Caly3 with gunk on the handle

serratededge · May 20, 2008

Edit update: Sal has personally responded to the situation, in fact sometime ago and all is smoothed out. He showed class and respect in his response and steered me in the direction to further avoid any situations like this in the future.

Has anyone received a knife with the similar gunk on the G10 handles around the pivot screw? This was my 2nd Caly3, with full serrations, and this is how it was returned to me from Spyderco. I sent it to Spyderco about a month ago for repair/replacement. It was much worse and very sticky. This is how it came back. In person its much worse, you can still see the shiny gunk, although now not so sticky, and some was removed and left the G10 dull looking.

Has this happened to anyone else? Am I in the wrong for thinking that its messed up that it wasn`t replaced?

My plain edge Caly3 arrived perfect!:thumbup: with no such gunk at all.

Dave

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1128867/caly3.jpg

zenheretic · May 21, 2008

Looks like lube. Soap, hot water and a tooth brush. Followed by hair dryer or pressurized air, and a bit of oil on the blade. Or just ignore it.

reholli · May 21, 2008

zenheretic said:
Looks like lube. Soap, hot water and a tooth brush. Followed by hair dryer or pressurized air, and a bit of oil on the blade. Or just ignore it.

Excellent advice above...I even have a tootbrush in my knife-care kit that I use just for my textured knife handles...

Ray

serratededge · May 21, 2008

No, that I could have done.
This stuff is tough and tacky, like dried cement. Before I sent it in, it was all around the pivot, really sticky, yet solid like dried glue.

Not to be nit-picky, but I have another Caly3 that is perfectly clean. I expected the same with this one. And at that price point, maybe I expected more. All my other Spyies are great, even the lower priced ones. Just let down by this one, and if nobody else has had a similar experience maybe it`s a clunker, CS wasn`t to worried about it. I just think that the new owner of any new knife should be the one to break it in and get it dirty, not have it arrive that way.

Tohatchi NM · May 21, 2008

Is it loc-tite or something similar for the pivot screws?

I'll agree with you that it's irritating, and not the best customer service, but I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. As in I doubt they trashed your knife and sent it back to you just to be irritating. If you're not happy, it's worth calling back, expressing the problem, and seeing if it gets fixed. Spyderco has a good service record for a reason.

If it's sticky, you could try removing it with a bit of solvent. "Goo-gone" label remover, isopropyl alcohol (hardware store variety is better than the drug store variety) or white gas usually work for me. I don't know if any of these are safe for G10 - if you're worried you could call the shop first.

Good luck.

serratededge · May 22, 2008

Tohatchi NM said:
As in I doubt they trashed your knife and sent it back to you just to be irritating.

No, there was more on there before I sent it in. They removed some of it, but now the g10 looks worn around the pivot with the deeper portions of the G10 still has some of the gunk. It`s simply uncalled for. They should have just replaced the knife. Like I said, my other Caly3 arrived perfect.

I did get a response from CS after I got the knife back. 1st they said the lockup is fine, which is another reason I sent it in. It is very light as compared to my other one.

2nd, they did, for the most part tell me that I did the damage to the G10.

With a statement saying we don`t know the condition of the knife when you got it, sorry, there is nothing more we can do for you. In english it means......tough luck chuck.

When I told them the knife was sold by the main distributor on the east coast in VA, so there was no middle man, I have not gotten a response since. I guess that is the end of that, as is my future support of Sypderco.

oli · May 22, 2008

serratededge said:
Has anyone received a knife with the similar gunk on the G10 handles around the pivot screw? Has this happened to anyone else? Am I in the wrong for thinking that its messed up that it wasn`t replaced?

My plain edge Caly3 arrived perfect!:thumbup: with no such gunk at all.

Dave

]

It is unlikely that Spyderco has been experimenting with gunk on the pivots. So if they didn't put it there, why should they replace the knife? It is possible that this was returned to the retail store that you got it from. There are plenty of "goo off" type products that should work on "gunk". If they won't remove it, they will at least remove any stickyness.

serratededge · May 22, 2008

oli said:
It is unlikely that Spyderco has been experimenting with gunk on the pivots. So if they didn't put it there, why should they replace the knife?

So from the factory to the seller to me, and you think it was messed with sometime therein or by me? Absurd.

What would be the harm in replacing the knife or even cleaning it properly? Sounds like it might be loctite and if so, they would know the best way to remove it. So do the above and keep a customer happy whom pushes their product OR this situation and have that word get around, which it already has.

I only wish I could have experienced the great customer service that I thought they were known for and that many have already enjoyed from them. My only dealing with them, and regretfully, most likely my last.

oli · May 23, 2008

serratededge said:
So from the factory to the wholesaler to me, and you think it was messed with sometime therein or by me? Absurd.

.

Loctite drys pretty fast. So this is not Loctite. It sure doesn't sound like it is any type of oil that has come on any knife that I have. I don't think that Spyderco put this "gunk" on or in the knife. I don't believe that Spyderco should replace the knife. You asked if we thought that you were wrong. I gave you my answer. You don't like my answer and you will continue to squeek. You have recieved info about attempting to clean the knife. You have not acknowledged this info nor made any mention of any attempts at cleaning the knife yourself. This seems slightly strange to me.

The Mastiff · May 23, 2008

that's dried lube of some kind. Mine has it too. The difference is that I am aware that kind of G10 has a pattern on it that makes it impossible to wipe off using regular methods. I'm also aware that it in no way makes it a "clunker" any more than a spot of mud on my car makes it a clunker.

Sell the knife to someone less anal and knows that knives are meant to be used, and also knows a bit of oil doesn't ruin a knife.

Or follow Zen's advice and clean it off.

Joe

edit: mine came from a silicone/ptfe lube I was using that comes in a spray can. I have no idea what spyderco uses but the stain looks exactly like mine. Joe

serratededge · May 23, 2008

The knife has been sold......I want to thank all the guys whom gave advice on cleaning, I tried a mild soap and water to no avail. Tried to avoid anything stronger as not to further the stain as some folks buy for collecting purposes only.

oli, some of your comments were rather infantile. Too bad.

Carry on gents,
Dave

Tohatchi NM · May 23, 2008

Sorry - I misunderstood the problem. I thought you sent the knife in for service, and it came back with gunk. Re-reading, it sounds like the gunk was there when you bought it?

If that were the case, I would've sent it back to the dealer. If they couldn't make it right, then I would've sent it back to Spyderco with the box and packaging and a clear explanation that it was purchased new in this condition. I think it's reasonable to expect a clean-up (presumably the goo is from the factory, they deal with it once in a while, and they would know what to clean it with) or, if that were not possible, a new knife.

I do have some sympathy for the company's argument that they can't just send everybody a new knife, though. You get some ultra-retentive nutcases who go over the whole blade with a 100x microscope and return it because three carbides are out of place, or the abusive wahoos who toss their knife in a cement mixer, break it out with a jackhammer, and try to return the pieces as a "factory defect".

After it came back from the factory, I would've tried more aggressive cleaners - G10 is pretty resistant to most things, and a gunky knife isn't going to have much pure collector value. Removing the pivot and sanding lightly might have been a last-ditch method to make it useable. Anyway, glad you found it a home, and got some of the investment back.

serratededge · May 27, 2008

Tohatchi NM said:
then I would've sent it back to Spyderco with the box and packaging and a clear explanation that it was purchased new in this condition. I think it's reasonable to expect a clean-up (presumably the goo is from the factory, they deal with it once in a while, and they would know what to clean it with) or, if that were not possible, a new knife.

Yep, that is what I did. Like I said, it came from from the seller on the east coast right to me and I doubt they have time to mess with the knives they send out everyday. IT CAME LIKE THAT FROM THE FACTORY, period. And then Spyderco wants to accuse me of doing it so they don`t have to clean it or replace it and even went as far as to say we don`t use anything like that in Japan.

OK, you`re right, I`m wrong. Big company`s word vs. one man word. Thank you for wasting my time and money, but I learned a valuable lesson about you. You have many fans and many who will defend you, and if they have had great service in the past, that is awesome. Just wish I could too and maybe I would feel different.

Would be nice for Sal to respond to problems too, maybe even just a sorry or something, not just to threads from guys with compliments or wondering when the next model is coming out.

The Mastiff · May 27, 2008

You already expressed your displeasure and got rid of the knife, and will no longer be a spyderco customer according to your posts.. Now you're back here wanting an apology from Sal?

It seems like you already got word that they don't use anything that stains, or looks like that during manufacturer or packaging. Why should the CEO then come here to apologize. For something they didn't do to someone not a customer?

BTW, Wholesalers don't sell to the public.Most won't even send you a catalog untill you've proven your status as a dealer with a business liscense. or other forms of proof. If you're a dealer than you'd....never mind. There is too much that doesn't add up here. Joe

oli · May 27, 2008

oli said:
You don't like my answer and you will continue to squeek. .

What kind of gunk , err, oil do you use on your knives? It's still squeeking.

serratededge · May 28, 2008

joe, you don`t like what I`m saying, don`t read anymore. You always seem to defend Spyderco by wanting to instigate arguments. I will not stoop to your level, nor respond to any more of your asinine remarks.

Oli, you should have your stutter checked out? It may be something serious.

hardheart · May 28, 2008

The Mastiff said:
BTW, Wholesalers don't sell to the public.Most won't even send you a catalog untill you've proven your status as a dealer with a business liscense. or other forms of proof. If you're a dealer than you'd....never mind. There is too much that doesn't add up here. Joe

Depends on the wholesaler. Many just have minimum orders, either quantity or dollar price. Often just the business name with nothing else is good enough as long as you pay.

stabman · May 28, 2008

serratededge said:
OK, you`re right, I`m wrong. Big company`s word vs. one man word. Thank you for wasting my time and money, but I learned a valuable lesson about you. You have many fans and many who will defend you, and if they have had great service in the past, that is awesome. Just wish I could too and maybe I would feel different.

Did you join BF just to whine? Seems like it, since you, by your own words, DIDN'T try ANY of the solvent methods, including isopropyl alcohol which IS okay with G10.

serratededge · May 28, 2008

Nope & nope, only soap & H2O. And one should not have to "Try Solvents" to remove anything from a new knife. Another defender of the Spydie ship I see. Just wait till one of you have an issue with your new knife and they blame the issue on you, you may feel different. Like I said, their CS has a great track record, and many fans because of it. Just not lately or this time.

stabman · May 28, 2008

serratededge said:
And one should not have to "Try Solvents" to remove anything from a new knife. Another defender of the Spydie ship I see.

To not be willing to even try some totally non-harmful rubbing alcohol on the knife, IF you like it, seems rather silly.
I didn't cry a river because my BM Gravitator wasn't too sharp out of the box; I SHARPENED it. Should it have shipped sharper? Sure, but when the fix is easy and cheap, why got a bee in your bonnet about it?
I have more important things to get worked up over, quite frankly.