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The most critical component to any folding knife is the locking
mechanism. It is what provides the means to secure the knife’s blade
open when you go to use it. There are several mechanisms and
variations of mechanisms on the market and sometimes it can be difficult
to determine which
is best for your particular application. It all comes down to
several key features to look for in a locking mechanism, they are ease of
use (even under
non-ideal circumstance), a reliability to not fail inadvertently,
and strength relative to the knife application. NRA Knives features a variety
of locking
mechanisms, several of which are patented.
A patented
Benchmade exclusive, AXIS has been turning heads and winning fans ever since its
introduction. A 100-percent ambidextrous design, AXIS gets its function from a
small, hardened steel bar which rides forward and back in a slot machined into
both steel liners. The bar extends to both sides of the knife, spanning the
liners and positioned over the rear of the blade. It engages a ramped, tang
portion of the knife blade when it is opened. Two omega style springs, one on
each liner, give the locking bar it’s inertia to engage the knife tang, and as a
result the tang is wedged solidly between a sizable stop pin and the AXIS bar
itself.
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A patented Benchmade
exclusive, the knife handle scale/liner is cut to create a spring system which
is used to leverage a lock-pin in and out of a notch in the tang of the blade.
This spring/pin system effectively locks the blade both in the open and closed
positions.
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Another patented
Benchmade exclusive, the Rolling Lock utilizes a sizable, notched lock-pin,
which secures against the blade tang when engaged. To disengage, a spring
actuated thumb button on the right handle side is drawn back to rotate the lock
pin and free the blade. InDraft is a patented exclusive, which is a combination
of a slotted liner and a pin in the blade tang working in tandem to generate an
inward inertia when closing the blade. This results in one of the safest blade
detents available today.
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The basic
principle is an integral locking bar within the knife liner being stress bent,
enabling it to spring into position behind the rear tang of the blade when the
blade is opened. The locking bar wedges against the rear of the blade, locking
it open until you physically push it clear and close the blade. With little
practice, the process of opening and closing the blade can be done single-handed
(locking-liners are made either right or left hand specific). And with a
Benchmade modified locking-liner you get a patented feature, which helps to
enhance the lock function. The function success and function failure of a
locking liner depends greatly on how well it is made and also the quality of the
materials used. With Benchmade, you get the best of both, and we offer it in a
variety of knives.
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The monolock mechanism is
basically a locking-liner on steroids. The knife liner is one in the same as the
knife handle, and thus it is designed and made to function as the locking
mechanism. Subsequently, a thicker material is used to provide enough surface
area to be a functional handle, and in turn creates a larger surface area to
lock the blade with. If executed properly, the monolock rates very highly in
strength and function.
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A basic functional lock
that is relatively simple and low cost to manufacture. In practice the lock
design positions a stop bar parallel to and in direct line with the blade at the
upper back or rear tang of the blade to lock the blade open. Basically, as the
blade is rotated open, the spring tensioned, center pivoted stop bar tracks
around the circular portion of the blade tang until it drops or locks into the
notched out tang. And to release the lock, the exposed portion of the stop bar
in the handle back is depressed into the handle, pivoting the stop bar out,
releasing the locked blade. This style of locking mechanism requires two hands
to safely close the blade although you may still easily open the blade
single-handed if desired.
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A patented
Benchmade exclusive, the BILT System (Bolted InLine Tang) simplifies the fixed
blade handle assembly process while at the same time strengthening the overall
assembly itself. A long nut is positioned in the slotted full-tang; a hardened
bolt is passed through the butt-cap and then threaded into the nut drawing the
handle assembly together for a solid fit.
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