Know Your Knife: Locks & Tangs
Steel gets most of the attention, but how a knife is built, how the blade locks open, or how far it extends into the handle, has just as much to do with how it performs and how long it lasts. Two knives can share the same steel and behave completely differently based on construction alone.
Folding Knife Lock Types
Slipjoint — The oldest and simplest folding mechanism. A leaf spring applies tension to hold the blade open or closed, but there's no true mechanical lock. Enough pressure against the spine will fold the blade shut. It's the traditional mechanism behind classic patterns like our Italian Barlow and Otter-Messer Pocket Knife, knives built for everyday tasks rather than anything that puts real force against the spine.
Lockback — A locking lever engages a notch in the blade's tang, holding it firmly open until the lever is pressed to release it. A leaf spring provides the tension that keeps the lever seated. It's a meaningful step up in security from a slipjoint, without adding much bulk.
Liner Lock / Frame Lock — A spring-tensioned leaf, either a separate liner or part of the handle's frame itself, shifts behind the open blade to physically block it from closing. Pushing the liner or frame aside releases it. This is the mechanism behind knives like the Spyderco Techno 2, and it's generally considered the most secure of the common folding lock types, which is part of why it shows up so often on knives built for harder use.
Fixed Blade Tang Types
Hidden Tang — The blade's steel narrows into a thin post that's inserted into the handle material and typically secured with an adhesive, pin, or peened end cap. It's a traditional method, common on Japanese blades, that keeps the blade's profile clean but relies on the handle attachment holding up over time.
Stick Tang — A narrower extension of the blade steel that runs into the handle, with scales or material built up around it rather than the steel being visible along the full width of the grip. It's a middle ground: stronger than a hidden tang, without the added weight and cost of full tang construction.
Full Tang — The blade's steel runs the entire length and width of the handle, visible along the edges, with handle scales attached on either side using rivets or pins. It's the strongest and most durable construction available on a fixed blade, and the standard for knives meant for hard, repeated use. Our NWBW Field Knife is built full tang from D2 tool steel specifically because it's designed to work, not just look the part. Our Sailor's Knife is built the same way: a full tang Niolox blade paired with a Cumarú wood handle and brass rivets, built to hold up to a working life at sea.
Why Construction Matters as Much as Steel
A super steel blade on a poorly built handle will fail before the edge ever dulls. And a humble carbon steel blade on true full-tang construction will outlast plenty of knives with fancier metallurgy. Steel determines how the edge performs. Construction determines whether the knife survives long enough to matter.
When you're choosing a knife, ask both questions: what's the blade made of, and how is it put together? Our full knife collection is a good place to start comparing both side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strongest type of knife tang?
Full tang construction, where the blade steel runs the complete length and width of the handle, is generally considered the strongest and most durable option for a fixed blade.
Is a slipjoint knife safe to use?
Slipjoints are safe for the everyday tasks they're designed for, but because they rely on spring tension rather than a true mechanical lock, they're not built for use that puts hard pressure against the spine.
What's the difference between a liner lock and a frame lock?
A liner lock uses a separate metal liner inside the handle to block the blade from closing. A frame lock uses the handle's structural frame itself to do the same job, which generally makes it the more robust of the two.
Does a full tang knife weigh more than a hidden tang knife?
Generally, yes. Because the steel runs the entire length of the handle rather than a narrow inserted post, full tang knives tend to carry more weight, which is part of the trade-off for their added strength.
