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Category
Folding Knife
A folding knife has a dedicated blade that pivots into its handle. Its opening features, closed retention and open lock are separate properties; standard replaceable-blade utility knives retain their own identity in this Wiki.
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Terminology
- Folding knife
- A knife whose dedicated blade pivots into the handle, distinguished from a standard-blade utility knife.
- Detent / closed retention
- Helps retain the folded blade; assess the open lock separately.
- Open-position lock
- A mechanical block against folding back from the open position, separate from opening.
- Liner lock
- A spring section within the handle liner locks the blade open.
- Frame lock
- A section of the handle frame provides the lock; folding tools can also use one.
- Blade material
- The blade's material, such as CASE's M390, separate from the handle.
Frequently asked questions
Is a folding knife the same as a folding utility knife?
This Wiki distinguishes a dedicated pivoting blade from a documented standard replaceable-blade system. A utility knife can fold without changing its primary classification; the blade system and folding feature are recorded separately.
Does a detent prove that a folding knife locks open?
No. Closed retention helps keep the blade folded, while an open-position lock blocks it from folding back. A detent alone does not establish an open lock, and an unspecified locking state remains unknown.
Does an M390 label describe the entire knife?
No. The original CASE specification assigns M390 to the blade, with titanium or brass handle versions and a separate titanium ring attachment. Read the blade, handle and fittings independently for the specific version.
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