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E.T. Has Landed |
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E.T. stands for External Toggle, and external toggle describes the locking mechanism of this very unique folding knife. The toggle lock linkage is used in a wide variety of industrial grade equipment wherever long travel, a magnification of force and a positive lock are required in a single mechanism. The most common example may be that of the vise grip style locking pliers, which apply far more force than needed for a knife, but work on the same principle. A review of the drawings shows how the linkage moves during the transition from open to closed and illustrates how the simple act of gripping the handle insures that the blade will remain locked in the open position. When the blade is open, the three pivot points of the long and short toggle come to rest slightly beyond a straight line drawn through their centers, thereby preventing the mechanism from feeding backwards. A light torsion spring is positioned around the axis of the rear toggle in such a way as to constantly urge the toggle links into a straight line. The effect of this spring is to propel the blade toward open when opening and to propel the blade toward closed when closing. This same spring also serves to hold the blade closed until needed. The blade stop is adjustable to insure that blade lock up is not so loose as to allow movement or so tight as to generate excessive force in locking. The drawings show the location of the threaded stop, which is specially treated to prevent unintended movement. A 1/16 allen key can be inserted from the front, when the blade is closed, to fine tune this adjustment.
The locking nuts securing the long toggle to both the blade tang and short toggle are also adjustable for correct clearance. A socket wrench for this purpose is provided on board the handle frame, in the form of a lanyard hole liner, inserted into the lanyard hole as shown. The wrench is held in place by the free end of the rear torsion spring. To remove the wrench simply press on the small end protruding from the side of the frame, which displaces the retaining spring and allows the wrench to be pulled free from the opposite side as shown. The knurled portion of the wrench serves as a finger grip to turn the lock nuts to the correct setting. The adjustment is correct when the pivot points turn free without drag. Reinserting the wrench into the lanyard hole allows it to be recaptured by the spring. The titanium pocket clip is reversible by removing the retaining screw and swinging the pocket clip 90 degrees or until it can be spread apart enough to clear the pocket clip bosses on both sides. The retaining screw is then replaced before removing the screw on the opposite side. The pocket clip can now be reinstalled by reversing the disassembly process. To unlock the blade for closing it’s only necessary to push on the extreme end of the short toggle to collapse the linkage or to push out on the long toggle/short toggle knee joint (see drawing). When carried in the pocket or suspended by the karabiner the safety should be engaged to prevent partial opening of the blade. The safety consists of a knurled roller that protrudes slightly above the surface of the handle frame along the back spine and near the blade pivot. Rolling this safety forward displaces a locking spring by cam action, which engages a notch cut into the blade tang. To unlock the safety, simply roll the safety toward the rear while initiating the act of opening the blade. All of this can be performed as one fluid motion. When the blade is closed, the karabiner is in the active mode and can be used to carry the knife by capturing a ring or using the belt loop button carry as shown. When the blade is open, the karabiner comes to rest on the floor of a notch cut in the handle frame providing a reliable thumb support while using the knife. The karabiner also serves as a thumb stub when opening the blade either left or right handed. If anyone ever thought they would like to own a truly unique folding knife with a very strong lock and a yet unknown number of techniques to open and close the blade, they will not be disappointed with the E.T. - Grant & Gavin Hawk |
