Long before crossbar, button, frame or even liner locks were used on EDC knives, one mechanism prevailed: the back lock. This device is so ingenious and reliable that it’s still employed today, usually on more traditional knives (like Buck’s 110 Folding Hunter).
But the SOG Adventurer LB isn’t your granddaddy’s hunting or scouting folder. It’s a modern reimagining, melding classic features with contemporary materials and styling. It’s also one of the most affordable carry-worthy knives around.
Back to the future
If you look solely at the Adventurer LB’s mechanisms, you’ll find it largely traditional. As mentioned, the back lock is one of the oldest locking mechanisms in the EDC world. But it also has a manual deployment — meaning there’s no flipper or assisted opening mechanism.
While the blade’s thumb studs are on the more modern side of the spectrum — as opposed to a fuller or nail nick — they’re also not particularly novel. The same goes for the blade shape; drop points are now an old standard.
If we were to expound on the specs based on that knowledge alone, we’d expect a handle made of wood, bone or even leather and perhaps a time-tested blade steel like 440, which dates back to the 1920s.