Sometimes, EDC knife designers find inspiration in strange places. For instance, we stumbled upon a knife a few days ago that was designed to resemble a fictional airship from a video game. Another knife from earlier this year was made with mythical mermaids in mind.
But Dirk Hofmeister’s Böker Plus Hermod Folder might take the cake. Not only did he draw inspiration from an interesting source, but that inspiration resulted in a unique locking mechanism I’ve never seen before — and I’ve been collecting knives for years.
Pull the pin
If you’ve looked at the Böker Plus Hermod Folder and thought, “That looks an awful lot like a hand grenade,” you’d be right. The small explosive devices inspired both the lattice pattern on the handle and the pull pin near the pivot. However, the pin is more than just a style choice; it serves a unique function.
With the blade closed and the pin in place, the knife can’t be opened. That’s because the pin serves as a forelock, blocking the blade from moving when slotted into place. It works the same when the knife is opened, adding an extra layer of security and preventing unwanted slips of the blade.
Better still, that’s not even the knife’s sole locking mechanism. In addition to the cotter pin, the knife is equipped with a classic liner lock. As such, the knife can be used normally even without the pin in place.
