Locking Copperhead

The locking copperhead frame is a copperhead pocket knife that has a hidden (or trick) liner lock. The lock is activated when the primary blade is opened all the way, and then it is disengaged when the closed secondary blade is depressed (hence, “hidden or trick” lock).

The copperhead pocket knife has been around, at minimum, since 1915 when W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. were manufacturing the knife. Distinguished by a protruding pocket-end bolster that is “humped” to protect the owner’s pocket from the sharp corners. This “pocket-friendly” design of one bolster probably began as copper, hence “copper head”. The copperhead knife is sometimes referred to as the “Vietnam knife” or the “Vietnam copperhead”, undoubtedly because it was popular with the military men of that time. It provided a handy knife that would not wear out military clothing that was already dealing with the rigors of jungle warfare.

Copperhead pocket knives sometimes have an indented tang to eliminate that edge, as well. The knife typically comes with a primary clip point blade and a secondary pen blade.