While I own a bunch of knives from different makers, the folding knife I carry is a custom that my friend and mentor Charles Marlowe made for me. It's his Squail model. I also occasionally carry one of his Slimline folders, and a ZT300CF in my bag as a backup. The ZT hasn't cut anything since I started carrying the Squail.
Charles builds his liner and frame locks with Bob Terzoula's failsafe as described Bob's book, "The Tactical Folding Knife." I have never had the lock on one of Charles' knives fail on me. If I were to apply enough pressure to do that, the lock bar would wedge against the lock face and the knife would seize in the open position. My Squail has nearly 200 spinewhacks on it now. I can think of very few knives out there that I would try that with. Hell, I've popped the locks on knives just slapping the spine of the blade into the palm of my hand. Not cool.
Prior to my experience with the Terzoula failsafe, my favorite lock with the Axis, which I think is an outstanding system.
Oh, and once I get finished building my first liner locks for Blade this year, that ZT is getting retired or sold.
Threaded Mode
