Hi all, I've experienced an issue with installing copper Flytanium scales on my Bugout. Let me start by saying both the Bugout and the Flytanium scales are excellent and I'm super happy with them, I'm hoping I just made a mistake somewhere. Both the Bugout and the Scales arrived in the post on the same day. Out of the box the Bugout flicked open and dropshut very nicely, and the blade was perfectly centred and didn't feel loose. I installed the Copper scales one side at a time without the bushings or springs coming apart etc. the install went very smoothly. However since installing the new scales the knife is very stiff and won't dropshut. I've loosened the pivot bolt and it's securing sleeve to the point where I can push it over and back in the pivot holes, GENTLY re-tightened it, and the blade is still quite stiff. I don't think I've overtightened anything but I'm open to suggestions. After about a hundred open shut cycles it still hasn't improved, so I added a drop of oil and went through several hundred more cycles. At first I thought it was a bedding-in issue, but the knife flicked open and drop shut beautifully before I installed the new scales. As it stands the blade is perfectly centered, I can flick it open with a little force, but it definitely won't drop shut or close easily when I disengage the axis lock. Has anyone experienced similar or have a fix for this?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Bugout Scale swap issue
- Thread starter Max Brosi
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2014
- Messages
- 1,040
Assumption is that in 2020 machined parts are square and aligned between Benchmade n Flytanium assembly, and your scales swap stopped ability to drop shut.
Loosen all torx screws including pivot, then tighten assembly by walking around screws tightening so it takes ~3 trips around assembly to tight. Set pivot to your preferred action. test. This suggested pattern describes a long understood mechanical principal, but can be altered to your liking / predilection.
If unsatisfied, wash it with dish soap and blow dry with air (or just shake it out and manually dry with whatever is around the house then air dry point down... put in sunny window... blow dry whatever). Use it for a month, test and share. If unsatisfied disassemble, read wear marks on washers, snap pics n share here. You might even see scuffs on blade engagement surfaces and pivot.
I would enjoy seeing patina on that cooper after a month as well.
Loosen all torx screws including pivot, then tighten assembly by walking around screws tightening so it takes ~3 trips around assembly to tight. Set pivot to your preferred action. test. This suggested pattern describes a long understood mechanical principal, but can be altered to your liking / predilection.
If unsatisfied, wash it with dish soap and blow dry with air (or just shake it out and manually dry with whatever is around the house then air dry point down... put in sunny window... blow dry whatever). Use it for a month, test and share. If unsatisfied disassemble, read wear marks on washers, snap pics n share here. You might even see scuffs on blade engagement surfaces and pivot.
I would enjoy seeing patina on that cooper after a month as well.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,044
Had a similar problem with some after market 585 scales. One scale had a very slight warp on the front end and holes for the clip screws we off just enough to throw thing out of whack. I've come to the conclusion after market scales are not worth the time or effort. Improve the looks yes, don't make it cut any better. Really like the after market scales I have on my Mini Grips, they were perfect. Send them back if you can and try something else.
Thanks guys, I played around with it a little and I found that if I slacked off the pressure just a little on the top scale screws, the ones just beside the pivot, the blade moves much more freely, but the adjustment is VERY fine, slacken it too much and there’s wise to side blade wobble.
fishface5
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2001
- Messages
- 9,541
Sounds like the scales are a teensy bit too thin where the top screws go. If it becomes a problem, you could try removing the scale and peening the inside face of the surface around the screw hole openings for the top scale screws so that there are small bumps rising from the surface. Then when you reassemble, the scales will be a touch wider apart, but as you carefully and slowly screw them tighter the bumps will compress until the distance is perfect.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2014
- Messages
- 1,040
I thought they were USA or Taiwan, still CAD/CAM is precise. Guess that won't help if cutters /shapers are out of standard...
OP, glade you got it sorted.
yamsi12
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2013
- Messages
- 1,481
I have the same problem but with the Flytanium titanium scales. Blade flicks open fine but doesn’t drop shut on it’s own, but it’s something a flick of the wrist fixes when closing. I also have a set of the Rogue Bladeworks cf scales and the knife free falls shut, probably the best action of all the bugouts I own.
From looking at pics of the bugout, and comparing my BM knives that also have screws on both sides of the blade stop, I think what you're describing is the blade stop screws being overtightened. This can put uneven force on the washers and interfere with blade movement. These need to be adjusted properly, in addition to the Pivot. Not all BM's have this setup.