Many people may find this topic to be obvious; after all, you’ve been at it for a while and have experienced and handled the various locking mechanisms, so you know how to close a pocket knife.
It’s possible that you don’t know, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that if you haven’t handled a modern pocket knife with all the fancy new locking mechanisms.
But let’s stop keeping you in the dark right now. I’ll go over each kind of knife lock in detail, along with how to use it to close a pocket knife.
Table of Contents
How To Close A Pocket Knife?
Slip Joint
One of the more common and casual types of pocket knives is those with a slip joint lock. These non-locking folding blades are excellent for routine daily tasks even though they are not designed for heavy-duty work. This kind of pocket knife is very simple to close.
Simply press down on the blade’s back to close it. Basically, closing the knife requires applying any downward pressure to the back of the blade.
Axis Lock
The AXIS lock was created and patented by Benchmade, so it should come as no surprise that it is the lock of choice for Benchmade Knives.
My favorite lock is undoubtedly this one because of its superbly simple yet amazing design. It operates with Omega springs and a sturdy bar that spans the width of the handle. The spring moves the bar forward as the blade opens and places it on a shelf with a cutout above the tang of the blade. The bar cannot slide back due to the tension of the spring, which prevents the blade from closing.
The pocket knife can be closed by simply sliding the bar back until it clears the blade tang shelf.
One of many Benchmade knives that uses the AXIS lock is the Griptilian. The Griptilian is a very well-liked option for everyday carry knives.
Lockback
This particular pocket knife has a metal spine running the length of the handle that secures the blade.
Look for the finger cut along the knife’s spine to determine when a Lockback knife is closed. To disengage the locking mechanism, apply pressure to this exposed portion of the spine. By doing this, you’ll be able to easily close the knife and release the spine.
Liner Lock
This style of pocket knife resembles a frame lock. The primary distinction between a liner lock and a frame lock is the internal mechanism that holds the knife blade open.
A frame lock and a liner lock can both be closed in the same manner. However, you should search for the inner liner lock, which is typically located at the handle’s bottom, rather than removing the frame lock. On this area of the liner, there will be a tab that you can pull apart with your thumb. This will release the blade, allowing you to press it into the closed position.
Frame Lock
A pocket knife with a frame lock has a lockable mechanism on the outside that keeps the knife open. The blade automatically locks when it is fully extended. Normally, the locking device is found behind the blade.
Use your thumb to move the locking portion of the frame out of the way of the blade to close this type of knife. Simply apply pressure to the back of the blade to lower it to the closed position after moving the locking component out of the way.
Compression Lock
The compression lock and liner lock both use the liner to lock the blade in place, so they are somewhat similar to one another. However, their implementation is very different and, in my opinion, done better in the compression lock.
With the compression lock, the handle’s spine can now be locked and unlocked. The liner slides into position on a notch in the topside blade tang as the blade opens. A stop pin is another feature that the liner rides between, taking things a step further.
The lock is now on the handle’s spine, which makes the knife much stronger than a typical liner. Additionally, since you never need to put your fingers in the blade’s path to close it, it is safer to use.
The differences between the common liner lock and the Spyderco compression lock are explained in this nice video.
Tips For Closing Your Pocket Knife
You can close your knives more quickly, safely, and easily by using these suggestions.
- The process should never be rushed.
particularly if it’s your first time.
If you treat your knife with respect, you won’t need to use the first aid kit.
Know what kind of pocket knife you are working with for best results.
- Practice
Once you receive your pocket knife, practice using it several times.
- Utilize a firm surface
If there is a nearby hard surface, you can skip the steps of these techniques that require you to fold back the knife with your thumb, fingers, or palm.
You can use anything, including a table, a wall, a slab of concrete, etc., and you’re ready to go.
If the lock has been released, you can use such solid objects to push the blade back into its closing position.
Which Lock Is Best For You?
These are just a few of the more typical locking mechanisms found in contemporary pocket knives; there are undoubtedly others, and I’ll probably go into more detail about them later.
For the time being, though, you might not know how to open and close a pocket knife if you’re not familiar with how these common locks operate. I hope this article was useful in that case.
Naturally, if you ever come across a knife with a lock that isn’t listed here and you’re having trouble closing it, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to explain how it works.
