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Types of Folding Knife Locks

The first folding knife recorded in history was created by the Romans in the 1st century to be used on their campaigns and conquests. The folding knife's popularity waned until the 16th century in America, where small knives were valued because they could be hidden in one's pocket. Pocket knives were even issued to American soldiers in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I and II. One of the drawbacks of pocket knives is their propensity to fold unexpectedly, under certain circumstances. In order to prevent this from happening, different types of folding knife locks have been developed that keep the blade fixed and open no matter how the knife is used.

Frame Lock
- In the frame lock configuration, the handle itself forms the handle and the frame. The steel of the handle is thicker than other folding knives. One of the sides is angled slightly toward the inside of the handle and touches the bottom of the blade, locking it in place. In order to release the blade, you push the handle piece back away from the blade, allowing it to fold again.
Mid Lock
- The mid lock is located near the middle of the knife's spine. The lock is comprised of a short arm attached to a spring that is under high tension. When the blade opens, the lock snaps into place. To disengage the lock, you press down on the lock.
Liner Lock
- Michael Walker invented the liner lock in 1980, according to Knives Town. The liner lock is comprised of a portion of the liner which is angled toward the blade when it's folded. When you open the blade, the liner lock snaps into place beneath the bottom of the blade, keeping it open. In order to close the blade, you move the liner back against the inside of the handle, freeing the blade.
Lock Back
- A lock back or back lock consists of a locking arm that has a hook on the bottom. When you open the blade, the locking arm snaps into place, thanks to a spring, going into a slot that's located on the back of the blade. In order to release the lock, you press the lock sideways so it disengages from the notch.
Ring Lock
- A ring lock is formed by a ring that threads through a hole in the pivot of the knife's blade. To open the blade, turn the ring until a gap in it allows the blade to open, then turn the ring again until the blade is locked. To unlock the blade, turn the ring again until you can move the blade down through the gap in the ring.
AXIS Lock
- Benchmade Knives designed the AXIS lock, which is formed by a bar that stretches across the knife's width. When the blade opens, the bar skims along the rounded bottom of the blade until it slips into a slot when the blade is completely open. To close the blade, pull back on the AXIS lock so that the blade can close.
Slip Lock
- The slip lock consists of a piece of steel attached to the inside of the handle with a rivet. The slip lock acts similarly to the calipers of a brake. As the blade opens, the lock presses against the blade, keeping it open. As you close the blade, the lock goes back against the inside of the handle.
Clasp Lock
- A clasp lock is one of the older locks. It consists of a tension-loaded piece of metal located near the spine or back of the knife near the pivot. Opening the blade makes the lock go upward, locking the blade in place. To release the blade, press down on the lock.
Lever Lock
- The lever lock consists of a pin that is located inside the liner and near the pivot. When the blade opens, the pin snaps into a hole that's near the end of the blade.

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