In 1980, Michael Walker, one of the most significant designers in knifemaking history, patented a locking mechanism that would forever change the EDC world.
Now referred to colloquially as the liner lock, this mechanism has remained largely unchanged since its inception. Furthermore, it is still one of the most widely employed locking mechanisms. But it isn’t without its drawbacks.
However, the new Böker Plus Lefti has eliminated one of the liner lock’s most significant downsides. It’s such a clever, simple change that I can’t believe nobody has done it before.
Never walk(er) alone
To my knowledge, the Böker Plus Lefti is the first-ever EDC knife to offer an ambidextrous liner lock, meaning it can be used right- or left-handed. As mentioned, the way this was managed is incredibly simple.
Instead of having just a single liner lock, the Lefti has two — one on each side of the handle. However, the handle scales also have an additional screw, just behind the pivot, that can be used to pin one of the two liner locks in place. This keeps one lock from activating while allowing the other to slot into place when the knife is deployed.
