This Simple, Strong Feature Is Taking Over the EDC Knife World. Here’s the Proof

A particularly convenient, secure mechanism is finally emerging as a serious trend in the everyday carry space.

Several button lock knives on yellow-green background

Published January 17, 2025

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Updated January 17, 2025

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Like every industry, EDC knives are subject to trends. For instance, minimalist cutting tools were all the rage a few years ago. Similarly, carbon fiber knives have had their moment. However, the most recent emerging trend might surprise you

The latest big movement we’re noticing — and appreciating — is toward a locking mechanism that is safe, convenient and just plain fun. I am talking, of course, about the button lock.

Though it’s a couple of years old, The James Brand’s Wells remains an exceptional button lock flipper.

Sean Tirman for Gear Patrol

A brief primer on knife locks

To understand button locks, you must first understand an EDC knife lock at a more basic level. These devices are specific to folding knives and are designed to keep a knife’s blade secure when deployed. When in position, they prevent the blade from folding back into the handle until the lock is manually released.

A few mainstays of the category have been around for decades. These include longtime classics like Michael Walker’s liner lock and its evolution, the frame lock.

Numerous proprietary designs — meaning they are the sole property of a particular brand or designer — have also emerged over the years. Spyderco’s legendary Compression lock, for instance, combines the concepts of a liner lock and a back lock and is, as a result, stronger and more reliable than either.

However, Spyderco’s Compression Lock technology patent expired in 2021. While the brand still owns the name, other makers and designers can now utilize the technology. This likely led to the recent influx of button-lock knives, which typically rely on the same overall concept as the Compression Lock.

CRKT Squid button lock closeup — CRKT’s perennially popular Squid, designed by Lucas Burnley, got the button lock treatment this year.

How button locks work

Just as Spyderco’s Compression Lock borrowed from and capitalized on Michael Walker’s liner lock, button locks (less commonly known as plunge locks) borrowed from and capitalized on the Compression Lock. Furthermore, the way they function is both remarkably simple and impressively ingenious.

When a button-lock knife is opened, a small piece of metal (sometimes called a tensioner) — such as a springed liner (as in the Compression Lock), a tensioned bar or another piece — slots into place at the base of the deployed blade. This small, strong piece of metal exerts a force on the blade, utilizing pressure to keep it from folding back into the handle.

This type of lock can also be incredibly strong — stronger even than some of the most enduring locking mechanisms.

To close the knife again, the tensioner must be moved from its place at the blade’s base. To achieve this, these knives have a small button, usually found toward the handle’s spine. When depressed, this button pushes the tensioner aside, allowing the blade to swing freely once more.

As mentioned, it’s a surprisingly simple and easy-to-use concept. However, this type of lock can also be incredibly strong — stronger even than some of the most enduring locking mechanisms.

It also results in safer and more secure knives, as there’s no reason to place your fingers in the path of the blade’s edge when releasing the lock. It’s no wonder this trend is catching on.

Editor’s Note: Because the inner workings of button locks vary from design to design, so do their strength and security.

Hand holding Vosteed Marten Knife above gray background — Vosteed has released several button lock EDC knives recently, including the Marten (pictured here).

The best button lock EDC knives (so far)

As the trend of button-lock EDC knives has emerged, numerous brands — from old standards to newcomers — have joined the fray. Here are a few of our favorites from the recent past.

Spyderco Smock

A bit of a departure for Spyderco, mostly stylistically, the Smock is actually a collaboration with designer Kevin Smock and is based on his custom SK23. While this sleek knife does boast a Compression lock (which we love), it is enhanced with a button that makes it even easier to use — and that’s just one of the things that makes this knife so unique and superb.

$228 at Blade HQ

$304 (25% off)
$304 at Spyderco

Learn more about carbon fiber knives here.

Vosteed Porcupine

Destined to be an EDC darling, the Porcupine is a superb affordable pocket knife. It’s just the right size, has some impressive materials for the price and, put plainly, it’s gorgeous and a joy to use.

Learn more about the Vosteed Porcupine here.

CRKT Squid Button Lock

One of the brand’s most perennially popular designs, the Lucas Burnley-designed Squid has made a triumphant return, this time with a button lock (instead of a liner or frame). It’s also available with two different blade and handle options, so you can customize it to a degree.

Learn more about the CRKT Squid Button Lock here.

Zero Tolerance 0044

Just like its name, the ZT 0044 is extremely under the radar. But if you take a closer look, you’ll find an exceptionally premium blend of classic EDC looks married to high-end materials. Everything about this knife is subtle and unexpected, and that’s a good thing.

$340 at Zero Tolerance

$425 (20% off)
$360 at Blade HQ

$450 (20% off)

Vosteed Corgi V

An evolution of Vosteed’s Corgi Pup knife, this already tiny EDC blade has gotten even smaller. But it isn’t just more compact; it also has a new pivot locking mechanism, a novel new deployment style and it is even more gorgeously minimalist than ever before.

$79 at Vosteed

Learn more about the Vosteed Corgi V here.

Real Steel Spectrum

Boasting a user-friendly design that’s both sleek and ergonomic, Real Steel proves with the Spectrum that great looks and respectable materials can still come at an affordable price point. For a budget-friendly EDC blade, this knife punches well above its weight class.

$75 at Real Steel

$80 (6% off)

Learn more about the Real Steel Spectrum here.

Vosteed Marten

With its beautiful machining (which extends even to the button lock), respectable materials and affordable price point, this is an outstanding all-around cutting tool. But what really elevates its status is its top liner lock, which (like Spyderco’s Compression lock) is one of the strongest locking mechanisms ever made.

$99 at Vosteed

Learn more about the Vosteed Marten here.

The James Brand

The James Brand The Wells

The brand’s first-ever flipper design, TJB’s Wells hits some major high points — including the minimalist handle (it’s practically free of all visible hardware), the smooth flipper deployment, high-quality materials and the button lock. It’s not without faults, but this is another exceptional addition to the brand’s repertoire.

Learn more about The James Brand Wells here.

Vosteed Thunderbird

With gorgeously machined scales and a super high-end blade, this is one of Vosteed’s most formidable high-end folding knives. It also comes with the brand’s Trek Lock, which is intuitive, strong, secure and (most importantly) easy to use.