A type of lockback folding knife originally from
Germany. These are very
popular in much of the Africa and much of the Caribbean. Ratchet Knives are often associated with gangs and criminal activity. In Jamaica they were closely linked with "Rude
Boy" street culture.
Ratchet Knives are named for the ratcheted blade lock mechanism.
The ratcheted blade lock mechanism keeps the blade from snapping shut on the user's hand
even when only partially opened. The ratchet knife is usually unlocked by using a pull ring on the back rather than the more common push buttons or levers of most lock blades.
Both of these features make it less likely for the knife to snap shut across the user's fingers during a struggle.
However the key to the popularity of these knives is mostly due to their extremely low price, wide availability and intimidating ratchet sound on opening.
The most famous brand of ratchet knife is the Okapi. Originally made in
Germany for export to German territories in Africa the production of Okapi knives moved to South Africa during the 1980's where it is still a very
popular all around knife, especially with
local criminals.
The Okapi was also the favored ratchet of Jamaican rude
boys who often referred to them as "Three
Star Ratchets" due to the three stars inlaid on the handles of many Okapi brand ratchet knives.