Can you remove the AO mech. in Kershaws?

Death's Head

Death's Head

Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
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I just received my Ti Leek with ZDP-189. I love the knife. I do have my gripes about it. I wish it has a Ti clip as well, and to be honest, I am not found of AO's. It is difficult to find the perfect knife, so I still bought it.
Now, has anyone actually removed the spring inside of Kershaws? Did the knife function as it is supposed to, like an ordinary framelock. That is what I am looking for.
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Death's Head, be careful if you remove the Speedsafe. The Torsion Bar helps keep the blade closed as well. So if you remove the Torsion Bar, you will want to engage the blade safety switch when carrying it.

Its a great knife though. I have two!:D

Jeremy
 
That's what I was afraid of. The Camillus AO's are a lot more simpler. You can just pop off the spring inside.
Thanks.
 
I've been carrying my zdp leek, my first assisted opener, and my first kershaw. Despite my reservations, the speedsafe is growing on me. Now it's just second nature to hit the "flipper" and have the knife open. The safety was bad about engaging while in my pocket, so I torqued that down so it wouldn't move, and I reprofiled it on a diamond hone to about 20 degrees total, then put a 30 degree micro bevel on it with the sharpmaker. Now it cuts much better and I'm finding myself carrying it more and more. Also, at first I was attempting to use the thumb studs to open it, which is impossible with my big fingers, but once I figured out they were basically just the blade stop, and to use the flipper, I'm happy. I've been resisting the urge to disassemble this knife to see how exactly the speedsafe works, so if anyone has a picture or illustration, I'd appreciate it. I like this knife enough that I've ordered a full-size cyclone to try out, and Kershaw has scored a blip on my knife radar.
 
There is still a ball bearing in the framelock that will still keep it closed. I took mine apart. It wasn't hard, if you don't like it you can always put it back. I love mine too but I agree a titanium clip would have been a nice addition.
Jason
 
Your Leek has a ball detent to keep it closed like any other framelock. To remove the AO spring all you have to do is take the handle apart (make sure the blade is open or the spring will be under tension) and it will be right there waiting to be pulled out. Not a hard procedure at all.
 
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