The Crossbar Lock knife type is not a specific pattern, but rather a blade lock configuration. The handle and blade designs can vary widely, however one thing always remains the same... Crossbar Lock pocket knives have a high-strength bar that locks the blade in the open and sometimes closed position. This bar is incorporated into the handle, near the blade's pivot point, and typically actuated by slide levers on either side of the knife making this an ambidextrous design in most cases.