byrd lock failure?

[Pete1977]

Twice in the last two days the lock on my byrd rescue has disengaged while i was using the knife. Both times I was wearing gloves when it happened. Yesterday I was cutting rope and felt some blade play and i tossed the knife onto the helm. When I looked up it was half closed. My guess is that I disengaged the lock bar while cutting and when the knife hit the helm it half-closed the blade.

Today I was cutting rope again and actually felt the lockbar release and the blade begin to fold. I swung it open with the flick of my wrist, finished cutting and tossed it on the helm again.

I don't normally toss knives around that i am using but both situations were life or limb so to speak.

I don't know whether it is the way I am using the knife, whether i am wearing stiff rubber gloves, or if the lock itself is faulty.

I have felt it give a couple of times but not completely disengage. This is the only time I have had a lock on any knife fail during use. There is no vertical or horizontal blade play at all and it still locks up solidly. It opens smoothly and when I intentionally depress the lock bar the blade closes to 90 degrees.

Could the lock bar not be seating fully in the blade tang enough that even with slight pressure on the lock it releases?

 

[KNaB]

It could. It happened to my crossbill, but there was a tiny bit of lint at the lock interface. Cleaned it out and it worked fine

 

[Pete1977]

i've tried to disengage the lock accidentally in several different grips and can't do it. I have a feeling it is the thick rubber gloves I wear at work. they are stiff when it is cold. a crease in them might be pushing on the lock.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Pete,

I would first check for lint in the lock well. If there is no lint in the lock well, I would try a light spine tap.

It should not have defeated. Is this one of the new variations?

I think I would like to see it, if that's possible. I'd be happy to replace it with a new one or something else. The fact that you are using these knives in "real world" use is valuable to us.

sal

 

[Pete1977]

Sal-

It is the one you sent me to replace the other one you sent that I lost overboard . I believe it is the newer version. It has the paddle shaped clip around the lanyard hole and the newer texture on the FRN. There isn't any lint in the lock. 2 light taps on the arm of the computer chair failed to defeat the lock. I was mistaken before when I said there was no blade play. There is very minimal vertical blade play.

I will give it a thorough cleaning and use it for a couple more days. I expect to be able to go fishing thursday or friday. If it happens again I will send the knife back so you can take a look at it. There isn't any need to replace it. I still have a feeling that it is the gloves I wear.

Pete