gerber knife locking mechanism

4330 East-West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814, Contact Us: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270) is the mechanism that made him famous among knife makers/designers. hand opening mechanism is often considered the smoothest and most precise ever of course, many kinds of folding and fixed blade knives. Its main component is a side spring bar located on the same side as sharp edge of the blade, lining the inside of the handle. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees. Boxed. 3" black titanium nitride finish 7Cr17MoV stainless partially serrated tanto blade with dual thumb studs and thumb ridge. Just to be clear, these types of blades dont have a true lock as far as laws are concerned, but theyre still viable options for EDC. Unlike other folding knife designs, when a Paul knife is (This is true, to an extent, with any lock blade folder, but particularly with a Paul knife.) We will contact you as soon as this product is available. Pocket clip. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Draw Button Lock Pocket Knife Tanto, G3011 Gerber Fullback Button Lock Pocket Knife A/O, G30001294 Gerber US Assist Serrated Button Lock Pocket Knife, G1205 Gerber US Assisted Opening Button Lock Pocket Knife, G1709 Gerber Swagger Plunge Lock Pocket Knife A/O. Copyright 2014, 2016 by Chuck Hawks. Its essentially made of a spine on a spring. When the knife is opened, the spine locks into a notch on the back of the blade. 77,000 before they were discontinued in 1986, the year before the Company was acquired by Fiskars. In these knives, the blades' tang ramps faces upward rather than towards the end of the handle, and when open, sandwiches the lock bar between the ramp and a stop pin. The Cohort is an open frame folding clip knife with either a black or dark gray anodized aluminum handle. Trying to make sense of the many types of knives and their subtle differences can get overwhelming. B.O.S.S. These Series II, Model 2 Paul knives were marketed and distributed by Gerber, but the All Rights Reserved. The following models are being recalled. knife. This pin (not shown in the patent diagram below) is located closest to the Axis Lock and the hex head is on the same side of the knife handle as the push button. Over the last 75 years, Gerber has grown into a large and world famous company. The last figure in the code is a letter, and the recall applies to all Cohort knives with the letters "E" and "F.". #compression-lock #lockback #axis-lock #friction-folder #slipjoint #framelock #liner-lock #knife-locks #knife-locking-mechanisms #knives #locking-knives #carry-smarter #sak-tension-bar-lock #lock-back-knife #folding-knife-locking-mechanisms #what-is-blade-under-lock #unlocked-folding-knife #folding-knife-locking-blade #best-frame-lock-knife see all. To disengage a liner lock, you have to use your thumb to push the spring bar "down" (towards the pocket clip in the example knife shown above) so that it clears contact from the blade, allowing you to fold it back into the handle. While its strength gets a substantial upgrade on a Compression Lock, its ease of use still allows the knife to be safely and easily closed with one hand like a liner lock. Frame lock knives tend to be stronger than liner locks, as the piece of metal that slips into place is more substantial than that in a liner. Model numbers can be found underneath the UPC barcode on the lower right corner on the rear of the hanging blister packaging. Like its larger siblings, it has a black coated tanto style blade and the Paraframe Mini Tanto also features a black open frame that is lightweight, easy to clean and opens effortlessly. You should know what type of lock, if any, you should have depending on your needs and preferences before investing in a quality knife. conditions, although the handle's slight curve helps. Assisted opening. Black GRN handle. Approx. The Gerber name appears on the knife clip. The recalled diving computers can fail to adjust to the user's altitude and display incorrect calculations for sea level dive times at altitudes exceeding 3,000 feet, posing injury (decompression sickness) and drowning hazards. Made in China. construction resists corrosion and provides enough heft that this very thin A fuse in the ATVs electrical system can fail during operation, which can result in sudden loss of engine power and headlights, posing a crash hazard. This is unfortunate, as it is a good daily carry knife. This one Thumb stud. Vertical play is adjusted by turning a tiny Allen head pin, which is, internally, a little cam. The Axial Locking Mechanism is adjustable for both vertical and horizontal blade play when the blade is locked open. If you compare the photo of the knife in original condition at the top of this article with the photo of the engraved knife in this addendum, you will see the subtle difference in the handle shape and its new, more rounded configuration in these two areas. must be built to exceptionally tight tolerances. Portability should be a major focus when looking for a tool to keep on your person in your pockets or bag. When fully opened, that tension slips the bar inward to make contact with the end of the blade, keeping it firmly in place and preventing it from closing. I set the pin in about the middle of its adjustment range, which leaves a little vertical play in the blade (this does no harm), but makes the engagement of the lock less critical--a reasonable trade-off in my opinion. Black G10 handle. 4.25" closed. easy to touch-up on a hard Arkansas stone, providing you don't let it get Youll discover the advantages of having a knife that locks, which type is best suited for your EDC, how they work, and knives to consider if the locking type isnt an option where you live. In the example shown here, a stainless steel insert interfaces with the blade as it both takes longer to wear out than titanium, and stabilizes the bar so you don't weaken it by pushing it too far. LST Jr., a small folding hunting knife I have carried in my pocket for years Total movement range is through an arc of less than 270-degrees with the blade locked open. Lets take a look at some of the top types of locking mechanisms for EDC, and a few options for those in areas where locking blades are restricted. About 150,000 in the United States and 11,000 in Canada, Adventure Sports Recalls Ceramic Pulleys for Cabrinha Switchblade and Drifter Kite Sailing Kites Due to Injury Hazard (Recall Alert), Textron Specialized Vehicles Recalls All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Due to Crash Hazard (Recall Alert), KTM North America Recalls Closed Course Competition Motorcycles Due to Crash and Injury Hazards (Recall Alert), Black Diamond Equipment Recalls PIEPS and Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers Due to Risk of Loss of Emergency Communications, Crye Precision Recalls LRB Leg Loops Due to Fall Hazard (Recall Alert), Aqualung Recalls i330R SCUBA Diving Computers Due to Injury and Drowning Hazards, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise, Gerber Recalls Cohort Knives Due to Laceration Hazard. About 23,000 Series II Paul knives had been built. Gerber introduced the Paul knife in 1977 and sold about Instead, the knifes blade is held in place simply by friction between the blade steel and the knife scales. Thumb stud. Hang packaged. Lanyard hole. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. To open the knife, you pull on the blade to overcome the pressure from the spring, snapping the blade into place. allows the handle to rotate around the pivot point. useful shape for general pocket knife cutting chores. It also keeps your hands clear of the blades path when closing, minimizing the risk of cutting yourself. cutting edge is about 2-1/8". All rights reserved. Paul W. Poehlmann, holder of some 20 patents for locking Some Gerber knives are still made in Oregon (about 60 models), while others Typically these knives require two hands to open and close safely. To close it, make sure your fingers are out of the way of the sharp edge, and push back down. Two days later, Rocky returned my knife. This Never use an electric knife sharpener on a good knife. Plain vs Serrated vs Combo Knives, Video: Benchmade Mini Griptilian Hands-On Review, The 18 Best EDC Pocket Organizers in 2022, Ranked & Reviewed. The knife blade is 3 inches long, weighs less than 3 ounces and has the Gerber "sword and shield" trademark in silver on the non-clip side of the blade. knife doesn't feel like a toy in the hand. Due to its slightly more rounded handle profile, it is easier than ever to carry in my pocket. Functionally, the large button at the blade's pivot point is connected to the blade when depressed. The actual sharpened Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on. Slipjoints are most commonly seen in Swiss Army Knives. The smooth, thin handle is only about 5.5mm (less than Youll find liner locks in both entry-level and high-end knives. Black stainless pocket clip. Made in USA. 3" bead blast finish partially serrated stainless blade. Call CPSCs Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054). Made in China. Theyre still plenty strong, but because theyre typically made from a thinner or softer piece of metal, theyre more prone to wearing out compared to a beefy frame lock, for example. Due to the nature of the lock it can cause wear and tear over time on the omega spring causing it to break, but due to the ubiquity and popularity of the lock and the knives it's on, it's become easier to maintain and repair with standard tools. When the knife is closed, the spring bar is held under tension. Copyright var date = new Date(); document.write(date.getFullYear()) Discount Cutlery, LLC. The charge is $3 for sharpening and $3 for return The most compact member of the tactical Paraframe series is the Paraframe Mini Tanto. small folding hunting knife. Were glad you dig this post! The blade shape is very good for an all purpose pocket knife or a When closed, the knife measures about 4 inches. Gerber 2P knives beyond what most users are willing to spend for a pocket knife. 4 1/4" closed. Legendary Blades started as two dozen handmade cutlery sets given as holiday gifts to friends and associates. This item has a Unilateral Minimum Advertised Resale Price. If you haven't yet learned to sharpen your own knives by hand, Gerber provides a Gerber is no longer the family owned cutlery company that built the Paul Model 2P knives. it literally falls open, at least when perfectly adjusted. Features Assisted Opening 2.0 mechanism, which provides ultra-quick blade deployment. This disengages the lock, allowing you to swing the blade to a closed position. Liner locks are beneficial because you can close the knife with one hand without switching grip, ideal for when you need both hands on the job. Defeating the lock would mean being physically able to crush the lock bar between the ramp and stop pin, and by design with such tight tolerances, that would be an incredibly difficult feat. Pocket clip. The exceptionally tight tolerances required made mass production difficult. One disadvantage is that while its possible to close a lockback with one hand, it isnt easy. Gerber Button Lock Pocket Knives for sale. The end of each blade featuring an AXIS lock (hidden by the handle) has a flat spot that allows a spring-tensioned bar to lock into place when the knife is opened. Clam packed. Gerber received six reports of laceration injuries, two of which required stitches. Toll-Free Consumer Hotline | Time: 8 a.m. - 5.30. p.m. Theyre made up of a spring bar and a specially shaped blade. Words and images by Ed Jelley, Bernard Capulong, and Mikey Bautista. Thank you for your contribution. Heres how it works: The lock is made up of a spring-tensioned bar (the spring itself called an omega spring) that slides back and forth on a track cut into the handles of the knife. 4.25" (10.8cm) closed. Because the Axis Lock Mechanism is built to unusually close tolerances, it is easily fouled by pocket lint, which may prevent the blade from locking open. the extent that he personally supervised the production of Gerber Paul 2P knives. A lock back mechanism is what you see on many traditional folding knives. production was outsourced to a California manufacturer. and found extremely useful. ") thick and doesn't provide the most secure grip in inclement Do you have a favorite type of lock to recommend? The threads are fine and 2-3 turns will disassemble the lock mechanism, which you don't want to do. I readily agreed and returned the Gerber to Rocky to be so modified. There is no need to flick a Paul knife open with a snap of the wrist; There is a tiny pin hole in the ring to facilitate turning. you must take reasonable care to keep fingers from sliding forward onto the Its synthetic handle makes it somewhat thicker and lighter The item you are trying to purchase is temporarily out of stock.Please enter your name, email, and phone number below. Frame locks are seen in lots of mid to upper range knives, typically crafted from titanium. 84115, 615 E State RD stainless steel (the version reviewed here), with micarta scales (2PM) and with wood scales (2PW). What's Better for EDC? Theyre also nice to carry because theyre simple and easy to use. Salt Lake, UT Gerber was founded by Joseph R. Gerber in 1939 in Portland, 3" titanium nitride coated 7Cr17MoV stainless assisted opening blade with dual thumb studs. No third party sales. Needless to say, I was floored. The locking mechanism can fail to hold the blade, posing a laceration hazard. Friction folders are similar, except they dont have a spring bar. CPSC.gov is an official website of the United States government. Youd likely need to switch grips and take extra care when closing the blade. Pocket clip. The motorcycles connecting rod can break, posing crash and injury hazards. But first, please take a few moments to sign up as a member of our EDC community below. G1751 Gerber F.A.S.T. Paul Model 2P, a smaller Axial Locking Mechanism Paul knife Poehlmann designed for Gerber Legendary Blades. This would make the folded knife smoother for pocket carry. Black glass filled nylon handles. What about folding knives lets you enjoy the best of both worlds? Both the serrated clip point blade and framelock handle are bead blast finished. Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Oreg. By now, you should be more familiar with your options to better choose the a knife worthy of your pocket. When fully opened, you get the balance, ergonomics, and utility of a non-folding (fixed) blade. Horizontal blade play and the ease with which the knife opens is adjusted by tightening or loosening the threaded ring around the push button side of the Axial Lock Mechanism. These knives are about the largest I like to carry You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Gray GRN handle. When pushed in, it While the Compression Lock itself isn't a universal lock across the knife industry as it's a Spyderco trademark, nevertheless it's one we need to mention due to how iconic the knives that come with it have become. really dull. And while the patent itself expired in 2018 leading to the development of similar mechanisms from other knifemakers, the AXIS lock branding and trademark remains with Benchmade and is still used in their most recent designs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. ET. length, blade shape, blade length and application to the later Gerber Magnum Because of their similarity to liner locks, closing a frame lock knife is virtually the same push down on the spring bar so it no longer blocks the end of the blade, remove your thumb from the path, then fold the knife closed. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years. Lubricate with a little very light oil; I use RemOil. The unlock button is out of the way of your grip when using the knife, meaning youre unlikely to accidentally disengage the lock and have it close on you. The Paraframe I is a skeletonized frame-lock design that reduces weight while still satisfying your need for a reliable blade and strong locking mechanism. This locking system was originally made and patented in 1988 by knifemakers Bill McHenry and Jason Williams, who then sold the rights to the mechanism to Benchmade who renamed it to the AXIS lock and have since used it in dozens of iconic knife models to this day. Plunge-lock with cross bolt safety. The Paraframe I is a skeletonized frame-lock design that reduces weight while still satisfying your need for a reliable blade and strong locking mechanism. Assisted opening. It has a medium edge curve to a drop point, a than the Paul 2P. If youve ever shopped around for a pocket knife for everyday carry, youd know theres a staggering amount of options to choose from. The stainless steel frame is green finished with a tip-down carry pocket clip. Made in China. But its worth repeating that these knives dont have a true lockup, so theyre not the best for heavier duty tasks. Get Notified About Each Recall via Email. gravity. Lanyard hole. shipping ($6 total). cutting edge when forceful cutting is necessary. Hang packaged. last selling for under $25. Leave a comment with your EDC knife of choice and tell us why you like its lockup to help your fellow EDCers and prospective knife buyers carry smarter. This combo includes the Paraframe I & Mini Paraframe, two excellent folders from the legendary Gerber Knives. based in Helsinki, Finland in 1987 and now markets high quality flashlights, headlamps, Gerber/Fiskers will also adjust your Paul knife's mechanism, if desired. Paul Poehlmann hand made something like 150 large folders of To close the knife, you pull the bar towards the back of the knife using the thumb studs, and fold the blade shut. This type of locking system puts a large portion of metal against the blade, ensuring a strong lockup for piercing, cutting, slicing, and other heavy-duty tasks. Of the many factors to consider when choosing something as personal as a knife, its locking mechanism is one of the most important. 2014 used price: $150-$250 (EX to NIB condition). 3" stonewash finish CPM S30V stainless drop point blade. The recalled transceivers may not switch from SEND mode into SEARCH mode. The benefits of a lockback include reliable strength, safety, and ambidextrous operation. Stainless pocket clip. 3160 S State St South Paul Poehlmann collaborated with Pete Gerber and his team to Your message has been sent privately to our editorial staff for review. Tech ball bearing technology. It took longer than I expected to get the knife back, a couple of months, but one day at another Shooters' Coffee, Rocky pulled the Paul knife from his pocket and passed it around. If this were to occur, the device would not be able to locate a skier in an avalanche, which could result in severe bodily harm or death if the skier is buried under snow. are sourced overseas. One of the main advantages of these types of knives is their legality. Cross bolt safety lock. Consumers should stop using the knife and contact Gerber for a replacement. It was made in Oregon. The ceramic pulleys used in the recalled Switchblade and Drifter kiteboarding kites can cause the bridle line connection to break, which reduces performance in steering and control of the kite, causing the kiteboarder to lose control of the kite, posing an injury hazard. opened or closed, it is the handle, not the blade, which moves. Think of the frame lock as a beefed up version of the liner lock, except instead of an internal spring bar moving into place, its part of the handle itself. Of course, the Magnum LST Jr. uses a normal back lock Keep the mechanism clean by blowing out lint or foreign particles. American Fork, UT an edge well and its straight taper (not hollow ground) blade is relatively Gerber Legendary Blades toll free at (877) 314-9130 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or online at www.gerbergear.com and click on Product Notifications for more information. Lanyard hole. To close the knife, push down on the exposed part of the spine (usually found in the middle or rear of the handle) to pop up the part of the spine in contact with the blade. Since there is no hilt, registered trademark) knives in Portland, Oregon. In this guide, well show you some of the most common types of locking mechanisms youd find in a desirable EDC knife. The locking mechanism adds extra safety to using your EDC blade. The Paraframe Mini Tanto is an excellent tactical knife when size matters. He readily agreed. Liner locks are one of the more common mechanisms seen on folding knives. restore the factory edge.