Choosing A Lock
Or Non Locking Knife
The lock knife is considered by most knife aficionados, to be a far superior tool than the "UK legal" non locking knife.
But is this true?
A non locking knife is just as capable of performing the same basic survival and bushcraft tasks that a locker will do.
It does, however, have one main, and quite significant drawback:
Namely, the secure fixing of the cutting blade, and potential danger to the users fingers..!
So, is a non-lock knife more dangerous than a lock knife?
[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”160″ identifier=”B01BHXAMF6″ locale=”UK” src=”https://ukpreppersguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/41EkOl9vt3L.SL160.jpg” tag=”bloglockknifesale-21″ width=”160″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01BHXAMF6″ locale=”UK” tag=”bloglockknifesale-21″]Typical non-locking
UK Legal Knife[/easyazon_link]
This is a non-locking and UK legal knife:
'Pocket Buddy' from Grizzly Bushcraft
See full article on non-lock
UK Legal Carry Knives here
The main question we need to ask ourselves is what are the real chances of the non-locking blade actually closing on your fingers, specifically due to the lack of locking mechanism keeping it in place?
Well, the non lock blade can very easily close onto your fingers, however I don’t necessarily believe it's the design of the knife that's at fault.
Although a knife has many uses, we primarily use it as a tool for survival, and as such it is very much considered a cutting tool, for all sorts of tasks - the fact that it has a razor sharp blade means you treat it we respect and don't play the fool with it.
If you are using a knife for the use it was designed for, then there should be no difference between a locker and a non locker knife.
When your using it correctly, the very action of cutting dictates that the actual cutting action will be forcing the blade to stay in the open position - regardless of whether it is locked or not.
BUT, herein lies the problem - If you are fooling around or you are inexperienced with handling knives, and using it incorrectly. You will certainly have a far higher chance of injury and cutting yourself regardless of what type of knife you are using.
In this example here, using a Swiss Army Knife with a non locking blade - the action is away from the user and the blade pushed back in a position where the blade is secure - BUT, the inexperienced uses has his thumb pushing on the blade as well.
With heavy pressure and once the cut has been made, that pressure is still there, potentially forcing the blade to close.
Incorrect and inexperienced user can cause injury.
See full article on the
Swiss Army Knife Guide here
There is also another trail of thought here - some people who prefer to use the lock knife also put their complete trust into that knifes lock mechanism design.
This in turn makes them far less cautious about potential injury.
If the locking mechanism were to fail (highly unlikely, but anythings possible) the result could be injury.
So therefore, using a non-locking knife means you should always be more aware of the dangers of the blade closing on your fingers!
To some extent that very reason makes the non locker a possibly safer knife as the user is constantly aware of that fact.
I would be quite interested to hear your thoughts on the "lock V non lock" knife.
I have never had any significant injury whilst using either other than the odd nick.
Happy Prepping Folks.
Steve
