ChazzyP
Platinum Member
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Nice ano on the Pro-Tech, Joe. What's the light, though? Sweet one!
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Advice Wanted on Unsatisfactory Kershaw Launches
- Thread starter jaredrg
- Start date
Nice ano on the Pro-Tech, Joe. What's the light, though? Sweet one!
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,437
I got a Launch from a local dealer who took it in on trade and it only has one tiny problem, and that is on a bad button press the blade can bounce. That just simply needs a slightly stronger spring for the button. It developed a tiny bit of grit, and I just took it apart and cleaned it, it was a pretty easy process. It all got back together easy, and now it is perfectly smooth.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2011
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We are all absolutely shocked that you can't find a flaw with your KAI knife.
OP: I had a Launch that wouldn't lockup 50% of the time out of the box - Dealer told me to tighten the pivot, which would slightly slow the blade speed down and help it lockup. For what it's worth, it did help, but was still very unreliable. It also had substantial blade play. I sold it. Buy a ProTech or a Benchmade for better action, warranty, and reliability.
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- Jun 9, 2011
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We are all absolutely shocked that you can't find a flaw with your KAI knife.
OP: I had a Launch that wouldn't lockup 50% of the time out of the box - Dealer told me to tighten the pivot, which would slightly slow the blade speed down and help it lockup. For what it's worth, it did help, but was still very unreliable. It also had substantial blade play. I sold it. Buy a ProTech or a Benchmade for better action, warranty, and reliability.
yep pivot play is a temporary solution. you are completely right. won't solve the problem permanently.
its a shame kershaw keeps stepping into autos but doesnt seem to hold up. i had a couple rouges that suffered from the same issues these launches do. i only kept the one rouge that didnt suffer from lock bounce issues. shame too as its one of my favorite of all time kershaw knives.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
I just got a Launch, think it's the 5. Looks like the old Emerson Raven. I love them both. My Launch is working fine. I do need to strop that edge, though.
One thing about the price of the Protechs, like the old saying goes -- buy quality and only cry once!
One thing about the price of the Protechs, like the old saying goes -- buy quality and only cry once!
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2012
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- 4,704
We are all absolutely shocked that you can't find a flaw with your KAI knife.
So you are calling me a liar?
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2011
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- 1,569
No, certainly not, just pointing out that you are a well documented fan of KAI products.
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No, certainly not, just pointing out that you are a well documented fan of KAI products.
Uh huh... well it certainly seems to imply that I am somehow being dishonest about the condition of my Launch 1. Other people in here have stated theirs were fine as well so I guess they are all just mindless fanboys?
Somehow being a fan of a brand delegitimizes my opinion of a knife made by them?
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
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- 30,004
^its truly hit and miss on these launches.
thinks hes just poking at you being a fan, not saying youre a liar. fan prodding is the way i took it.
i have 3. my 2 always had lock bounce from out of the box . year plus later of use, my 5 developed it. my 1 still doesnt have it. so 2 out of 3 for myself suffer from lock bounce. the 1 and 5 were early versions. the 2 i got last. course without date codes who knows how long stock sits at distributors and dealers. the fact remains there is a problem with many of these launches and lock bounce. kershaw knows it. this isnt their first issue with autos. hopefully they get it solved beyond temporary pivot adjustments and sending new springs out. cause these are great knives when they work properly.
thinks hes just poking at you being a fan, not saying youre a liar. fan prodding is the way i took it.
i have 3. my 2 always had lock bounce from out of the box . year plus later of use, my 5 developed it. my 1 still doesnt have it. so 2 out of 3 for myself suffer from lock bounce. the 1 and 5 were early versions. the 2 i got last. course without date codes who knows how long stock sits at distributors and dealers. the fact remains there is a problem with many of these launches and lock bounce. kershaw knows it. this isnt their first issue with autos. hopefully they get it solved beyond temporary pivot adjustments and sending new springs out. cause these are great knives when they work properly.
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- Oct 24, 2011
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This guy has it.
Maybe adjusting the pivot to satisfaction and then using loctite to secure it? You shouldn't have to do this with a brand new knife, but if you like everything else about it, it's worth a shot!
palonej
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2015
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- 14,259
The problem with adjusting the pivot, as I see it, is taking away one of my favorite attributes of an auto. The blade opening quickly. I might be infantile thinking this, but it really makes an auto fun.
Tightening the pivot enough to stop the bounce really slows it down and doesn't solve the problem 100%........they still bounce, but not as much.
Joe
Tightening the pivot enough to stop the bounce really slows it down and doesn't solve the problem 100%........they still bounce, but not as much.
Joe
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2011
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Very true! Hence why I sold mine, and this is the problem with a company that can't take criticism! The issue is well documented and even dealers have the quick and temporary "solution," but it continues to be present, even in newer models. Bummer.
- Joined
- May 20, 2015
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- 162
Would it be against BF rules to name the site? They emailed me this morning saying that return shipping would be on me since the knives were inspected prior to shipping which I dispute since I immediately noticed blade play, gritty button, and lockup fail. I am frankly surprised because I have only read good things about their customer service. It probably shouldn't make me feel like this but now I've lost faith in this site and the Kershaw brand.