Crossbar Lock

Folding Knives

Crossbar Lock

Shop crossbar lock knives built for ambidextrous one-handed use and a positive, repeatable lockup. A spring-tensioned bar rides across the blade tang and drops into a notch when the blade opens, and pulling the bar back from either side of the handle releases it without putting your fingers in the blade path. Brands name the mechanism differently, including XR from SOG and Axis style bar locks from CJRB, Civivi, SRM and Flytanium, with blade lengths from compact EDC folders to larger work and outdoor knives.

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Crossbar Lock Knives

A crossbar lock uses a spring-tensioned bar that rides across the blade tang and drops into a notch when the blade opens. Pulling the bar back releases the blade from either side of the handle, so the lock works the same in a left or right hand. Brands use their own names for it: SOG calls it XR, Benchmade's version is the Axis lock, and CJRB, Civivi, SRM and Flytanium all build their own. The mechanism is the same. You will find the full range in Folding Knives.

What to Look for in a Crossbar Lock Knife

Bar travel and spring weight set how the knife feels. A short pull with firm springs locks up tight and resists accidental release. A longer pull with lighter springs opens faster and lets the blade drop free under gravity once the bar clears. Check the handle material too, since the lock's omega springs sit inside the handle and need a rigid scale to seat against. G10 and FRN both work, and aluminum or titanium adds weight without changing the action. Blade steel follows the same rules as any folder: AR-RPM9 and D2 hold a working edge, MagnaCut resists corrosion and takes a finer edge.

What This Category Covers

Every folding knife we stock with a crossbar, bar, Axis or XR style lock, in blade lengths from under 2.5 inches to just past 4 inches. The list includes CJRB Acacia, Shale and Bellona models, Civivi Baby Banter 2, SOG Terminus XR, Seal XR, Trident AT and Flash AT, SRM ambi lock folders, TB Outdoor, Dreamtech, Miguron, Cobratec and Flytanium BEEF. Handle materials run from FRN and G10 to carbon fiber and titanium.

Complete Your Carry Setup

Compare the action against other lock types before you decide. Linerlock Knives and Framelock Knives use a leaf of the liner or frame instead of a bar, and both need your thumb behind the blade path to close. Lockback Knives put the release in the spine. If speed matters more than the closing method, look at Assisted Opening, and note that two SOG models appear in both categories. Keep the edge in shape with a stone or system from Sharpeners.

Browse our complete selection of crossbar lock knives at CritPro.