Breaking in the Inkosi: Can the blade drop freely when disengaging the lockbar?

S

Saint 3:16

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I've had my small Inkosi from a couple months ago and it's got a secure place in my rotation, along with my 21s. I've taken it apart 3 times now for maintenance and cleaning, used different lubes(Nano-oil, then went back CRK grease), polished the washers on my stones and strop. It's very smooth opening and cleaning, smoother and easier opening than my 21s even, like marble rolling on glass.

However, I've never had the blade drop freely when disengaging the lockbar like the 21s do once fully broken in. I know you can adjust the pivot, but I'm talking about when it doesn't cause significant blade play. I don't even think it's possible due to the construction of the knife - extra large, perforated washers and non-bushing pivot. Just wondering if anyone else has been able to do this with their Inkosis.
 
I do not have an inkosi but I do have an umnumzaan which shares similar pivots. Unlike the 21s, Indeed, setting the pivot after maintenance involves more effort compared to the 21s. For me, most important that there is no play when the lock engages, minimal lock stick and blade play in all direction when disengaging and a solid lock. As a general maintenance, most often soapy water and toothbrush is needed to clean my folders. I would only dismantle if the action is gritty and/or i need to use both hands to close the blade.
 
Because you have no bushing on an Inkosi you can perform (part of) the procedure below, as it makes the Nano-Oil work even better by forcing the nano-particles into the washer & blade surfaces.
I learned this procedure from StClaire himself.

1) Disassemble the knife and clean everything thoroughly.
2) Assemble the knife again but leave the pivot assembly a bit loose, just enough so the blade has some side-to-side play.
3) Close the knife and oil the pivot area with the Nano-Oil of your choice. (i prefer to use 5 weight for this due to it being almost as thin as water, but 10 weight also works well.)
4) Then proceed to hit the palm of your hand with the closed knife several times, as this will help the oil penetrate into every nook & cranny fast.
5) Then tighten the pivot until the blade is almost stuck, but can still be moved open & closed with difficulty by hand. (be careful with that sharp edge while doing this)
6) Now do just that: open & close the blade several times, as this will force the nano-particles in the washer & blade surfaces.
7) Then turn the pivot screw back just a hair, just far enough so the blade will fall closed when the lockbar is held open and there is no blade play.
 
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I know you're talking about an Inkosi but my 25 (which is pretty similar) is rock solid and when I relieve the lock bar pressure from the blade it freely rotates like it is on ball bearings.
 
I have a small and I can't see how it will ever have a free falling blade like me 21s. Maybe it will happen with more break-in but it seems a long way away from being there.
 
My Inkosi came smoother than my 21. However my small 21 which I've had for a while is smoother than both.
 
blanco112 said:
I have a small and I can't see how it will ever have a free falling blade like me 21s. Maybe it will happen with more break-in but it seems a long way away from being there.
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Yeah, even if I back off on the Pivot to the point where there is a smallest amount of blade play felt, it still won't drop freely as my 21s.
 
If I loosen up my pivot a little bit I can get the blade to fall free without any blade play. I prefer it a little stiffer, so I don't carry it that way, but I have adjusted it to where it can drop freely and it didn't have any play at all. I don't see the benefit to it dropping freely, though. It's not that difficult to throw my index finger over the blade and push it closed.
 
I think the whole drop free thing comes from people who buy knives from other companies like say Kizer with free dropping blades. Then they get their CRK which doesn't and they go "wow this expensive knife won't do that? Something isn't right, this cost way more than my Kizer"
 
Well, my Inkosi doesn't have a Spydie hole either, and it was way more expensive than my PM2. I don't really consider that a shortcoming. I know what you're saying, I just don't see what the big deal is or why anybody would care at all if their blade drops free.
 
I'm not giving that as a justification for their feelings, just a theoretical explanation. I quite like my Sebenza the way it is.

I saw a mod one tome on the Spydie Forum where someone put a Spyderco blade on a Sebenza and somehow got it to fit perfectly.
 
Cory Hess said:
Well, my Inkosi doesn't have a Spydie hole either, and it was way more expensive than my PM2. I don't really consider that a shortcoming. I know what you're saying, I just don't see what the big deal is or why anybody would care at all if their blade drops free.
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Lapedog said:
I think the whole drop free thing comes from people who buy knives from other companies like say Kizer with free dropping blades. Then they get their CRK which doesn't and they go "wow this expensive knife won't do that? Something isn't right, this cost way more than my Kizer"
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For me, it's from owning the 21s and once broken in from use, how smooth and easy it is to open/close and having a free dropping blade yet also with such a strong, secure, and solid lock up with no blade play; it feels so satisfying and rewarding, almost magically (since you can tighten the pivot screw all the down thanks to the bushing system). I have benchmades with their axis locks, spydercos PM2s, and if you want free dropping blades, you have to live with the slightest amount of blade play.

I made the thread wanting to know if this was possible with the Inkosi also.
 
It is possible, on mine anyways. I do like the pivot on the 21 better though. I think that the ability to tighten it down without worrying about how it affects the action is where the 21 really stands apart.
 
Cory Hess said:
It is possible, on mine anyways. I do like the pivot on the 21 better though. I think that the ability to tighten it down without worrying about how it affects the action is where the 21 really stands apart.
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That's good to know. I will give mine more time to break in and hopefully become more smooth. I do use/play with it almost daily as I like it quite a bit. This is where it stands right now compared to my 21:
 
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Follow up: I can't believe how smooth this knife has become and in just 3 weeks, drops as freely as my Sebenzas. The Inkosi is growing on me more and more, I might has to eventually get a insingo version.

Video: https://streamable.com/t0lc1

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Good to see it turned out to your liking.
I was curious to know if eventually the Inkosi would become as smooth(free fall blade) as the Sebenza. Now I know
With me being an old fart, I prefer to let the knife age and become smoother with time. I've got a 25 that pretty much free falls, it's taken a couple of years of use, but it's almost as smooth as your small Inkosi.
 
Same here with my 25 CF.
Also have a brand new large 21 tanto, it also free drops.
Both are stupid smooth and both flick out beautifully!
Joe

kniferbro said:
I know you're talking about an Inkosi but my 25 (which is pretty similar) is rock solid and when I relieve the lock bar pressure from the blade it freely rotates like it is on ball bearings.
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