According to Sal Glesser in prior posts, the pivot pin, which is inside the scales, is an eccentric shape, i.e. not exactly round but sort of egg-shaped. This is the pin around which the blade pivots, and it adjusts where the ramp at the back end of the blade falls relative to the top of the liner part that springs out to lock the blade open. The purpose of the eccentric pivot is to allow adjustment to allow for the best possible contact between the liner lock and the ramp, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way across from the left, or beginning, side on both my StarMate and my Military. Sal very strongly recommends that the adjustment of this eccentric pivot be left to the factory service department.
The torx screw on the outside of the scales at the pivot adjusts the tension on the pivot and, therefor, the tightness of the blade. It can be adjusted with a No. 15 torx screwdriver. I would suggest some care in this as, for if you loosen the pivot too much, you may then become legally subject to carrying a "Gravity Blade" if it can be flipped open easily without the use of a thumb in the hole to assist the blade. Mine was too tight for my arthritic hands when I got it, so I did loosen it a bit, but not much. I also lubricated the pivot. Since the knives are "tip down carry" you ned not fear them openning in your pocket, at least.
As to waiting for the Compression Lock, I have a Gunting which is my daily in town carry because it has a Washington, DC legal blade length of 3". But I also have both ther StarMate and the Military, and, truth be told, the StarMate is my all-time favorite carry knife. I consider it fully the equal of the Chris Reeve Sebenza, less the obsessive non-functional detail for 1/3 the price, and with better steel in the blade. INCOMING! I prefer the StarMate for its shape and feel, but the Military is damned near as nice, just shaped differently and for somewhat different uses. If I had it to do over, I would not wait for the Compression Lock, as I am not certain if it will be offered on the StarMate or the full-sized Military, or, if so, when. And I have never had one of Spyderco's adjustable linerlocks fail or release unintentionally on me.
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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
[This message has been edited by FullerH (edited 03-06-2001).]
They're probably silly, but I'm strongly considering buying my first G-10 handled higher-end Spydie and would like to know this before buying one. In particular, I'm looking at the Military (finally), or maybe the Starmate. Or should I wait for these to come out in compression lock?
