Methods for opening folding knives.
Only the lazy did not say about the knife and its role in a person's life. We will also do our part. Let's take a quick look at the history and evolution of the folding knife to understand what are the main methods of opening folding knives, as well as what caused the interest of manufacturers in creating all new types of locks for folding knives.
Looking ahead, we note: the appearance of a folding knife is nothing more than an attempt to circumvent the ban on the use of edged weapons at different stages of the development of human society. It is from this point of view that you need to look at the history of the appearance of a folding knife.
Folding knives have been used by a person for quite a long time without fixing in the open position. For household tasks (cooking, making fire, cutting fabrics, etc.), a knife is quite enough, which in the open position is fixed only by friction.
The evolution of the folding knife (the appearance of locks and latches) begins in the criminal world, where the knife still functions as a cold weapon. To be used for this purpose, the knife had to meet a few simple requirements:
the possibility of concealed wearing;
fast extraction and fast opening;
fixation in the open position for striking.
The appearance of elements of fixation and quick opening on folding knives really has criminal roots. This is confirmed by the fact that in some countries folding knives with one-handed or automatic opening are still banned, as well as knives that formed the basis of criminal legends: balisongs, bowie knives, Navajo knives with a spring opening mechanism.
If the appearance of folding knives as a class is based on certain restrictions on the use of knives by private individuals (under the conditions of a total ban on knives, an ordinary person needed any item that he could use in everyday life, and which clearly could not be classified as a cold weapon), then the main reason for the evolution of folding knives (the appearance of various types of fixation and opening methods) are all the same restrictions.
Only the vector of these restrictions is completely different - taking into account the current legislative restrictions, knife masters turn an ordinary pocket "warehouse" into a tactical knife:
which is rigidly fixed in the open position (in fact, turning it into a fixed one, with the ability to make stabbing and chopping blows);
locks of various types allow you to open the knife with one hand in a fraction of a second (either get it out of your pocket or remove it from the hanger already in the open position).
And if earlier it was necessary to rattle suspensions and harnesses for a long time to bring the weapon into combat position, now one easy “clack” and you have Cold Steel Ti-Lite in your hands. The appearance of this knife (widely known in narrow circles) can cool more than one hot head.
The evolution of folding knife locks went in two directions. The first direction is experiments with reliable fixation of the blade in the open position. The second direction is the fastest opening of the knife, opening the knife with one hand, inertial or automatic ejection of the blade.
Among fans of folding knives, there is no consensus on which type of lock provides the most reliable option for securing the blade in the open position. Someone considers the “back lock” to be the most durable, someone “frame lock”, and someone sincerely believes that the best lock is “fixed”.
Users on Internet forums lead various points vision, describing the reliability of a lock. If we analyze this flow of information, then in most cases the arguments "for" or "against" a certain type of lock are reduced to the description of specific cases when the back-lock knife has folded over the fingers or the pin-lock knife has become clogged with dirt and has stopped opening.
Conclusion: When choosing one or another type of lock for yourself, it is recommended to proceed from the scope of the possible use of a folding knife.
Conventionally, there are three main areas of application for folding knives:
knives for use in natural conditions (hiking, fishing, picnics);
EDC knives for daily use in the city (daily household tasks);
tactical knives (knife of last chance, self-defense).
Knives that are taken with you on a hike or a picnic often perform power work and are constantly polluted. For such use, simple and reliable locks of the type are recommended: back-lock, frame-lock, liner-lock. The main advantage of these locks for this type of application is the simplicity of construction. They are easy to clean and wash.
For daily use in the city, a knife with any type of lock is suitable. Using a knife in the city does not involve heavy loads and pollution. And then, even if your EDC device is a little dull or dusty, you can always give yourself a pleasant evening. We turn on a bright table lamp, take out tools, grinding stones, WD-40, balistol ... and let the whole world wait.
Tactical knives are a separate issue. And not everyone will discuss it publicly. Many things, even among knife lovers, are taboo. But one thing is for sure - unlike all other types of knives, a tactical knife (or "last chance" knife) must be fixed as much as possible when stabbing.
Here, of course, there are no equal pin locks. Or locks that combine the advantages of several types of locks. For example, the “tri-ad lock”, which is considered one of the most reliable knife locks.
One of the elements that affects the cost of a knife is, among other things, its lock. The Microtech brand makes great knives. Many knife lovers dream of them. But are you ready to clean fish with such a knife or cut meat for barbecue?
After the type of fixation that is most appropriate for the tasks has been determined, it is time to decide on the preferred method of opening the folding knife.
In an attempt to systematize this information, such a classification of types of opening folding knives was born.
The main types of opening folding knives:
Opening the knife with two hands;
Opening with one hand due to physical strength;
Opening with one hand (removal from the lock plus inertia);
Opening with one hand (disengagement from the lock plus work of the spring)
Opening without the help of hands (the emphasis on the butt clings to the edge of the pocket when the knife is taken out);
Automatic opening by pressing the spring lock (front and side opening by spring force);
In a different way.
The types are listed in order of increasing opening speed. The slowest is opening the knife with two hands. The fastest is automatic opening.
It is important to remember that the knife opening speed itself (especially for solving tactical problems) is just one of the elements of the “realized the need - got it - opened it - applied” algorithm. So, for example, the opening speed of a knife with automatic ejection is higher than that of a knife with a wave. But the knife with the wave is taken out of the pocket already in open form ready for use.
The speed of opening a folding knife, the characteristic is of course important. But here we come directly to the element by which this opening takes place. Be it a cut under the nail, a hook on the butt or a spring button. Two things follow from the presence or absence of this element:
convenience of the opening-closing process;
ease of use of the knife.
Will it be convenient to chop wood chips with a knife, the blade of which is equipped with pegs on both sides? Will it be convenient to cut synthetic fabric or seat belts with a blade, on the butt of which there is a washer-cog or wave hook? The answer to these questions also lies in the field of application for which the choice of knife is made.
Currently, there are several basic methods for opening folding knives. All of them are known and widely used by manufacturers.
Folding knife opening methods:
inertial opening of frame-type knives (balisongs, three-folds, etc.);
opening for a notch on the blade;
other methods.
subdigital opening (hole, hall);
peg (sub-finger emphasis on the blade);
peg-washer (sub-finger emphasis on the butt);
flipper (flipper, fin);
wave (wave, hook);
semi-automatic (assist, assistant)
Let's consider each method in more detail.
Opening a folding knife with a sub-finger hole
The sub-finger hole is the hole on the blade closest to the handle that allows for easy and quick opening of a folding knife. Perfection in this matter was achieved by Spyderco, which made its trademark from the sub-finger hole on the blade. Interestingly, even the fixed blades of this brand have a hole in the blade. The sub-finger opening method of folding knives is convenient for right-handed and left-handed people.
There are several ways to open a knife with a sub-finger hole:
the knife is in the hand with a normal grip, thumb rests against the hole and due to the movement of the thumb, the knife opens smoothly;
the knife is located in the hand with a normal grip, the movement of the thumb removes the blade from the fixation. Further, with a sharp wave of the knife away from you to the side, the final opening of the blade and its fixation with a lock take place;
the knife is held with the thumb and forefinger by the subfinger hole (the butt of the blade towards you, the back of the handle is raised up) and with a sharp swing from top to bottom, the knife is brought to the open position;
Some knives with a sub-finger hole can be opened with a classic "shake". The knife is held by the thumb and forefinger by the handle (the back of the handle is raised up, the butt is turned away from itself), with a sharp swing from top to bottom, the blade is thrown out of the handle. In this case, some loosening of the axial screw will most likely be required.
Opening a folding knife with a peg on the blade
Another popular method of opening a folding knife is to use a special stop on the blade, commonly referred to as a peg. To install the peg on the knife, a hole is drilled in the blade, a thread is cut in the hole, into which the peg itself is actually screwed. Most knives have a one-sided peg that can be screwed into one or the other side of the blade (under the right or left hand). Some models of knives have symmetrical pegs located on both sides of the blade.
Opening a knife with a peg is similar to opening a knife with a sub-finger hole. The knife is held in the palm of the hand with a normal grip, the thumb rests on the peg and the knife is opened.
A knife with a peg can also be opened in a more spectacular way:
the knife is held in the hand with a normal grip and the thumb rests on the peg. The arm is bent at the elbow and raised up at an angle of 45 degrees. The thumb partially shifts the blade with an emphasis on the neck, and then there is a sharp movement of the hand to the right and forward, due to which the inertial opening of the knife occurs. After a little training, a complete illusion is created that you have a knife with automatic blade ejection in your hands. Such a trick can be useful for those who like to impress their friends. Well, or hooligans.
Opening a folding knife with a peg on the butt (washer)
Knives with a peg on the butt appeared relatively recently. Their appearance is caused by the desire of knifemakers to combine the advantages of opening methods with the help of a wave hook and a peg. The peg-washer is located on the butt of the knife closer to the handle. It has a round or rectangular shape with rounded corners. Side surface the peg-washer often has a notch.
Opening a folding knife with a peg-washer can occur in several ways:
the knife is held with a normal grip, the thumb rests on the peg (or can put pressure on it from above) and pushes the blade from the folded position to the open one;
the knife is held with a normal grip, the thumb rests on the peg and with a slight movement moves the blade towards the opening, then with a sharp swing away from oneself to the side, the knife is fully opened;
the knife is held by the peg-washer (the butt is turned towards itself, the back of the handle looks up). A sharp swing opens the knife. The knife opened in this way immediately falls into the palm and is held with a direct grip;
a washer-washer allows you to open the knife at the moment you take it out of your pocket. To do this, the knife must be equipped with a clip. The knife on the clip is placed in the pocket with the back of the handle up, the butt is turned to the side seam of the trousers. When the knife is taken out, the peg-washer clings to the edge of the pocket and thereby opens the knife.
Opening folding knife with flipper
A flipper is a protrusion on the blade (usually where the heel would normally be) that protrudes above the blade when folded. top folding knife handles. Designed for quick removal of the knife from the locking state in the folded position. The knife is held with a normal grip, the index finger is placed on top of the flipper and pulls it towards him. Due to this movement, the knife is brought to a semi-open state (opening approximately 45 degrees) and then fully opened either by shaking or by further opening the blade with the thumb. Knives with flippers are often equipped with semi-automatic knife opening systems, the so-called "assisted". You press on the flipper, partially opening the knife, and then the assist spring comes into action, which sharply brings the blade to the open position.
Opening folding knife with wave
The hook on the butt of a folding knife is called "wave" from the English word wave (wave). It was invented and first implemented by Ernest Emerson. Emerson knives are designed primarily for tactical use, and therefore draw and open speed are important.
Emerson came up with a special ledge on the butt, which, when the knife is taken out, clings to the edge of the pocket and the knife opens. The algorithm “realized the need - got it - discovered it - applied it” becomes shorter by one step. If there is a wave on the knife, then you do not need to open the knife - it is in your hands already open and ready for action.
Recently, some brands have begun to combine the hook on the butt with a sub-toe hole or peg-washer. Most likely, this was caused by the desire to duplicate the possibility of opening the knife, in the event that it did not open with the wave hook when taken out of the pocket. If this happens, the thumb quickly and habitually falls on the blade, finds a peg or hole there and opens the knife. If you have a model of a knife in front of you, the blade of which is equipped with a hook and a sub-finger hole (or a peg-washer), you can be sure that this is definitely a tactical knife. Doubt? Pay attention to the model Cold Steel AK 47.
Semi-automatic folding knife opening
Many people think about what are semi-automatic knives and how do they actually differ from automatic ones? The main difference between semi-automatic knives and full automatic knives is as follows:
on automatic knives in Russia there is a restriction on the length of the blade;
semi-automatic knives (which are not full "automatic") are not affected by this restriction.
That's the whole difference. A semi-automatic knife requires an initial kinetic energy: sliding the peg, pressing the flipper and so on. And only after that the assist opening mechanism comes into action, which completes what has been started. Those. opens the knife in conditionally automatic mode. That is why in Russia you can become the happy owner of the already mentioned Cold Steel Ti Lite 6 with a blade length of 15.2 centimeters. De facto - the knife has an "automatic" opening - after pressing the flipper, the blade opens instantly. De jure, this is an ordinary folding knife with a blade length within the legally permitted limits.
Folding knife automatic opening
Knives with an automatic opening system in everyday life are called "frontalka" or "kidzuha". More than one generation of boys passes from mouth to mouth courtyard legends that a friend of a friend of mine has a “real cool knife” that opens when you press a secret button.
There are two main types of automatic knives:
knives with frontal ejection of the blade;
knives with side ejection of the blade.
Front knives are technically very complex and therefore have a high cost. Knives with side ejection have a classic axial blade fastening, are combined with classic types of fastening and therefore have a reasonable cost and are more widely represented on the market. The mechanism for opening an automatic knife is very simple: you press the button or pull the slider, the knife opens. The circulation of knives with automatic opening is somehow limited in different countries. In Russia, for example, automatic folding knives with a blade length of no more than 90 millimeters are allowed. So you can buy yourself the coveted Microtech Troodon and not have problems with the police.
Inertial opening of frame type knives
The most famous frame-type knife is undoubtedly the balisong. Although there are several types of frame-type knives. The appearance of strange at first glance, frame designs of knives, has all the same roots as the whole evolution of the folding knife - bypassing strict restrictions on the use of edged weapons by private individuals. The essence of any frame knife comes down to one thing - the knife works only when it is held in the hand. In all other positions, the knife is a set of metal elements (connected to each other by pins or hinges) that do not look like a tool or weapon at all. Only a trained person can use such a knife. A woman, a child, a man who has taken a frame knife in his hands for the first time will not be able to perform the usual actions: cut vegetables for a salad or cut wood chips for making a fire. If we study in detail the history of the appearance of balisongs, we will find that the first models did not have a jumper that fixes the knife in an open or closed position. Which is what was required. From whatever bell tower you look - it doesn’t pull on a weapon, it’s hard to even call it a knife. In general, we can say that frame knives are history and exotic. The balisong (or Coldsteel's Triple Action Knife) may not be the champion in opening speed, but in terms of the degree of entertainment it definitely ranks one of the first places. And fans of balisongs even arrange events where everyone can demonstrate their ability to handle this type of knife.
Opening knives for the notch on the blade
This is probably the oldest and most proven method that appeared simultaneously with the folding knife. Someone really likes various technological “bells and whistles”, while someone prefers the good old proven folding knife with wooden lining and a classic notch on the blade. The older generation remembers well the Soviet folding knives "fish" or "squirrel", knives were very common in the USSR and were in almost every home, and it was just happiness for a yard boy to have such a knife. Now such knives are produced only in factories, which, as a rule, use the same technologies as many years ago and manual processing and sharpening of each knife. These knives include the products of the Japanese brand TopMan. The company manufactures folding knives using traditional knife technology. If you are tired of tactical knives with complex shapes and even more complex locks, and you want something simple and clear, pick up a Hitachi Musachi knife. People usually say about such things - he is real! He is alive and warm. Somewhere out there, in distant Japan, an old master made it with his own hands, giving him a particle of his soul. This knife may not impress your friends or impress your girlfriend. This knife will become your second "ego" and will always accompany you wherever you go.
Other Methods for Opening Folding Knives
There are several other methods of opening folding knives that are difficult to attribute to any particular class. For example, the owners of Opinel knives are well aware of two ways to open knives with a viroblock lock. The first method is due to the fact that the blade on the axis is sandwiched between two wooden blocks, which expand when wet and strongly wedged the blade. So much so that it cannot be removed in the usual way - with a fingernail for a notch on the blade. If this happens, then you need to take the knife with two fingers by the lock (with the back from you, the butt looks down) and lightly hit the back of the hard object. The blade immediately comes out of the groove and then easily opens with your hands. The second method becomes available to those who use Opinel for a long time. The blade gradually erases those parts of the handle between which it is fixed on the axis and begins to simply fall out of the groove under own weight. And it turns out that the Opinel knife can be opened with one hand. The thumb turns the latch, a wave of the hand - the blade is open and the latch turns back.
Knife art does not stand still, and perhaps we have yet to see new types of locks and opening methods. In conclusion, I would like to add that any knife is good when it is used for its intended purpose. Love your knives, take care of them, and then at the right time, the blade will open quickly and clearly, and the fixation will be reliable.
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If you've ever been looking for a pocket knife for everyday carry, you know how big the range is on offer in stores. Trying to understand all types of knives and the slight differences between them can be confusing for anyone. One of critical factors One thing to consider when choosing a personal item like a knife is its locking mechanism. Before investing in a quality knife, you should determine what type of lock, if any, is best for you based on your needs and preferences.
In this guide, we will talk about a few of the most common fixing devices that you can find in quality. You'll learn the benefits of owning a lockable knife, what type of lock is best for you, how the locking mechanisms work, and how you can get out of a situation if a lockable knife is not allowed where you live.
Why add a folding knife to ?
When choosing a tool that you plan to always keep with you in your bag or pocket, it is important to pay special attention to its compactness. When it comes to pocket knives, the folding knife exemplifies the perfect balance between portability and functionality.
When closed, the folding knife becomes more compact and comfortable to carry, without worrying about the sharp blade being exposed. When such a knife is opened, you have at your service an ergonomic, balanced tool that is not inferior in terms of practicality to a fixed (not folding) blade. Fixed blades are by definition stronger, as they do not contain moving parts that can misfire under excessive force or after repeated hard loads.
Why folding knives are both convenient and reliable?
It's all about the castle.
The locking mechanism provides additional safety in use. It is durable, allows you to quickly cope with challenging tasks and you can literally keep it with you at all times. This is a tool that you will use frequently, so it is important to familiarize yourself with all the options.
Let's look at the most popular types of locking devices for and some solutions for areas where folding knives are prohibited.
lock back
The lock back mechanism can be found in many classic American folding knives. It actually represents the "back" of the handle on the spring. When the knife is opened, the "back" is fixed in the recess on the heel of the blade. To close the knife, it is necessary to press on the open area of this part (usually located in the middle or at the back of the handle) to break contact with the blade. This opens the lock and you can move the blade to the closed position.
The advantages of the Lock back lock are its strength and reliability. The "button" of the release of the lock does not interfere with the girth of the handle when using the knife, that is, you hardly accidentally release the lock and close the knife. Your hands also remain out of reach of the blade when closed, reducing the risk of cuts.
This type of lock has one disadvantage - while it is safer to close the knife with two hands, it can be inconvenient when you need to keep your hand on the object being cut. While it is possible to close the Lock back with one hand, it is not easy. You will probably have to change the girth and apply extra force when folding the knife.
Lock back knife example: Spyderco Chaparral Ti ($173)
Liner Lock
Liner lock is one of the most common mechanisms used in folding knives. A characteristic detail of this mechanism is a spring plate located on the same side as the sharp area of the blade, along the inside of the handle. When the knife is closed, the plate is under pressure. When opened, this pressure moves the plate forward towards the heel of the blade, securing the blade and preventing it from closing. To unlock the liner lock, you must press the plate with your thumb (in the case of the knife shown in the example above, this must be done in the direction of the pocket clip) so as to break contact with the heel of the blade. You will then be able to move the blade with your index finger so that the plate stays pressed, this will allow you to remove your finger from the path of the blade and securely close the knife all the way.
Liner lock knives are nice because they can have two full sides of the handle, unlike knives with frame lock (you will understand what we mean by reading the article further). You can close the knife with one hand without changing the grip, which is very convenient when you need both hands for work. Liner lock can be found on both simple and elite knives. This type of lock is attractive for both beginners and true enthusiasts.
If you plan to use your knife for heavy work, you should be aware that liner locks are generally not as powerful as other locking mechanisms. They are quite durable, however, being made of a thinner piece of metal, they are more prone to wear than, for example, the same strong frame locks.
Liner lock knife example: Spyderco Tenacious ($37)
frame lock
Frame lock can be called a hardened version of the Liner lock. Their mechanisms are very similar, however, unlike the hidden moving plate in the Liner lock, the plate in the Frame lock mechanism is itself part of the handle. Knives with this type of lock are usually more powerful than knives with a liner lock device, since the moving metal part is much stronger in them. Due to the similarity of these mechanisms, the principle of closing them is essentially the same - press the plate to unlock the heel of the blade, remove your finger from the path of the blade and fold the knife.
This mechanism uses a large piece of metal to secure the blade, which provides a strong fixation for tasks with a heavier load. Frame lock is found in many medium to higher grade knives, which are usually made using titanium. In the example shown here, the blade is paired with a stainless steel insert that wears slower than titanium and gives stability to the blade so that it does not weaken with overuse of the knife. All this not only gives the knife a unique appearance, but also allows you to easily operate the knife with one hand.
Frame lock knife example: Spyderco Dice ($162)
AXIS Lock
AXIS lock is a patented mechanism that is only found in Benchmade knives, but due to its originality and popularity among enthusiasts, it is definitely worth considering in more detail. Knives with this device are easy to operate with one hand, but it is also important that they are suitable for use both left and right. right hand.
The principle of operation of AXIS lock is as follows: the lock is a spring rod that moves back and forth along the furrow in the knife handle. The heel of the blade in an AXIS lock knife (hidden in the handle) has a flat area that allows the shaft to lock the blade when the knife is opened. To close the knife, you need to pull the rod back using the pegs and fold the blade.
Both right-handers and left-handers have the opportunity to appreciate how easy it is to use this device, since access to the rod is open on both sides of the knife handle. Since this mechanism consists of many moving parts, it can be difficult to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance. In addition, it can be difficult to use too small studs, especially on small models. However, when it comes to left-handed and right-handed knives, Benchmade knives with AXIS locks are among the best.
An example of an AXIS Lock knife: Benchmade Mini-Griptilian ($102)
Slip Joint and Friction Folder
To begin with, let's be clear - these types of blades do not have a "lock" as such from the point of view of the law, but they are quite suitable for.
Slip joints are most commonly found on swiss army knives. Usually both hands must be used to safely open and close these knives. They consist of a spring rod and a particularly sharp blade. To open the knife, you need to pull the blade against the resistance of the rod and lock it in place. To close the knife, make sure your fingers are out of reach of the sharp blade, and then return the blade to initial position by clicking on it from above.
The principle of operation of the Friction folder is approximately the same, with the exception of the spring rod, which is absent in this type of device. Instead, the blade is only held in place by the bond between the metal of the blade and the material of the handle.
One of the main advantages of these types of knives is their legality. They are also convenient to carry around as they are simple and practical to use. However, it is worth reiterating that these knives do not have a real lock, so they should not be used for heavy work.
Slipjoint Knife Example: Victorinox Swiss Army EvoWood 17 ($55)
Now that you are more familiar with the different types of locks, you can choose a knife that fits your pocket.
Do you have a favorite type of lock that you would recommend? Leave a comment about the one you have chosen and tell us what you like about its lock, in order to help other owners and potential buyers of knives to choose the most suitable knife for them.
Sourced from everydaycarry.com
The craving for a knife in men is most likely a legacy from their ancestors. Knife - the tool of the first hunter, which was endowed with magical properties. In some cultures, the knife is associated with the rite of passage - the transformation from a boy into a warrior. Also, the knife was a phallic symbol and an important attribute of a mature man. Carrying a knife has always been the privilege of a free citizen. In Soviet times, the knife was demonized, driving into everyone's head that only criminals carry it, and a normal person does not need a knife in his pocket. We still have to deal with the consequences of this propaganda. However, the knife remains a cult item, and finding another equally masculine accessory is not so easy.
History of folding knives
The earliest folding knives known today date from the middle of the Iron Age (600-500 BC). The oldest pocket blade with a bone handle was found during the excavations of Holstatt (the territory of modern Austria). Similar tools created by Iberian artisans have also been found in Spain. In the heyday of the Roman Empire, this device was carried by every self-respecting person. A folding knife was used during meals - in Rome it was considered good form if a guest came to the feast with his knife. In this way, he also provided himself with a certain degree of security without breaking the law - large daggers, openly carried in a sheath, promised legal problems.
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600–500 BC e.- the first Roman folding knives. Knives had a purely utilitarian purpose and were used until completely worn out, so very few knives of that time have come down to us in complete safety. |
16th century- in Andalusia (south of Spain) Navaja folding knives appear. They became very popular due to the tightening of Spanish anti-gun laws, which deprived the underprivileged of the right to carry full-fledged weapons. |
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Hearly 17th century- France has become the world's largest knife manufacturer. The best knives handmade were made in Paris, and inexpensive blades for commoners were made in Langres and Chatelero. The spirit of that time was conveyed to us by the French brands Laguiole, Nontron and Opinel. |
Classic pocket knife from masters from Sheffield (England) 1650 –1700 - folding knives are becoming widespread among peasants in Western Europe. The so-called penny farm knives appear (penny knives are still the basic models of the French brand Opinel). The cutlers' guilds from Sheffield (England) and Solingen (Germany) occupy a leading position in the production of knives. |
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TO1775–1783- the period of the US War of Independence - folding knives acquired a variety of knife locks, pull rings, springs attached to the back of the handle and bolt structures:liner lock- becomes the most popular type of castle. For fixation, a flat springy plate is used that presses the blade;lock clutch(virolok) - fixation of the blade, known from the knives of the French company Opinel. The blade is fixed by a swivel sleeve with a cut;backlock- the blade is fixed from the back side with a protrusion of a spring-loaded rocker lever. The blade is released by pressing the lever, which is accessible in the back of the handle. |
INlate 1880s The Swiss army has adopted a new folding pocket knife for its soldiers. He was supposed to help the army men open canned food and service the Schmidt-Rubin M1889 rifle, which required a screwdriver to disassemble. The Soldier's Knife was made in 1891 by Karl Elsener's company, which later became Victorinox. In 1893, a second Swiss company, later renamed the Wenger Company, launched a similar product. In 1908, the Swiss army, in order to avoid favoritism and maintain healthy competition, divided the contract for the supply of knives between the two manufacturers. In 2005, Victorinox acquired Wenger, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, so that it would not fall into the hands of foreigners, and the quality and status of the Swiss knife remained unshakable. |
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AfterSecond World War Asia became the scene of hostilities. The Vietnam War gave impetus to the evolution of tactical "folders". American knives are beginning to be in demand all over the world. There is a growing interest in custom-made handmade combat and sports knives, knifemaking is actively developing in Korea and Japan, where craftsmen have learned to combine Eastern blacksmithing traditions and Western functionality. |
In the 1980s folding knife has become indispensable in Everyday life. Collectors appeared, specialized magazines devoted to this topic began to be published. |
Why might a knife be useful?
The knife is a versatile tool. If you can only dig with a shovel, only chop with an ax, only saw with a saw, and only mow with a scythe, a good knife (not even a multitool) can do all this and even more. In addition to the obvious things, with a knife you can do the following:
- pry the envelope in the mailbox and open it;
- open a bottle, a bag of milk, a tin can;
- apply a cold blade to a bruise or bruise;
- strip the wire;
- screw in a screw;
- become an indispensable assistant in the office: pick out jammed paper from a printer, cut cakes at a corporate party;
- fix the “manly” manicure, get rid of the mourning edging under the nails;
- check the accuracy of the scales on the market (the owner of the knife always knows its exact weight to the gram);
- cut out a toothpick from improvised material;
- make a slingshot for the younger brother;
- cut off the hair that has come out of the beard, with a strong desire and the presence of a sharp blade - shave, etc.
How to buy a high-quality and inexpensive knife?
Denis, the salesman of the Knife and Co store in the European shopping center, comments:
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“There are only two companies that make good knives at a low price. The first is the Swiss Wenger and Victorinox, which merged into one company, and the second is Opinel - native France. Both those and others produce colossal circulations, thanks to which they allow themselves to keep a low price. The basic Wenger knife costs from 500 rubles. Of course, these are not knives for those who pretend to be Rambo, but rather for those who want to neatly cut bread or lard. Knives from transitions are already a household name. This Chinese rubbish will either fold on your fingers, or fall apart, or bend, or become dull after the first loaf of bread, but I won’t even talk about disgusting aesthetics. |
Denis, salesperson at Knife & Co. |
A person who buys a high-quality expensive knife from us is likely to wear it very carefully, like an expensive watch, or simply put it on a shelf in a collection next to the same. And the one who bought a knife in the passage for an amount that does not oblige him to anything can fix anyone and then throw them away.
How to care for a knife?
The knife must be sharp. You can check its sharpness with a sheet of newspaper: a sharp blade cuts, rather than tears, a newspaper held at one end, suspended. The sharper the sharpening angle, the better it will cut the blade, but the more carefully you will have to handle it. Beginners are advised to sharpen the blade by hand, and not on the machine. Ideally, you need to have a set of three whetstones of different grits. Details and subtleties of technologies here:
If the knife is clogged with dirt, sand or dust from your pocket, blow out the mechanisms with compressed air or wash with water and a brush. The design of some models of knives allows you to disassemble it. Do not soak the tool in water, especially if wood or bone is used in its handle. When dried, it may change shape or crack.
Lubricate your knife, especially after washing it with soap or thinner. Treat the switchblade joint with any gun or watch oil. In addition, all blades, especially Damascus blades, are susceptible to corrosion and should also be lubricated.
Handles made from natural materials also need to be periodically treated with mineral oil or wax.
About the letter of the law:
A.P. Krasnopyatov, an operational duty officer from the Arbat police department, told FURFUR that it is difficult to classify folding knives as edged weapons, but still did not recommend carrying them around the city:
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“Many people carry knives - now it is not forbidden to carry them. It is difficult to attract for carrying edged weapons: everyone says that they have a knife to cut the sausage. Previously, a blade longer than 15 centimeters belonged to edged weapons, but now only an examination can establish this. And we have no reason to select such knives. I love knives myself. But I take the knife only for hunting and fishing, and then on a belt and in a case. And so they are stored in my house in a safe. And carrying a knife in the city, especially for self-defense, is inappropriate.” |
A. P. Krasnopyatov, duty officer of the Arbat police department |
By law, you can store any edged weapons at home, in a garage or in the country. The crime is the fact that you carry it with you or carry it in a car. If all the factors described below fall under the description of your knife, then it can be recognized as a melee weapon:
Unpleasant situations with law enforcement officers can also be avoided if you have a certificate that any self-respecting store issues when buying a knife. It contains the characteristics and the conclusion of experts that this knife is not a melee weapon.
Buying knives online
The first thing that comes to mind when you walk into a Moscow store that sells beautiful and high-quality knives is: “Should I order a knife on a foreign site?”. However, buying a serious knife on the Internet is not an easy task. Firstly, many stores simply do not cooperate with Russia. Secondly, even if the model is classified as household, is actively sold on the territory of the Russian Federation and is certified accordingly, the parcel may be slowed down. There is a possibility that the customs, referring to Article 17 of the "Law on Weapons", will require the import of a knife to be coordinated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since the purchase may turn out to be "an object structurally similar to edged weapons." Another option - the parcel is simply "wrapped".
If you still decide to try your luck, find a certificate for this model in Russian. Before you buy a product, send it to the seller, ask them to print it and put it in the package. Then it remains only to relax and wait: if the customs returns the goods to the seller, and he turns out to be decent, you will be refunded.
On the thematic forums, knowledgeable people write that “folders” go through customs more easily, and you should not worry about an army “Swissman” or a modest penknife from WR Case.
Folding knives in movies
127 Hours protagonist forgot Victorinox army knife home on the shelf. I had to cut off my hand with a Chinese replica multitool from Letherman.
Watch the movie episode on YouTube
The hero of Heath Ledger was especially fond of the Dalton Cupid OTF knife with a frontal ejection of the blade at the touch of a button.
Watch the movie episode on YouTube
Dr. Lecter was generally a big fan of knives. The most curious of his collection is a customized Spyderco Harpy.
Danila Bagrov in the domestic hit "Brother 2" sculpts a crossbow using Swisstool from Victorinox.
Watch the movie episode on YouTube
In the first part of Kill Bill, Uma Thurman's character deals with an unscrupulous doctor named Buck with the help of a Buck 112 Ranger knife.
Watch the movie episode on YouTube
Ten Classic Pocket Knives
Italian stilettos that ejected the blade with a beautiful click flooded the United States in the 1950s. This knife has become a symbol of the Italian mafia.
The urbanization of the modern world has led to an increase in the popularity of folding knives (colloquially - "folders" or "folders", from the English folder - a folded object). Such a knife is compact and convenient for a city dweller, attracts less attention, and usually its wearing is absolutely legal.
It can be used for a variety of operations - opening envelopes and cardboard boxes, opening plastic packaging, cutting adhesive tape, etc. In a critical situation, it can also be used as a personal defense weapon. There was even a special term for the knives of a city dweller - “everyday carrying knife” or an EDC knife (from the English abbreviation EDC - Every Day Carring).
The activity of human rights organizations in many countries of the world has led to the fact that folding knives have come to replace knives with a fixed blade in law enforcement agencies and even in special units operating in urban areas. These knives are called "tactical". Surpassing urban knives in strength and reliability, they are inferior to them in size and weight.
In addition to self-defense, they can be used for a wide variety of operations - breaking doors, breaking through office partitions and of course, cutting ropes, etc. These knives are often used as auxiliary knives in army units, as well as tourist (camping) knives or knives for working in the field.
The main types of blade retainers
Achievements of modern metallurgy and inorganic chemistry, the introduction of new materials processing technologies make it possible to implement the most daring design ideas. Close interaction of knife masters with experts hand-to-hand combat allows you to create original models of tactical knives with enhanced combat qualities. As a result, new models of folding knives appear with an unusual blade shape, ergonomic handles, and additional design elements that increase the convenience and safety of using the knife.
Knives with increased cutting properties
There is no perfect knife. Certain design solutions and elements increase the performance of the knife for certain types of work. In addition, there are no identical people, they have different sizes hands, they may have a leading right or left hand. For those who are not experts in the field bladed weapons, a variety of designs creates certain difficulties in choosing a knife for your needs.
Folding knife design
Folding knives have a long history and have gone from primitive designs to high-tech products, the manufacture of which uses the most advanced technologies.
A typical folding knife is a blade with one-sided sharpening, mounted on the axis of the handle. When folded, the blade of the knife is hidden in the handle.
The main structural elements of a knife are the blade and the handle.
In the classic version, the rotation of the blade occurs in the plane of the handle. Much less common are knives in which the axis of rotation of the knife is perpendicular to the plane of the blade. These knives look very original, but in terms of reliability they are inferior to knives of a classic design. An exception to this rule is articulated knives with a transverse opening of the blade.
In most folding knives, when open, the blade is in line with the handle. Among folding knives designed for personal self-defense, you can find knives in which the blade can be fixed in intermediate position- perpendicular to the handle. In this case, the knife turns into a knuckle-grip knife like the famous “push daggers” (push dagger), originating from the daggers of the hidden carrying card players of the Wild West. The advantage of such knives is a simplified technique for striking - a blow is similar to a punch.
STI even developed the Tai sabaki knife (from the name of the Japanese body reversal technique), in which the blade can be fixed in six positions, which allows you to expand the technical arsenal of striking.
STI knife with blade lock in several positions
According to the opening principle, knives can be divided into knives:
- with manual opening and closing of the blade;
- with semi-automatic and automatic blade opening;
- fully automatic.
In knives with semi-automatic opening, to bring the blade into working condition, it is enough to move the knife blade slightly, and then it is brought to working condition by a special spring.
Semi-automatic knives and automatic knife (right)
In knives with automatic opening, for this you only need to press a special button or a folding trigger guard on the handle. In knife literature, such knives are often referred to as "automatic" or "automatic knives", although this is not entirely true, since the reverse operation of folding the blade is performed manually in them. A classic example of such knives is the "Italian stiletto" and its numerous clones.
Buttons for opening semi-automatic knives and Italian stiletto
In fully automatic knives, both opening and closing of the knife is automatic. Moreover, the blade extends from the handle along the longitudinal axis of the blade (frontal ejection of the blade), and in the closed position it is completely retracted into the handle. This allows the use of dagger-type blades with two-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening in such knives, but imposes restrictions on the width of the blade - it cannot be greater than the width of the handle.
The process of opening / closing the blade is controlled by a special slider on the handle. These knives usually have a characteristic blade play. Only specialists of the Microtek company, known high quality manufacturing knives, it was possible to create automatic knives that are practically devoid of this drawback. But the price to pay for this is their high price.
Microtek automatic knives
The legislation of many countries, including Russia, classifies automatic knives with a certain blade length as criminal, and their wearing in these countries is prohibited. These restrictions do not apply to semi-automatic knives.
In order to avoid the risk of injury if such knives are accidentally opened in a pocket, they often have a special safety catch.
The main advantage of automatic and semi-automatic knives is fast casting them into working condition with one hand. This is of great importance in knife fighting, as well as for people who, as a result of professional activities, can only operate with one hand.
The disadvantages of these knives include increased sensitivity to dirt due to the rather complex design of the opening mechanism, and therefore less reliability. Cleaning the mechanism is a rather complicated procedure, especially in fully automatic knives, where it can only be carried out by qualified personnel. Therefore, automatic and semi-automatic knives are not well suited for field conditions.
These shortcomings are devoid of knives in which the opening of the blade occurs due to its gravity ("inertial knives"). The most famous of them is the knife of the airborne units of the Wehrmacht, which is still produced in a modified version today. The knife is very reliable, has a simple design and can be easily disassembled for preventive cleaning.
Fixing the blade in the open position is provided by special structural elements - locks(in English literature - lock). This fixation of the blade ensures the safe use of the knife, especially in operations where its piercing effect is necessary.
On the first primitive folding knives, the latch-lock was a special protrusion on the butt of the knife like a straight razor. Currently, there are many varieties of these devices. However, only three types of locks are most widely used - back up (lock on the butt of the blade), liner lock (strip lock) and axis lock (axial lock), as well as their varieties. All of them allow you to create knives that can be opened with only one hand, and provide a fairly secure blade in the open position.
A kind of lock on the butt of the blade
The lock on the butt of the blade (back up lock) considered the most reliable. But knives with this type of latch are difficult to fold with one hand. In addition, there is a possibility of accidental folding of the blade when the handle is strongly compressed.
Knives that use the kind of back up lock that was originally used on Spanish Navaja knives are free from this drawback. A similar lock is used on the South African Okapi. In this latch-lock, the blade is locked in the open position by a protrusion of the butt, which enters the hole on the spring bar of the lock. To disengage the latch in them, just pull the special ring. In modern versions, the ring has been replaced by a more compact and convenient folding bracket - a lever.
Linear lock (liner lock) compared to the previous one, it allows you to close the knife with one hand (in fairness, it should be noted that due to the asymmetry of the design, this is not very convenient for people with a leading left hand). Experts believe that in terms of the reliability of fixing the blade, this lock is inferior to the lock on the butt of the blade - with a strong longitudinal load, the end of the locking strip can disengage from the heel of the blade.
Much less common is ring lock, which is used on the French Opinel knives, which have been produced since the end of the 19th century. This lock has a very simple design - a slotted ring. To unlock the blade, it is enough to turn the ring so that its slot is aligned with the line of the blade. The same type of lock is used on the original domestic knife "Fortel".
In addition to the classic ones, there is a very interesting type of hinge-frame type knives. In these knives, the main structural element are special frames or hinges, which at the same time ensure the fixation of the blade. Such knives are distinguished by high reliability of locking the blade in the open position while the knife is held in the hand. They have a symmetrical shape, so they are equally convenient for both right-handers and left-handers.
Frame knives consist of two frames, the planes of rotation of which are mutually perpendicular. Among domestic knives, these include "Chizhik" by master Konstantin Sazhin and "Skat" by the company "NOKS".
Frame knives "Chizhik" and "Skat"
Of the hinged knives, the most famous is the Philippine balisong (butterfly knife) and its antipode, in which the plane of rotation of the blade is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knife. The latter is, perhaps, the only knife with a transverse tear-off of the blade, which provides a very reliable fixation of the knife blade in the open state.
Among articulated knives, pantograph knives have the most complex design. Typical representatives are the German Paratrooper knife and the Power Glide knife from Smith & Wesson.
Knives with transverse rotation of the blade
The Paratrupper knife, patented in Germany in 1938, is sometimes erroneously called the knife of the Wehrmacht landing units. An indispensable condition for knives for paratroopers is the ability to open it with one hand, and it is impossible to open the Paratrooper with one hand. The reason for this misconception was the name of the knife, which translates as "parachutist". However, this name is not associated with the purpose of the knife, but with the fact that its opening resembles the opening of a parachute dome. The unique feature of this knife is that the length of the blade when open exceeds the length of the handle.
The main disadvantage of hinged-frame knives is the impossibility of opening the knife with one hand and the complexity of the design. The only knife of this type devoid of these shortcomings is the famous Filipino balisong knife.
Articulated knives
In most folding knives, when folded, the blade is completely hidden in the handle of the knife. Only part of the butt protrudes from the handle (for this reason, double-sided sharpening of the blade is not used in folding knives). However, there are knives in which, when folded, the blade comes out of the handle - semi-folding knives. A classic example of such a knife is the daggers of Admiral D'Estaing. This design combines the advantages of large fixed blade knives with the small dimensions of folding knives. This design of knives in the last century was quite common on hunting and jaeger knives. It is with this knife that Kuzmich cuts pineapple from the garden in the popular comedy "Peculiarities of the National Hunt."
Semi-skewed knives
The disadvantage of these knives is the need to use a sheath to carry them. Knives are free from them, in which the blade is retracted into a special groove that extends from the handle when the blade is folded.
A Soviet knife designed by A.I. Shilin, deputy chief designer of the Kovrov Plant No. 2 named after A.I. K. O. Kirkizha (State Union Plant No. 2). The knife was developed as part of a competition to select a folding knife for officers Soviet army, which was held in 1944, and took second place in this competition. According to some reports, in 1945 a small trial series of these knives was made. However, for unknown reasons, the knife never entered service. The knife had a blade with double-edged sharpening. When folded, the blade was hidden in the handle for two-thirds of its length. To carry the knife, a wooden sheath was used, inside of which there were special hooks that automatically extended the blade to its full length when the knife was removed. In addition to the blade itself, the knife handle contained a standard set of tools needed in everyday life - an awl, a corkscrew, a screwdriver, a can opener and a bottle opener.
Officer's knife designed by A.I. Shilin and its modern Chinese counterpart
The ideas laid down by Shilin in our time have been used by the Chinese in the development of a special knife that is in service with the Chinese police.
The blade is the main part of the knife. It is from him that the piercing and cutting properties of the knife depend. The main factors determining the operational characteristics of the blade are the material and technology of its manufacture, as well as its shape and section. The blades of modern folding knives are made of corrosion-resistant steels. On blades from well-known manufacturers, the steel grade is often stamped on the blade at the base of the handle. On cheap knives, you can often see the inscription on the blade - "stainless" or "rostfrei", which simply means "stainless steel". Currently, the knife industry uses several dozen different steel grades. Since different countries have different standards for the designation of steel grades, the same steel may have different designations. The most common steel grades used for the manufacture of folding knife blades are shown in the table.
For an inexperienced user, it is enough to take into account the fact that the more expensive the steel, the longer it keeps sharpening, but this increases the fragility of the cutting edge and makes it more difficult to straighten the knife at home. The quality of the blade is largely influenced by the technology of thermal hardening of steel used by the manufacturer. With proper heat treatment, even relatively cheap types of steel provide good cutting qualities of the knife, and vice versa, even expensive types of steel with flaws in heat treatment will not allow to provide good quality blade. It is with this that the high cost of folding knives of well-known manufacturers is associated, which have modern equipment and carefully monitor the quality of the blade.
The hardness of the cutting edge is expressed in Rockwell units. Typically, folding knife blades are hardened to 42–60 HRC units. The larger this number, the longer the knife keeps sharpening, but you have to pay for this with less resistance to shock loads and the complexity of sharpening the knife. And, conversely, at low HRC values, the cutting edge is more plastic, easily sharpened, but does not hold sharpening well. With an increase in hardness above 61 HRC, the blade of knives with a normal butt thickness becomes very brittle. The edge of blades tempered to 42 pts. and less, has low strength and is difficult to cut ordinary materials. This indicator is not given on the packaging of knives. Even when describing the model on the manufacturer's website, it is not always possible to see it. When using a knife, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the knife blade is very sensitive to temperature rise. That is why you should not stir up the coals of a fire with a knife or use an electric grinder for metalwork or carpentry tools to sharpen it.
The surface of the blade can be polished, matted, blued, chrome-plated or have a special protective coating.
Polishing increases the resistance of the blade to corrosion, but such a surface shines in the sun, which is not entirely acceptable in tactical knives. Matting increases the anti-reflective properties, but worsens the corrosion resistance of the knife.
When the blade is burnished, a thin layer of protective oxide film is created on its surface, while the blade acquires a dark color. In chromium plating, a thin layer of chromium is applied to the surface of the blade, which prevents corrosion of the blade, but not its cutting edge.
In modern knives, blade coatings made of synthetic materials (epoxy resins, Teflon) are becoming more common, which provide high resistance to moisture or acid and alkaline environments. Since this coating prevents the blade from reflecting in the sun, it is often referred to as "anti-reflective" and is often used on tactical knives. The disadvantage of such coatings is low wear resistance and sensitivity to scratches.
Recently, with the reduction in the cost of industrial production of Damascus steel, more and more blades are made from it. Damascus steel is obtained by forge welding several layers of steel with different carbon contents. As a result, a beautiful pattern appears on the surface of the blade. Modern industrial production of Damascus steels allows you to pre-design the shape of this pattern ("mosaic Damascus").
The combination of low-carbon steel strips for ductility and high-carbon steel strips for hardness of the cutting edge makes it possible to create blades with excellent performance. In addition, the cutting edge of Damascus steel knives has micro-teeth, which increase the cutting ability of the knife.
Knives with blades made of Damascus steel look very impressive. However, it should be borne in mind that the risk of getting a defective Damascus steel blade is much higher than when purchasing a knife with a conventional steel blade. This is due to the rather complex manufacturing technology of such steel.
Doly, which are often referred to as bloodlines, are longitudinal grooves along the axis of the blade and serve to lighten the weight of the blade. At the same time, they increase the rigidity of the blade in the transverse direction. Sometimes they are through cutouts.
Ricasso- the unsharpened part of the blade at the handle serves for the convenience of sharpening the knife.
false blade came from combat knives with a fixed blade that has one and a half sharpening.
Folding knives use a variety of blade shapes. For ordinary household operations, knives with a straight blade or a blade converging to a point are preferred. The disadvantage of the classical form of the blade is its lower strength at the point, since the thickness of the blade gradually decreases towards the point. Blades in the form of "tanto" or "modified tanto" are free from this drawback.
At the beginning of this century, first on knives with a fixed blade, and then on folding knives, a special blade shape with a reinforced tip began to be used. At the end of the last - the beginning of this century, knives with a sickle-shaped blade, which is typical for Malaysian karambit knives, came into fashion. Such a blade does not cut, but rips open the surface of the target like a plow. Knives with such a blade are used for self-defense or for cutting car seat belts. Knives in which the blade is located at an angle to the handle serve the same purpose. This idea has received its maximum development in knives with a pistol grip from the STI company.
Flat wedge has high performance, combining the strength of the blade and a sharp blade. Due to the uniform distribution of force, it cuts soft materials of large thickness well. Disadvantages - the complexity of sharpening, does not cope well with cutting hard materials.
Chisel profile- Differs in manufacturability and ease of sharpening. It is widely used on Asian knife blades. It has excellent chopping properties, cuts thin materials well.
Flat wedge and its variety, the plano-concave wedge with a supply, is easy to manufacture, easy to straighten and sharpen, perfectly performs a shallow cut. Disadvantages - low mechanical strength, difficulties in cutting thick materials due to protruding side ribs.
wedge profile has excellent cutting properties. The disadvantage is the fragility of the cutting edge and the difficulty of sharpening (it is necessary to sharpen the entire plane of the blade). From this disadvantage, a wedge-shaped section with a supply is free.
Pentagonal profile combines manufacturability, strength, good cutting qualities, well corrected. Disadvantages - the difficulty of sharpening when restoring the cutting edge.
In addition to the blade, folding pocket knives can have additional auxiliary tools - an awl, a corkscrew, a can opener, a bottle opener. In the so-called "Swiss Army knives" (Swiss Armyknives), the number of such tools can reach several dozen. Such multifunctional knives are called "multi-tools". For self-defense, knives with two working blades are also produced, which allow you to hit the target with the forward and reverse stroke of the hand without changing the orientation of the knife or changing its grip.
Part of the blade of the blade can be sharpened in the form of a saw for cutting fibrous materials. In the knife literature, such sharpening is called "sereytor" or "sereytornoy" (from the English. Serrated"sawtooth"). In self-defense knives, sereytor sharpening facilitates cutting through the upper dense clothing and can be performed along the entire length of the blade. The tooth configuration of this mini-saw may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The presence of a sereytor makes it difficult to sharpen the blade at home; for this, you need to have a special tool and skills to work with it, or contact the appropriate specialist. 
The design of most modern folding knives allows you to open them with one hand, both right and left. To do this, there are special elements at the base of the blade - cylindrical pins, round or square dies, or holes in the blade (a round hole is protected by a patent owned by the American company Spyderco, and other manufacturing companies are forced to use its other forms). It is more convenient to open knives with protruding elements - pins or dies, but they reduce the effective length of the blade.
At the beginning of this century, a special device appeared on the knives in the form of a hook on the butt, which ensures the automatic opening of the knife when it is pulled out of a trousers pocket. Owners of such knives should be aware that if the trousers are made of thin material, then after several cycles of pulling the knife, they are likely to be torn.
Much less common on modern knives is a special semicircular cutout on the blade. Most often it is used in models that have several working blades or tools, or in knives without blade fixation, which are well known to the older generation in Soviet times.
Another element that facilitates the opening of the knife is the flipper (from the English. flipper"fin") - a special ledge on the butt of the blade. To open a conventional knife, it is enough to move the blade slightly by pressing the flipper with your finger, and then, with an energetic swinging movement of the brush, bring the blade to its working position. In semi-automatic knives, there is no need for such a move; the blade is brought to the working position by a spring mechanism automatically.
In addition, the flipper plays the role of a kind of guard, preventing the hand from slipping onto the blade.
The most common grip on folding knives is the straight diagonal (fencing) grip. In this grip, the thumb is located on the butt of the blade. For more comfortable control of the knife, a special notch is made at the contact point of the thumb on the butt of the blade. The part of the handle adjacent to the blade may also have a notch.
handles
The handles of most modern knives have a package type-setting design, consisting of an internal frame (frame) in the form of metal strips - liners (liner) and overlays. Blade fixing elements, automatic opening mechanism (for semi-automatic and automatic knives) are mounted inside the frame.
Simple monolithic handles with a groove for the blade or handles made of a bent strip of steel are rare in modern knives, mainly in the French Opinel and African Duk-Duk. Previously, the parts of the handle were connected into a single whole using rivets. The axis of the blade was also riveted. IN modern models screw connections are usually used for this. The use of screw connections allows you to eliminate the loosening of parts that occurs during the operation of the knife, adjust the “softness of the blade stroke”, and facilitate the disassembly of the knife for maintenance work. Most foreign folding knives use screws with a torx slot (torx). To work with such screws, a special tool is required - screwdrivers or socket wrenches with the appropriate head. Some companies include such keys with the knife, otherwise they have to be purchased separately.
The shape of the handle, its section, as well as the texture of the lining determine the convenience and safety of using the knife. The rectangular section of the knife is technologically advanced in production, but not convenient when working with a knife for a long time. The handle with a round section fits comfortably in the hand, but it does not allow you to determine the orientation of the knife by touch. Therefore, oval-shaped handles are most convenient. The rectangular shape is compact, but it does not provide protection against slipping of the hand onto the blade. The wedge shape of the handle better protects the hand when working with the tip of the knife, but when trying to pull out the knife stuck in dense material, the hand will slide off the handle. Small penknives often have this shape for small household work.
The concave shape of the handle provides a more secure grip, but is not entirely comfortable. The convex shape of the handle fits perfectly in the hand and is comfortable to work with. It is this shape of the handle that time-tested Finnish-type knives have.
Even more convenient is the handle of a convex-concave shape and a shape that is often used on tactical knives. In modern knives, handles of a complex shape are increasingly used, taking into account the ergonomics of the hand. However, its configuration is calculated for a medium-sized arm, and a person with a large or, conversely, a small hand, will not be able to take full advantage of its advantages.
overlays
For their manufacture, materials of natural (wood, bone, horn) and artificial origin (metals, plastic) can be used. The main advantage of wooden overlays is their "warmth" and the beauty of natural material. In expensive handmade knives, exotic woods with a very beautiful texture can be used. The main disadvantage is poor wear and moisture resistance. The multi-layer lacquer coating in some way solves the problem, but it reduces the reliability of holding the knife in your hand. Another material of natural origin is horn and bone. Handles made of these materials are well polished and look very nice. The disadvantage is that they can crack and scratch easily. Metal linings are highly durable, but in the cold season, knives with such handles are inconvenient to use. In addition, they are difficult to hold in a wet or sweaty hand, even if they have a notch. In modern knives, titanium alloys based on aluminum or titanium are used for their manufacture. Damascus steel can also be used in expensive designer knives.
Materials based on synthetic resins make it possible to imitate the structure of natural materials and at the same time avoid their inherent disadvantages, although they lose to them in terms of weight. One of the most popular materials of this type is one of the types of micarta textolite. Recently, overlays from various kinds plastics, such as ABC, Zitel, Kydex, etc. These materials are technological, moisture resistant, durable and resistant to the external environment. They allow the production of rubbers of any shape with any texture pattern - from a simple roughness inherent in the rubber material itself, or a rectangular cut to specially designed surface types. So, in the knives of the "For those who serve" series, CRKT uses a special honeycomb structure that prevents the knife from slipping in the hand. For the same purpose, rubberized inserts or structural inserts such as sandpaper are used.
At the end of the handles of many models of folding knives there is a through round hole for attaching a lanyard or lanyard to it.
Security elements
Although modern designs of blade retainers are quite reliable, nevertheless, as noted above, there is a possibility of accidental folding of the blade. To prevent this, modern knives have special fuses. For knives with a lock on the butt, they are usually located in the cutout area of the locking lever. In linear lock models, they are located in front of the handle under the thumb. The addition of blade locks with guards practically transforms the knife from a folding knife into a fixed blade knife.
For the safe wearing of semi-automatic and automatic knives, the fuse must prevent the knife from opening in a pocket of clothing if the trigger mechanism is accidentally actuated. Therefore, in such knives, the safety often has a double action - it blocks the blade in the closed and open state.
Clip (clip) for wearing
An almost mandatory attribute of modern folding knives is a steel spring clip. In knife literature, the term “clip” is often used to designate it (from the English. clip clamp, clip). It provides convenient carrying of a knife in pockets of clothes or on a trouser belt.
Many knife manufacturers make the clamp adjustable - that is, it can be fixed on different sides handles, depending on whether the owner is right-handed or left-handed. In addition, sometimes you can change not only the side of the clamp attachment - at the base or at the end. In this case, the knife in the pocket will be oriented either with the tip down or up. Some experts believe that when carrying a knife with the point up, there is a possibility of a cut when trying to get the knife out of the pocket, if for some reason the blade comes out of the handle. At the same time, with such an orientation of the knife, it is faster to bring it into working condition.
In some models of folding knives, the clip attachment point is not Z-shaped, but shaped like the letter "G" or "P". In this case, when carrying a knife in a pocket of clothing top part the handle is hidden from the outside view - only the spring plate of the clip protrudes from the pocket. Outwardly, it looks like a regular ballpoint pen.
Elements that expand percussion capabilities
For self-defense, the knife can be used without opening the blade. In this case, it is used as a palm stick and the blow is delivered by parts of the handle protruding from the fist. In tactical and self-defense knives, the end of the handle to increase the effectiveness of such strikes often has a triangular shape or a special impact element in the form of a cylinder, cone or pyramid.
Concluding the review of folding knife designs, it should be noted that the legality of a knife, that is, the fact that it is not a cold weapon, can only be determined by an expert by law. Therefore, when purchasing a knife, it is always necessary to ask the seller for a copy of the information sheet for the certification test report (in common parlance it is often called a “certificate”). The absence of such a document, no matter what the seller says, may indicate that the knife you like has not passed the tests for belonging to melee weapons. Moreover, it is best if such tests were carried out by the parent organization "Expert Forensic Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs." It is best to always have a copy of this document with you, which will allow you to avoid unnecessary conflicts with law enforcement officials. 
Most high-quality folding knives on the Russian knife market are the products of foreign companies. Unfortunately, the majority of serial domestic folding knives are inferior to foreign ones in almost all respects, and you can rarely find original models among them. Russian craftsmen and knife companies prefer to create knives with a fixed blade, and among them there are very original models that have no analogues abroad, which include Vitaly Kim's knives, the Kondrat knife, and the NDK-17 knife (saboteur knife designed by Kochergin). This is largely due to the more complex technology and the expensive equipment required for it. Among Russian craftsmen, only a few design and produce original folding knives of the author's work that are not inferior to foreign ones (including in terms of price). Folding knives of the Ural master Urakov and the workshop of the Shirogorov brothers are shown as an example. The rapid pace of development of the Russian knife industry allows us to hope for the appearance of domestic folding knives that are not inferior to foreign models.
Anatoly Fomin. Magazine "Bratishka" 2013-01
If a folding knife suddenly folds spontaneously during work, then not only will the work be spoiled, but you can also get a serious injury to your hand. To prevent this from happening, locks are provided in modern knives - special structural elements that allow you to securely lock the blade in the open position.
The first primitive knives had a special protrusion on the heel of the blade as a latch, like a straight razor. In the open position, this protrusion was either inside the handle or in a groove on its upper part. The hand holding the knife also held this protrusion and did not allow the knife to fold. This type of fixation is still used in some penknives.
Modern knives use many types of locks. Most widespread received three types of clamps:
Locks with fixation on the butt of the blade - slip joint (slip joint) and back lock (back lock). Structurally, these are the simplest locks. Until recently, they were considered the most reliable.
Linear, or liner locks - liner lock (liner lock), frame lock (frame lock), bolster lock (bolster lock). These are castles that are structurally constituent parts handle elements.
Pin locks - axis lock (axis lock), ultra lock (ultra lock). Fixation with these locks is carried out by a moving pin located perpendicular to the plane of the blade.
Locks with fixation on the butt of the blade
Sleep joint castle - one of the oldest and most famous. The principle of operation is simple. A rectangular cut is made in the upper part of the heel of the blade. A spacer (rocker) is fixed on the handle liners. In the open position of the knife, the spacer enters the groove on the heel of the blade, presses on the horizontal part of the heel from above and strongly presses the blade against the axial screw. Everything is extremely simple. Such simplicity of a design provides ease of assembly, dismantling and cleaning of a knife.
Of the shortcomings, the poorly controlled process of closing the knife should be noted. The more the spacer holds the blade, the faster and more powerful it falls when closing. You have to be careful and take care of your fingers. In addition, the slip joint lock does not provide a rigid fixation: if you press hard on the butt of the blade, it will fold directly onto the owner's fingers. Therefore, such a knife is not suitable for power work.
This type of lock was used in folding knives of the Soviet era and is now often found on Victorinox knives, especially multifunction ones.
back lock - an improved version of the slip joint lock. It also has a rectangular groove, which is made on the heel of the blade from the side of the butt, and a spacer, the shape of which resembles a poker. In the open position, the short end of this “poker” enters the groove and firmly fixes the blade. To open the lock, you need to press on the back of the long end of the "poker". To do this, a curly cut is often made on the upper part of the handle, which makes it possible to press a finger on the desired part of the spacer. In this case, the short end comes out of the groove and the knife can be closed.
The lock was invented by the American blacksmith Buck Hoyt, who founded the Buck knife brand. The most famous model of a knife with such a lock is the Buck 110 knife.
The back lock is considered the most reliable, but a knife with such a lock is difficult to fold with one hand. The disadvantages should also include the fact that the lock requires a rigid fixation of the axial screw between the liners. If play appears, immediately tighten the screws or eliminate it by lightly tapping on the rivets.
Linear locks
Liner lock
- very simple and, at the same time, reliable design, formed by a minimum of components. On one of the liners of the handle, a figured cut is made in the form of a horizontal strip. This strip acts as a spring, which, when the blade is opened, folds inward and rests against the heel of the blade. When pressing the plate in the opposite position, the knife folds. This spring-loaded plate - liner - is very resistant to damage and deformation, so the lock has gained high popularity and distribution.
The reliability of the lock is further enhanced by the fact that when holding the knife in the palm of your hand, the thumb additionally fixes the part of the liner in contact with the heel.
Linear lock allows you to close the knife with one hand. But, due to the asymmetry of the design, this is not very convenient for people with a leading left hand.
The creator of the knife is knifemaker Michael Walker, so many Western companies use the name Walker Lock.
A well-known knife model with this type of lock is the Ontario Rat. It was the liner lock that made this model light, reliable and popular.
Frame lock
- is derived from liner-lock. It is used for knives in which the handle is formed by metal dies. These knives do not have liners, so the cut is made directly on the metal plate, and it fixes the blade in the open position.
More and more knives appear, in which one die, with a spring-loaded strip, is made of metal, and the second is made of decorative material. So, in the popular knives of the Zero Tolerance company, the die with the spring is made of titanium, and the other is made of G-10 fiberglass.
Of the advantages of the lock, its high reliability should be noted. In addition, the lock is easy to clean from dust. Of the shortcomings, it should be noted that the assembly of the structure requires a very precise fit. Therefore, it is better to buy a knife with this type of lock from trusted manufacturers. The castle was invented by the American master Chris Reeve.
A variation of "frame lock" is bolster lock . This rather rare lock is used when the dies are made of expensive metal. In this case, the flat spring for fixing the blade is part of the bolster.
pin locks
Axis lock - as a latch, a through spindle-shaped pin is used, installed perpendicular to the blade in a through slot on the handle. A spring rests against the pin, which fixes the blade in both the open and closed positions. To fold the knife, you need to manually slide the pin along the slot and release the blade. The main advantage of such a lock is high speed discoveries. It is enough to wave your hand sharply and at the same time press the pin peg - and the knife comes to the open position. Closing of the knife is just as fast. Among the shortcomings, a rather complicated cleaning procedure should be noted. This lock is not intended for use in the field.
Benchmade was one of the first to use this lock. Now it is used for their knives and other companies. Ganzo knives equipped with axis locks are very popular.
Lock "ultra lock" - differs from other pin locks in that the blade is fixed by two pins. On the heel of the blade there is a semicircular cutout, which includes a movable pin, like an axis lock. In the upper part of the heel, from the side of the butt, a groove was made, into which another pin rests - motionless, like a “slip point” lock. Such a lock perfectly holds the load, including with chopping blows. Used in some models of Cold Steel knives.
Automatic locks
As a rule, automatic knives have push-button locks - button lock (button lock) or plunge lock (plunge lock). To bring the blade to the open state, you only need to press the button, which will release the spring. The blade is instantly ejected from the handle.
Button Lock - these knives are equipped with automatic knives with side ejection of the blade, as well as knives with inertial opening of the blade. Outwardly, the castle looks very simple, although in order for it to work clearly, an accurate fit of all the details is required. The lock is based on a pin, which has a figured cutout, and a spring. The button that starts the mechanism of the lock and is located on the side of the knife, this is the protruding part of the pin. When closed, the blade is fixed by the thicker part of the pin. When you press the button, the pin moves to the side, releases the blade and gives a spring stroke. She pushes the blade and the knife comes to the open position. In this case, the heel of the blade falls into the cutout of the pin and is firmly fixed by it. Thus, the pin fixes the lock both in the closed and in the open position.
Many manufacturers use the button lock on hand-opening knives solely to lock the blade in the open position. The knife can be opened in any way - with the help of a peg, washer, by the nail recess - and then fixed with this reliable lock. To unlock, just press the button and hide the blade.
The button lock is quite reliable and durable, but it has one feature - it loves cleanliness very much. It should be protected from getting inside any dirt, so it is better to store the knife in a case.
The button lock is widely used. It can be found in expensive models of knives, for example, from Böker, and in budget knives from Ganzo.
Plunge lock - at first glance, it does not differ from the "button lock". The same button, when pressed, the ejection occurs, and then the blade is fixed. But if in the button lock the blade enters the pin recess, then in the plunger lock the spring-loaded pin enters the groove on the heel of the blade, securely fixing it.
As you can see, the mechanisms for locking the blade are quite diverse. We have only covered the main ones. In fact, there are much more of them, but the remaining ones are either less popular, or are used only in narrow series of knives, or are simply modifications of the ones presented above. Which knife lock is the best, most reliable and most durable? There is no single answer to this question. As there is no answer which knife is better. Everything is individual. Knives with manual opening are more durable. Automatic knives are more "fast".
The best folding knife is the one that does not take up much space, is convenient to use, meets the requirements, and in difficult times will show its strength and reliability.
