What is a linerlocking mechanism?

The design has been revived and popularized over the past few years by Michael Walker (USA) and the knives are often known as Walker lockers.

Many folders, lock blades or otherwise, have brass or steel liners. The linerlock system simply uses one of these liners (or part of one) as a spring blade to lock and unlock the knife blade. Naturally, this requires the liner to be made of harder, stronger metal, and most liner locks employ aircraft-grade titanium, which is very tough and resilient, and performs very well as a spring. André also uses 301L stainless steel which is also a spring steel.

The liner plate is split longitudinally from the front end for roughly two thirds of its length, forming a 'finger' about one third of the width of the original liner plate. This finger is bent inwards so that it lies at a slight angle, and forms a spring blade. The front end 0f it butts up against a corresponding surface on the back end of the blade, locking the blade open. To release the blade, sideways pressure is applied to the spring blade, pushing its front edge away from the corresponding surface on the back of the knife blade. A thumb slot is cut out of the bottom of the handle (in the bolster) to provide access to the spring blade. As this spring blade forms part of the liner, the knife is called a liner-lock. ___________________________