US Patent 11926068 Folding knife

A folding knife includes first and second scales and a blade having a tang and a cutting edge. The tang pivotally connects the blade between the first and second scales. The blade has a retracted position with the cutting edge between the first and second scales and a deployed position with the cutting edge outside the first and second scales. An actuator between the first and second scales has a first position that locks the blade in the deployed position and a second position that allows movement of the blade between the deployed and retracted positions. A spring is in compression with the actuator between the first and second scales so that the spring biases the actuator toward the tang of the blade. A detent in the actuator engages with the tang when the actuator is in the first position and the blade is in the deployed position.