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Spring vs. Standard Latch

There’s a lot to consider when picking out the perfect butterfly, but something that is sometimes overlooked is the latch. Here’s a brief look at spring latches vs. standard latches to help you figure out which type you prefer, if you don’t already know.

Balisong Anatomy

Spring Latch

This type of latch is pretty self-explanatory—it uses a spring to propel the latch open. A spring latch makes easy work of one-handed opening; you simply squeeze the handles, the latch flips off, and you’re ready to flip. The spring latch is also typically held in place a lot better than the standard latch. For example, while you’re actually flipping a butterfly with a spring latch, the tension in the spring typically keeps the latch pointing down, similar to a handle extension. This means that the latch won’t be flipping around with the handles and getting in your way. The only real downside for a spring latch is that the spring is just another part that could possibly break and need to be replaced. However, the functionality of the spring latch is probably enough to outweigh the chance that the spring might break one day.

This Spyderco Smallfly has a spring latch.

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Standard Latch

Unlike the spring latch, the standard latch does typically flip around with the handles, which can be bothersome to some people. Another thing to look out for with standard latches is that some of them hit the tip of the blade while the knife is flipping. This can be bad for the blade edge. While this can sometimes happen with spring latches, it’s a much more common occurrence among standard latches. One positive thing about butterflies with standard latches, though, is that they are typically a lot cheaper than those with spring latches. So, if you’re on a budget and you don’t mind a mobile latch, the standard might be the right latch for you.

This Bear Butterfly Knife has a standard latch.

bear-cutlery-genuine-india-stag-517

Check out these butterflies and more at Blade HQ!

Which type of latch do you prefer?

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