Man with a knife

[AHarvey]

So what's the difference between a locking and folding knife?

I've a few knives I used to use when I lived in the country. Wooden and brass handles, under 3" and the blade would fold out and the lock into place. I'd then have to press the end of the handle down so I could fold the blade back in.

Surely a blade that doesn't lock into place is dangerous when using it?

Had a google but can't find anything really explaining the difference in a way that's easy to understand? Is the locking knife one where you press a button and the blade pops out compared to pulling it out manually but both lock in place once out?

 

[Raikiri]

Surely a blade that doesn't lock into place is dangerous when using it?

A non locking blade is one that no latch of any sort, like a Swiss Army knife. It's not really dangerous unless you're stabbing at something... or trying to cut with the wrong side of the blade.

 

[something daft already!!]

I carry a sword of pork which is a powerfully large weapon.

 

[Raikiri]

I carry a sword of pork which is a powerful weapon.

And under 3", so UK legal.

 

[something daft already!!]

lol it's not how big but what you do with it.

 

[hughtrimble]

So what's the difference between a locking and folding knife?

I've a few knives I used to use when I lived in the country. Wooden and brass handles, under 3" and the blade would fold out and the lock into place. I'd then have to press the end of the handle down so I could fold the blade back in.

Surely a blade that doesn't lock into place is dangerous when using it?

Had a google but can't find anything really explaining the difference in a way that's easy to understand? Is the locking knife one where you press a button and the blade pops out compared to pulling it out manually but both lock in place once out?

It is a difficult subject as it's really rather vague. The wording around it (in some bit of legislation - I think the case law which led to locking folding knives being treated as fixed blades) said the blade had to be 'readily foldable at all times'.

But that opens up more questions than answers - to what extent 'folding'? If your finger gets in the way and prevents the blade from returning to inside the handle, is that truly 'folded'? It's not really been clearly worded, but arguably it's loosely worded to allow for a bit of leeway.

What you're describing is a 'back lock' (Buck 110 being one of the most famous), but there are also 'mid locks' which are similar, but have the lock release on the middle of the handle (Spyderco make a lot of these such as the Delica, Endura, Police etc.). Other very common ones are 'liner locks' (Spyderco Military), 'frame locks' (Chris Reeve Sebenza being the original implementation of it), 'button locks' (William Henry knives often use these), 'Axis locks' (Benchmade Griptilian) etc. All require you to toggle or move something integral to the knife to allow the blade to close.

There are a variety of non-locking type knives out there, with mechanisms such as 'slip joints' (classic Swiss Army Knife type), 'ball bearing detentes' (Spyderco Bob Terzuola Slip-It) and even magnetic ones such as the Spyderco T-Mag.

Friction folders, such as the Svord Peasant are very simple in that there is no mechanism that holds the blade in the open position (unlike Swiss Army Knife which uses a back spring to provide closing resistance) and you simply have the extended tang of the blade (the bit that sticks out from the opposite end of the blade's tip) which nestles in the palm of the hand when the blade is open and you grip the handle. There has been some debate as to whether these could be classed as 'fixed blades with rotating attached sheaths' but they're arguably the most 'non-locking' knives out there, but they're not really 'readily foldable at all times' due to the way your hand prevents the blade from closing...

 

[Haggisman]

I would say yes, it is, given that the OP made specific mention to it being a practice that's normal in that person's country.

Well, given that it's also a normal practice in this country (as evidenced by most of the replies in this thread) then I still don't see how it's relevant?

 

[Raikiri]

lol it's not how big but what you do with it.

Love the edit

 

[ttaskmaster]

What size knife? i know many people that carry round a knife as a tool

I know many tools that carry knives around!

Racist

Xenophobe, surely?

I do carry a sub-1" lock knife, partly because I do use it and partly because it's the most laughable definition of an offensive weapon I could find - I could honestly do more damage with a fountain pen!!

 

[hughtrimble]

I do carry a sub-1" lock knife, partly because I do use it and partly because it's the most laughable definition of an offensive weapon I could find - I could honestly do more damage with a fountain pen!!

It doesn't matter - you still need a good reason to have it on you, as it locks.

Why not acquaint yourself with Heinnie Haynes at www.heinnie.com and use their 'UK Friendly Carry' filter and pick-up a nice bit of legal carry cutlery?

 

[Craig321]

Out of interest, why are locking blades illegal to carry?

 

[hughtrimble]

Out of interest, why are locking blades illegal to carry?

Because they're classed as fixed blades.

So why were fixed blades of any size made illegal to carry without good reason?

Good question, and will take this thread wildly off topic as it goes into the classic situation of limiting the law-abiding and not having any great effect on the non law-abiding, as they'll carry them anyway.

 

[Diddums]

I was enjoying a walk round the gardens/grounds of a hall the other day with my family. There was a foreigner in front of us when all of a sudden he grabbed a big stick, whipped a knife out and started stripping the bark off it.

I didn't know what to think of this. Why is he carrying a knife around with him? Does it really matter? Is it What he's used to in there own country?

Either way it was a bit freaky as it's not something you see every day and not when there's just a lot of family's walking about.

anyone here carry a knife around with them?

Would you have thought twice about it if it was an English person? I can't help but think that the fact he was a foreigner weighs rather heavily on your thoughts.

 

[thedoc46]

I like to have a lock knife longer than 3" always accessible, 1.\ cos its frickin useful for a lot of things ! 2.\ cos you can buy a decent enough Winchester one from Walmart for $5, so why not have a few knocking around.

Glad i'm allowed too also ! Nanny gov in the UK. Got one in my car, got one sitting right here now infront of me at work, one in every main drawer at home so i don't have to go around looking for one, when i need it... Whenever i need to open a box, just whip it out, and open it !!!! No i am never going to stab someone, like the 99.9% of people in the UK wouldn't be doing so. I'm glad the government here, isn't treating me like a child who needs a smack on the hand and a telling off in way of a criminal record, cos of the occasional idiot,

 

[ttaskmaster]

It doesn't matter - you still need a good reason to have it on you, as it locks.

Yeah, that's the point - It's like outlawing a sharpened pencil.
I'm not going to stop until a cop actually takes it off me, really.

Why not acquaint yourself with Heinnie Haynes at www.heinnie.com and use their 'UK Friendly Carry' filter and pick-up a nice bit of legal carry cutlery?

Because this works fine for my purposes, because it's something I've had ever since I first joined the Army, because I can't open that page here at work and because it sounds suspiciously like you're on commission...?

So why were fixed blades of any size made illegal to carry without good reason?

They are easier to stab someone with. Unlocked knives can quite easily fold back on the stabber's hand.
Knives seem to be the greater issue for officers of law enforcement organisations (Police, Customs, even Trading Standards), which is why they get issued stab vests rather than bullet-proof vests.

Would you have thought twice about it if it was an English person? I can't help but think that the fact he was a foreigner weighs rather heavily on your thoughts.

I'd have assumed he was American - They seem to like their whittling, don't they, especially on the back porches of Southern houses?

 

[bobbyspangles]

There's been a development it seems. The foreigner has gone home but took his stick with him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...-internet-twigs-s-happened-goes-meltdown.html

 

[sprite1275]

Would you have thought twice about it if it was an English person? I can't help but think that the fact he was a foreigner weighs rather heavily on your thoughts.

Oh my God I'm so Sorry, did I say foreigner oh my god I'm so sorry, oh no did I say God? Oh no I'm so sorry.

 

[Rroff]

I like to have a lock knife longer than 3" always accessible, 1.\ cos its frickin useful for a lot of things ! 2.\ cos you can buy a decent enough Winchester one from Walmart for $5, so why not have a few knocking around.

Glad i'm allowed too also ! Nanny gov in the UK. Got one in my car, got one sitting right here now infront of me at work, one in every main drawer at home so i don't have to go around looking for one, when i need it... Whenever i need to open a box, just whip it out, and open it !!!! No i am never going to stab someone, like the 99.9% of people in the UK wouldn't be doing so. I'm glad the government here, isn't treating me like a child who needs a smack on the hand and a telling off in way of a criminal record, cos of the occasional idiot,

To be fair I've a slightly under the legal limit folding knife (Nieto Manolina) and rarely feel the need for anything bigger or locking in daily use and for those times I've other tools that I wouldn't be carrying around without a reason (assuming it was around the house). Don't tend to make a point of carrying it on me though.

 

[thedoc46]

To be fair I've a slightly under the legal limit folding knife (Nieto Manolina) and rarely feel the need for anything bigger or locking in daily use and for those times I've other tools that I wouldn't be carrying around without a reason (assuming it was around the house). Don't tend to make a point of carrying it on me though.

I like the locking, cos its a safety net that it won't fold back on you and cut your fingers. If they didn't lock, i'd not feel as comfortable with them.

 

[flowrider99]

I'm surprised at the number of posters on this thread that carry a knife with them. I would have thought that no one would need to carry a knife in a public place except if it was a work tool. I have never had a knife in a public place and never needed one either.