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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 Originally made in Germany for export to German [territories] in Africa the production of Okapi knives moved to South Africa during the 1980's where it is still a very popular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.

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