- Walker Linerlock
The Walker Linerlock is a locking system developed by custom knifemaker Michael Walker in 1980 for use on folding knives. [Delavigne, Kenneth T, "Spyderco Story: The New Shape of Sharp", ISBN: 1581600607, pp. 118-125] When the blade of the
knife is in the opened position, it is held in place by aleaf spring (also called a lockbar) that butts up against the tang of the blade to prevent the blade from closing. To release the lock the user must press the lockbar back toward the handle side from whence it came to allow the blade to close. In the closed position the lockbar rests alongside the handle and the blade. [Warner, Ken, "Knives 91"(1991) page 31]While linerlock-style knives have been around since the late 19th century in what was known as an electrician's knife, Walker refined and popularized the design, eventually securing a
trademark (SN 73813333) for the name linerlock. [Haskew, Mike. "Handmades that Stand the Test of Time", Blade Magazine, January 2004] Walker's main contribution to improve the design was to enable the leafspring to securely lock the blade open and facilitate true one handed opening of the knife. This was accomplished by removing the weak backspring and adding a heat-treated stop pin to align the blade in the open position. Walker also added a detent ball to hold the blade in the closed position using the same spring force from the liner. [Terzuola, Robert, "The Tactical Folding Knife: A Study of the Anatomy and Construction of the Liner-Locked Folder", Krause Publications, (2000), ISBN: 0873418581,page 47] Walker, Greg (1993). Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives (Hardcover), pages 37-38 ISBN 0-87364-732-7]Linerlock mechanisms are most commonly composed of steel or
titanium .Some of the many and that utilize the Walker liner lock include:
*
Benchmade
*Buck Knives
*Chris Reeve Knives
*Cold Steel
*Ernest Emerson
*Kershaw Knives
*Ken Onion
*Microtech Knives
*Spyderco
*Strider Knives
*Gerber Knives References
External links
* [http://www.knivesplus.com/faqlinerlock.html] How to close a liner lock knife FAQ
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