I’ve mentioned Kyley Harris of cKc Knives before and how he seems to enjoy solving problems that aren’t actually problems. Today I’d like to talk about his non-locking folder that comes with a lock.

One of the things Harris set out to solve is the problem of friction folders. For those who have interests other than pointy stabby things, a friction folder is a knife that doesn’t lock into place when the blade is open. Instead it relies on friction and/or the hand of the user to keep it open.

The problem with friction folders is that over time they lose friction and don’t stay open. Users have to be careful when using them, lest the blade close on their fingers. The other problem is that they traditionally have an extended tang that sticks out when they’re closed allowing the blade to be opened more easily.

A Japanese Higonokami friction folder. You can see the extended tang off to the left.

Harris spent a few months experimenting with designs and consulting with fellow knife makers in order to create an updated friction folder that had a lock that didn’t count as a lock. At one point he even tried magnets and rods on lanyards that could be inserted and removed as necessary.

In the end he came up with the cKc Victorious. It has a small sliding bar built in the blade that can be slid into place. Because it holds the blade in place but doesn’t actually lock it, I prefer to call it a “restraint.” It adds a level of safety if, for example, the blade gets stuck during a cut. As you pull back, a regular friction folder will try to close on your fingers, but the “restraint” prevents that.

cKc Victorious. You can see the sliding restraint and the slot for it at the top left.

The design itself is terrific. The blade is nine centimeters (3.5 inches) long and made from AEB-L Stainless. Open the knife is 20 centimeters (7.87 inches). The handles are anodized titanium.  The blade shape is almost a wharrencliffe but has a rounded edge (perhaps making it more of a sheepsfoot). Fully open and restrained, it looks great. Harris has rounded the handles and off set them from the blade so users can slice without dragging their knuckles across the cutting board.

My cKc collection. The Victorious is third from the top. Note the great handle shape and the restraint. (knives list below)

The other safety feature is the choil where the index finger rests. If the blade tries to close, the index finger will act as a blade stop. This is good because, as always, Harris has sharpened the blade into a scary sharp convex. Although the handle is metal, and Harris prefers a rough, unfinished look to his knives so that people won’t be afraid to start using them, there are no sharp corners to play havoc with your hands. The knife is a lot of fun to hold and cut with with.

I only have two minor complaints about the knife. First, it’s heavy. It weighs 124 grams (or 4.37 ounces) which makes it too heavy to carry in the pocket. Also, the look is slightly ruined by the random hole at the top. This is a legacy from the early days of experimentation.

As I’ve said before, Harris is leaving knife making for more secure work. He will fulfill the last of his orders and then make a few personal knives and then retire from knife making. Those of us who admire his knife making skills and his sense of design will miss his work and we all hope he changes his mind.

Note
Here is a complete list of the knives in the picture, top to bottom:
–3″ Utility
–Slipjoint
–Victorious
–Streamline 2.0
–EDC
–Bait Utility