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 ...

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 — even slip-joint knives, which are ...

Originating in Miki, Hyōgo Prefecture, before the turn of the century, the higonokami friction folder packs plenty of history. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more As a ...