Benchmade MPR opens in pocket?

L

Lord Bear

Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
78
:confused:
I saw a report on another forum where the owner had difficulties opening the MPR due to the detent. But it had opened "in pocket" several times. WTH? Anybody else experience this? (I sent mine back so I can't post anything definite on this.)
 
It is just not consistent saying that a knife is difficult to open with the thumbstud, but it opens in the pocket. How would that work?

The one that I have is very difficult to open with the thumbstud due to the ball detent. I cannot imagine it openly accidentally in my pocket.
 
Knives that open in the pocket usually do so because the fabric snags either the stud or the blade tip (especially so if the tip just BARELY snugs into the handle). It's pretty easy for the inside pocket fabric to 'fold' into the handle recess and snag on the tip.

Thumb studs can be odd. For some, it can be very awkward and/or uncomfortable for the tip of the thumb to overcome the resistance of the detent. But, in reality, if the force is applied in just the right direction, all of a sudden the detent doesn't seem that strong.
 
maybe when they inserted it into the pocket they caught the thumbstud which caused it to slightly open.
 
Mine's never opened in my pocket -- and I removed the clip too, so it bounces around in there... I actually find the balance between keeping it shut and ease of deployment to be quite good.
 
My pivot was pretty loose and just tightened it up with a torx.

Good to go.
 
I may have just gotten mine but i havent had that problem at all. In fact i think tip down would help it stay closed more than tip up carry to begin with.
 
Thanks for posting this Lord Bear... I meant to post the video, but forgot to so please forgive the late nature of this reply.

The knife was being jostled open by the force of my running with the knife un-clipped in a pocket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruUI_0mRjWE&feature

4605532078_0f78b0fca1.jpg


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I say hogwash... tighten the pivot screw. Mine is a frequent EDC - in my pocket (I hate clips.).

Stainz
 
So...Tip down, no problem. Tip up, perhaps. Lateral flicking motion opens without any help from thumb pushing on stud. Difficult to open one handed. Hmmm. I wonder if the knife were dropped onto the pivot, what the result would be?
Edit: I sent mine back because it was too difficult to open one-handed. I don't flick. Normally I tighten all my folders so that flicking is impossible. I prefer smooth, deliberate, controlled and even deployment. My sample was mind-bogglingly too tight AND too loose at the same time. One handed, I would have to keep increasing pressure while the blade stubbornly refused to even move until the detent was overcome and the darn thing would fly open at mach speed! My thumb had absolutely no way of keeping in contact with the stud! With two hands (one hand holding knife and thumb and forefinger on the studs) it opened WAY too easily compared to the difficulty of one handed opening.
 
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I don't find the ball detent on any Benchmade to be that strong. With framelocks often it's the way you have to hold it to open it that makes the difference. I have a problem of applying pressure to the framelock bar as I am trying to open it and that makes it appear to be tighter than it should be. It's actually just the way my hand fits it and tries to open it. I'm pushing the lock in as I am trying to open it. The mini Skirmish gave me the same trouble as do some custom framelocks.
But, you can't have a strong detent and a folder that also easily opens in the pocket at the same time.
 
RevDevil said:
:eek:That thing looks like a friggin cell phone from 1986!
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: Maybe you should get a new phone, & then you can compare it to something newer:D (me just making a joke)... This is like a Lamborghini, & Surely you'd never ask Lamborghini to do a 4cylinder moped? The size is what attracted me to this knife, but to be honest I've gotten used to the weight/size. Dare I say it, it almost feels somewhat underweight now :eek:...

Stainz said:
I say hogwash... tighten the pivot screw. Mine is a frequent EDC - in my pocket (I hate clips.).

Stainz
Click to expand...
I've tightened the pivot a smidgen, but With the amount of force required to open the blade are you sure that's a good idea? I've been carrying it clipped, & there have been no further accidental openings since...
 
Lord Bear said:
So...Tip down, no problem. Tip up, perhaps.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I think where it's carried is more an issue. If one carries their TU folder in their front pocket against the seem, it's not going to be an issue. Carry a TD folder in the same position & you don't have the pocket seam to protect you (The BM De Ja Vue's come to mind as I have cut myself on them carrying that way). Now, carrying TU folder in your back pocket can definitely be an issue, but a TD folder wouldn't. In a back pocket, you're most likely going to have a TD folder with its blade against the seam (Like you would a TU folder in the front pocket).

A dedicated pocket such as in that "youtube" video changes things, since it's less likely that the pocket seam will hold the blade.

In reference to the OP, typical pivots on folders can be adjusted, so that that is not as much an issue. However, folders with weak detents can be an issue, too.

Weak detents are not necessarily a BM problem. I've seen them on Spydercos as well as some others (BM 740/745 seems to be known for this, BTW). I'm not saying they were designed that way, but perhaps just got through QC with weaker than norm detents.
 
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