Various embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, a folding knife is provided that has a handle having a slot having at least one top surface and a blade pivotably connected to the handle, wherein the blade has a tang having a contoured peripheral surface and an open block engagement tang surface, wherein the blade has an axis of rotation. The blade further has a locking block translatable on a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the blade, wherein the locking block has an engagement surface positioned to contact at least one of the contoured peripheral surface and the open block engagement tang surface when the blade is in an open position, and wherein the locking block has at least two bearing surfaces engaging the at least one top surface along two lines.