What type of lock do you prefer?
I like locks that don't require me to put a finger in the path of the blade.
tldr: I like the Benchmade Axis lock, Demko Shark Lock, Spyderco Compression lock, and button locks.
It took me a while to warm up to the Benchmade Axis lock, but I like it a lot now. Benchmade's patent has run out, so now a lot of companies are making clones. One of the knives that I just bought is a Kizer with that same type of lock:
At the other end of the price spectrum with that type of lock is my Tactile Maverick. This one is a drawer queen:
Stonewashed + Bronze Maverick
I do like the Demko Sharklock on my AD 20.5:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/AD...red-red-grivory-handles-knifecenter-exclusive. I did replace those ugly scales.
One of the knives that I just ordered has the same kind of lock. I'm not sure if Demko's patent has run out or if Civivi is licensing it, but this looks like a very similar kind of lock:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CI...ll-carbon-fiber-handles-knifecenter-exclusive
I do like Spyderco's Compression Lock:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...in-blade-dark-gray-g10-handles-paramilitary-3, but I think I like the Axis lock better. I think the Axis lock is a little easier to find (though apparently the omega springs are more likely to break over time).
I have a lot of button locks and I do like them, but many of the cheaper button locks can be a bit sticky if you open the knife hard. My We Ziffius button lock doesn't have any stick at all, but that's a very big, expensive knife and not one that I carry:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/WE...itanium-handles-with-twill-carbon-fiber-inlay. I've got several CJRB button locks, but they all have some button stick to various degrees.
So that's a long way of saying I like button locks, but they don't seem to be done well unless they are expensive. So I'm probably leaning more to Axis locks and its clones, and maybe Shark locks thrown in for variety.