I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Tri-Ad lock. Picked up the Finn Wolf a couple months ago. It hasn’t left my side. Lol. Great EDC. Everything I heard about it stands true. This vid really explained why this lock system is so good. Thank you for that.
This is an old Vid, but for those who stumble upon this. That spring-bar can be bent ever so slightly in (the logical direction) to accelerate its break in. Depress that lock while it is half disassembled, (his 4:00 min. frame) note its stress-point MIDDLE. Mark THAT spot, Remove it. Then, with strong pliers or a vise, bend it AT that spot, just a LITTLE. This will make depressing it noticeably softer, while not effecting the lockUP integrity. Do it in baby steps trying-sampling it each time. There is a sweet spot, you want that doesn't sacrifice detent, but does give you 50% easier lock bar push down. C.S. over does it, which is understandable. While you have it apart, take 1500 grit then 2000 girt s. paper, gently sand those copper washers super smooth and clean. They bend easy, don't tweak them. Keep them FLAT on tabletop. Put a light film of gun (or thin) oil between all washers and blade (surfaces) before reassembly. Sand that blade pivot area like he did also first. Put the white and copper back in proper order. It is now a different knife. Not as annoyingly stiff. VERY smooth. If your gun shy, take pictures of EVERY step, view them backwards to put back together. Also when you first pop the liners, mark each pivot pin and item(s) distinctly for each picture reference. (I use liquid wite-out w/dots) ...take notes if need be.
Thanks for explaining it so well Randy! Ive always wondered how it works, it seems super strong. Ive been very impressed with the strength of my Spyderco compression lock, which is quite different but amazingly strong and light. That Spartan seems extremely overbuilt!
Funny how people diss AUS-8 when it's on a CS knife, but not when it's on their Benchmade, Spdyerco or SOG. AUS-8 is good, but not great steel but it can be sharpened to an outstanding edge. I wouldn't mind seeing CS use 440C as their "default" steel. As for the Tri-AD lockback, it's second to none.
Trevor Burgart Thumbplate + TriAd lock is a nice combo. Current EDC is CS Black Talon II. Thumbplate, TriAd lock & Serrated edge made of CTS-XHP Steel.
I have no problem with AUS-8. I have it in a Spydie, and a neck knife, and its been a beautiful steel for me. Very easy to use, takes a great edge, and keeps it reasonably. Some of these supper steels are not worth the effort it takes to sharpen them. People need to remember that knives are not all used the same way, for the same tasks, and so what is a great steel for one knife may well be overkill on another.
Buck use 440C a lot, and it works well for them because they get the heat treat done by a renowned expert with that steel, Paul Bos. Edited to add: seems Buck mostly uses 420HC, not 440C, but I think its a fairly similar steel.
AUS8 is a good steel but many are "brainwashed" by pseudo science of knife manufacturers all vying for market leadership in sales LOL! Correctly processed AUS8 has all the right elemental constituents to make a good knife steel.
Thanks! I appreciate this vid, since I got my first Tri-Ad lock knife, the Tuff Lite, I was wondering what it was all about, without taking it apart. Thanks.
Good video. I have never owned a Cold Steel, but I plan on buying the Recon 1. The locking mechanism is very important to me, and this clearly shows the inherent strength of it.
Thanks for the thorough explanation SolosKnifeReviews! I have had a couple of the folding knives from Cold Steel with the pin that prevented the knife from closing until you pulled the pin back. I'm glad to see they found a way to improve on perfection!
The spring tension is easy to adjust and thanks to the video, the spring is clearly shown. Just straighten it out a wee bit in a vise and adjust to your liking. I mark the contact point of the spring with the underside of the rocker bar using a Sharpie so you have a reference to the factory setting. You can then decrease or increase the tension as needed. You can also trace an outline of the spring angle on the liner to give you a starting point.
Great video showiing the Triad lock! I have adjusted the spring tension on the Cold Steel Triad locks for my two Espadas and Rajah II. The Spartan knife in your video looks to have just the right amount of tension for one-handed lock release.
That was useful info to me. I have a Spyderco native five lightweight and just ordered a cold steel large voyager, so its nice to see how the locks work.
...love CS and the triad lock...just took delivery of a number of knives that I bought in their 2020 summer sale...two Outdoorsman Lite 2nds, the Shanghai Shadow and Warrior, Mini Tac tanto, Bush Ranger Lite 2nd, a Voyager XL tanto, Double Ahent II and a FGX Tai Pan...good stuff although my wife got the Mini Tac and Double agent along with the Tai Pan...I'll order those for myself later on as funds allow...
I understand that the AD in TRI-AD stands for Andrew Demko as I understand it he designed this locking system. Does anyone else use this locking system outside of Cold Steel or Andrew Demko Custom Knives? Is Cold Steel the only company currently licensed to use Andrew Demko's TRI-AD back lock system??? Thanks... Would love to see this on a Spyderco or Benchmade, etc...
Thanks!! I think I dropped one pin somewhere!? Even though I had them all together in a ice cream top the darn doggo is all over the place 😆 I’m putting the Talwar back together for the first time bc it’s been crunchy since day1. I sanded/polished down any residual burrs.
Awesome video I like this because it prevents that standard blade play that is present in all normal lock back, spyderco has a new lockback design that does the same thing. ps thats a wicked looking edge on thing nice job!!
I have the pro lite and it seems like it kinda jams when it’s locked and doesn’t want to unlock. Their is a popping sound from the spring area too and a rough feeling in the spring. I’m wondering if maybe I should polish it or shave a hair off the end of the spring to keep it from binding.its annoying.
Referring to the Bush Ranger and Bush Ranger Lite, what is the difference between the two? Bush Ranger has a Tri-Ad and the Bush Ranger Lite a Rocker Lock? I have never seen a side by side review of them.
also alot more of the lockbar sits down in that blade. youve got to push all the way to get it out of the blade. it wouldve been cool to see a disassmbled spyderco backlock to compare. still awesome vid solo
See I was not aware of that until I got my first triad lock knife and I thought it was as easy as a regular back lock and it resulted in my finger sliding off the end of the blade and cutting myself pretty good
Did you ever had a sticky tri-ad lock? I bought a new, linerless American Lawman. The lock had a titanium frame lock kind of stick when disengaging it. I had to press really hard. Now, after 1000 openings and sour thumbs, it's much better but I still feel it a bit. Did I get a bed lemon?
Good job, thanks! Got the Spartan...LOVE it. Big, but not stupid big. Not so expensive you worry about it. For the money, it is basically a perfect knife in that price range. Another basically perfect knife for a little more money is the C.S. Espada medium original stainless. I Got ALL KINDS of brands, don't understand why a vocal minority bees hatin' in Cold Steel.
+Mad Stork because for the longest time they had a bad rep. its not till recently that they have been picking up the slack and becoming more then just a cheaply made company
Because now CS makes most everything in Asia. I don't like buying a knife unless it's made in the US by a companies that makes everything in the USA. I was looking into Buck knives recently but found out that they make a bunch of stuff in China too. American companies Benchmade, Gerber, CRKT are all doing the same thing. Sad. They 'all still make their higher-end knives in the US but it dilutes the brand.
There's perhaps better lock designs for "tactical" use given the speed of the lock, and there's certainly those that are more flick/play friendly, but in terms of real life usability in a utility knife there's nothing else that will compare. Demko is a genius! :)
Nice mirror edge! Thanks, I've never seen one of these locks before, I can see why people are sold on them. The focus was interesting, in your vid, it was just above the cloth, so you could pick stuff up and show it in perfect focus, but you often brought it a bit too close to the camera. We might have got a better view if you left it a bit further away from the camera. Thanks!
Love your vids and love the tri-ad lock. Only own one knife with it, the recon-1, but it is just super strong. My recon-1 has no side-to-side, but has just a tiny bit of up-and-down play. Should I be worried or is it no big deal? I've tried adjusting the pivot but that only seems to affect side-to-side. Thanks for the video!
Im gonna be real bro, I push cold steel on everyone I know who uses knives daily and hard. Anyone who "hates" cold steel, they either haven't owned one, or don't like the price. But here in Murica we have a saying that is true 9.9 times out of 10. You get what you pay for. And of all the knives I've owned, you can NOT find a better bang for your buck. Cold steel puts the effective in cost effective.
There really is no competition against this lock. Not saying you need this strength in every type of knife. I wouldn't recommend any extra large knife without this lock. This is where CS dominates. The only weakness I have found with the tri ad is that it can be jammed by debris in use. But this can be true with any locking mechanism. Then you get in the argument about fixed versus folding. Fixed is of course stronger than a folding knife with no issues of jamming. But then you sacrifice convenience. It's all about the application you intend to use the knife.
Nice old video! Tri ad for sure gram for gram will hold more force apllied than other type of locks, I'm a big fan of Andrew Demko's lock designs. Ad10 and ad15 customs from Demko are even tougher than the CS productions AD10 being stronger than the AD15 holding more than 800lbs downward force,in most cases the blade breaks before the lock can fail same with the AD15. I really hope for more knives to have similar lock strength but I guess you can't have it all...or maybe you can 😉😂
Hi Randy, thanks for the video. Just received my Finnwolf that uses the Tri-ad Lock. I´m having severe problems to fold the blade. Since it´s my first tri-ad lock I came here for help to see if I was doing anyhting wrong. But now I´m just worried that I was unlucky and might have received one with this problem. Any idea on how to figure this out? Would you suggest opening up the folder?
I've owned various locking knives over the years from the fabulous MAN SIZED Buck 110, to the Spyderco Resilience, and I have never needed to disassemble any knife, what is it with Americans that they feel the need to disassemble every knife they get
wich cold steel model was that?blade looks like spartan but handle is different....looks great...so id like to know..thanks...if i get the answer i will subscribe ;-)
phpeters87 True... I've seen the Raja hell tests... I want one. I once had a Benchmade Rukus that had unacceptable Axis lock failure. It would close just by smacking the spine on my hand, I kept my fingers clear of course. I ended up grinding the mating surface on the blade to a steeper angle, it rattled like hell but the stud had nowhere it could go. Then I lost it when I left it in a public restroom and drove three miles back to the job site without it. It's someone else's irritating FREE piece of crap now. I've owned like five other Axis lock knives and they all were sound. SOG Arc locks haven't failed on me, but SOG Piston locks are garbage. The Raja seems beast. I got to flip one around when a cop friend of mine showed his to me.
Then grab yourself a Hold Out II. Perfect EDC format, satin blade and takes a razor edge on a strop w some green compound. :) Why steel hype is bs: watch?v=wW6fbwUQsQA