Patent ID: 7774939

Claim:
A folding knife, comprising: a handle having a locking surface on an end face thereof; a blade having a tang end rotatably coupled to the handle to pivot about a first axis between a closed position and an open position; and a locking post slideably coupled to the blade and at least a portion being rotatable about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, the post having at least one face that is substantially flat, and whose contour conforms to a contour of the locking surface and engages the locking surface when the blade is in the open position, to lock the blade in the open position, the handle further including a sloping shoulder on the end face, and a corner between the shoulder and the locking surface, the shoulder and corner positioned such that, as the blade is rotated toward the open position, the post makes contact with the sloping shoulder and, as the blade continues to rotate toward the open position, is compelled by the sloping shoulder to move generally toward the point end of the blade until it passes the corner, whereupon the post is able to move toward the tang end of the blade.