21 Slight Lock stick

WyattCooper · Mar 29, 2015

Hello everyone! I just got my new 21 back after it was serviced for some pretty bad sticky lock. It seems to be fairly smooth now (the lock-side was replaced), but I'm worried about a sleight amount of stick when I disengage the lock. It's smoother when the lock and tang are completely clean (after using some rubbing alcohol on the lock faces), but it's still a bit of a concern. It doesn't feel like the titanium is grinding or galling, but it feels like it has to squeeze past the tang, like it's wedged. This is my 1st CRK, so I'm a little bit worried about it. Can anyone tell me if this is a problem, and if it gets better or worse? It seems to vary on an hour-to-hour basis as well.

gull wing · Mar 29, 2015

A little sticky is good, means you have lockup.
Gets better with use.
Work it a couple hundred times, it should get better.
I haven't had lock stick in the past three CRK's, but I've used Sharpie ink on sticky ones before(apply to ramp of blade)

WyattCooper · Mar 29, 2015

Thanks for the reply, I thought it would get better, but I don't have much experience with titanium framelocks. It seems like the sharpie just made it stick a bit more, though.

BellaBlades · Mar 29, 2015

Mine is just like yours.
It seems like more a grab than a stick. It seems to we worse with added lube. I just wipe it off with my micro fiber cloth and then it is mostly smooth. It is odd. If I take it apart and put it together there is not a single bit of resistance, but a few dozen openings later there is some grab.
It is not sticky per say, and is far smoother than any other framelocks I have owned.
But the bit of resistance did surprise me.
That said I plan on using the crap out of my sebbie and I already do.
It has the most solid lock up of any framelock I have owned and that is all I need to know.

WyattCooper · Mar 29, 2015

BellaBlades said:
Mine is just like yours.
It seems like more a grab than a stick. It seems to we worse with added lube. I just wipe it off with my micro fiber cloth and then it is mostly smooth. It is odd. If I take it apart and put it together there is not a single bit of resistance, but a few dozen openings later there is some grab.
It is not sticky per say, and is far smoother than any other framelocks I have owned.
But the bit of resistance did surprise me.
That said I plan on using the crap out of my sebbie and I already do.
It has the most solid lock up of any framelock I have owned and that is all I need to know.

Now that I think about it, it might be the humidity (or lack of it) that does this to some framelocks. Not sure, though, but I've heard about it from some custom makers.

BellaBlades · Mar 29, 2015

That is true. If you take a breath onto the lock bar like trying to see it out in the cold. Then open your knife it will stick more. It does seem better dry.
What percentage is the lock up on yours by the way.
Mine is 50%-55% at most and really is stupid solid. The same spot it was new actually 5 weeks ago. It feels like every other CRK I have handled. The only difference is the excess lube makes it stick the tiniest bit.

WyattCooper · Mar 29, 2015

Yeah, mine settled in right around 60%. I think it's about the same after a thorough cleaning, but it might change a tiny bit.
It's a bit odd, I've had quite a few sticky locks before where galling was an issue, but disengaging the lock on this knife doesn't seem to remove any material.

BellaBlades · Mar 29, 2015

Yeah, the heat treat on the lock bar does wonders along with the ideal geometry. I would just keep using it. Should be smoother in a few months.

WyattCooper · Mar 29, 2015

Sounds great, thanks!

BTW, I love the scales you make!

BellaBlades · Mar 29, 2015

Thanks Wyatt.
I appreciate it. I really have not done much for a few months. Looking forward to picking up the pace now that I work primarily graveyard.
Enjoy that knife pal.

minimize · May 28, 2015

When I open my 21 with more force (only using thumbstud, no flicking or wrist) the lock engages much harder. Cannot see a discernible difference but disengage the lock takes much more effort. I hope I didn't do something wrong here.

WyattCooper · May 29, 2015

minimize said:
When I open my 21 with more force (only using thumbstud, no flicking or wrist) the lock engages much harder. Cannot see a discernible difference but disengage the lock takes much more effort. I hope I didn't do something wrong here.

No, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just how the lockbar functions as a spring. Unless the titanium feels like it's grinding against the tang, it should be good.
To add to the original post, my knife is now a little bit smoother than when I got it, and functions perfectly.

minimize · May 30, 2015

WyattCooper said:
No, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just how the lockbar functions as a spring. Unless the titanium feels like it's grinding against the tang, it should be good.
To add to the original post, my knife is now a little bit smoother than when I got it, and functions perfectly.

Thanks. Sometimes it feels fine, and others.. gives me that fresh nails on chalkboard feel. I guess I just use it and worry if it develops some sort of play?

WyattCooper · May 31, 2015

minimize said:
Thanks. Sometimes it feels fine, and others.. gives me that fresh nails on chalkboard feel. I guess I just use it and worry if it develops some sort of play?

It's always best to ask CRK. If it's consistently grinding based on how you open the knife, my guess is that you would need to send it in. If you want to use it until it develops play or gets better, I'm sure CRK would still service it for free.

minimize · May 31, 2015

WyattCooper said:
It's always best to ask CRK. If it's consistently grinding based on how you open the knife, my guess is that you would need to send it in. If you want to use it until it develops play or gets better, I'm sure CRK would still service it for free.

Thanks for that info! I broke it down and noticed that the lock face has some marring. No idea how that happened. Put it back together, and seems OK.. as long as I make sure there is NO lube on the lock face. Considering what to do. Not sure.

slorenzo · May 31, 2015

Ive had a somewhat sticky lock on about 50% of the sebenza's I've owned they always get smoother as the knife breaks in. I live in South Florida and I have noticed that the hotter and more humid it is the more likely the locks are to stick, I don't know where you live but this may be a contributing factor.