Be careful with your Kershaw RAM

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
4,704
I picked up my Kershaw RAM and tried to open it and it opened almost all the way but wouldn't go the last 10 degrees and lock into place. I took off the G10 plate and looked at the lock and everything seemed to be in working order. So I finished disassembling the knife and I still was having a hard time figuring out what was preventing the blade from rotating that last little bit, even with the pivot pin removed. I finally found what was wrong although it was hard to see. The blade uses an internal blade stop pin as well as a pin for the lock and are both pressed into the blade tang. There is a groove cut in the aluminum liner for these pins to ride in and one area of the aluminum is pushed in slightly which binds the stop pin from rotating.

After I saw the problem I remember what happened. I picked up a pair of shorts and the knife fell out from about 20" high and fell and landed on a tile floor. Not a big deal and I picked it up and set it on the dresser until I tried to open it when I discovered the problem.

I don't know if I just got really unlucky and it hit just right but that isn't that big of a fall and it rendered the knife useless for the most part. I know I can send the knife in and will most likely get a brand new knife. But I feel bad to have the knife just thrown in the trash so I might try to remove some material in the groove the pin rides so it will open and lock into place again. If I can't get it right I don't know if they would still warranty the knife? I have a couple other knives I need to send in so I guess I might just throw this one in the box with the others.

Just thought I would relate my experience and let people know to try not to drop their RAM knife.
 
There's no reason to feel bad at all - send the knife in and customer service will make it right for you. They generally prefer that you just send it in, rather than take it apart and mess around inside - it's actually easier for everyone involved to send it in when you have an internal issue like this. Just include a note that explains the issue and give your return address (you'd be amazed how many people forget this).
 
Dropped my RAM a few times already and have had zero problems like this. Maybe you just extremely unlucky with how the knife made contact with the floor?
 
Artfully Martial said:
man that sucks...I wonder if the MUDD shares this flaw...as a hard use folder, that would be pretty crippling...
Click to expand...

I doubt it lol, My knife has has the "stuff" beaten out of it with no problems. It made it through FMSS without breaking.
 
All of my Kershaws are of a 'beatable' standard.
I've worked knives hard and the Kershaws I have are a great value and do very well on the job as a woodworker.
 
well, the consensus seems to this pointing to a freak accident or manufacturing defect...which is reassuring...I've had two RAMs and a MUDD and no probs, but I've never dropped them either...
 
I know I've posted this several times, and ya'll are probably tired of hearing it, but..................... The Ram uses 6061 aluminum alloy ( i assume), while the ZT0500 uses the highest, toughest grade of aluminum alloy; 7075. I doubt a drop is going to render the MUDD unusable, unless it is just a freak accident.
 
this exact thing happend to me droped it on pavment head frist (if it was open it would have hit tip first) and the super soft al just smooshed in and now the pin wont move in the grove
 
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