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    • Sub Frame Lock

    Sub-Frame Lock Knives: Kershaw & Zero Tolerance’s Lightweight Frame Lock

     

    The Sub-Frame Lock is a patented variation on the traditional Frame Lock, developed by Kershaw Knives and its premium sister brand Zero Tolerance. A standard Frame Lock requires an entire handle scale to be machined from a heavy metal like titanium or stainless steel so a section of it can flex inward and lock the blade, which adds real thickness and weight to the knife. The Sub-Frame Lock solves that by machining a cutout into a lightweight handle scale, made from materials like carbon fiber, G-10, or contoured aluminum, and permanently riveting a heat-treated strip of spring steel or titanium directly into that cutout.

    That inlaid lockbar behaves exactly like a traditional Frame Lock: when the blade opens, it snaps inward behind the blade tang and holds the knife rigidly open. Closing the knife works the same way too — press the lockbar to the side with your thumb, then fold the blade back into the handle while keeping your fingers clear of the edge.

    At Knifeworks, the Sub-Frame Lock appears on Kershaw's Tumbler and Copper Natrix XL, along with Zero Tolerance's 0450 Sinkevich line, which pairs a titanium lockbar with carbon fiber show scales.

    Why the Sub-Frame Lock feels different from a standard Frame LockBecause only the lockbar itself needs to be metal, the rest of the handle can be built from much lighter material without giving up any of a Frame Lock's rigidity or strength. The result is a knife that locks up exactly like a full-titanium Frame Lock but carries noticeably less weight in the pocket.

    Call 888-225-9775 — our team can help you choose the right Sub-Frame Lock knife for your carry.

    Lock type
    Sub-Frame Lock
    Handle material
    Carbon Fiber / G-10 / Copper
    Pioneered
    Kershaw / Zero Tolerance
     
    Strength
    Very High
    Ambidextrous
    No
    Best use
    Lightweight EDC
    Compare Selected
    What is a Sub-Frame Lock?+

    The Sub-Frame Lock is a patented variation on the Frame Lock developed by Kershaw Knives and Zero Tolerance. Instead of machining an entire handle scale from metal, a lightweight scale, often carbon fiber or G-10, has a cutout machined into it, and a heat-treated strip of steel or titanium is riveted into that cutout to form the lockbar.

    How does the Sub-Frame Lock mechanism work?+

    The inlaid steel or titanium lockbar behaves exactly like a traditional Frame Lock. When the blade is opened, the lockbar snaps inward behind the blade's tang, holding it rigidly in place. Pressing the lockbar to the side with your thumb releases it so the blade can fold closed.

    What is the difference between a Sub-Frame Lock and a standard Frame Lock?+

    A standard Frame Lock requires an entire handle scale to be machined from titanium or stainless steel. The Sub-Frame Lock only needs the lockbar itself to be metal, so the rest of the handle can be built from a much lighter material like carbon fiber, cutting weight without giving up the lockup strength of a Frame Lock.

    Is the Sub-Frame Lock as strong as a standard Frame Lock?+

    Yes. The inlaid lockbar is heat-treated steel or titanium engineered specifically for this purpose, and it locks up behind the blade tang the same way a full Frame Lock does, so lockup strength is not sacrificed for the reduced weight.

    Is the Sub-Frame Lock ambidextrous?+

    No. Like a standard Frame Lock, the Sub-Frame Lock's lockbar sits on one side of the handle, so disengaging it is a one-handed operation from that side.

    What steel and handle options does Knifeworks carry?+

    Knifeworks carries the Sub-Frame Lock on Kershaw's Tumbler in D2 tool steel with carbon fiber and G-10 scales, the Kershaw Copper Natrix XL in D2 tool steel with a genuine copper handle, and the Zero Tolerance 0450 Sinkevich in CPM-MagnaCut with carbon fiber scales over a titanium lockbar.

    Does Knifeworks carry Sub-Frame Lock knives?+

    Yes. Knifeworks carries the Sub-Frame Lock across both Kershaw and Zero Tolerance. Call 888-225-9775 and our team can confirm current stock on any specific model.

    Sub-Frame Lock models: production lineup at Knifeworks

    ModelBlade SteelHandleOriginTier
    Zero Tolerance 0450 Sinkevich ★CPM-MagnaCutCarbon Fiber / TiUSAPremium
    Kershaw TumblerD2Carbon Fiber / G-10ChinaValue
    Kershaw Copper Natrix XLD2CopperChinaValue
    Authorized dealer
    Every Sub-Frame Lock knife ships with full manufacturer warranty coverage.
    Same-day shipping
    Ships from Columbia, Louisiana — 888-225-9775
    Lighter than a standard Frame Lock
    Same lockup strength, less weight in your pocket.
    Call us before you buy
    888-225-9775 — we carry these knives daily.