There are a plethora of pocket knife lock types available today, and in this article I’ll give you my comparative opinions of them. I think that which lock is best for you depends on several factors: your intended use, your hand shape / size, your aesthetic preferences, etc. So this article is not intended to point to any particular lock being the objective best, but rather to give my thoughts having carried and used and pondered them for years.

Back Lock

The back lock is one of the most recognizable and well known locks available. From the tail lock of the Buck 110 to the Triad Lock from Demko Knives & Cold Steel, the back lock has earned its place as a classic. It works by having a bar or rod spring press a rocking lock bar on the spine side of the knife’s handle down into a cutout on the blade tang once opened. A well made back lock can withstand heavy use, and has a particularly strong bias for close compared to other locks. The downside is that you almost always have to have your hand in the path of the blade to unlock the knife. Also, the pressure that the rocking bar applies to the blade tang often results in back locks requiring more constant positive pressure to open them than other locks. Still, the back lock is reliable and simple to use.

Liner Lock / Frame Lock

Liner locks and frame locks are also one of the most commonly used lock styles. I lump these together because they work essentially the same. They both have a leaf spring that bends inward toward the blade and interfaces with a ramp cut into the tang. The difference is in that a liner lock is cut from a thin liner and a frame lock is cut from the handle itself (the knife pictured below, a Jack Wolf Knives Primo Jack, is technically a bolster frame lock). These locks rarely break from wear and tear due to the large leaf spring involved, but they can have or develop lock rock (meaning the lock bar slides on the tang ramp). Some claim that your grip helps hold the frame lock (but not the liner lock) closed, but I don’t find this to be commonly applicable in normal use. The liner lock and frame lock require you to put your thumb in the path of the blade to unlock the knife. Also, these locks use a detent ball in the lock bar and a divot in the blade to hold the knife closed, and they sometimes can have too much or too little strength in the bias toward closed. Some of the most premium knives are liner and especially frame locks, and they’re great locks when done well.

Compression Lock

I decided to separate out the Spyderco Compression Lock into its own subcategory within this class of locks because it functions very similar to the typical style of this lock but without some of the downsides. The compression lock is placed on the spine side of the handle, rather than the blade well side, and this takes away the need to put your hand in the way of the blade when closing. It also places the lock bar between the blade tang and a stop pin, which purportedly increases the strength. While the compression lock requires you to use your index finger to unlock, which can take some getting used to, I think it is a general upgrade over the typical liner lock.

Cross Bar Lock

The cross bar lock has exploded in prevalence recently due to the patent on the Benchmade Axis Lock expiring, allowing many more companies to use this lock style. It involves, you guessed it, a BAR that goes aCROSS the tang of the blade to hold it open. The access on both sides of the handles to the cross bar makes this one of the most ambidextrous locks, working just as well for right and left hand use. The cross bar lock doesn’t require your hand to be in the way of the blade when closing, which makes injuries less likely. One downside of the cross bar lock is that it often uses a (relative to other styles of spring) thin wire form torsion spring that some find to be prone to breaking. That said, some locks that are in roughly the same category as a cross bar lock, such as the Spyderco Caged Ball Bearing Lock or the Microtech RAM-LOK, use different types of springs. The cross bar lock stands out for its inherent ambidextrous nature and ease of use.

Button Lock

The button lock is probably more well known on out the side automatics, but is also available on manual opening knives. The button lock uses a compression spring to push a cone shaped piece against a ramp on the blade tang. Button locks are as simple to use as it gets; push the button, blade closes. They don’t require your hand to be in the path of the blade and anyone can use them. In my opinion they’re usually relatively easy to use left handed also. The compression spring is unlikely to wear out, but if the angles of the cone and tang are off they can sometimes slip if heavy pressure is applied to the blade tang. Some highest value budget friendly knives, such as the Sencut Serene below, use button locks.

Plunge Lock / Spine Lock

Spine or Plunge Locks are a newer type of lock that have created a lot of excitement in the pocket knife enthusiast community. These locks work by forcing a bar on the spine side of the handle forward to block the blade tang from rotating closed. If it sounds similar to a cross bar lock, that’s because it is similar in how it actually holds the blade open. The main place where plunge locks differ from cross bar locks is in how you actuate the lock. Plunge locks, also sometimes called spine locks, are disengaged with one finger pulling down on a ramped part of the lock bar that protrudes from the spine side of the handle between the two sides, rather than by pulling on a part of the cross bar on the handle slabs. These locks offer much the same advantages of a cross bar lock, but I think sometimes suffer in ergonomics. Two well known examples of spine locks are the SnecX Super Lock and the Demko Shark Lock. I think these locks have a lot of potential, but I haven’t been win over completely yet.

Summary

Now, at the beginning of this article I said the purpose was not to suggest a “best” lock… but I am going to go against that in a way. It might not be the best lock for everyone, but if you’re looking to get your first (or only) modern pocket knife I would recommend looking at knives with a button lock. Why? The button lock is super simple and intuitive to operate, doesn’t require your hand to be in the path of the blade, is reliable and secure, and doesn’t interfere with the ergonomics or aesthetics as much as some locks.

With the Rendezvous about a week in the rearview mirror, I want to give my thoughts on my experience. Honestly, I was in a bit of a weird place leading up to the event as to my expectations. I just didn’t have the time or desire to prepare as much as I would have liked… I actually decided what knives I was bringing to sell at ~12:15 am the day of. Despite this lack of enthusiasm, it turned out to be another great year in several ways.

TL;DR? Video Recap

The People

I ended up setting up a little table display for Knife Thoughts and the Barlow Bearcat Club. Thanks to GEC for letting me use the table, as I forgot to bring my own. I got to see and talk with lots of old friends, fellow Bearcats, and other enthusiasts. It’s just nice to get to share your passion with others who understand it, and the Rendezvous is a great place to do just that for people like me who love traditional knives. There was a solid number of Barlow Bearcat Club members there, and we had a good meeting after the factory store closed down, but unfortunately I forgot to get a picture. It’s also always great to get to talk with Bill, William, Joan Mae, and everyone at GEC who actually bring the knives to reality and to gain insight into their process. I am generally a heavily introverted person, but I felt particularly comfortable and connected this year.

The Knives

I got to Titusville earlier than expected, around 2:30 am on Friday, because I couldn’t sleep and decided to just head up… and I was still 72nd in line. People started arriving on Sunday again, with something like 50 there by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. It looked like a full on encampment. I thought, like I did last year, that there was no chance I’d get a Rendezvous Special. To my surprise, I was able to get one on my first trip through the store. Why? Many people, especially the hardcore collectors, go for SFAs (special factory assembly knives) first, as they are typically more rare and unique. I have been building a Rendezvous Special collection for over 10 years, so if I can get one I do, basically no matter what it is. This year GEC did three(!) different versions, and you were only able to purchase one per person in the store. They were all #86 Boomtown Barlows in American elk and stainless steel, but in all three blade shapes that the normal run had: clip point, spear point, and sheep foot. For me, this is a near ideal knife. The #86 Barlow is my favorite pattern, I prefer single blade, and I prefer stainless. I also don’t have any elk handled knives and have been wanting one. They had an acorn shield and I normally don’t prefer shields on Barlows, but they stamped it 19 for the year and honestly I don’t mind it. I mentioned that the Rendezvous Special was also an #86 Barlow last year to Bill and William, and both of them responded something like “oh really?” so that was pretty funny to know they don’t necessarily consider what last year’s was when deciding. It could be an #86 Barlow in a different configuration every year and I’d be happy for a long time. My other goal was to get a birth knife for my upcoming son, but I didn’t immediately see any other Barlows and my attention was caught by a “Special Factory Experiment” knife. It was a single blade carbon spear point #86 but it had rough cut pine handles, exposed pivot pins, hammered spring pins, and a new blade finish. William wouldn’t confirm what the finish is beyond saying he did it, but I would call it an acid stonewash. All of that comes together to make it look very much like the “Jess Crouch” and “Chris Wolfe” knives that inspired the aesthetic used on Northwoods Knives. So I got one of them, and I really like it. Then I realized there were single blade #77 Barlows, but knew they’d be all gone by the time I got a second trip through the store. Thankfully, long time Rendezvous attendee Jesse was kind enough to sell me one he got for cost… even before he knew I intended it as a birth gift. I got the tube signed by Bill, William, and Joan Mae (as I did for my other son’s birth gift Barlow I got at the 2022 Rendezvous), and it’s just what I was hoping to get. I did end up getting a second trip through the store, but just bought a shirt and a couple leather slips. I actually was really happy with this decision, as I’ve been trying to avoid buying knives unless I really want them and it felt good to make a decision in line with my values. I was also given a Spyderco Delica, and have been carrying and using and enjoying it ever since. So while the relationships are the real value of the Rendezvous, I came away thoroughly thrilled with my haul.

The Legacy

Another thing that made this year special was bringing my son to the picnic. My son has come with me to the GEC factory several times, and it’s become a fun little adventure we go on together. It would be too much for him to be there all day Friday, but he was all for going to the picnic. I did a lot more chasing and wrangling than talking and showing off knives, but I was happy for that. I also really enjoyed getting to give any kid who came up to my table on Friday a knife. It’s great to get to share the hobby with younger people, and it’s nice to be able to downsize my collection in a way that spreads some joy.

The Details

If you have any questions about the Rendezvous, a great place to start is with my FAQ article below. You can also reach out via my contact page with any questions and I’ll do my best to answer. Last but certainly not least, I want to give a massive thank you to everyone at Great Eastern Cutlery for making it all possible and hosting such a great event. I’m already looking forward to next year… the 20th Anniversary!

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook!

If you are a fan of traditional pocket knives you’ve probably seen lots of buzz lately about the “Waynorth Lambfoot”, but what exactly is a Lambfoot knife? Well not to worry, as I have an article on that exact subject! Check it out below, then be sure to read on to learn about the latest rendition of the Waynorth Lambfoot by Great Eastern Cutlery.

So why the reinvigorated interest in this storied pattern? After almost 5 years, Great Eastern Cutlery has made another run of Lambfoot knives. Again made under the Waynorth Cutlery brand for Charlie Campagna using the #93 frame, this new version comes in special “Flat Cap” jigged bone. What’s Flap Cap jigged bone, you might ask? Well, I can’t say it any better than the man himself did on the tube art, which you can read below.

These have already dropped at most dealers, and are in extreme demand. GEC made knives are often difficult to buy, but these are on another level. They tend to sell out in seconds or be reserved ahead of time by long time customers at most dealers. I am lucky and happy to have gotten one, and I wish you the absolute best of luck in getting one for yourself. Great Eastern Cutlery has done it again and made another classic take on a beloved pattern for Charlie’s Waynorth Cutlery.

P.s. It’s a bit out of date, but if you’re interested in how to buy GEC knives check out the article below.

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook!

Austin Jackson has been working steadily to build his knife shop, Traditional Pocket Knives (also known as C. Risner Cutlery), into a one stop destination for quality knives. From traditional slipjoints to modern flippers, he carries an eclectic range of knives. He describes it as “a hobby with friends, not a business with customers” and that has certainly matched my experience. I’ve gotten to know Austin over the last several years and thought an interview would be interesting those like me who enjoy hearing the stories of those who share my love of good cutlery.

I know that continuing your grandfather’s legacy in taking over C. Risner Cutlery was a meaningful undertaking for you, and I see the effort you put into innovating the business. How has your vision for the company evolved since then?

Grandpa had three websites back in the day. Those websites were Schattandmorgan.com (Schatt & Morgan knives), CRisnerCutlery.com (Queen Cutlery knives), and ClarenceRisner.com (German Eye brand knives). Grandpa and I talked often about how I wanted to combine all three websites into one website, TraditionalPocketKnives.com. After grandpa passed in 2016, I began working on combining all three sites into one site. After doing so, this quickly turned out to be a great decision. Obviously combining three sites into one site made it much simpler for people to shop and browse knives. I had discussed with grandpa that I wanted to begin carrying more modern knives, both modern slipjoints and modern folding/flipping knives. My first modern addition to the site was Finch Knife Co. Finch offers some really neat modern knives while keeping their designs traditional. This was a great decision and has been a huge success. Over the years, I kept adding quality brands to the site and have taken grandpas small hobby and grown it into a small business. Grandpa always told me to never worry about stocking [too much] quality inventory. And in March of 2020, this little piece of information turned out to be paramount. As knife factories began to shut down temporarily in 2020 due to the pandemic, inventory began to move quickly. Many people were stuck at home with nothing to do, so they began shopping online. Having a large inventory of quality knives allowed me to sell knives throughout the entire year without purchasing new knives since factories were shut down. To this day, I carry a large inventory of quality knives and products. This has allowed me to evolve and expand the site to focus more on the “online shopping experience” rather than just offering a “shop and go” experience.

The Lake Champlain Barlow is a unique design named after the USS Lake Champlain, where your grandfather served. Can you share more about the inspiration and design process behind this knife? Do you plan to rerelease the Lake Champlain like you have the Ohio River Jack, and if so will you make design adjustments like you have on the ORJ? You know I love a Barlow!

The Ohio River Jack was my first ever OEM design. I went all in on this design too, not really knowing where it would lead me. The knife community largely accepted and has thoroughly enjoyed the Ohio River Jack. This success led me to design the Lake Champlain Barlow. With all of my designs, I want to honor my Grandfather’s legacy because I am so grateful he introduced me to this hobby as a young kid. In matter of fact, Grandpa started my knife collection before I was even born! I still have the knife collection to this day. Grandpa loved a well designed and strongly built Barlow. I knew I would eventually want to design a Barlow that grandpa would have carried. The Lake Champlain Barlow was just that. Having a closed length of 4.25″, the Lake Champlain Barlow is a well built and rugged modern slipjoint. Most of our Lake Champlain Barlow inventory has sold but we still have a few of the micarta versions available on the site. I am currently working on another Lake Champlain Barlow run featuring a long and beautifully shaped spearpoint blade. I will be adding an easy-open notch to the design along with jimping and swedges to the blade. My newly designed second release of the Ohio River Jacks has been another great success within the knife community and has added confidence in me wanting to produce the Lake Champlain Barlow spearpoint version. 

Traditional Pocket Knives offers a range of exclusive designs. How do you decide which patterns and collaborations to pursue? For example, the Lush is much different from your in house exclusive designs.

Quality, quality, quality. As a young boy, I attended almost every knife show that Grandpa set up at. During these shows, grandpa would teach me about the different styles, patterns and designs of pocket knives. Grandpa knew which knives and which brands would sell the best and which ones would not… or in his words, “these are absolute junk”. Even as knives have changed in the last ten to fifteen years, those lessons from grandpa still remain with me. This has allowed me to filter which knife designs and brands I want to carry in the store. Secondly and just as important, I want to personally know the owner of the knife brand which I carry and sell. Every brand I offer in the store, at any time I can personally call up the owners of those brands and have a thirty minute conversation before we even begin talking about pocket knives.

Balancing the legacy of C. Risner Cutlery with modern market demands must be challenging. How do you honor tradition while innovating in the current knife industry? 

Grandpa would have never carried any knife besides a slipjoint. He appreciated a beautifully designed traditional slipjoint. And modern folding knives are obviously designed and produced much differently than a traditionally made slipjoint. In my opinion, a pocket knife is a pocket knife. If the knife cuts like a knife, looks like a knife, feels like a knife, then it’s very much so a pocket knife. It doesn’t matter if your interests are in Great Eastern Cutlery and your buddy’s interests are in Spyderco, we all share the same passion for pocket knives and that is what makes the knife community so enjoyable. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Grandpa had German Eyebrand produce his Indian Head trademarked knives. These knives featured his name, “C. Risner” stamped into the blade tangs. On all of my current OEM designs, I have “C. Risner” lasered into the tangs of these knives. I want to always honor the legacy and tradition of my Grandfather. 

You’ve been involved in the knife community from a young age. How have your early experiences influenced your approach to running Traditional Pocket Knives today?

Grandpa not only taught me so much about business and pocket knives, he, along with my father, taught me lessons which helped me to become a man, leader, community supporter, Christian, Marine, and many other things. I will be forever grateful for the relationship I had with my grandfather. Even though he has passed, working on knives daily is like spending time with him. I didn’t realize at the time but attending the knife shows with Grandpa at a young age instilled confidence in me that helps me run the business to this day. Having guided grandpa’s small hobby into a small business which is constantly growing, I am faced with daily challenges. To help deal with these challenges, I often refer back to the times I spent with grandpa fulfilling orders, reviewing inventory, and speaking with customers. Being an entrepreneur, frustrations and failures will knock you down and make you be brutally honest with yourself. The one thing that keeps me strong is the love I have for pocket knives. If it wasn’t for this love and passion I have for pocket knives, the business wouldn’t be where it is today. 

To some, a pocket knife is just a tool and that is completely understandable. To others, a pocket knife is a memory of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, friends, etc. A pocket knife is a lesson about life or a pocket knife can bring joy, love, and excitement. No matter what style of pocket knife you carry, being a part of the knife community and sharing the hobby with others is what brings us all together and that alone is worth celebrating.

People like Austin help to make the knife community great. I love to see someone continue a family tradition and build a thriving and growing business at the same time. Who says the American dream is dead? If you decide to pick something up from Traditional Pocket Knives, feel free to use code “KT10” and you just might get a discount, and tell Austin I say hello!

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook!