My Amazon page! The gear I use here on the channel! - www.amazon.com/shop/metalcomplex Thanks so much for watching! You can support my channel on Patreon here - www.patreon.com/metalcomplex MC stickers! - www.redbubble.com/people/metal-complex/shop?asc=u

Forgot the GREATEST lock of all time... The Ring Lock popularized by Opinel. Solid "Rank A"! And we know you own one 😉

I have an entire collection of unique opening and locking mechanisms of folding knives. I should make my own version of this.

As someone who edc's a Cold Steel Recon 1,your rankings for the Triad lock are spot on imo

15:41 is hands down your funniest impression EVER . OMG! LOL

I love the ball lock on the manix 2

Love the compression lock really wish other companies would pick it up the patent ended in February

I would have just said "B" or "C" for ease of manipulation on the triad lock, but he really hit it with the "D".

Compression locks and button locks are my favorite.

I love the ball bearing lock from spyderco the best. I love my manix!!!

Compression lock is currently my favorite

So glad you did this video. I've always been on the fence about axis locks Which has hindered me on wanting to buy one. I've been getting tired of liner locks and never wanted frame locks as I just see them the same as a liner lock in my OWN OPINION. But I am a complacent person with everything and just stick to what I am familiar with for probably too damn long. I stopped using back locks because my hands are big and bulbous and I death grip the fuck outta everything. I hulk strong grip even my pens and pencils (hello hand cramps).... Because of my grip, I always tend engage back locks. Even some liner locks if my grip shifts when using. This has opened my eyes alot now and now I wanna pull the trigger on buying my first axis lock knife Thanks so much for doing this man

Well done video sir. Well thought out and executed. From 🇨🇦...stay safe and sharp

Great video and brief on locks. Yours remains my favorite channel to just drive and listen 🎧 🤌😝

Metal Complex, I agree with you that the Gerber Sumo is the greatest knife of all time and that 7Cr17 MoV is the greatest steel of all time. Thanks. Kref

Probably the BEST knife lock by description video, that I've ever seen!!!

Love the shark lock on my Demko, but for me the Benchmade axis lock is the coolest, most fun

I bought several nice knives starting with Kershaw and then going to Benchmade. Because of my lack of experience to start with I stumbled into and bought several liner lock knives and would sell them in a heartbeat! The reason is I am left handed and have to switch hands to close the knife blade. Not a huge deal but over time it's a hassle. It's like having a striker fired pistol and having to switch hands to simply lock the slide. Last non-ambedextrious pistol I'll buy as well! BTW, I have a couple of liner or compression lock knives for sale if you want them...

really loving the tier lists mc.

I love this content!😂 so glad I found this channel.

Very nice! Ant lock? I have found that if I take the triad lock apart and gently file it with a diamond file and add some grease it works wonderfully well. With practice to scorpion lock has become very easy to use, both opening and closing. My two favorite locks are the compression lock in the liner lock.

Great break down of a lit of locks, I am still pretty new but my take away is, no locking system on a folding knife is perfect. But most are great as long as you aren't Heman trying to fight of Skeletor off. Can't wait to get my hands on a shark lock one day haha. Great video man

One thing about the Benchmade omega springs is that I never saw this flurry of complaints about broken springs until the Bugout came out. It almost always seems to be the Bugout that people are complaining about online. I wonder if they went with a thinner one to help shave more weight off this ultralight knife. Doesn't seem like they would have been able to salvage much but something seems different.

You make a good point about omega springs

nice video think I need a compression lock already got a couple cheap Axis locks off of Amazon

15:42-15:52 was the best Metal Complex moment in the world🤣🤣🤣

I think compression lock with a CME or a button lock are the best for me.

I think that the back lock presents the same difficulties as the frame lock and the liner lock. It is only because of the abundance of the last two and because of muscles memory that we find them easier to manipulate. In fact, I will say that with a good positioning of the back lock, a user (not a fidgeter) will have to adjust his hand position less than with the other two. When it’s at the back of the knife, then, it’s almost strictly a two hand lock.

I've got a big collection.! 30 are axis benchmade, X. R. And Able . Never had a Omega spring. Break. Compression lock Is on Top !! 👍

Thank you for posting this

I have one test for knifes lock strength: Can you stab it in the wooden table and not be afraid that it will bend/break and cut your fingers. If you afraid of that, or have that small weird feeling behind your head "what if..." dont use it, go find other knife. Also small note: Most of axis locks have two omega springs. chance that two of them fail at the same time are... small, very very small. I used one with one spring for two weeks as I wait for new one and it lock perfectly.

I'd add some extra categories: 1)How does the deployment mechanism affects the ergonomics, 2) reliability in adverse conditions and 3) ease to maintain in working order. This is less important for urban areas, but during a long hike or if you work in remote location and your selection of tools is limited it may affect your choice. 1) So, liner-lock doesn't affect ergonomics, but frame lock does. Compression-lock makes majority of handles not so comfortable for cutting through tough stuff (Shaman is probably is the only exception). Majority of back locks are ok, but not all of them. Cross-bars and buttons are usually fine. 2) In muddy and sandy conditions back-lock variants (including triad-lock) and some ATFs can stop working. Liner and especially frame-lock knives are less prone to that. Axis-lock subtypes are ok too. 3) Knifes with liner-lock/frame lock are usually very easy to disassembly and clean (often you don't need disassemble a knife to fix stuff). Back-lock types require a (tiny) bit of more of attention. Some Axis locks are pretty hard to maintain (it's not like you need to do it often if at all). This would not make much difference in overall rating. Popular locks are popular for a reason, so they will most likely keep their rank, with liner-lock going up one step, maybe.

Yes

There are a few more locks that have emerged since you did this video. One is the Deadbolt Lock on CRKT knives. You should do this video again. Love your channel. Thanks

I appreciate the video. I've had several liner and frame lock knives and I've never 100% liked them. I just don't like the disengagement and how you need to apply some force for a full lockup. I was just given a Benchmade knife that was left at the gun range I'm a member of that nobody claimed for a few weeks. First knife I've handled that locks like it. Didn't like it at first but after playing around with it for a few hours it's grown on me. Only thing I don't like about it is I've broken a spring similar to this one (not spring assisted but the one I broke was assisted) and it was a liner lock knife. I took it apart, tossed the spring, and used it for a little while without the assist since the lockup worked fine, but again you need to apply some force for a complete lockup. I ended up putting it back in the box and haven't used it since (Had that knife on me for maybe 8 years). I'll have to keep an eye out for a tri ad or shark/scorpion. I'll also keep an eye out for a OTF automatic or gravity knife. Reason for those two is, PA's Governor Wolf just made fully automatic knifes legal :) Will be on the books in a few days from now.

Please do another one of these and feature Button locks and the Deadbolt locks from CRKT. Thanks

Back Lock FTW every time. Nothing in the way, super simple, adjustable, super strong. I always use two hands regardless of the lock type. I like my fingers too much to flip some razor sharp blade near my fingertips.

I was just about to go outside & then I saw this ! Now I'll be inside 48 min longer than I thought 🤣👍 Thanks for the great content MC💯❤🔪‼️

I've carried the same Griptillian for over a decade, working construction the whole time, and never had an omega spring fail

Excellent video, my friend! Your ranking system makes perfect sense to me… I also become attached to my knives by emotions vs monetary value.🙂 I have a question… A year ago you spoke of your Excalibur bar and how you thought that that level of excellence would probably never be achieved. You then reviewed the Holt Specter and actually deemed that as Excalibur. Since then, I haven’t seen the Specter in your playlists, like this one. I’m just curious if you still feel the same way about the Holt Specter? Thanks for the great entertainment and content. Keep up the good work, brother! 🍻

Adaption? Love it.

Button/compression lock is god tier. Give us more Spyerdco!

Forgot about the Safety factor.. Thank you for covering this topic, I've been on this kick for a while. People lose their shit when I share my opinion on frame/liner locks.

You forgot your favourite: theVirobloc Safety ring! 😉

You freakin crack me up dude!! Jackie Gleason lock!!!

The shark lock is fun, but it hasn't replaced my Benchmade Anthem. And I think the compression spring in the Anthem brinks the score up to an A.

I'm glad I watch today I learned that an otf's lock is a pin lock I did not know that, that's Awesome thanks MC :))

100% dead on, can't disagree...I was surprised about the button lock

My favorite is the scorpion lock on the Cold Steel AD15

I've had Omega spring failure. It was a model with very small springs. It was easy to fix.

axis lock is definitely my favorite

I just enabled notification, sorry I was late. THIS is a subject close to my -heart- scars on my hand. Locks MATTER. I had a frame lock and a liner lock collapse on me when I was using them improperly. Yes, I admit I’m an idiot, I was trying to do something stupid, like enlarge a bolt hole in a fence post to save myself walking back and getting a drill. Note if anyone else is as dumb as me, liner locks and frame locks can be released accidentally if gripping the knife hard with your hand and working it in a manner it was not intended. 😎👍🏼🤣😱

Wished balisongs/butterfly knives were also included. For good well made balisongs, I would rate it as : Strength: A+. No way it will fail by normal human means if both handles are held. Ease: D to A. Highly depends on practice. Dependability over time: A-. Might have some tap or play over some time, but does not affect strength significantly. Maintenance is quite easy. Options/Availability: C. Most are either very good, high end expensive balis or cheap horrible gas station ones. There is not much middle ground.

i know this is an old video but i was just wondering your opinion on current button locks. my cjrb frack seems rock solid

Best locks for a lefty: A) Back Lock B) Axis (Benchmade) lock C) Button lock D) Liner Lock F) Frame lock

They just released a new AD20 variant, the AD20s. It’s grivory for $275, g10 for $350, the blade stock is thinner and the blade steel is only D2 at the moment. Oh and the actual lock mechanisms are made in the same factories as the AD20.5s. The blades, hardware, and scales are still USA made.

Great overall rankings and rationales behind said rankings. My only real difference with your take is... I’m more forgiving and would give the Triad and Back Locks a C for Ease of Manipulation. ;) IME, “repositioning” of the hand for a Triad/Back Lock is only marginally more involved than with say, a Compression Lock... it’s just that the fidget-factor with a Compression Lock is soooo much higher that it begs one to play with it much more and thus it becomes second nature and one develops excellent muscle memory just gets very highly skilled with it. Triad/Back Locks are just boring to use so they don’t naturally encourage endless fidgeting and thus most folks just don’t gain that muscle memory that more fidgety locks tend to produce. Plus, using the tip of the thumb to close a Triad/Back Lock isn’t ideal (and will definitely make closing it clunkier). Using the inside/side of the thumb is the hot ticket and increases Ease of Manipulation for sure, IME. Great vid as usual.

Remember, there are two omega springs in each Axis lock. I don't think a single broken one will completely disable the knife. Then it is easy to replace the broken one.

My rating of locks: 1) Flipjoint 2) Slipjoint 3) Fixed blade

Thanks for the video, nice content. It's hilarious when you impersonate voices.

There’s a store I live near in Columbus that always has them and I got my ad20.5 and it’s good steel plus the shop offers lifetime pro sharpening for free when you buy any knife from them

I’ll tell ya one thing I found about the compression lock that makes it the worst lock…at least for the type of work I do. Dirt and grinding dust gets in behind the lock and makes it impossible to lock.

Please is there a way to do an actual test of like silicone hand holding the knife and applying pressure ever so slightly to the lock mechanism with the grip and to see if it would close in the hand and how much damage it would do to the hand

Living in the desert, we have “Blow Sand”, and it’s bad for all folders. The worst is the axis lock. Dropping it means a disassembly before next use, Even in windy conditions, I’ll find the lock bar gritty.

Fixed blade is the best lock! Fast, strong, and no compulsive fidget disorders!

I'd love to get my hands on a Mongrel. I loved it even before I knew Medford had a hand in it.

My favorite lock would have to be the axis lock because of the strength and fidget factor

2 Benchmades, broken spring on both. Still like them though 👌🏻

My favorite lock is probably the shark lock. It's super easier to use and very steong and fidgety.

For me, a liner lock is easier to manipulate than a frame lock. No chance of putting to much pressure on the detent.

I've never had a Omega spring break Also, Plunge/button locks, Gerber 06 auto or BM AFO? I've had the button that contacts the blade dent before.

I have an original Paramilitary and it really is fine! 😄

Ease of manipulation between frame lock and liner lock not the same. Pressure on frame lock would *affect* ease. Great vid 👍

If you could only have just one do it all EDC out of all the options under $150 what would you pick all things considered?

Are there other companies that utilize the compression lock besides Spyderco?

What kind of camera do you use? Your focus is super fast to change, very impressive. I'm into photography also. I was thinking of doing an unboxing using my Sony mirrorless NEX 5N just for fun, my wife will probably come in the garage and giggle/laugh and I hope I get that part in the video!! 🤣🤣🤘🏼🤘🏼

You could rank them inside categories, like who's at the top And bottom of A

Always thought a bolster lock was the swivel bolster you see on old stilettos. I wonder how that would rank! Seems pretty crazy in terms of contact and lockup. Only problem is that modern Italian stiletto QC is so down the drain that you might actually orefer the Chinese knockoff.

Hello 👋

This is how to make a knife channel!

Cool vid! Could have added a slip joint or opinel lock, but I guess those don’t really fit in because there two hand opening.

all my new knives came on the same day october 6th a shirogorov f3rns a spyderco kapara a hogue ritter large and 2 civivi praxis talk about sensory overload im still shakey and sweaty

I prefer Crossbar locks and button locks. One for strength the other for fun. In all honesty for hard use folders are out of the race.

The Jackie Gleason lock...lol!!!!

Gimme that scarab!

I have a tried lock knife with 43 years of age still functional

The shark lock actually gets stronger as it wears in. More contact.

I feel like It may have been better to compare knives of more similar price points if possible. If you take a more poorly designed mechanism and throw enough money at it in terms of materials and crafting details it will make for a better experience. I feel like if you took steel frame lock that was the same price as the Rat1 the answer would be different and thats why I would involve a value category. This category would acknowledge an overall user experience at various price points (mainly cheaper price points). Are you getting a quality lock at a good deal or are you needing to spent lots of money before the lock becomes good quality. I feel like the frame lock is a perfect example as quality of life improvements need to be added to improve the mechanism. People want overtravel protection, a steel insert, maybe a finger rest or guard so you cant apply pressure to the mechanism. At that point a bunch of money has been put into it to basically turn it back into a thick liner lock. Also deployment should be a separate category as you didnt even touch on one of the main complaints of the frame lock about the awkwardness of your finger placement. As a whole liner locks tend to be easier to deploy than frame locks since you dont have to worry about putting unwanted pressure on the detent. But the shark lock or axis lock for example are even easier to deploy since you can entirely disengage the lock mechanism and the blade can be free floating during deployment. Then I would make unlocking and folding separate since in the case of the frame lock I would say its just as easy to disengage the lock as a liner lock maybe barring the note about overtravel. I would take a liner lock over a frame lock any day just because I feel at knives in my price range the liner lock would rank higher in durability, ease of use, and even dependability. Someone over traveled one of my frame locks and I cant get it back to just quite how it was and a liner lock is more dummy proof. I feel like the liner lock on a we knives banter would give a hinderer frame lock a run for its money at a third the hinderer price tag. Maybe a better comparison than the rat gonna be honest. Compared to the triad lock it makes sense why the liner lock would be ranked C. Most other locks from what I have seen fail at pretty much the same weight on the spine from testing videos so besides the locks designed for torture the rest of the mechanisms generally would rank the same. Thanks for the video it was fun to think about a lock mechanism tier list.

😲 you got rid of the manix. Musta missed that.

Heck yeah

Had an Omega spring break on a Benchmade 710 Axis Lock, simply bought some spring wire of same thickness at craft store, shaped new Omega spring by using the other unbroken spring as template to follow bends and installed. Worked 100% with equal tension on either side of lock. How did it break? Was idiot flicking it back and forth in rapid open/close position - basically heated the wire up like working a steel cloths-hanger until it broke. Lesson learned, have not done that since, those same knife springs are still 100% over 10 years now.

C is definitely the right grade for dependability over time.

No CRKT deadbolt?

Sub Frame lock all the way!!!

Get a crkt deadbolt on the table 😮‍💨

I love your content and all the dedication you put in your videos! You've solidified your place in the top content creator's in the knife world! In my opinion you don't need to explain how and why you creator your content to the haters in the comment section anymore! Keep up the amazing work! 👍👍

This is seriously the best knife channel on KZfaq. So far the axis lock has been a complete winner for me, I have had a Benchmade Adamas for around 8 years and it has seen some hard use, still just as solid as the day I brought it home

What's the difference between back lock and triad lock?

Would you consider button lock safe for self defense?

Blade HQ did some lock strength test back in the 20teens, you should check it out lock backs are far stronger than frame or liner locks believe it or not, cool video though!