Locking Folders

Recently I was teaching a group of Scouters (adults who work with Scouts) basic knife skills - safety, sharpening, etc.

Naturally, I included by strong bias in favor of locking folders. I was surprised when one student expressed that he had been told by others that locking folders were, in fact, *more* dangerous than the more conventional, non-locking pocket knives.

Since he had just "heard" it, he wasn't much of a champion of the position.

So I'm asking here if anyone else has heard, or even believes, that locking folders are somehow more dangerous. I am interested in the basis/arguments in favor of the "more dangerous" point of view.

Thanks,

/Neal

Never heard that one, everything I have ever learned is the more it locks the safer it is. From the other point of view though I guess learning with a non-locking knife will teach you good habits, like not completely trusting a lock.

While we are on the subject of knives again, chime in on this area.

I tend to be partial to hilt style knives, at least on the sharp edge side rather than having finger groves with no hilt on a fixed blade knife.

Opinions, and why.

Bountyhunter

Well bounty, it all depends on what I'm doing with the knife. A guard hasn't got any business on a small skinning knife, however, I've seen 14 inch Bowies without guards that made me laugh out loud. There's really is no good single knife, two at least, and I prefer three... a small skinner/filet knife, a general purpose folder/pocket knife, and a big beefy blade to finish up, a Bowie or a machete. Although, I once had a six pound butchers cleaver that served me well and pleased me to no end... think of a short handled battle axe... <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

I've never heard of any particularly dangerous asspects of locking knives, no more so than any edged implement. Probably just vapour.

I have seen people let a lock blade get a lot more dull then non locking knifes.I think this is due to the fact that they can be a little more forceful with the edge.IMHO a sharp knife is a safe knife.Reguardless if it locks or not.

I heard this in conjunction with a recent story about legislation proposed in Michigan to ban multi-bladed locking knives. It began when a Detroit gas station was found to be selling these mall-ninja triple-bladed throwing-star looking deals to minors. Idiots began dealing with other idiots and the above proposal was the result.

One attorney was heard to argue that the lack of a locking device made it difficult/impossible to use a certain knife as an offensive weapon, and thus constituted a 'safety feature'.

Rob

Wildcard163:

Even on a small skinnig knife, I prefer a hilt because you are usually bloodied, with animal fat and hair on your hands and the knife. If skinning a large animal, you will have a tendency to hold the knife in different ways as you work on a hanging carcass or one you are kneeling next to compared to having a table where you can swing the carcass around for ease of access. I don't generally hold a knife in a hard "death grip" when skinning or filleting, so a depression, even with knurling for slip resistance doesn't impress me. The "solid wall" effect of a hilt stopping my fingers and hand from slipping forward onto the cutting edge just feels so much safer to me.

Bountyhunter

That's the first I have ever heard that. Sounds pretty absurd to me. <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

I follow your reasoning, I've just always been more comfortable with a "straight blade" for light or touchy work, guess that's why they make different shapes & styles (and wouldn't it be boring without them) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Troy