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This Underrated Pocket Knife Design Is a Clever Way to Skirt Carry Laws

This type of pocket knife doesn’t get enough attention. Maybe that’s the point.

friction folding knifeWESN

By Tanner Bowden

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Before there were slide locks, liner locks and frame locks, there were friction folders.

This type of knife has no lock at all. Instead, it has an extended tang that, when open, sinks between the handles to hold the knife in place. You can then lay a thumb on top of the blade tang for even more non-locking leverage.

friction folding pocket knife
Friction folders have an extended tang that sinks into the handle to hold the blade open.
WESN

Source of friction

Thanks to such a low-tech design, friction folders were among the first folding pocket knives known to man.

Advancements in knife design have largely replaced them but they present a perk beyond their simple, old-timey design: lacking any locking mechanisms, friction folders are technically legal to carry anywhere locking blades aren’t (like the United Kingdom and some places in the US).

Today, only a handful of EDC brands offer contemporary takes on the classic pattern. One such example from WESN.

To create its friction folder, called the Samla, WESN aimed to create a durable tool that can handle typical campsite chores along with meal prep.

Other than the friction folding construction, the Samla features a 2.45-inch sheepsfoot blade made of Sandvik 12c27 steel and a choice between titanium or rosewood handles.

friction folding pocket knife
The Samla has a sheepsfoot blade made of Sandvik 12c27 steel.
WESN

As sleek as can be

A hallmark of friction folders is that they aren’t inherently sleek. The extended tang that characterizes the design will always jut out from the handle when the blade is closed.

Nevertheless, WESN’s Samla proves that friction folders can align with today’s minimal, everyday carry-focused pocket knife trends with a clean form factor and uncluttered design.

Stay Sharp