How to Close a Pocket Knife

You hold the knife by the sides of the hilt (the handle of the knife that we customize with wood burls, mammoth fossils, antlers, etc.) avoiding the area where the knife retracts and falls into place. With a firm grip using the palm of your hand on one side of the hilt and the rest of the fingers on the other side of the hilt hold the knife in a position where the blade is pointing away from your body. This way if you have a spring-loaded blade or if your hand slips the blade will go the opposite direction of you.

what are the notches on the back of a knife for?

Are you a righty or a lefty? Depending upon who you are, use that dominant hand to grip the back of the blade with your fingers and thumb. Did you ever notice that notch along the top of the blade on some of our knives? That notch is there to help you get a better grip on the blade of the knife when you fold it in. A safety feature that is found on most pocket knives to help prevent you from slipping and cutting yourself.

Now with both hands on the knife. One holding the hilt and the other firmly gripped on the blade push the knife into its slot slowly. Once the blade is nestled in its slot securely the knife will not open on its own.

If you are in a situation where you only have one hand free you can do this as well as soon as you are comfortable enough doing it with both hands. To do this with one hand carefully hold the knife in the palm of your hand with the thumb and fingers around the top of the blade to fold it in place. But be careful that your skin is not in the way. Or you can push the back of the blade against a hard surface to close it without using your fingers. If you do this remember that some pocket knives are spring-loaded and can close quickly on you so be mindful of that.

How to Close a Pocket Knife with a Lockback

On a pocket knife that locks in place with the use of a frame lock, this has to be pressed in order for the blade to move. If you look at the diagram you see where you have to push down to unlock the knife. The diagram shows the inside mechanisms to make this happen. The Rocker Bar swivels on the Rocker Pin when you press down and lists the mechanism up and away from the Stop Pin. The blade of the knife swivels itself on the Pivot Pin to allow it to close properly. It is the Stop Pin that prevents the knife blade from closing.

With one hand hold the top of the blade with your fingers and thumb and with the other hand you press down on the part of the Rocker Arm that is exposed on the outside. Once you do this you will feel less tension on the blade when you begin folding it. With the Rocker Arm pressed in completely (no tension) carefully fold the blade of the knife into its slot.

How to Close a Pocket Knife with a Bolt Lock

When you take a look at the diagram you will see the mechanism that operates a Bolt Lock type of pocket knife. When you slide the bolt (which is held in place by a spring) back you release the Blade so that it can swivel downwards.

With your hand wrapped around the top of the hilt of the knife so that your fingers are free from the slot that the blade slides into use your thumb to slide the Bolt back.

After you feel the tension of the spring and the Bolt is slid all the way back with your other hand grab the top of the blade and slowly fold the blade into its slot taking care that your fingers are not in the way from your other hand.

Once the blade is fully seated into its slot you can release the Bolt with the other hand and the blade will hold in place. It is important to note that the blade can still be opened without sliding the Bolt. You will feel the spring give resistance while you do this.

How to Close a Pocket Knife with a Liner Lock

With a Liner Lock pocket knife if you look at the diagram the Leaf Spring which is a part of the Liner is curved to avoid the blade of the knife from closing so it has to be pushed to one side to allow room for the blade to close.

Hold the knife with the sharp side of the blade up for safety. In the open part of the blade, the slot looks for the liner or frame behind the blade on the bottom side of the hilt. With your thumb push the liner or frame away from the blade. When you do this you will feel less tension from the blade as the resistance is removed from pushing the liner or frame. Holding the knife with the sharp side up prevents the blade from falling down on your thumb when you release the tension.

Once the tension has been released you can push the blade with your hand and move your thumb out of the way or use the other hand to push the blade into its slot after you moved your thumb out of the way.

When the blade is fully into place remember that the blade does not lock in place with a Liner Lock pocket knife so remember this when you carry it around.

How to Close a Pocket Knife with a Button Lock

Closing a Button Lock pocket knife is very similar to closing a Bolt Lock pocket knife.

When you take a look at the diagram you will see the mechanism that operates a Button Lock type of pocket knife. When you push the button (which is held in place by a spring) down you push the spring down that releases the Blade so that it can swivel downwards

With your hand wrapped around the top of the hilt of the knife so that your fingers are free from the slot that the blade slides into use your thumb to push the Button-down.

After you feel the tension of the spring and the Button is all the way down with your other hand grab the top of the blade and slowly fold the blade into its slot taking care that your fingers are not in the way from your other hand.

Once the blade is fully seated into its slot you can release the button with the other hand and the blade will hold in place. It is important to note that the blade can still be opened without pushing the Button. You will feel the spring give resistance while you do this.

You can view our pocket knives, boy scout knives, and other folding knives. If you have any questions just contact us!