Post by Lobster on Jan 30, 2016 16:03:37 GMT 3
Folding knives, also called pocket knives or jack knives have been in use for over 2000 years but they only began to be used widely around 1700 when cutlery makers in England began mass producing small folding knives that were affordable.
Folding knives come in many different shapes and forms, but all have in common that they have a pivot that allows the blade to be folded into the handle. There are a number of possibilities how a folding knife opens and closes and different mechanisms that prevent accidental opening and closing of the blade.
The advantage of a folding knife is the ease to carry in a pocket or bag without the need of a sheath, the disadvantage is that a folding knife is not as strong as a fixed blade knife. But for most everyday applications a folder is absolutely sufficient.
The parts of a folding knife
Folding knife styles
The peasant knife, farmer knife, or penny knife is the original and most basic design of folding pocketknife, using a simple pivoted blade that folds in and out of the handle freely, without a back spring, slipjoint, or blade locking mechanism. Friction folders use the friction between the blade and scales to hold the blade in place once opened. These knife styles usually have a single blade. The Svord Peasant knife shown below has an extended tang that helps to open the blade and also prevents it from closing when held in the hand. Most of these knives are opened using both hands.
The slipjoint knife has a folding blade that does not lock but, once opened, is held in place by tension from a flat bar or spring that allows the blade to close only if a certain amount of pressure is applied. Slipjoints usually have a thumb nick in the blades for opening. Given the popularity of the Swiss Army Knife, and similar designs, slipjoints are probably the most common of all folding knives. These knives usually have multiple blades. Most of these knives are opened using both hands.
A classic Svord peasant knife The Swiss Army Knife
Knives with locking blades have a locking mechanism that locks the blade when fully opened. This lock must be released before the knife can be closed thus preventing the blade from accidentally closing during normal use. The 4 most common locking mechanisms are the liner lock, the frame lock, the lock back and the axis lock.
A frame lock on the left and an axis lock A liner lock on the left and a lock back
If you are interested in more details on how these different locks work, please follow the links below:
Liner lock
Frame lock
Back lock
Axis lock
There are other similarities between different locking folders. Most locking folders can be opened using one hand by means of thumb studs or discs, a hole or a flipper or a combination of those. Some are assisted openers, meaning that upon opening the blade manually to a certain point with say, the thumb studs , a spring engages and opens the blade the rest of the way. This is not to be confused with automatic knives that open at the push of a button. Most locking folders also have a mechanism that prevents the blade from opening unintentionally called a detent.