linerlock, traces, lineage, la. The Linerlock is a locking mechanism for folding pocket knives A Linerlock is a folding knife with a side spring lock that can be opened and closed with one hand without repositioning the knife in the hand The lock is self adjusting for wear The modern Linerlock traces its lineage to the late 19th century but in the 1980s the design was improved by American custom knifemaker Michael Walker Closeup image of Linerlock mechanism created by Michael Walker shown from several angles Contents 1 History 2 Construction 3 Variations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditLinerlock knives have been around since the late 19th century The Cattaraugus liner locking patent 825 093 was issued on July 3 1906 After 1923 when the patent expired it was used by other manufacturers such as in the common military and lineman s issue two blade electrician s knife the Camillus TL 29 for the locking screwdriver stripper blade until 2007 when the Camillus Cutlery Company went out of business 1 Walker refined and popularized the design 2 3 eventually securing a trademark 4 for the name Linerlock in March 1990 5 6 Walker s improvement to the design was to facilitate true one handed opening of the knife 7 This was accomplished by removing the weak back spring and adding a heat treated stop pin to align the blade in the open position 7 Walker added a detent ball to hold the blade in the closed position using the same spring force from the liner 7 8 Construction Edit Photo of Walker Linerlock knives with closeup of locking mechanism Linerlock mechanisms are most commonly composed of titanium alloy or steel 8 The linerlock s locking side liner is split from the top toward the bottom similar to an automotive leaf spring also called a lock bar that butts up against the tang of the blade to prevent the blade from closing 9 In an interview with Blade in 1988 Walker stated This long leaf spring effect cuts down on stress on the locking mechanism 9 As the lock on the original electrician s knife was mostly to hold a screwdriver blade open the knife blade itself was secured by a slip joint method Walker s refinements prevented the knife blade from closing on the user s hand and converted it into a true lock 8 10 To release the lock the user presses the lock bar back toward the handle side at which time the blade is free to close In the closed position the lock bar leaf spring rests alongside the handle and the blade 9 Variations Edit Dual liner lock system as used in the Soldatenmesser 08 and various other Victorinox 111 mm models There are a number of other variations on the Linerlock or locking liner depending on the knife manufacturer One example would be the frame lock sometimes called the Reeve Integral Lock and used on the Sebenza With the frame lock the frame rather than the liner acts like the leaf spring lock bar Another variation known as the inset Linerlock has the leaf spring embedded into the plastic scales of the handle technically forgoing a metal liner Kershaw Knives uses a pin and dimple lock on a knife designed by custom knifemaker RJ Martin called the Nerve to keep the blade closed 11 Some of the many knife makers and knife manufacturing companies that utilize the Linerlock in alphabetical order include Benchmade Buck Knives Cold Steel Ernest Emerson Fallkniven Gerber Knives Ken Onion Leatherman Michael Walker Mike Snody Microtech Knives Robert Terzuola Spyderco Strider Knives VictorinoxSee also EditLAWKS Michael Walker knifemaker Knives Pocket knivesReferences Edit Warner Ken 1991 Knives 91 p 31 Darom David 2003 Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives Saviolo Publisher p 48 ISBN 978 965 07 1174 0 Retrieved 7 April 2013 Howell Larry L Magleby Spencer P 2013 Handbook of Compliant Mechanisms New York John Wiley amp Sons p 278 ISBN 978 1119953456 SN 73813333 Haskew Mike 2004 Handmades that Stand the Test of Time Blade 30 1 Delavigne Kenneth T January 2000 Spyderco Story The New Shape of Sharp pp 118 125 ISBN 1 58160 060 7 a b c Walker Greg 1993 Battle Blades A Professional s Guide to Combat Fighting Knives Boulder Colorado Paladin Press pp 37 38 ISBN 0 87364 732 7 a b c Terzuola Robert 2000 The Tactical Folding Knife A Study of the Anatomy and Construction of the Liner Locked Folder Krause Publications pp 47 50 ISBN 0 87341 858 1 a b c Shackleford Steve 2010 Blade s Guide to Knives amp Their Values Iola Wisconsin Krause Publications pp 452 453 ISBN 978 1 4402 1460 8 Ayres James M 17 March 2010 The Tactical Knife Designs Techniques amp Uses Iola Wisconsin Krause Publications p 68 ISBN 978 1 4402 0900 0 Nerve KAI 2010 Archived from the original on 2012 12 18 Retrieved 2013 04 05 External links EditU S Patent 4 896 424 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liner lock amp oldid 1112286343, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
