I have my old (60's era, made in the USA.) Gerber liner lock sitting in front of me on my secondary computer (A horizontal desk top computer case.) in its sheath and the sheath has to be resewn because the threading has disintigrated.

Talking to all the participants on this forum, I started to think about the blade closing unexpectedly while using the knife after reading a thread about a lock back knife that did that during heavy but practical and realistic use. Based on what little I know about all the types of lock up mechanisms, I feel that the liner locks are the safest of them all.

My reasoning is that if the liner lock (My Gerber has a brass liner lock in an otherwise stainless steel knife.) can not handle the stress placed on it, it will start to bend out of shape and not give up suddenly. Even if it was brittle brass or some other type of metal that was brittle through constant use or manufacturing defect, and did snap, the whole length of the liner lock would not fail and there would still be something left to keep the blade from closing completely on your fingers.

I also like the pin lock on Italian stilettoes, but realize that if the pin shears at its base, it could compromise the safety of the blade closing onto your fingers.

Differing opinions anyone?

Bountyhunter