There is no safety lock, instead a slip-joint supplys about 20 lb's of pressure, and a cleverly inset forward choil places your index-finger at the bottom of the tang offering additional safety and superb control whilst cutting. Normally we shy away from offering working knives with no safety lock, for obvious reasons. But this excellent pen knife is one of the safest knives we have had the pleasure of offering. Made in Seki City, Japan.