No, Jelly Roll Morton didn’t own a Gallagher Glide Lock folder at the turn of the last century, but if he had carried one into an ornately decorated saloon, it would have looked right at home. Barry Gallagher designed the Glide Lock folder series in the great tradition of the personal folder from times gone by, with a nod to the classic style of the era.

But the sleek, natural look of Barry’s Glide Lock depends on two very modern technologies. The first is the patent-pending Glide Lock mechanism invented by knifemaker Charles Kain of Indianapolis, Indiana. This compact design can reach production thanks to high-precision CNC machining. It relies on a sliding stainless steel mechanism hidden within one bolster. Slide the bolster out, and it creates a tang to rotate the blade open. Slide the bolster back and the blade is locked open. To close, slide the bolster out and and rotate the blade closed with your index finger. Slide the bolster back to lock the Glide Lock closed. It’s fast, lightweight, compact, and secure.

The second new technology is the development of CPL composite materials similar to those used in today’s modern bowling balls. The swirls that result from injection molding resemble those found in natural materials such as amber, jade and mother-of-pearl. However, the CPL material is tougher, stronger, and lighter than those natural materials, and can be used both on the Glide Lock scales and back spacer. The variegated swirls make each knife unique.

Barry Gallagher combined all this into a slender gentleman’s folder that fits comfortably in the hand and securely in any pocket.

The premium Glide Lock Ltd. model features non-reflective titanium nitride coating on the blade and liners for ultimate corrosion resistance. Scales are a dramatic gray/blue swirled pattern.