Buck Tempest...can you remove the "safety" switch?

M

melt

Joined
Nov 20, 2006
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467
Today I was looking at a Buck Tempest at a local dealer, and the one thing I don't like about it is the safety switch that locks the blade closed. It usually ends up locking as you draw the knife from your pocket because the lock switch snags on the pocket as you pull the knife out. This requires you to draw the knife, disengage the safety switch, then open it. I prefer to just draw and flick open. For Pete's sake, the pistol I EDC doesn't even have a safety. The whole point in an assisted opening knife such as this is to speed up the opening, but having to disengage the safety just slows me down to the point where I can't open knife any faster than a non-assisted opener. But it looks like it would be possible to take the knife apart by removing all the screws and take the safety switch out, without damaging the knife. (Also looks like the safety switch could be put back in later if desired.) Besides, the knife felt like it required a significant amount of pressure to open, making a safety a bit of overkill. Has anyone here tried removing the safety switch? Any thoughts are welcomed.
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My opinion,they need the safety to keep them from opening while in your pocket.
I have a couple but have not EDC'd them.
Maybe larger pants:D
 
Remember that the makers who care are looking for a safe ONE HAND opening knife and not a swift opening weapon. These are made to open with one hand and without the need to wrist flick them open, but they are not switchblade replacements to be reviewed as weapons, and therefore a good company suck as Buck, will try to make them as safe to carry as can be while still offering the one hand opening feature. You can do what you want to modify your knife of course, but if the safety isn't for you then look at other models that have a less restrictive safety as Buck and others make them too.....
 
tom19176 said:
Remember that the makers who care are looking for a safe ONE HAND opening knife and not a swift opening weapon. These are made to open with one hand and without the need to wrist flick them open, but they are not switchblade replacements to be reviewed as weapons, and therefore a good company suck as Buck, will try to make them as safe to carry as can be while still offering the one hand opening feature. You can do what you want to modify your knife of course, but if the safety isn't for you then look at other models that have a less restrictive safety as Buck and others make them too.....
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I agree. I think the reason for the AO knives is for ease of opening one handed and not the speed. As far as removing the lock swich goes, I wouldn't advise that at all. I recieved a Tempest once with the lock broken in two pieces and rattling around in the box. It didn't take but one time having it try to spring open in my pocket ( :eek: ) for me to send it back for a replacement.
 
The bolster lock on this Paradigm model is really cool and stealth.Last weekend my daughter came to visit with her boyfriend.I had left it on the table and watched as he was struggling trying to figure out how to open it.It was so damn funny!:D
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Thank you all for the input. You all make valid points, and for the money I could just buy a different knife all together. I do like the Tempest, though. Except for that darn safety switch. To me, it really breaks up the clean lines of the knife's profile. I wish Buck would just make a non-assisted version of the same knife, and then the safety would not be necessary. That Paradigm is beautiful, Skyhorse. I really the blue and black micarta (or is that G10?).
 
skyhorse said:
The bolster lock on this Paradigm model is really cool and stealth.Last weekend my daughter came to visit with her boyfriend.I had left it on the table and watched as he was struggling trying to figure out how to open it.It was so damn funny!:D
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I love doing that too with my Paradigm. It's absolutely hilarious watching people try to figure out how to open it (or, if I give it to them open, watching them try to close it). I usually end up giving them a hint that the lock is a feature that is assymmetrical on the knife, and then their first two responses are to press the buck logo or to play with the pocket clip. It usually takes another minute or so after that before they figure it out. The Paradigm has a really neat lock =P
 
I've carried the Tempest before and tried to carry it with the lock open, and it will open in your pocket. You only have to have that knife stab you in the leg 1 time to know that you dont want to do it again. Other companies have Ao knives but if your looking for a buck try the quick fire(288). It has a lock as well but I haven't had it open in my pocket, and I EDC it often.
 
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