Abstract: A knife and sheath that includes a spring element as part of the handle with a pin that engages a slot in the sheath so as to lock the knife and sheath together. The knife and sheath are unlocked by biasing the spring element towards the center line of the knife, thereby disengaging the pin from the slot.

Abstract: A folding knife according to one embodiment is provided and includes (a) a handle defining a blade cavity; (b) a blade having a first end which is pivotably coupled to the handle about a pivot; and (c) a biasing element disposed within the blade cavity of the handle. The blade has a detent formed therein on a lower edge thereof proximate to the pivot. The biasing element has a fixed first end and an opposing free second end which has a rounded ball member formed thereat. As the blade is closed towards the retracted position, the blade contacts and deflects the second end of the biasing element until the rounded ball member of the second end engages the blade detent, resulting in the blade being held in the retracted position.